Luxor West Bank tour: Valley Queens, Deir el-Medina, private

Three of Luxor's most layered monuments in one morning, without arranging the car or the guide

A private half-day tour of Luxor's West Bank takes you to the Valley of the Queens, where pharaohs' wives were buried; Deir el-Medina, the ancient village of the artisans who built the royal tombs; and Medinet Habu, the massive temple of Ramses III. An Egyptologist guide leads the tour in your choice of language, and a private air-conditioned car picks you up from your hotel and brings you back. The tour runs three to five hours depending on how long you linger at each site.

Step-by-step itinerary

Stops and time spent at each

1. Medinet Habu1h
2. Valley of the Queens1h
3. Deir el-Medina1h
4. Colossi of Memnon15m

Visit Luxor West Bank monuments

• Pickup from hotel by private car
• Visit Valley of the Queens
• Visit Deir el-Medina artisans village
• Visit Medinet Habu Temple of Ramses III
• Return to hotel or Nile Cruise

The experience

You're picked up from your hotel in a private air-conditioned car and driven to the West Bank monuments. The Egyptologist guide meets you there and structures the half-day around three stops, each one a different layer of ancient Luxor. The Valley of the Queens comes first: the burial ground where the wives of pharaohs were interred during the New Kingdom, known in antiquity as Ta-Set-Neferu, "the place of beauty." From there you move to Deir el-Medina, the workmen's village that housed the artisans and laborers who carved and decorated the royal tombs in the Valley of the Kings during the 18th to 20th Dynasties. You walk through the remains of their homes and visit the Temple of Hathor and the tombs of the workers themselves.

The final stop is Medinet Habu, the temple of Ramses III and one of the largest temple structures in the Theban Necropolis. The guide walks you through the complex and explains its place in the reign of Ramses III and the New Kingdom. Because the tour is private, the pace and the time spent at each site adjust to your interests. If one monument holds you longer, the guide can shift the schedule. Bottled water is provided throughout the tour.

At the end of the half-day, the driver returns you to your hotel or your Nile cruise ship. The guide speaks English, Spanish, Portuguese, Italian, and ten other languages, so you can book in the language you're most comfortable with. Entrance fees to the sites are separate from the tour price.

What’s included

• Private air-conditioned car and driver.
• hotel pickup and drop-off (or return to your Nile cruise).
• Egyptologist guide in your choice of language.
• bottled water throughout the tour.

Before you book

Days and timesEvery dayDeparts at 09:00

AgesAdult (12 to 80 years) · Child (6 to 11 years) · Infant (under 6): free

GroupPrivate

Live guideEnglish, Spanish, French, German, Italian, Portuguese, Arabic, Chinese, Danish, Dutch, Japanese, Korean, Russian and Swedish

Meeting point and pickupHotel pickup included.

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

Good to know

Low physical effortWheelchair accessibleStroller-friendlyInfant seats available

Operated by Visit Luxor Tours

Is this one for you?A half-day tour leaves your afternoon free for the East Bank or the Luxor Museum, so it works well if you're in the city for just one day or want to split the monuments across two. The private car and guide mean you move at your own pace and don't wait for a group to assemble or finish.

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Top questions

What languages is the tour guided in?

Live guide in English, Spanish, French, German, Italian, Portuguese, Russian, Swedish, Korean, Chinese, Arabic, Japanese, Danish and Dutch.

Can children come?

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

What is the Valley of the Queens and why was it important in ancient Egypt?

The Valley of the Queens was the burial site for the wives of pharaohs during the New Kingdom period. It was known in antiquity as Ta-Set-Neferu, meaning "the place of beauty," and served as the royal necropolis for queens while pharaohs themselves were buried in the Valley of the Kings.

Who lived at Deir el-Medina and what will I see there?

Deir el-Medina was an ancient workmen's village that housed the artisans, craftspeople and laborers who carved and decorated the royal tombs in the Valley of the Kings during the 18th to 20th Dynasties. On the tour you walk through the remains of their homes, visit the Temple of Hathor, and see the tombs of the workers themselves.

How long does the tour take and what time does it start?

The tour runs between three and five hours depending on how long you spend at each site. Your guide will coordinate the exact start time with you when they contact you after your booking is confirmed.

Is lunch included in this tour?

Lunch is optional and can be added at checkout if you'd like it included. Bottled water is provided throughout the tour as part of the standard package.

Do I need to arrange my own transportation to the West Bank?

No. Hotel pickup and drop-off are included, and you travel in a private air-conditioned car with the guide. If you're staying on a Nile cruise, the driver will return you to your ship at the end of the tour.