Luxor West Bank: Valley of Kings & Hatshepsut Temple Private Tour

Three thousand years in half a day: Luxor's West Bank without the tour bus crowds

You get picked up from your hotel or cruise ship at 7am and driven across the Nile to the West Bank in a private, air-conditioned vehicle. Your guide takes you through the Valley of the Kings (where pharaohs like Tutankhamun were buried), the Temple of Hatshepsut (built by Egypt's only female pharaoh), and the Colossi of Memnon, with water and snacks included. Entrance fees are separate, and the whole experience wraps in about four to five hours, leaving your afternoon free.

Step-by-step itinerary

Stops and time spent at each3 stops

1. Valley of the KingsEntry included1h
2. Temple of HatshepsutEntry included2h
3. Colossi of MemnonEntry included1h

Visit Luxor West Bank highlights

• Pickup from hotel or cruise at 7:00 am
• Transfer to Valley of the Kings
• Explore tombs of ancient pharaohs
• Visit Temple of Queen Hatshepsut
• See the Colossi of Memnon

The experience

"You cannot see this place on your own," the guide said as we pulled away from the hotel at 7am, and he was right. The West Bank spreads across kilometers of desert, and the sites (Valley of the Kings, Temple of Hatshepsut, the Colossi of Memnon) sit far enough apart that without a private vehicle and someone who knows where to go, you'd spend the morning lost or stuck negotiating with taxis. The pickup happens early, before the crowds arrive, and the air is still cool enough to walk without melting into your shirt.

The Valley of the Kings comes first. You're standing in front of tombs carved into rock faces, and your guide walks you through the names: Tutankhamun, Ramesses VI, Thutmosis III. These aren't replicas or artist renderings. They're the actual burial chambers where pharaohs were laid to rest, some of them still holding traces of paint and hieroglyphics on the walls. The scale of it hits different when you're there. After that, you head to the Temple of Hatshepsut, the mortuary temple of the only female pharaoh to rule Egypt, built around 1490 BC and still standing in these massive stone colonnades that look like they're holding up the cliff behind them. Then the Colossi of Memnon: two enormous statues, all that's left of Amenhotep III's temple, sitting alone in the desert like they're waiting for something.

The whole tour runs about four to five hours, which is why it's called a half-day. You're moving between sites in an air-conditioned vehicle, so you're not baking in the heat between stops. Bottled water is included, and if you want lunch at a local restaurant serving Egyptian food, that's an add-on you can choose when you book. The entrance fees to each site aren't included in the base price (you pay those separately at each location), but your guide handles the logistics, so you're not standing in a ticket line trying to figure out which window to approach.

This works best if you're staying in Luxor for just a day or two and want to hit the main West Bank sites without renting a car or joining a group tour. The private setup means you move at your own pace, ask questions without holding anyone else up, and don't spend an hour waiting for stragglers to get back on the bus.

What’s included

• Hotel or cruise ship pickup and drop-off.
• private air-conditioned vehicle for all transfers.
• private tour guide for the full half-day.
• bottled water.
• visits to the Valley of the Kings, Temple of Hatshepsut, and Colossi of Memnon. Entrance fees and lunch (if selected) are separate.

Options for this experience

4 options

Private car and tour guideGuide in 4 languages · 08:00 and 09:00Private car and tour guide, with pickup included

Private car with driver onlyGuide in 4 languages · 08:00 and 09:00Includes pickup

Car, tour guide and entry feesGuide in 4 languages · 08:00 and 09:00Duration: 4 hours. Includes car, tour guide and entry fees, and pickup is included

Car+Guide+Entry Fees+LunchGuide in 4 languages · 08:00 and 09:00Duration: 5 hours. Includes car, guide, entry fees and lunch, with pickup included

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

Before you book

Lasts 4h, runs every day at 08:00 and 09:00, from US$ 20 per person, with a live guide in English, Spanish, German and Arabic, as a private tour and with free cancellation up to 24 h before.

Days and timesEvery dayDepartures at 08:00 and 09:00

Book up to4h before

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

GroupPrivate

Live guideEnglish, Spanish, German and Arabic

Audio guideEnglish, Spanish, French, German, Italian and Arabic

Meeting point and pickupHotel pickup is optional; you can also go straight to the meeting point. Ends back at the starting point.

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

Prices and times updated 2 days ago

Good to know

Low physical effortInfant seats availablePublic transport nearby

Operated by Egypt Tours Online

Is this one for you?Book this if you're in Luxor for a short stay and want to see the main West Bank sites without arranging your own transport or joining a large group: the early 7am start and private vehicle mean you beat the crowds and move at your own pace.

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Top questions

What languages is the tour guided in?

Live guide in English, Spanish, German and Arabic.

Can children come?

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

What time does the tour start?

Pickup is at 7am from your hotel or cruise ship in Luxor.

How long is the tour?

About four to five hours, including travel time between sites.

Are entrance fees included?

No. Entry fees to the Valley of the Kings, Temple of Hatshepsut, and Colossi of Memnon are paid separately at each site.

Is lunch included?

Lunch at a local Egyptian restaurant is available as an optional add-on. Bottled water is included in the base price.

Can I book this if I'm staying on a cruise ship?

Yes. The tour includes round-trip pickup and drop-off from your cruise ship in Luxor.

Is the vehicle air-conditioned?

Yes, you travel in a private air-conditioned vehicle.

Will I be in a group or private tour?

This is a private tour with your own guide and vehicle, not a group tour.

What should I bring?

Sunscreen, a hat, comfortable walking shoes, and a camera. Water is provided, but you may want to bring extra.