Luxor: Valley of the Kings & Queens Day Tour with Hatshepsut

Summary

Walk ancient tombs in Luxor, see Hatshepsut’s temple and hear stories from your guide

You’ll walk through the Valley of the Kings with an Egyptologist guide, touch carved walls at Hatshepsut Temple, and see Medinet Habu’s colors up close. Lunch is included — simple but filling — plus hotel pickup and transfers so you don’t have to worry about getting around Luxor. Expect real stories, real people, and moments that stick with you long after.

Step-by-step itinerary

Day 1 — Explore Luxor's West Bank treasures

• Pick-up from hotel or Nile Cruise
• Transfer to West Bank in private A/C vehicle
• Visit the Valley of the Kings tombs
• Explore the Mortuary Temple of Hatshepsut
• Tour the Valley of the Queens burial site
• See the Colossi of Memnon statues
• Discover Medinet Habu temple complex
• Explore Deir el-Medina ancient village

Top questions

How long does the Valley of the Kings & Queens tour take?

This is a full-day tour from Luxor including multiple sites; expect around 8 hours total including transfers.

Is lunch included on this Luxor day trip?

Lunch is included if you choose the Car+Guide+Entry+Lunch option during booking.

What sites are visited on this tour?

You’ll visit Valley of the Kings, Temple of Hatshepsut, Valley of the Queens, Colossi of Memnon, Medinet Habu, and Deir el-Medina.

Does this tour include hotel pickup in Luxor?

Yes, private pickup from your hotel or Nile cruise in Luxor is included.

Are entrance tickets to attractions included?

Entrance tickets are included if selected during booking; check your chosen option.

Is this tour suitable for children or elderly travelers?

The tour is suitable for all fitness levels; infants must sit on an adult's lap during transfers.

Will there be a local guide on this day trip?

A licensed Egyptologist guide accompanies you throughout if selected during booking.

How do we travel between sites in Luxor?

You’ll travel in a private air-conditioned vehicle between all attractions on the West Bank.

What’s included

Your day includes private hotel pickup in Luxor (or from your Nile cruise), entry fees to all main sites if selected during booking, bottled mineral water to keep you going under the sun, transfers by private air-conditioned car with an expert Egyptologist guiding you through every stop, plus lunch when you choose that option—before returning back to your hotel at day’s end.

What’s the experience like?

Someone hands me a cold bottle of water before we even leave the hotel lobby — I’m already grateful. The drive out to the West Bank feels quiet at first, like everyone’s saving their words for what’s coming. Our guide, Ahmed, points out where the Nile bends and jokes about how his grandmother still swears by old remedies for sunburn. I’m not sure if he’s serious. When we finally step into the Valley of the Kings, it hits me how dry the air feels here, almost like you can taste dust and stone. The tombs are colder than I expected; I trail my fingers along carvings that look new but are older than most countries. Ahmed tells us about Seti I and Tutankhamun — he says “Tut” with this little smile, like he’s met him before.

The Temple of Hatshepsut is just… different. It rises out of rock so cleanly it looks modern from far away. Up close you see chipped paint and hear kids laughing somewhere behind a column. There’s a faint smell of incense — not sure if it’s real or in my head after all these stories about rituals. Lunch comes later than I’d hoped (I was starving), but it’s simple and good: bread that flakes everywhere and something spicy that Ahmed calls “just Egyptian salad.” After that we’re off again — Colossi of Memnon looming up out of nowhere, then Medinet Habu where birds nest in cracks above painted ceilings.

I didn’t expect Deir el-Medina to feel so personal. The houses are small, close together, like you could whisper secrets between walls. Our guide tells us about workers who built royal tombs by day and painted their own by night — there’s something honest about that kind of pride. I still think about those tiny painted rooms more than any gold mask or statue. By the end my shoes were full of sand and my head was buzzing with names I couldn’t pronounce right (Ahmed laughed when I tried). So yeah — if you want a day trip from Luxor that actually feels human, this is it.