Private Day Trip to Luxor from Hurghada: Four Ancient Temples

Four of Egypt's greatest temples in one desert crossing

A private day trip from Hurghada to Luxor visits four major ancient sites (Karnak Temple, the Valley of the Kings, the Temple of Hatshepsut and the Colossi of Memnon) with hotel pickup, lunch and a multilingual guide covering 15 to 17 hours. You choose whether to add entrance fees to the booking or arrange them separately. Transfers from El Gouna, Sahl Hasheesh, Makadi Bay or Soma Bay carry an extra charge of $15.

Step-by-step itinerary

Stops and time spent at each

1. Sand City Hurghada4h
2. Karnak Temple1h 30m · entry included
3. Temple of Hatshepsut1h 30m · entry included
4. Colossi of Memnon30m

Luxor day trip from Hurghada

• Pick up early from Hurghada hotel
• Drive to Luxor with 20-minute break
• Visit Karnak Temple Complex
• Enjoy buffet lunch by the Nile
• Visit Temple of Hatshepsut
• See alabaster factory and shop
• Explore Valley of the Kings
• View Colossi of Memnon statues

The experience

The day starts before dawn with pickup from your Hurghada hotel in a private, air-conditioned car. The drive to Luxor crosses the desert. Around 7:00 a.m. there's a 20-minute stop where you can use the bathroom for a small fee or eat breakfast you've brought from the hotel. The guide speaks English, French, German or Russian and travels with you the entire day.

Karnak Temple is the first stop: a sprawling complex of temples, chapels and courtyards built over nearly 2,000 years and dedicated to the gods Amun, Mut and Khonsu. Ancient Egyptians called it "most select of places." After Karnak, you'll have lunch at a restaurant on the Nile with a buffet menu. Vegetarian options are available if you request one at booking. Then comes the Temple of Hatshepsut at Deir El-Bahri, built of limestone and arranged in three terraces that rise toward a cliff face. The temple was constructed to honor Queen Hatshepsut, who ruled in the 18th Dynasty. Near the temple sits an alabaster factory where you can watch craftspeople work and buy gifts. The bathroom is free and soft drinks are offered.

The Valley of the Kings holds 62 known royal tombs carved into the hills west of the Nile, burial sites of pharaohs from the 18th, 19th and 20th dynasties. The tombs descend through corridors with shafts designed to confuse robbers, leading to burial chambers where sarcophagi once held royal mummies. Your final stop is the Colossi of Memnon: two 60-foot limestone statues of Pharaoh Amenhotep III that weigh 720 tons each and stand on the western bank opposite Luxor. The return journey to Hurghada follows the same desert route, with drop-off at your hotel.

What’s included

• Hotel pickup and drop-off from Hurghada.
• private air-conditioned vehicle for the entire day.
• multilingual guide in English, French, German or Russian.
• lunch at a Nile-side restaurant with vegetarian options available.
• all service charges and taxes.
• free bathroom access and soft drinks at the alabaster factory near Hatshepsut Temple.

Options for this experience

2 options

Luxor tour, entrance fees not coveredGuide in 4 languages · No fixed timeLuxor tour, entrance fees to the listed Luxor sights not included (Karnak: 600 LE, Hatshepsut: 440 LE, Valley of the Kings: 750 LE); pickup is included

Luxor tour, entrance fees coveredGuide in 4 languages · No fixed timeLuxor tour, entrance fees to the listed Luxor sights are included; pickup is included

You pick the guide language when booking.

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

Before you book

Days and timesEvery day

AgesAdult (12 to 60 years) · Child (4 to 11 years) · Infant (1 to 3 years): free

GroupPrivate

Live guideEnglish, French, German and Russian

Meeting point and pickupHotel pickup included.

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

Prices and times updated 4 days ago

Good to know

Low physical effort

Operated by Pharaohs Tours

Is this one for you?Book the option with entrance fees included if you want everything arranged in one transaction. Choose the option without entrance if you prefer to buy tickets on arrival or already have a multi-site pass. Either way, the private vehicle and guide mean you set the pace at each temple without waiting for a group to gather.

Traveler reviews

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Top questions

What languages is the tour guided in?

Live guide in English, French, German and Russian.

Can children come?

Yes. Ticket types: Child (4 to 11 years); Infant (1 to 3 years): free.

How early do I need to wake up for the pickup from my Hurghada hotel?

Pickup happens very early in the morning. The exact time for your hotel is confirmed the day before the trip. The drive to Luxor takes several hours, so an early start is necessary to fit all four temples into one day.

What is the Karnak Temple Complex, and why is it called that?

Karnak Temple is a vast complex of temples, chapels and buildings on the east bank of the Nile in Luxor, built over nearly 2,000 years from around 2055 BC to 100 AD. The name comes from the Arabic word "Karnak," meaning "fortified village," because the site is arranged like a village rather than a single structure.

Can I see inside the tombs in the Valley of the Kings?

The Valley of the Kings contains 62 known royal tombs with descending corridors, shafts and burial chambers. Your guide will show you the tombs. Whether entrance fees are included depends on which option you choose at checkout.

How big are the Colossi of Memnon, and what were they built for?

The Colossi of Memnon are two limestone statues of Pharaoh Amenhotep III, each standing 60 feet tall and weighing approximately 720 tons. They were originally built to guard his mortuary temple on the western bank of the Nile.

Is lunch included, and can I request a vegetarian meal?

Lunch is included at a restaurant on the Nile with a buffet menu. Vegetarian options are available. Let the operator know at the time of booking if you need one.

What should I bring or wear for this long day in the desert?

Dress appropriately for the heat and sun exposure. Bring breakfast from your hotel if you want to eat during the 7:00 a.m. stop. The 20-minute break allows time to use the bathroom or have a meal before continuing to Luxor.