Luxor: Valley of Kings & Karnak Temple Private Tour with Lunch

★★★★★★★★★★ 4.72 (18 reviews)

Free cancellationExcellent quality

1/25

Duration8h

GroupUp to 15

LanguagesEN · AR

PickupAt your hotel

What you actually see in eight hours across Luxor's two banks

You visit five major sites across Luxor's West and East Banks in a single day with a private guide, air-conditioned transport, and lunch included. The guide is an Egyptologist who explains the burial rituals, architectural details, and the role of each temple. Hotel or airport pickup means you don't arrange transport yourself, and the fixed eight-hour schedule fits both banks into one afternoon.

Step-by-step itinerary

Explore Luxor East and West Banks

Visit Valley of the Kings
Tour Temple of Hatshepsut
Stop at Colossi of Memnon
Explore Karnak Temple complex
Visit Luxor Temple
Transfer back to hotel or cruise

The Experience

"So we're doing both sides in one day?" That's the question most people ask when they land in Luxor with limited time. The answer is yes, and it works because the route is planned to move you through the West Bank first—Valley of the Kings, Temple of Hatshepsut, the Colossi of Memnon—then across the river to Karnak and Luxor Temple on the East Bank. An air-conditioned vehicle picks you up from your hotel or airport, and an Egyptologist guide walks you through the burial rituals of the pharaohs, the architectural choices behind the Hypostyle Hall at Karnak (one of the world's great achievements, honestly), and why Hatshepsut was the only female pharaoh to actually rule. The pace is steady but not rushed, and you stop for lunch at a local restaurant partway through.

The West Bank hits first. Valley of the Kings holds 66 tombs across different dynasties, and the guide explains what you're looking at—the layout, the inscriptions, the logic of how they were hidden. Then you move to Hatshepsut's temple, which sits differently than the others, built into the cliff face rather than standing alone. The Colossi of Memnon are two massive sitting statues facing the Nile, and the stop is brief but the scale stays with you. After lunch, you cross to the East Bank, where Karnak Temple sprawls across nearly two miles with more than twenty temples inside it. The Hypostyle Hall alone—a forest of giant papyrus-shaped columns—takes time to walk through and understand. Luxor Temple closes out the day, built from Nubian sandstone and lit differently than the morning sites.

Bring sunglasses, a hat, and water—the Egyptian sun doesn't soften. The guide speaks your language (you choose when you book), and entry fees are included, though the Egyptian government only accepts Egyptian Pounds at the gates, so have cash. The whole day is eight hours, and you're back at your hotel or Nile cruise ship by evening.

What’s included

Your day includes hotel, airport, or train station pickup in a private air-conditioned vehicle, entry fees to all five sites (Valley of the Kings, Temple of Hatshepsut, Colossi of Memnon, Karnak Temple, and Luxor Temple), a professional Egyptologist guide in your chosen language, lunch at a local restaurant, bottled water, all taxes and parking fees, and return transport to your accommodation or cruise ship.

Good to know

Easy physical levelWheelchair accessibleAccessible transportPublic transport nearbyInfants must sit on laps

Operated by Egypt Best Holidays

Is this one for you?Right for travelers with one day in Luxor who want both banks covered without arranging transport or entry logistics themselves. The eight-hour schedule is full but paced for walking and learning, not rushing—expect to be on your feet for stretches, especially at Karnak Temple's vast complex.