Luxor & Valley of the Kings Day Trip from Hurghada with Tombs

Summary

Walk through pharaoh tombs and temples on a Luxor day trip

You’ll travel from Hurghada to Luxor with a local guide, wandering Karnak’s columns before crossing the Nile for lunch and a closer look at royal tombs in the Valley of the Kings—including Tutankhamun’s resting place. Alongside ancient temples and sun-baked statues, you might find yourself quietly awed by just how alive history feels out here.

What’s the experience like?

The first thing I remember is the light shifting as we left Hurghada behind—flat desert glare giving way to something softer near Luxor. Our guide, Mahmoud, had this habit of humming under his breath while he pointed out things I’d never have noticed: sugarcane fields, kids waving from battered bikes. By the time we reached Karnak Temple, it was already warm enough that my shirt stuck to my back. The columns felt cool though, somehow—stone holding onto night air longer than skin does. I tried tracing the hieroglyphics with my finger (probably frowned upon), just trying to imagine who else had stood here.

Lunch came at just the right moment—somewhere in Luxor, inside a restaurant with fans rattling overhead and that sharp smell of cumin and grilled meat drifting through. I’ll be honest, I’m not sure what half the dishes were called, but Mahmoud grinned when I tried everything anyway. There was this option to cross the Nile by boat (we went for it), which felt surreal—the water slow and greenish, locals waving from tiny boats, one kid shouting something about football. My shoes got a bit muddy getting off but nobody seemed to care.

The Valley of the Kings was quieter than I expected. Not silent—there’s always someone talking or laughing—but there’s this hush when you step into those tombs. The air changes; it smells faintly of dust and old stone. Seeing Tutankhamun’s tomb up close made me feel weirdly small—like all those stories in school suddenly meant something real. Mahmoud pointed out little details in the wall paintings: falcons, boats, fragments of color still clinging after thousands of years. He joked about how he could read hieroglyphics better than Arabic sometimes (not sure if he was serious). On the way back past Colossi of Memnon, I realized my phone battery was dead but honestly—I didn’t mind much.

Step-by-step itinerary

Day 1 — Day trip to Luxor historical sites

• Pick up from hotel in Hurghada
• Drive to Luxor
• Visit Karnak Temple
• Lunch at local restaurant
• Optional Nile motor boat crossing
• Visit Colossi of Memnon
• Visit Valley of the Kings
• Visit Temple of Hatshepsut
• Return to Hurghada hotel

Top questions

How long is the drive from Hurghada to Luxor?

It usually takes around 4 hours each way by air-conditioned vehicle.

Is hotel pickup included in this day trip?

Yes, free hotel pickup and drop-off are included in Hurghada.

Do you visit Tutankhamun's tomb on this tour?

Yes, you can see King Tutankhamun’s tomb in the Valley of the Kings.

Is lunch provided during the Luxor day trip?

Yes, lunch at a local restaurant in Luxor is included.

Are entrance fees covered in the price?

Entrance fees are included if you select that option during booking.

What sites are visited on this tour?

Karnak Temple, Valley of the Kings (including Tutankhamun’s tomb), Colossi of Memnon, Hatshepsut Temple.

Is there an Egyptologist guide on this trip?

Yes, an Egyptologist guide accompanies you throughout the tour.

Can you cross the Nile by boat on this tour?

A traditional motor boat ride across the Nile is offered as an optional activity.

What’s included

Your day includes hotel pickup and drop-off in Hurghada by air-conditioned vehicle, all entry fees if selected when booking, guidance from an Egyptologist who speaks your language, lunch at a local restaurant in Luxor (with plenty of Egyptian flavors), bottled water along the way—and then you’ll head back to your hotel after seeing those ancient sites up close.