Luxor & Valley of the Kings Private Tour: Egyptologist Guide

Four temples and two massive statues, explained by someone who knows them

A private guided tour of Luxor visiting Valley of the Kings, Hatshepsut Temple, Karnak Temple and Colossi of Memnon, led by a professional Egyptologist who speaks your language. The tour runs 13 to 15 hours and includes all site tickets, lunch, an air-conditioned vehicle, hotel pickup and a Nile cruise. Nothing extra to arrange or pay for on the day.

Step-by-step itinerary

Stops and time spent at each4 stops

1. Karnak TempleEntry included2h
2. Valley of the KingsEntry included2h
3. Temple of HatshepsutEntry included2h
4. Colossi of Memnon20m

Explore Luxor and Nile Trip

• Visit Karnak Temple Complex
• Tour Valley of the Kings
• See Temple of Hatshepsut
• View Colossi of Memnon statues
• Enjoy Nile trip

The experience

The Egyptologist arrives at your hotel and drives you to Karnak Temple first, the largest temple complex of ancient Egypt and the main sanctuary of the New Kingdom. This is where the scale hits: a vast mix of decayed temples, chapels and pylons spread across the eastern bank of the Nile, 2.5 km from Luxor. The guide walks you through the ensemble dedicated to the Theban triad (Amon-Ra, his wife Mut and their son Khons), and explains what each structure meant to the civilization that built it.

From there you cross to the Valley of the Kings, where most of the pharaohs of the New Kingdom were buried, including Tutankhamun and Ramses. The tombs show elaborate preparations for the afterlife: mummification to preserve the body so the soul could reanimate it in the next world. You'll see the evidence of that belief carved into stone. Then comes Hatshepsut Temple at Deir al-Bahari on the west bank: a terrace temple built by the queen who became pharaoh, designed by the chief steward of Amun and called "the Holy of Holies." The Colossi of Memnon, two 3,400-year-old statues of Pharaoh Amenhotep III seated with their gaze fixed east toward the river and the rising sun, stand in the necropolis nearby.

Lunch is included and happens during the day. You also get a Nile cruise with no extra cost, and the vehicle is air-conditioned. Drinks come with you in the car. The guide is a licensed professional who speaks English, Spanish, Italian, French or one of several other languages, and stays with you the whole day to answer questions as they come up.

What’s included

• All site tickets for Valley of the Kings, Hatshepsut Temple, Karnak Temple and Colossi of Memnon.
• lunch.
• a full-day air-conditioned vehicle.
• a Nile cruise.
• drinks in the vehicle.
• hotel pickup and drop-off.
• all fees and taxes.

Before you book

Lasts 13h–15h, runs every day at 05:30, from US$ 280 per person, with live guides in 9 languages, as a private tour and with free cancellation up to 24 h before.

Days and timesEvery dayDeparts at 05:30

AgesAdult (12 and older) · Child (6 to 11 years) · Infant (under 6): free

GroupPrivate

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

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 14 days ago

Good to know

Low physical effortWheelchair accessibleAccessible transportInfant seats availablePublic transport nearby

Operated by Memnon Reisen

Is this one for you?Book this tour if you're traveling solo, as a couple, or with a small group and want a guide who stays with you all day to answer questions as they come up. The private format and the Egyptologist's expertise mean you're not following a crowd or moving at someone else's pace. You move through each site at the depth that interests you.

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Top questions

What languages is the tour guided in?

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

Can children come?

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

What is Karnak Temple and why is it the first stop?

Karnak Temple is the largest temple complex of ancient Egypt and the main state sanctuary of the New Kingdom, located 2.5 km from Luxor on the eastern bank of the Nile. It comprises temples, chapels and pylons dedicated to the Theban triad (Amon-Ra, his wife Mut and their son Khons), and is the most important antiquities site of ancient Egyptian civilization, so the tour opens there.

Can I see inside the tombs in the Valley of the Kings?

The Valley of the Kings is where most New Kingdom pharaohs were buried, including Tutankhamun and Ramses. The tombs show the elaborate preparations for the afterlife and the mummification practices used to preserve the body, and you'll visit them as part of the tour.

Who was Hatshepsut and what makes her temple special?

Hatshepsut (c.1473–1458 BC) was a queen who became pharaoh and was very beloved by her people. She built a magnificent terrace temple at Deir al-Bahari on the west bank of Luxor, designed by the chief steward of Amun and called "the Holy of Holies": one of the world's most striking architectural masterpieces.

What are the Colossi of Memnon?

The Colossi of Memnon are two giant stone statues of Pharaoh Amenhotep III, built in the 14th century BC. They have stood in the necropolis of Thebes for the past 3,400 years on the west bank of the Nile, with the pharaoh seated and his gaze directed east toward the river and the rising sun.

Is the Nile cruise included in the price, or is it extra?

The Nile cruise is included in the tour price with no additional charge. Drinks in the vehicle are also included throughout the day.