Luxor West Bank: Private Temples & Tombs Day Tour with Lunch

Summary

Walk ancient tombs in Luxor’s West Bank with a local Egyptologist

You’ll step inside royal tombs in Luxor’s Valley of the Kings, stand beneath towering statues at Memnon, and climb through Hatshepsut’s sunlit terraces with an Egyptologist guide. Lunch is included along the way before you wander artisan villages and temples—expect moments that stick with you long after you’re back at your hotel.

What’s the experience like?

I didn’t expect the Colossi of Memnon to feel so quiet. We’d barely left the car when our guide, Mahmoud, waved us over—he pointed out a tiny bird perched right on the giant stone foot. There was this early morning haze over Luxor’s West Bank, and I remember thinking how old everything felt. Not just old-old, but like time was somehow thicker here. The statues looked both proud and a little battered by all those centuries of Nile wind.

The Valley of the Kings was next. It’s strange—walking down into the tombs, you can smell this faint dust and something almost metallic in the air. The colors on the walls still pop; blues and golds that shouldn’t have survived this long. Mahmoud kept telling stories about the pharaohs (he had a way of making them sound like real people), and there was a moment in one tomb where everyone just went quiet. I think we all felt it—the weight of being somewhere so private for someone else, thousands of years ago.

Lunch was simple but good—flatbread warm from the griddle, grilled chicken, and this tangy salad that I still crave sometimes. At Hatshepsut Temple, the sun bounced off pale stone cliffs so hard I had to squint. There were schoolkids running up the steps, laughing at each other’s photos. Later at Deir el-Medina, we met a local caretaker who let us peek into a workshop room; he smiled when I tried to thank him in Arabic (I probably messed it up). By Medinet Habu, my feet were tired but I didn’t really want to leave yet—you know that feeling?

Step-by-step itinerary

Day 1 — Explore Luxor West Bank temples and tombs

• Pick up from hotel in Luxor
• Visit Valley of the Kings, see 3 tombs
• Tour Temple of Queen Hatshepsut
• Explore Valley of the Queens
• Visit Deir el-Medina village
• See Medinet Habu temple
• View Colossi of Memnon statues
• Return to hotel in Luxor

Top questions

How long does the Luxor West Bank temples & tombs tour take?

This is a full-day tour starting in the morning and returning to your hotel in Luxor by late afternoon.

Is lunch included on this day trip from Luxor?

Yes, lunch is included if you select the option with Car+Guide+Entry+Lunch during booking.

Which sites are visited on this private tour?

You visit Valley of the Kings, Temple of Hatshepsut at Deir el-Bahari, Valley of the Queens, Deir el-Medina (Valley of the Artisans), Medinet Habu (Temple of Ramses III), and Colossi of Memnon.

Are entrance tickets included in this tour?

Entrance tickets are included if you choose that option during booking.

Is hotel pickup provided for this Luxor day trip?

Yes, hotel pickup and drop-off are provided within Luxor city limits.

Is this tour wheelchair accessible?

Yes, transportation and all areas visited are wheelchair accessible.

What’s included

Your day includes hotel pickup in Luxor by private air-conditioned vehicle with an Egyptologist guide leading each stop; entry fees if selected; bottled water during transfers; plus a traditional lunch before returning to your hotel in the afternoon.