Private Valley of the Kings tour from Luxor: 4 temples in one day

Walk inside royal tombs, then stand before three mortuary temples built into the desert cliffs

A private guided tour of Luxor's West Bank takes you to the Valley of the Kings, where you enter three open royal tombs, then visits the Temple of Hatshepsut, Medinet Habu and the Colossi of Memnon. An Egyptologist guide explains the pharaohs and the ancient beliefs about the afterlife as you move between sites. Hotel pickup, lunch at a local restaurant and bottled water are included. Entrance tickets are separate.

Step-by-step itinerary

Stops and time spent at each

1. Valley of the Kings2h
2. Temple of Hatshepsut1h
3. Medinet Habu1h
4. Colossi of Memnon10m

Explore West Bank and Ancient Temples

• Visit Valley of the Kings tombs
• See alabaster stone workshop
• Tour Temple of Queen Hatshepsut
• Visit Mortuary Temple of Ramses III
• View Colossi of Memnon
• Enjoy lunch at local restaurant
• Return to accommodation in Luxor

The experience

The tour starts at your hotel and heads to the Valley of the Kings, where 64 pharaohs were buried in mountain-cut tombs over centuries. Your tickets give you access to three of the open tombs. You walk inside the actual burial chambers and see the painted walls and carved hieroglyphics that have survived thousands of years. The guide explains who was buried where and what the inscriptions meant to the ancient Egyptians. After the valley, you stop at an alabaster workshop to see how ancient craftsmen worked the stone and shaped it into vessels and statues.

From there, the tour moves to the Temple of Hatshepsut, a queen who ruled Egypt and built a mortuary temple with three terraces cut directly into the cliff face. You walk through the colonnaded courts and learn how she presented herself as pharaoh. Next is Medinet Habu, the mortuary temple of Ramses III, which the guide describes as the largest and most intact temple on the West Bank. The final stop is the Colossi of Memnon, two colossal statues of Amenhotep III that stand alone in the fields. They're what remains of his mortuary temple. Lunch at a local restaurant follows, with options for grilled meat, shawarma or vegetarian dishes. The driver then returns you to your hotel.

The tour runs 5 to 6 hours total and moves by air-conditioned vehicle between sites. You're traveling with a private guide in English, so the pace and the depth of explanation are set for you alone. If you want to see additional tombs at the Valley of the Kings (Tutankhamun, Ramses V or Seti I), those tickets can be purchased separately on the day.

What’s included

• Private air-conditioned transportation from your hotel.
• an Egyptologist guide speaking English.
• bottled water and traditional drinks.
• lunch at a local restaurant with meat, shawarma or vegetarian choices.

Before you book

Days and timesEvery dayDepartures at 06:30, 08:00 and 11:00

AgesAdult (13 and older) · Child (3 to 12 years) · Infant (under 3): free

GroupPrivate

Live guideEnglish

Meeting point and pickupHotel pickup included.You can choose from 2 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 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 6 days ago

Good to know

Low physical effortWheelchair accessibleAccessible transportStroller-friendly

Operated by Egypt Customized Tours

Is this one for you?The private format means the guide adjusts the pace and the depth of explanation to what you want to know, and the fixed itinerary holds all four major West Bank sites inside a single afternoon. You don't arrange transport between them or decide which temples matter most.

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Top questions

Can children come?

Yes. Ticket types: Child (3 to 12 years); Infant (under 3): free.

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's actually inside the tombs at the Valley of the Kings?

The three open tombs included with your ticket are burial chambers carved into the mountainside, with painted walls, hieroglyphic inscriptions and carved reliefs that show the pharaoh's journey to the afterlife. The guide explains what the scenes and texts meant to ancient Egyptians and which rulers were buried in each one.

How much walking is involved in this tour?

You walk through the Valley of the Kings to reach the tombs, then climb the terraces of Hatshepsut's temple and walk through the courts at Medinet Habu. The Colossi of Memnon are viewed from a closer distance. The pace is steady but not strenuous, and the tour is suitable for all fitness levels. The vehicle does the traveling between sites.

Are entrance tickets to the temples included in the price?

No, entrance tickets are not included. Basic admission to all four sites costs 540 Egyptian pounds. Additional tickets for the tombs of Tutankhamun, Ramses V and Seti I can be purchased separately if you want to see more than the three included tombs.

What time does the tour start and when will I be back at my hotel?

The tour includes hotel pickup and runs 5 to 6 hours total, so timing depends on your hotel location and when you arrange to be picked up. The driver returns you to your accommodation at the end of the day.

Can I choose what I eat at lunch?

Yes. Lunch is at a local restaurant with options including grilled kofta, kabab, beef or chicken shawarma, and a vegetarian option. You choose what you want when you arrive at the restaurant.

Is this tour only for people in good physical condition?

The tour is suitable for all fitness levels. It's wheelchair accessible, and infants and small children can ride in a pram or stroller. The vehicle is air-conditioned and does the traveling between sites. You walk at the temples and tombs at your own pace.