Luxor: Sunrise Hot Air Balloon & Valley of the Kings Flight

What does Luxor look like from 1500 feet up at dawn?

You get picked up from your hotel or cruise ship before dawn, fly 30 to 45 minutes over the Valley of the Kings and Temple of Hatshepsut at 1500 feet, and return with tea, a certificate, and the kind of view that changes how you see those ruins on the ground. Hotel drop-off is included, so you don't arrange transport yourself.

Step-by-step itinerary

Hot air balloon flight over Luxor

• Pick up from your hotel
• Enjoy 30-45 minute hot air balloon flight
• Fly over the Valley of the Kings
• See Temple of Hatshepsut from the sky
• Land and return to your hotel

The experience

Hotel pickup happens before sunrise (the driver arrives quiet, the streets still half-asleep), and then you're heading to the launch site where the balloon envelope is already spread across the ground, massive and still. The pilots do their checks without fuss. You step into the basket, the burner fires, and within minutes the ground drops away. At 1500 feet, the Valley of the Kings spreads below you in a way no ground-level walk can show: the tombs cut into the cliffs, the winding paths, the whole geometry of the place suddenly legible. The light is still soft, almost gold, and the air is still.

The flight lasts 30 to 45 minutes, and you spend most of it watching the Temple of Hatshepsut emerge from the haze at Deir el Bahari: the terraced colonnades catching the early sun, the scale of it impossible to grasp until you're floating above it. Your guide points out the layout, the way the temple sits against the cliff face, but mostly you just look. The balloon drifts slow enough that you can actually see detail: the carved reliefs, the courtyards, the ramps. It's not rushed. The pilots know what they're doing (this company operates at that 1500-foot height specifically, which is higher than most), and the basket is steady.

After landing, there's tea and coffee while the crew packs the balloon, and you get a flight certificate before heading back to your hotel or cruise ship. The whole thing, from pickup to drop-off, takes about three hours. You're back before the day gets hot, before the crowds hit the temples, and you've already seen them from a perspective most people never get.

What’s included

Your experience includes private air-conditioned transportation with pickup from your hotel or cruise ship in Luxor, a 30 to 45 minute hot air balloon flight at 1500 feet over the Valley of the Kings and Temple of Hatshepsut, tea and coffee after landing, a flight certificate, insurance coverage, and drop-off back to your accommodation. All fees and taxes are included in the price.

Before you book

Lasts 3h, runs every day at 04:00, from US$ 103 per person, with a live guide in English and Arabic and with free cancellation up to 24 h before.

Days and timesEvery dayDeparts at 04:00

Book up toStart time

AgesAdult (12 to 60 years) · Child (7 to 11 years) · Under 7: can't be booked

GroupUp to 25

Live guideEnglish and Arabic

Meeting point and pickupHotel pickup included.You can choose from 29 pickup points.

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 today

Good to know

Low physical effortStroller-friendlyInfant seats availablePublic transport nearby

Operated by Nice tours

Is this one for you?Book this if you want to see Luxor's major temples from a perspective you can't get on foot, and you'd rather not arrange transport or timing yourself: the early pickup and fixed flight window handle both, leaving you free to just show up and look.

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Top questions

What languages is the tour guided in?

Live guide in English and Arabic.

Can children come?

Yes. Ticket types: Child (7 to 11 years). Children under 7 can't be included in the booking.

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 time does the balloon ride start?

Pickup is before sunrise. The exact time depends on the season and when dawn breaks in Luxor, but it's early, typically between 4:30 and 5:30 AM.

How long is the flight?

The flight itself is 30 to 45 minutes. The full experience, including pickup, landing, and drop-off, takes about three hours.

Can I book this if I'm staying on a cruise ship?

Yes. Pickup is available from cruise ships in Luxor as well as from hotels.

What's included in the price?

Hotel or cruise ship pickup and drop-off, the 30–45 minute flight, tea and coffee after landing, flight certificate, insurance, and all fees and taxes.

Do I need to be fit to do this?

No. The product is suitable for all physical fitness levels. You step into the basket and stand during the flight, but there's no climbing or strenuous activity.