Luxor: Valley of Kings & Hatshepsut Temple Private Tour

Four hours on the West Bank: tombs, temples, and the woman who ruled Egypt as a man

You cross the Nile to the West Bank with a private Egyptologist guide, spend unhurried time in the Valley of the Kings tombs, walk through the Temple of Hatshepsut, see the Colossi of Memnon, and stop for lunch: all in four hours with hotel pickup and drop-off included, so you skip the logistics and keep the experience.

Step-by-step itinerary

Stops and time spent at each2 stops

1. Valley of the Kings2h
2. Temple of Hatshepsut2h

West Bank tour: Valley Kings and temples

• Cross Nile to West Bank
• Visit Valley of the Kings tombs
• Explore Temple of Hatshepsut
• See Colossi of Memnon
• Stop for light lunch
• Return to hotel

The experience

"The tourists, they always ask the same question first," our guide said as the car pulled away from the hotel, crossing the Nile toward the West Bank. "Why did she pretend to be a man?" He meant Hatshepsut, the female pharaoh who ruled for twenty years and whose temple we'd see in a few hours. That question, and the answer, is what makes this private Luxor tour different from the usual rush through the sites. You get four hours, not two. You get an Egyptologist who knows the stories behind the stones, not just the names. And you get a private air-conditioned car, so there's no haggling with drivers or waiting for a group to assemble.

The Valley of the Kings comes first, across the river in the necropolis of ancient Thebes. Your guide walks you past the tombs of Tutmosis I, Tutmosis III, Tutankhamun, Ramesses VI, Mrenptah and Amenhotep II: the burial places of the pharaohs themselves. The air is dry and still inside the tombs. The walls are covered in hieroglyphics and painted figures that have survived thousands of years. You're not rushed through. You spend as long as you want at each one, asking questions, taking photos, letting the scale of it sink in. After that, the Temple of Hatshepsut rises up from the desert floor like nothing else you've seen: three terraces of limestone and columns, built by the woman who became king.

Before heading back, you'll stop at the Colossi of Memnon, two massive stone statues sitting alone in the fields, and then grab a light lunch: a falafel sandwich or koshry, depending on what you want. It's simple food, but it's the kind of break that lets you actually process what you've seen instead of just moving to the next stop. Hotel pickup and drop-off mean you don't have to figure out transport or timing. The car is waiting when you're done, and you're back by early afternoon.

What’s included

Your tour includes hotel pickup and drop-off in Luxor, a private air-conditioned vehicle for the day, a qualified Egyptologist guide, entrance fees to the Valley of the Kings and Temple of Hatshepsut, a light lunch (falafel sandwich or koshry), and bottled water. All taxes and fees are covered in the price.

Options for this experience

3 options

Driver-and-car service onlyGuide in English or Arabic · 8 departure times: the first at 07:00, the last at 13:00Car with driver only; excludes tour guide, lunch and entry fees; pickup is included

Car, driver, guide and lunchGuide in English or Arabic · 11 departure times: the first at 06:30, the last at 14:00Car, driver, guide and lunch; pickup is included

Best seller; everything is includedGuide in English or Arabic · 11 departure times: the first at 06:30, the last at 14:00Car, driver, lunch (falafel sandwich or koshary), guide and entry fees; pickup is included

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

Information

Lasts 4h, runs every day, 13 start times, from US$ 15 per person, with a live guide in English and Arabic, as a private tour and with free cancellation up to 24 h before.

Days and timesEvery day13 departure times: 06:30, 07:00, 08:00, 09:00, 09:30, 10:00, 10:30, 11:00, 11:30, 12:00, 13:00, 13:30 and 14:00

Book up toStart time

AgesAdult (6 to 80 years) · Child (under 6)

GroupPrivate1 in a group ›

Live guideEnglish and ArabicOther languages ›

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 7 days ago

Good to know

Low physical effort

Operated by Hesham Egypt tour guide

Is this one for you?Choose this if you want the main West Bank sites without arranging your own transport, timing the entry fees, or joining a group: the private car and guide mean you move at your own pace and get the stories behind what you're seeing.

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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 (under 6).

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.

How long is the tour?

Four hours total, including travel time, stops at the sites, and lunch.

What's included in the price?

Egyptologist guide, private air-conditioned vehicle, hotel pickup and drop-off, entrance fees to Valley of the Kings and Hatshepsut Temple, bottled water, and a light lunch.

Do I have to enter every tomb in the Valley of the Kings?

No. You visit the main area and choose which tombs to enter. Your guide explains the history of each.

Is lunch included?

Yes, a light lunch of either a falafel sandwich or koshry is included in the tour.

What time does the tour start?

Hotel pickup is arranged based on your preference. The tour itself runs four hours from the first site.

Is this tour suitable for people with mobility issues?

The tour is suitable for all fitness levels, though the Valley of the Kings involves walking and some uneven terrain inside the tombs.

Can I book this as a couple or small group?

Yes, this is a private tour, so it's just you, your guide, and your driver in the vehicle.

Do I need to bring anything?

Bring sunscreen, a hat, and comfortable walking shoes. Bottled water is provided.