Luxor Highlights Tour: Valley of the Kings & Karnak

Walk three tombs in the Valley of the Kings, then cross the Nile to stand before Karnak's thirty-pharaoh temple complex.

A private full-day tour of Luxor visits the Valley of the Kings (three tombs), Temple of Hatshepsut, Colossi of Memnon, Karnak temple and Luxor temple with an English-speaking Egyptologist guide, air-conditioned vehicle and lunch included. Hotel pickup is arranged. Entrance tickets to all sites are paid separately at each location.

Step-by-step itinerary

Stops and time spent at each

1. Valley of the Kings1h 30m
2. Temple of Hatshepsut1h 30m
3. Colossi of Memnon20m
4. Luxor Temple1h 30m

Explore Luxor's West and East Banks

• Visit 3 tombs in Valley of the Kings
• Tour Temple of Hatshepsut
• See the Colossi of Memnon
• Enjoy lunch at Malkata House terrace
• Visit Karnak temple complex
• Explore Luxor temple

The experience

The Valley of the Kings opens the day. Your guide walks you through three tombs on the West Bank, explaining the layout and stories of each before you explore them alone. The standard ticket covers three. Additional tombs like Tutankhamun's and Seti I's require separate payment at the site. From there, the Temple of Hatshepsut rises in three terraces above the desert floor: your guide points out the details of this mortuary temple built for the female Pharaoh Hatshepsut in the Eighteenth Dynasty, then leaves time for you to wander the colonnades yourself. The Colossi of Memnon, two colossal stone statues of Pharaoh Amenhotep III, close out the West Bank stops.

Lunch arrives on the roof terrace of the Malkata House, where the views stretch across the desert and the Valley of the Queens. Chef Hassan prepares authentic Egyptian dishes and will adjust for any dietary needs. This break sits in the middle of the day, so you return to the East Bank refreshed.

Karnak temple dominates the afternoon: the largest temple complex in Egypt, built over centuries by no fewer than thirty pharaohs. Your guide navigates the scale and the layered history, showing you which sections belong to which dynasties and what each ruler added. Luxor temple, standing in the city center on the Nile's edge, closes the tour. The guide shares the stories and architectural details that make it distinct from Karnak, and you have time to take in the setting as the day winds down.

What’s included

• Private air-conditioned vehicle with pickup from your hotel.
• English-speaking Egyptologist guide for the full day.
• lunch with authentic Egyptian dishes on the Malkata House terrace.
• access to the Valley of the Kings (three tombs on the standard ticket), Temple of Hatshepsut, Colossi of Memnon, Karnak temple and Luxor temple.

Before you book

Days and timesEvery day8 departure times: the first at 06:00, the last at 09:30

AgesAdult (12 and older) · Infant (under 3): free

GroupPrivate

Live guideEnglish

Meeting point and pickupHotel pickup included.

Cancellation and refundsNo refund if you cancel.

Prices and times updated 2 days ago

Good to know

Low physical effortWheelchair accessibleStroller-friendlyPets welcomeInfants must sit on laps

Operated by Far and Beyond Travel

Is this one for you?Choose this if you want live historical context at each site: your Egyptologist guide narrates in English throughout, so you absorb the story as you move rather than reading signs or filling gaps yourself.

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Top questions

Can children come?

Yes. Ticket types: Infant (under 3): free.

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

The Valley of the Kings tour includes three tombs on the standard ticket, with your guide explaining the layout, inscriptions and burial practices of each before you walk through them. The guide provides context about the valley's geography and significance, then you explore the interiors at your own pace. Tombs of famous pharaohs like Tutankhamun, Seti I and Ramses VI require additional tickets purchased separately at the site.

How long is the drive between the West Bank and East Bank sites?

The tour spans eight to nine hours total, including all five sites, lunch and travel time between the West Bank (Valley of the Kings, Hatshepsut, Colossi of Memnon) and the East Bank (Karnak and Luxor temples). Your driver handles the crossings in an air-conditioned vehicle, so you rest between major stops.

Is the Temple of Hatshepsut difficult to walk through?

The Temple of Hatshepsut is suitable for all physical fitness levels. Your guide shows you the highlights and special architectural details, then you have time to explore the three terraces and colonnades on your own. The site is wheelchair accessible, and infants can travel in a pram or stroller.

What kind of food is served at lunch, and can you accommodate dietary restrictions?

Lunch is authentic Egyptian cuisine prepared by chef Hassan on the Malkata House roof terrace. The chef will adjust dishes to accommodate any dietary requirements you mention when booking or upon arrival.

Will my guide speak English the entire day?

Yes, your Egyptologist guide speaks English throughout the tour and provides in-depth commentary at each site about the history, architecture and significance of the temples and tombs you visit.

Are entrance fees to the temples and tombs included in the tour price?

Entrance tickets to all sites are not included in the tour price and are paid separately at each location. The standard Valley of the Kings ticket covers three tombs. Additional tombs require extra payment at the site.