Luxor Day Trip from Hurghada: Valley of Kings & Karnak Temple

Stand inside the tombs of pharaohs, then walk the columns of Karnak

A private full-day tour from Hurghada to Luxor with an English-speaking Egyptologist guide, air-conditioned transport and lunch included. The itinerary moves through the Valley of the Kings (where rock-cut tombs were carved for pharaohs over nearly 500 years), then to the Temple of Hatshepsut, Egypt's only queen temple, and concludes at Karnak Temple Complex, the largest temple structure in the world. Hotel pickup is included. Entry fees to the sites are separate.

Step-by-step itinerary

Stops and time spent at each

1. Valley of the Kings2h
2. Temple of Hatshepsut1h

Explore Luxor's ancient sites

• Visit the Valley of the Kings
• Tour the Temple of Hatshepsut
• Enjoy lunch at Luxor restaurant
• Visit Karnak Temple Complex

The experience

You're picked up from your Hurghada hotel and driven to Luxor, about 280 kilometers south. The Valley of the Kings opens the day: you walk into the rock-cut tombs where pharaohs and nobles of the New Kingdom were buried between the 16th and 11th centuries BC. Your Egyptologist guide explains what you're standing inside: the hieroglyphics, the burial chambers, the scale of what was built underground. The guide speaks English and can answer the questions that come up as you move through.

After the Valley, you stop at the Temple of Hatshepsut, the mortuary temple of the only queen to rule Egypt as pharaoh, then pause at the Colossi of Memnon: two massive statues that sit at the edge of the plain. Lunch happens at one of Luxor's restaurants, included in the price. The day ends at Karnak Temple Complex, a vast mix of temples, chapels and pylons near Luxor. You walk through the columns and courtyards of what was the religious center of ancient Egypt. The tour runs 12 hours total, and the air-conditioned vehicle waits between stops.

Bottled water is provided throughout the day. Entry fees to the Valley of the Kings, Hatshepsut Temple, and Karnak are not included and are paid separately at each site. The guide and driver expect tips, which are separate from the tour price.

What’s included

• Private air-conditioned vehicle for the full day.
• English-speaking Egyptologist guide.
• lunch at a Luxor restaurant.
• bottled water.
• hotel pickup and return to Hurghada.

Before you book

Days and timesEvery dayDeparts at 05:00

Book up to4h before

AgesAdult (12 to 75 years) · Child (4 to 11 years) · Infant (under 3): free

GroupPrivate

Live guideEnglish

Meeting point and pickupHotel pickup included.

Cancellation and refundsFree cancellation up to 24 h before the start. After that, no refund.It may be canceled due to bad weather. If that happens, you're offered another date or a refund.

Prices and times updated 4 days ago

Good to know

Moderate physical effortWheelchair accessibleAccessible transportStroller-friendlyInfant seats availablePublic transport nearbyNot recommended with heart problemsInfants must sit on laps

Operated by Hurghada Luxor Transfers

Is this one for you?The 12-hour day involves steady walking through the Valley of the Kings, temple sites and Karnak's expansive grounds, so book this if you're comfortable with several hours on your feet and an early start to fit everything in before the return drive to Hurghada.

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Top questions

Can children come?

Yes. Ticket types: Child (4 to 11 years); Infant (under 3): free.

What happens if it rains?

It may be canceled due to bad weather. If that happens, you're offered another date or a refund. Free cancellation up to 24 h before the start.

What is the Valley of the Kings and what will I see there?

The Valley of the Kings is a valley in Upper Egypt where rock-cut tombs were carved into the mountainside for nearly 500 years, from the 16th to 11th century BC. You'll walk inside these tombs, which held pharaohs and powerful nobles of the New Kingdom, and see the burial chambers and hieroglyphic inscriptions on the walls.

Is the Temple of Hatshepsut different from other temples in Egypt?

The Temple of Hatshepsut, also called the Djeser-Djeseru, is Egypt's only mortuary temple built for a queen. It's the only temple of its kind in the country, built for Hatshepsut, who ruled as pharaoh.

How large is Karnak Temple and what will I do there?

Karnak Temple Complex is the largest temple structure in the world. You'll walk through a vast mix of temples, chapels, pylons and courtyards that made up the religious center of ancient Egypt.

Does the tour include lunch and what else is provided?

Lunch at one of Luxor's restaurants is included in the tour price. The tour also includes an air-conditioned vehicle, bottled water throughout the day, and an English-speaking Egyptologist guide. Entry fees to the sites and tips for the guide and driver are separate.

What time does the tour start and how long does it take?

Hotel pickup is included, and the full tour runs 12 hours from start to finish, covering the drive from Hurghada to Luxor and back, plus all the stops in between.