Luxor West Bank tour: Medinet Habu, Valley of Nobles, lunch

Three West Bank sites in one day with an Egyptologist who knows what the reliefs actually mean

A private tour of Luxor's West Bank with your own Egyptologist guide, visiting Medinet Habu (the mortuary temple of Ramses III), the Valley of the Nobles (a cemetery of over 500 decorated tombs), and Deir el-Medina (the ancient village of artisans who built the royal tombs). Hotel pickup, lunch, air-conditioned transport and bottled water are included. The tour runs about seven hours and suits all fitness levels.

Step-by-step itinerary

Stops and time spent at each

1. Medinet Habu1h 30m
2. Valley of the Nobles1h 30m
3. Colossi of Memnonpassing by

Explore Medinet Habu and West Bank

• Pickup from hotel
• Travel to Medinet Habu
• Tour Medinet Habu temple
• Visit Valley of the Nobles tombs
• Explore Deir el-Medina village
• Return to hotel

The experience

You start with pickup from your hotel and travel in a private air-conditioned vehicle to the West Bank. Your Egyptologist guide walks you through Medinet Habu first, the mortuary temple built during Ramses III's reign. The temple's reliefs still carry their original paint in places, and they document the pharaoh's wars against the Libyans and the Sea Peoples: scenes carved into stone over three thousand years ago and still legible. The guide reads the hieroglyphics and the narrative the walls tell, which is what separates standing in front of a temple from understanding it.

Next is the Valley of the Nobles, a cemetery carved into the rock that holds over 500 tombs belonging to Egyptian aristocracy. Unlike the royal tombs in the Valley of the Kings, these were less attractive to grave robbers, so their painted interiors (frescoes showing the daily lives and work of their owners) remain far better preserved. You enter a number of them with your guide, who explains what the scenes depict and why they matter. The site draws fewer crowds than the famous royal valley, which means you move through it without the press of tour groups.

The final stop is Deir el-Medina, an ancient Egyptian village that housed the artisans and workers who carved and decorated the tombs in the Valley of the Kings during the 18th to 20th dynasties. It is one of the few ancient settlements still standing in Egypt, and walking through it gives a sense of how these workers actually lived: the scale of their homes, the layout of their streets. You also pass the Colossi of Memnon, two 59-foot statues of Amenhotep III that mark the entrance to the West Bank's monuments. At the end of the tour, you're dropped back at your hotel or a location you choose. Lunch (koshary or falafel sandwiches) and bottled water are provided during the day.

What’s included

• Hotel pickup and drop-off in a private air-conditioned vehicle.
• a professional Egyptologist guide speaking your choice of language.
• entry to Medinet Habu, the Valley of the Nobles, and Deir el-Medina.
• lunch (koshary or falafel sandwiches).
• bottled water throughout the day.

Options for this experience

2 options

Private tour covering Medinet Habu, the Valley of the Nobles and Deir el Madina, with lunch includedGuide in 8 languages · 10 departure times: the first at 06:00, the last at 11:00Pickup is included

With ticketGuide in 8 languages · 10 departure times: the first at 06:00, the last at 11:00Entry fees; 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 day10 departure times: the first at 06:00, the last at 11:00

AgesAdult (15 to 88 years) · Under 15: can't be booked

GroupPrivate

Live guideEnglish, Spanish, French, German, Italian, Czech, Dutch and Russian

Meeting point and pickupHotel pickup included.

Cancellation and refundsFree cancellation up to 24 h before the start. After that, no refund.It may be canceled due to bad weather or if the minimum number of travelers isn't reached. If that happens, you're offered another date or a refund.

Prices and times updated 2 days ago

Good to know

Low physical effortInfants must sit on laps

Operated by Egypt Travel Square

Is this one for you?Choose this if you want a personal Egyptologist to decode the reliefs and inscriptions across three West Bank sites (Medinet Habu, the Valley of the Nobles, and Deir el-Medina) rather than reading plaques alone.

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Top questions

What languages is the tour guided in?

Live guide in English, Spanish, French, German, Italian, Czech, Russian and Dutch.

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 it matter?

Medinet Habu is the mortuary temple of Ramses III, built as both a religious monument and a memorial to his military victories. Its reliefs, many still painted, document his wars against the Libyans and the Sea Peoples: rare historical records carved directly into stone that your Egyptologist guide will explain as you walk through the temple.

Are the tombs in the Valley of the Nobles actually open to walk inside?

Yes. You enter a number of the decorated tombs during the tour. Because grave robbers historically favored the royal valley, these tombs retain their painted frescoes showing the daily lives and professions of the nobles buried there: much better preserved than many royal tombs.

What was Deir el-Medina used for?

Deir el-Medina was the village home to the artisans and workers who carved and decorated the tombs in the Valley of the Kings during the New Kingdom (1550–1080 BC). It is one of the oldest and few surviving ancient settlements in Egypt, and walking through it shows how these skilled workers actually lived.

Is lunch included, and what are the options?

Yes, lunch is included. You can choose either koshary (a traditional Egyptian rice, lentil and pasta dish) or falafel sandwiches, served during the tour day.

How long does the tour take, and will I be able to handle the walking?

The tour runs about seven hours from pickup to drop-off. It suits all physical fitness levels, though you'll be moving between sites and walking through temples and tombs. Wear comfortable shoes, sunscreen, a hat and sunglasses. Bring a camera if you want one.