Medinet Habu, Deir el-Medina & Valley of the Queens private tour

Three West Bank sites in one morning: temples, tombs and the village where ancient craftsmen lived

A private tour of Luxor's West Bank with a licensed English-speaking Egyptologist guide covers Medinet Habu (the mortuary temple of Ramesses III), Deir el-Medina (the ancient village of tomb workers), and Valley of the Queens (burial site of pharaohs' wives). Pickup starts at 7:00 am from your Luxor hotel or Nile cruise, and the tour runs 5 to 6 hours with lunch at a restaurant included. Entrance fees to all three sites are covered.

Step-by-step itinerary

Stops and time at each

1. Medinet Habu2h · entry included
2. Deir el-Medina2h · entry included
3. Valley of the Queens2h · entry included

Visit Habu Temples and Valleys

• Pickup from hotel or Nile cruise
• Transfer to West Bank of the Nile
• Visit Medinat Habu and temples
• Explore Deir el-Medina village
• Visit Valley of the Queens

The experience

Medinet Habu anchors the morning: the mortuary temple of Ramesses III sits on the West Bank near the Theban Hills, and inside its walls stand smaller temples including the Temple of Amun, built by Queen Hatshepsut and Thutmose III during the 18th Dynasty. A private air-conditioned vehicle takes you there from your hotel or cruise ship, and your guide walks you through the site's layout and what each structure meant in the New Kingdom period.

From there the tour moves to Deir el-Medina, the Valley of the Worker: an actual ancient Egyptian village where the skilled artisans and artists who carved the tombs in the Valley of the Kings and Valley of the Queens lived and were buried. It is one of the few places where you stand in the homes and streets of the people who built the monuments, not just the monuments themselves. The guide explains how these workers were organized and what their daily lives looked like during the 18th to 20th dynasties.

The tour ends at Valley of the Queens, where the wives of pharaohs were buried in ancient times. Known then as Ta-Set-Neferu, "the place of beauty", it holds a different kind of royal burial ground from the Valley of the Kings across the river. Lunch at a restaurant happens during the day, and all entrance fees, transport and the guide's time are included in the price.

What’s included

• Pickup at 7:00 am from your Luxor hotel or Nile cruise and return transport.
• private air-conditioned vehicle for all transfers.
• private licensed English-speaking Egyptologist guide.
• entrance fees to Medinet Habu, Deir el-Medina and Valley of the Queens.
• lunch at a restaurant.
• all service charges and taxes.

Before you book

Days and timesEvery day

Book up to12h before

AgesAdult (12 to 80 years) · Child (6 to 11 years) · Under 6: can't be included in the booking

GroupPrivate

Live guideEnglish, Spanish, French, German and Italian

Meeting point and pickupHotel pickup included.You can choose from 43 pickup points.

Cancellation and refundsFree cancellation up to 24 h before the start. After that, no refund.It may be canceled due to bad weather. If that happens, you're offered another date or a refund.

Prices and times updated 15 days ago

Good to know

Easy physical levelWheelchair accessibleAccessible transportStroller friendlyInfant seats available

Operated by 3 stars travel

Is this one for you?Hotel or cruise pickup at 7:00 am means you don't need a car or arrange your own transport to the West Bank sites. The guide handles the route and timing so the three temples and villages fit into a single morning without backtracking.

Traveler reviews

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Top questions

What languages is the guide in?

Live guide in English, Spanish, French, German and Italian.

Can children come?

Yes. Ticket types: Child (6 to 11 years). Under 6: they can't be included in the booking.

What happens if it rains?

It may be canceled due to bad weather. If that happens, you're offered another date or a refund. Free cancellation up to 24 h before the start.

What is Medinet Habu and why does the tour start there?

Medinet Habu is the mortuary temple of Ramesses III, a major New Kingdom structure on Luxor's West Bank near the Theban Hills. It contains smaller temples inside, including the Temple of Amun built by Queen Hatshepsut and Thutmose III, and the tour uses it as the entry point to understanding the West Bank's temple landscape.

Who lived in Deir el-Medina and what can you see there?

Deir el-Medina was home to the skilled workers and artists who carved the tombs in the Valley of the Kings and Valley of the Queens during the 18th to 20th dynasties. You walk through the actual village where these craftsmen lived and were buried, one of the few places where you see the homes and streets of the people who built the monuments.

Why is Valley of the Queens a separate burial ground from Valley of the Kings?

Valley of the Queens, known in ancient times as Ta-Set-Neferu or "the place of beauty," was the burial site for the wives of pharaohs, while the Valley of the Kings across the river held the pharaohs themselves. The tour ends here to show the different royal burial practices of the New Kingdom.

What time does the tour start and what's included in the price?

Pickup begins at 7:00 am from your Luxor hotel or Nile cruise. The price covers all entrance fees to the three sites, transport in a private air-conditioned vehicle, lunch at a restaurant, and a private licensed Egyptologist guide who speaks English.