Luxor West Bank Tombs & Temples Day Trip with Guide

Summary

Valley of the Kings & Hatshepsut Temple Tour from Luxor

Get ready to explore Luxor’s West Bank with a local guide: walk through royal tombs in the Valley of the Kings, stand beneath ancient statues at Memnon, trace battle carvings at Medinet Habu, and climb up to Hatshepsut’s cliffside temple. These are moments you’ll remember long after you leave Egypt.

What’s the experience like?

“You see that crack?” our guide, Ahmed, pointed at the stone wall just as we ducked into the first tomb in the Valley of the Kings. The air inside was cooler than I expected — almost damp, with this faint mineral smell that clung to my shirt for hours. I tried to imagine what it was like for the workers carving these tunnels by torchlight. Ahmed told us stories about Ramesses IX and how his tomb’s colors survived all these centuries. Someone behind me whispered something about Indiana Jones, which made us all laugh — but honestly, it did feel a bit like stepping into a movie set, except everything here is real.

The drive between sites was quiet, except for the hum of the van’s AC and Ahmed’s stories drifting back from the front seat. We stopped at the Colossi of Memnon — two massive statues just standing there in the sun, looking out over fields and road traffic like they’d seen it all before. A local kid waved at us from his donkey cart. I tried to take a photo but my camera fogged up (the heat does weird things). At Medinet Habu, I ran my hand along carvings that felt almost sharp still — you could see battle scenes right there in stone. It’s strange how close you can get to history here.

I didn’t expect to be so taken with the Tombs of the Nobles. They’re less famous than Tutankhamun’s place but somehow more personal — painted scenes of people fishing or baking bread, not just gods and pharaohs. Ahmed translated some of the hieroglyphs for us; he grinned when I tried repeating one word (I definitely got it wrong). By midday, sweat was trickling down my back but nobody seemed to mind anymore. The cliffs around Hatshepsut’s Temple looked almost pink in the late light — hard to describe unless you’ve seen it yourself.

Step-by-step itinerary

Day 1 — Explore Luxor's Ancient Sites

• Meet NASCO Tours representative
• Visit Valley of the Kings
• Travel to Colossi of Memnon
• Photo stop at Colossi of Memnon
• Travel to Medinet Habu
• Explore Medinet Habu temple
• Travel to Tombs of the Nobles
• Visit Tombs of the Nobles
• Travel to Temple of Hatshepsut
• Visit Temple of Hatshepsut
• Return to hotel

Top questions

How long does this Luxor West Bank day trip take?

The tour usually lasts around 6–7 hours including hotel pickup and drop-off.

Is lunch included on this tour?

No lunch is included; bring snacks or ask your guide for local recommendations during breaks.

Which tombs can I visit in Valley of the Kings?

Your ticket covers entry to three open tombs such as Ramesses IV or Merenptah; others like Tutankhamun require extra tickets.

Is this tour suitable for kids or older travelers?

The tour is suitable for most fitness levels; infants seats are available on request but some walking is required inside sites.

What’s included

Your day includes hotel pickup in an air-conditioned vehicle, entry fees for main sites on Luxor’s West Bank (including three tombs in Valley of the Kings), and guiding throughout by a knowledgeable local who brings Egypt’s history to life before returning you comfortably to your hotel.