Luxor East & West Banks tour: Valley of the Kings and temples

Two banks, five major sites, one day without arranging the stops

A private full-day tour of Luxor's East and West Banks visiting the Valley of the Kings, Temple of Hatshepsut, Colossi of Memnon, Karnak Temple, and Luxor Temple with hotel or airport pickup and private air-conditioned transport. You choose whether to add a licensed guide, entrance fees, and lunch at checkout. Bottled water is included in all options.

Step-by-step itinerary

Stops and time spent at each

1. Colossi of Memnon15m
2. Valley of the Kings2h
3. Temple of Hatshepsut45m
4. Karnak Temple2h
5. Luxor Temple1h

Explore Luxor East and West Banks

• Visit the Colossi of Memnon
• Explore the Valley of the Kings
• Tour the Temple of Hatshepsut
• Discover Karnak Temple
• Visit Luxor Temple

The experience

How do you fit the Valley of the Kings, Hatshepsut's temple, and Karnak into a single day without spending half of it organizing transport? The answer is a private car and driver who knows the route. You get picked up from your hotel, cruise ship, airport, or train station in Luxor and move between sites in an air-conditioned vehicle: no shared minibus, no fixed group schedule, no waiting for other travelers. The driver handles the logistics. You decide the pace at each stop.

The West Bank holds the tombs and the mortuary temples. The Colossi of Memnon (two massive stone statues of Pharaoh Amenhotep III that have stood since 1350 BC) mark the entrance to the Theban Necropolis. From there, the Valley of the Kings opens up: rock-cut tombs carved into the cliffs over nearly 500 years, where pharaohs and nobles of the New Kingdom were buried. The standard ticket gives access to three tombs. If you want to enter special tombs like Seti I or Tutankhamun, those require an additional ticket arranged on the day. The Temple of Hatshepsut rises in three massive terraces above the desert floor at Deir el-Bahari, considered a masterpiece of ancient architecture. The Colossi of Memnon stand nearby, their surfaces still bearing over 100 inscriptions left by ancient Greek and Roman visitors.

The East Bank holds the living temples. Karnak Temple Complex sprawls across a vast mix of decayed temples, pylons, and chapels: the largest religious complex in ancient Egypt. Luxor Temple sits on the opposite bank of the Nile, built around 1400 BCE and dedicated not to a god but to the rejuvenation of kingship. It may have been where pharaohs were crowned. Both are UNESCO World Heritage sites. The day ends with your return to your starting point. Bottled water comes with every option. If you book the guide and lunch add-on, both are included.

What’s included

• Private air-conditioned vehicle with pickup and drop-off from your hotel, cruise ship, airport, or train station.
• bottled water throughout the day.
• a licensed guide in English or Spanish (if you choose that option).
• entrance fees to all five sites (if you choose the full package).
• and lunch (if you choose the full package).

Options for this experience

3 options

Car onlyGuide in English or Spanish · 5 departure times: the first at 06:00, the last at 10:00Pickup is included

Includes a private car, a tour guide, and lunchGuide in English or Spanish · 5 departure times: the first at 06:00, the last at 10:00Pickup is included

Includes car, guide, entry fees, and lunchGuide in English or Spanish · 5 departure times: the first at 06:00, the last at 10:00Entry fees for all sites are included; pickup is included

You pick the guide language when booking.

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

Before you book

Days and timesEvery day5 departure times: the first at 06:00, the last at 10:00

Book up toStart time

AgesAdult (9 and older) · Infant (under 9): free

GroupPrivate

Live guideEnglish and Spanish

Meeting point and pickupHotel pickup included.

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

Prices and times updated 5 days ago

Good to know

Low physical effortWheelchair accessibleAccessible transportStroller-friendly

Operated by Luxor Safe Tours & Taxi

Is this one for you?Book the car-only option if you prefer to explore at your own pace and already know what you want to see. Add the guide if you want context and stories about what each temple and tomb represents. The full package with guide, fees, and lunch suits travelers who want everything arranged so the day holds together without decisions at each stop.

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Top questions

What languages is the tour guided in?

Live guide in English and Spanish.

Can children come?

Yes. Ticket types: Infant (under 9): free.

Can I do this tour if I'm staying on a cruise ship in Luxor?

Yes. Pickup is available from your cruise ship as well as from hotels, the airport, or the train station. The driver will meet you at the agreed time and return you before your ship departs.

What's the difference between the three booking options?

The car-only option gives you private transport and a driver. You explore the sites independently. Adding a guide means a licensed English or Spanish speaker accompanies you and explains what you're seeing. The third option bundles the guide with entrance fees to all five sites and lunch, so nothing else needs arranging.

Does the standard Valley of the Kings ticket let me into all the tombs?

The standard ticket includes access to three tombs. Tutankhamun's tomb and Seti I's tomb are among the most famous but require separate tickets, which can be purchased on the day for an additional cost.

How long does this tour actually take?

The tour runs six to eight hours depending on how long you spend at each site. You set the pace: some travelers move quickly through all five locations, while others spend more time inside the temples and tombs.

Is the Temple of Hatshepsut hard to reach from the car park?

The temple sits on a hillside, and you walk up to it from the car park. The site is wheelchair accessible, and the walk is manageable for most fitness levels, though it involves some elevation.