Luxor: Valley of Kings & Karnak Temple Private Full-Day Tour

Five temples in one day: the West Bank tombs, then Karnak at sunset

You visit five major temples and the royal tombs of the Valley of the Kings in a single day, with a licensed guide who walks you through the history and architecture at each stop. Hotel pickup, private transport, lunch and all entry fees are included, so you don't arrange tickets or navigate between sites yourself. The pace is steady but not rushed, and you're back by late afternoon.

Step-by-step itinerary

Stops and time spent at each5 stops

1. Valley of the Kings2h
2. Temple of Hatshepsut2h
3. Colossi of Memnon1h
4. Karnak Temple1h 30m
5. Luxor Temple1h 30m

Explore Luxor East and West Banks

• Pickup from hotel or airport
• Visit Valley of the Kings tombs
• Tour Temple of Queen Hatshepsut
• See the Colossi of Memnon
• Lunch at local restaurant
• Visit Karnak Temple on East Bank
• Explore Luxor Temple
• Return to hotel or airport

The experience

Your driver picks you up from your hotel or Nile cruise in Luxor before dawn, and you cross to the West Bank in a private air-conditioned vehicle. The Valley of the Kings opens first: a dry riverbed lined with low stone entrances, each one leading down into a royal tomb. Your guide walks you through at least two of them: the painted walls inside are still vivid, and the scale of the burial chambers makes it clear why pharaohs spent entire reigns preparing these spaces. Tutankhamun is here, along with Ramesses and Thutmosis, though the most famous tombs rotate in and out of public access depending on restoration work.

After the valley, you drive to Hatshepsut's Temple: the one that looks like it's cut into the cliff itself, three tiers of colonnades stacked against the rock face. It was built around 1470 BC by the only female pharaoh to rule Egypt, and the architecture is so clean and geometric that it feels almost modern. The Colossi of Memnon come next, two massive stone statues sitting alone in a field, all that's left of Amenhotep III's mortuary temple. Then lunch at a local restaurant: full Egyptian meal, though you'll need to order drinks separately.

The afternoon shift you across the Nile to the East Bank. Karnak Temple is enormous, a sprawl of pylons, obelisks and hypostyle halls dedicated to Amun, the king of the gods. It's the largest religious complex ever built, and you'll walk through the Great Hypostyle Hall, where 134 columns rise in rows so thick they block out the sky. Your guide points out the cartouches of different pharaohs carved into the stone: each one trying to outdo the last. The day ends at Luxor Temple, right on the riverbank, built by Amenhotep III and finished by Ramesses II. By late afternoon the light hits the pylons at an angle that makes the carved reliefs jump out of the stone.

The whole tour runs about eight hours door to door. You're moving between sites constantly, but the private vehicle and guide mean no waiting for group departures or fighting through crowds at entry gates. Water is included. Everything else (coffee, snacks, extra drinks). You pay for as you go. Drop-off is back at your hotel or the airport if that's where you're headed.

What’s included

Your day includes hotel or cruise pickup in a private air-conditioned vehicle, a licensed tour guide for the full eight hours, entry fees to the Valley of the Kings, Temple of Hatshepsut, Colossi of Memnon, Karnak Temple, and Luxor Temple, lunch at a local Egyptian restaurant (if selected), all transfers between sites, a bottle of water, and return drop-off to your hotel or airport.

Options for this experience

2 options

Tour without lunchGuide in 4 languages · 07:00 and 08:00Tour without lunch

Tour with lunchGuide in 4 languages · 07:00 and 08:00Tour with lunch

You'll see the exact price of each option when you check availability.See dates and prices

Before you book

Lasts 8h, runs every day at 07:00 and 08:00, from US$ 90 per person, with a live guide in English, Spanish, German and Arabic, as a private tour and with free cancellation up to 24 h before.

Days and timesEvery dayDepartures at 07:00 and 08:00

Book up to4h before

AgesAdult (12 and older) · Child (6 to 11 years) · Infant (under 6): free

GroupPrivate

Live guideEnglish, Spanish, German and Arabic

Audio guideEnglish, Spanish, French, German, Italian and Arabic

Meeting point and pickupHotel pickup is optional; you can also go straight to the meeting point. Ends back at the starting point.

Cancellation and refundsFree cancellation up to 24 h before the start. After that, no refund.

Paid on siteUS$ 10

Prices and times updated 4 days ago

Good to know

Low physical effortInfant seats availablePublic transport nearbyNot recommended during pregnancyNot recommended with heart problemsNot recommended with back problems

Operated by Emo Tours Egypt

Is this one for you?Book this if you want to see the main Luxor temples and royal tombs in one day without arranging your own transport, tickets or timing: the private guide and vehicle mean you move between five major sites without waiting for group departures or navigating entry queues yourself.

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Top questions

What languages is the tour guided in?

Live guide in English, Spanish, German and Arabic.

Can children come?

Yes. Ticket types: Child (6 to 11 years); Infant (under 6): free.

How long is the full-day Luxor tour?

Around eight hours total, including pickup, all five temple sites, lunch break, and return to your hotel.

What's included in the price?

Hotel pickup and drop-off, licensed tour guide, private air-conditioned vehicle, lunch at a local restaurant, all entry fees to the temples and Valley of the Kings, and a bottle of water.

Do I need to buy lunch separately?

Lunch at a local Egyptian restaurant is included if you select that option when booking. Drinks are not included and you pay for them separately.

Can I choose which tombs to visit in the Valley of the Kings?

Your guide will take you into at least two tombs. The specific ones available depend on current restoration schedules, which change seasonally.

Is the tour suitable for older travelers or those with mobility concerns?

The tour involves walking through temples and climbing in and out of tomb chambers. It's not recommended for travelers with spinal injuries or poor cardiovascular health. Discuss any mobility concerns with the operator before booking.

What if I'm staying on a Nile cruise?

Pickup is available directly from your cruise ship in Luxor, and you'll be returned before departure.

Can the tour end at Luxor airport instead of my hotel?

Yes, you can arrange drop-off at Luxor airport instead of your hotel.

Is there time to shop or rest during the day?

The lunch break is your main stop for rest. There's limited time for shopping, though your guide can point out local markets if you ask.