Luxor West Bank tour: Valley of the Kings with Egyptologist guide

Walk inside four royal tombs, then stand before the statues that have watched over Luxor for three thousand years.

A private guided tour of Luxor's West Bank covers the Valley of the Kings, Temple of Hatshepsut and Colossi of Memnon with an Egyptologist guide, hotel pickup and drop-off, air-conditioned transport, and a traditional Egyptian lunch. The tour runs 4 to 8 hours depending on which sites you add. Entry fees are paid separately at each site. An Egyptologist leads the experience in English or Arabic, and the driver waits while you explore.

Step-by-step itinerary

Stops and time spent at each

1. Valley of the Kings1m
2. Temple of Hatshepsut1m
3. Colossi of Memnon1m

Explore Luxor West Bank highlights

• Hotel pickup in Luxor
• Visit Valley of the Kings tombs
• Tour Temple of Queen Hatshepsut
• See the Colossi of Memnon statues
• Enjoy traditional Egyptian lunch
• Return to hotel drop-off

The experience

The day starts with pickup from your hotel, then the car crosses to the West Bank where the tombs begin. You visit four royal tombs in the Valley of the Kings (including the Tomb of Ramses III, Rameses IV, and the Tomb of Merenptah) with the Egyptologist explaining the hieroglyphics, the burial practices and the stories of the pharaohs who rest inside. The tombs are decorated and the guide walks you through what each carving and chamber meant to the ancient Egyptians.

After the Valley, you stand before the Temple of Hatshepsut, the only woman ever to reign over Egypt as Pharaoh. The temple rises from the desert floor in terraces, and the Egyptologist places it in the context of her dynasty and her ancestor King Tutankhamun. Then you reach the Colossi of Memnon: two towering statues of Pharaoh Amenhotep III standing as silent guardians of a temple long gone. The guide explains what they once guarded and why they have survived when so much else has not.

The tour includes a traditional Egyptian lunch partway through, water throughout the day, and the air-conditioned car means you're not walking the entire 4 to 8 hours in the heat. If you want to add hidden sites like Medinet Habu or the Valley of the Queens, the guide can arrange that at checkout. The driver handles the logistics. You focus on what you're standing in front of.

What’s included

• Hotel pickup and drop-off in an air-conditioned car with a professional driver.
• a live Egyptologist guide in English or Arabic.
• a traditional Egyptian lunch.
• bottled water throughout the day.

Options for this experience

2 options

Tour with car and driverGuide in English or Arabic · 10 departure times: the first at 05:00, the last at 14:00West Bank day tour: Valley of the Kings, Hatshepsut Temple and Colossi of Memnon, with a bottle of water, an air-conditioned vehicle, and pickup included

Tour with guide and carGuide in English or Arabic · 10 departure times: the first at 05:00, the last at 14:00West Bank day tour: Valley of the Kings, Hatshepsut Temple and Colossi of Memnon, with a bottle of water, an air-conditioned vehicle, and pickup included

You pick the guide language when booking.

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

Before you book

Days and timesEvery day10 departure times: the first at 05:00, the last at 14:00

Book up toStart time

AgesAdult (12 and older) · Child (5 to 10 years) · Infant (under 5): free

GroupPrivate

Live guideEnglish and Arabic

Meeting point and pickupHotel pickup included.You can choose from 21 pickup points.

Cancellation and refundsFree cancellation up to 24 h before the start. After that, no refund.

Prices and times updated 9 days ago

Good to know

Low physical effortWheelchair accessibleInfant seats availablePublic transport nearby

Operated by Luxor Amon Tours

Is this one for you?Book this tour if you want an Egyptologist explaining the tombs and temples as you walk through them rather than reading placards alone. The private car and guide mean the pace is yours, and the fixed itinerary holds the three main sites inside a single afternoon without you building the schedule yourself.

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Top questions

What languages is the tour guided in?

Live guide in English and Arabic.

Can children come?

Yes. Ticket types: Child (5 to 10 years); Infant (under 5): free.

What tombs do I actually enter in the Valley of the Kings?

You visit four royal tombs: the Tomb of Ramses III, Rameses IV, the Tomb of Merenptah, and one other, all decorated with hieroglyphics and burial chambers the Egyptologist explains as you walk through them.

Is the Temple of Hatshepsut difficult to walk through?

The Temple of Hatshepsut is built in terraces rising from the desert, so there is walking involved, but the tour is suitable for all physical fitness levels and the Egyptologist sets the pace. The air-conditioned car transports you between sites.

Do I need to pay for entry to each site separately?

Yes, entry fees to the Valley of the Kings, Temple of Hatshepsut and Colossi of Memnon are not included in the tour price and are paid at each site when you arrive.

What happens if I want to see more sites than the main three?

The tour can be extended to include sites like Medinet Habu or the Valley of the Queens. You add these options at checkout and the guide arranges the timing so everything fits inside the day.

Is lunch included, and what kind of food is it?

A traditional Egyptian lunch is included partway through the tour, along with a bottle of water for each person throughout the day.