Luxor West Bank: Valley of the Kings & Hatshepsut Private Tour

Three Hours Across the Nile to Egypt's Royal Tombs

You cross the Nile with a private Egyptologist guide, spend the morning at the Valley of the Kings tombs and Hatshepsut's temple on the West Bank, and return with a photo stop at the Colossi of Memnon. Hotel pickup and air-conditioned transport are included. You set the time at each site, and the guide explains what you're seeing without entering the tombs themselves.

Step-by-step itinerary

Stops and time spent at each

1. Valley of the Kings1h 30m · entry included
2. Temple of Hatshepsut1h 20m · entry included
3. Colossi of Memnon20m

Explore Luxor West Bank highlights

• Cross Nile to West Bank
• Visit Valley of the Kings
• Stop at visitors center
• Tour Temple of Hatshepsut
• Free time to explore temple
• Photo stop at Colossi of Memnon

The experience

The guide shows up at your hotel before sunrise, and you cross the Nile in an air-conditioned minivan while the West Bank is still quiet. He knows the rhythm of the morning (when the crowds arrive, when the light hits the temple walls), and he's timed the route so you're at the Valley of the Kings when the site opens. Your guide can't go inside the tombs themselves (Egyptian law keeps them guide-free), but he walks you through what to look for in the painted burial chambers: the boat scenes, the hieroglyphic texts, the way the ancient artists filled every inch of stone. If you want to see Tutankhamun's tomb, that's an extra ticket you buy on the spot.

From there you drive to the Temple of Hatshepsut, and the scale of it stops you. Three terraces stacked against the cliff, colonnades stretching across the courtyard, and your guide tells you the story of the woman who ruled Egypt by pretending to be a man: how she dressed as a pharaoh, how her successor tried to erase her from history, how her temple survived anyway. You get free time to walk the courtyards yourself, read the hieroglyphics carved into the walls, stand in the shadows where the columns are thickest. The heat builds as the morning goes on, but the minivan is cool when you need it.

On the way back to Luxor, there's a stop at the Colossi of Memnon: two massive stone statues sitting alone in the fields, all that's left of a temple that's been gone for centuries. Your guide explains what stood there once, and you take a photo. The whole tour runs a few hours, flexible: you spend as long as you want at each place, and the guide adjusts the pace to what you need. Hotel drop-off happens mid-morning, and you're back with the rest of your day ahead.

What’s included

• Your day includes hotel pickup and drop-off in an air-conditioned minivan, a private Egyptologist guide, entry to the Valley of the Kings and Hatshepsut Temple, and a photo stop at the Colossi of Memnon.
• The guide does not enter the tombs but explains the hieroglyphics and burial chamber layouts.
• Additional entry to Tutankhamun's tomb is available for a separate fee paid on-site.

Before you book

Days and timesThursday to SaturdayDeparts at 07:00

Book up to2d before

AgesAdult (12 and older) · Child (3 to 11 years) · Infant (under 3): free

GroupPrivate

Live guideEnglish, Spanish, French, German, Italian, Arabic and Russian

Meeting point and pickupHotel pickup included.You can choose from 2 pickup points.

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-friendlyInfants must sit on laps

Operated by South Sinai Travel

Is this one for you?Book this if you want the main West Bank sites without arranging your own transport or timing: the private guide and flexible pace mean you spend as long as you need at each temple and tomb, and the early morning start gets you there before the crowds.

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Top questions

What languages is the tour guided in?

Live guide in English, Spanish, French, German, Italian, Arabic and Russian.

Can children come?

Yes. Ticket types: Child (3 to 11 years); Infant (under 3): free.

Can the guide go inside the tombs at Valley of the Kings?

No. Egyptian law prohibits guides inside the burial chambers, but your guide explains what to look for in the painted walls and hieroglyphics before you enter.

Is entry to Tutankhamun's tomb included?

No. Standard Valley of the Kings entry is included. Tutankhamun's tomb requires an additional ticket you purchase on-site.

How long does the tour take?

The tour runs a few hours in the morning. You control how long you spend at each site: Valley of the Kings, Hatshepsut Temple, and the Colossi of Memnon.

Is hotel pickup included?

Yes. The minivan picks you up from your Luxor hotel and returns you there at the end of the tour.

What if I use a wheelchair or stroller?

The tour is wheelchair accessible. Strollers and prams are suitable for families with small children.

Is the minivan air-conditioned?

Yes. Transport is by air-conditioned minivans.

Can infants come on this tour?

Yes. Infants sit on an adult's lap, and the tour is suitable for all fitness levels.