Valley of the Kings & Hatshepsut Temple tour from Luxor

Three tombs and a queen's temple in one morning

A half-day tour of Luxor's West Bank takes you into the Valley of the Kings to explore three royal burial chambers, then to the mortuary temple of Queen Hatshepsut, one of ancient Egypt's rare female rulers. A private Egyptologist guide leads the route. Hotel pickup and all entrance fees are included. The Colossi of Memnon, two 60-foot limestone sentries from Pharaoh Amenhotep III's temple, frame the journey at the start.

Step-by-step itinerary

Stops and time spent at each2 stops

1. Valley of the KingsEntry included2h
2. Colossi of MemnonEntry included20m

Visit West Bank Temples and Tombs

• Pickup from hotel in Luxor
• Visit Valley of the Kings and 3 tombs
• Explore Temple of Queen Hatshepsut
• See the Colossi of Memnon statues
• Transfer back to hotel in Luxor

The experience

Your guide meets you at your Luxor hotel and drives you across the Nile to the West Bank in a private air-conditioned vehicle. The Valley of the Kings opens first: a narrow gorge where pharaohs from the 18th Dynasty onward chose to be buried rather than in pyramids. You enter three tombs (the tomb of King Tutankhamun is not included in this tour), walking into painted chambers carved deep into the rock where kings were laid to rest with the objects they would need in the afterlife. The guide explains the hieroglyphics, the burial rituals and why this hidden valley became the royal necropolis.

From the Valley, you move to the Temple of Hatshepsut at Deir el-Bahari, a mortuary temple unlike any other in Egypt. Built around 1479 BCE for the female pharaoh who ruled for roughly 20 years, the temple rises in three terraced colonnades cut directly into the cliff face. It was designed by the architect Senenmut and stands as one of ancient Egypt's most distinctive architectural achievements. Before or after the temple, you stop at the Colossi of Memnon: two massive quartzite statues, each standing 60 feet tall and weighing 700 tons, carved as guardians of Amenhotep III's mortuary complex. They sit alone in the fields now, all that remains of a larger temple that once surrounded them.

The tour runs 4 to 5 hours total. Bottled water is provided during the drive. You can book the tour with or without entrance tickets depending on your preference. If you choose the guide-and-car option, you'll purchase tickets separately at each site. Spanish-language guides are available if you request one at checkout. The driver returns you to your hotel when the tour ends.

What’s included

• Entrance fees to the Valley of the Kings, Hatshepsut Temple and the Colossi of Memnon.
• private English-speaking Egyptologist guide (if you select the guided option).
• hotel pickup and return in a private air-conditioned vehicle.
• bottled water during the tour.

Options for this experience

4 options

Car only, air-conditioned and privateUp to 30 per booking · Guide in English or Spanish · 11 departure times: the first at 05:30, the last at 13:30No guide, no tickets, includes pickup

Professional guide and carUp to 15 per booking · Guide in English or Spanish · 16 departure times: the first at 06:00, the last at 13:30Entry fees are paid by you, pickup is included

Half-day trip: Mamnon and Hatshepsut Temple, plus the Valley of the KingsUp to 15 per booking · Guide in English or Spanish · 15 departure times: the first at 06:00, the last at 13:30Professional guide, car and ticket, pickup is included

All-inclusive&Include tut tombUp to 15 per booking · Guide in English or Spanish · 13 departure times: the first at 05:30, the last at 13:30All-inclusive, includes pickup

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

Before you book

Lasts 4h–5h, runs every day, 17 start times, from US$ 14 per person, with a live guide in English and Spanish, as a private tour and with free cancellation up to 24 h before.

Days and timesEvery day17 departure times: the first at 05:30, the last at 13:30

Book up to4h before

AgesAdult (12 and older) · Child (6 to 11 years) · Infant (under 6): 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 accessibleStroller-friendlyInfant seats availablePublic transport nearby

Operated by Egypt Lovely Tours

Is this one for you?Choose the guided option if you want the history and the context: the guide's explanation of the hieroglyphics, the burial practices and Queen Hatshepsut's reign transforms what you're looking at from impressive architecture into a story. If you prefer to walk the sites at your own pace without narration, book the car-only option and explore independently.

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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: Child (6 to 11 years); Infant (under 6): free.

What exactly will I see inside the tombs in the Valley of the Kings?

You enter three royal burial chambers carved into the rock, each decorated with hieroglyphics and painted scenes depicting the pharaoh's journey to the afterlife and the objects placed there for the journey. The guide explains the symbols and the burial practices of the 18th Dynasty. The tomb of King Tutankhamun is not part of this tour.

How long did Queen Hatshepsut actually rule Egypt?

Queen Hatshepsut reigned for approximately 20 years during the 18th Dynasty, from around 1479 to 1458 BCE. She was one of the few female pharaohs in ancient Egypt, and the mortuary temple built for her at Deir el-Bahari is considered one of the most remarkable architectural achievements of the era.

Are the Colossi of Memnon worth stopping for, or are they just two big statues?

The Colossi are the last standing remnants of Pharaoh Amenhotep III's mortuary temple complex, built in the 14th century BCE. Each statue stands 60 feet tall, carved from a single block of quartzite sandstone and weighing 700 tons. They originally guarded the entrance to the temple and represented the pharaoh's divine power. Seeing them in the landscape gives a sense of the scale of what once stood there.

Is this tour physically demanding, or can I do it if I'm not very fit?

The tour is suitable for all physical fitness levels. The Valley of the Kings involves walking into the tombs, which are underground and accessed by stairs, but the pace is set by the guide. Wheelchair accessibility is available at the sites. If you're traveling with infants or small children, prams and strollers are permitted, and specialized infant seats are available in the vehicle.

Can I book this tour with or without a guide?

Yes. You can choose a private air-conditioned car only, or book the full tour with a private English-speaking Egyptologist guide who leads you through the sites and explains the history. If you want a Spanish-speaking guide, that's available at an additional cost. Hotel pickup is included with the guided tour option.