Private Tour to Luxor from Aswan: Valley of the Kings & Karnak

Two riverbanks, five major temples, and the tombs of six pharaohs in a single day.

A private 12-hour tour from Aswan to Luxor visits the major monuments on both sides of the Nile in one day. You travel by air-conditioned car with a private English-speaking Egyptologist guide, starting at 6 am from your Aswan hotel. The itinerary covers the Valley of the Kings, Hatshepsut Temple, and the Colossi of Memnon on the west bank, then Karnak Temple and Luxor Temple on the east bank, with lunch included at a local restaurant.

Step-by-step itinerary

Full day tour from Aswan to Luxor

• Pickup from hotel in Aswan at 6:00 am
• Drive 3 hours to Luxor west bank
• Visit Valley of the Kings tombs
• Visit Temple of Queen Hatshepsut
• Pass by Colossi of Memnon
• Drive to Luxor east bank
• Lunch at local restaurant
• Visit Karnak Temples
• Visit Temple of Luxor
• Drive back to hotel in Aswan

The experience

The tour picks you up from your Aswan hotel at 6 am and drives roughly three hours west to Luxor. On the west bank, you enter the Valley of the Kings, where the tombs of Tutmosis I, Tutmosis III, Tutankhamun, Ramesses VI, Merenptah and Amenhotep II are carved into the rock. Your guide explains the burial practices and the architecture that made this valley the royal necropolis of the New Kingdom. From there you move to the Temple of Queen Hatshepsut, the mortuary temple built by the only female pharaoh to rule Egypt, and pass the Colossi of Memnon, the massive stone remains of Amenhotep III's temple.

After lunch at a local restaurant on the east bank, you visit Karnak Temple, the largest religious complex in ancient Egypt and dedicated to the god Amon. The scale and detail of the carvings and columns give a sense of the resources poured into worship during the 18th Dynasty. The final stop is Luxor Temple, built by Amenhotep III and completed by Ramesses II, which sits on the east bank of the Nile. By late afternoon you are driven back to your hotel in Aswan, arriving after dark.

What’s included

• All transfers by private air-conditioned car.
• private English-speaking Egyptologist guide.
• hotel pickup from Aswan and return.
• lunch at a local restaurant.
• all service charges and taxes.

Before you book

Days and timesEvery dayDeparts at 08:00

Book up to4h before

AgesAdult (12 and older) · Child (6 to 11 years) · Infant (2 to 5 years)

GroupPrivate

Live guideEnglish

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 16 days ago

Good to know

Low physical effortWheelchair accessibleAccessible transportPublic transport nearby

Operated by Travel To Egypt - Aswan

Is this one for you?Book this if you want both riverbanks' major temples and tombs covered in a single day with a private guide who can adjust the pace to your interests.

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Top questions

Can children come?

Yes. Ticket types: Child (6 to 11 years); Infant (2 to 5 years).

What tombs can I actually enter in the Valley of the Kings?

The Valley of the Kings contains many royal tombs, and the most famous ones (Tutankhamun, Tutmosis III, Ramesses VI and others) are accessible to visitors. Your guide will explain which ones are open on the day of your tour and what each one reveals about burial practices and royal life in ancient Egypt.

How much time do I spend at each site?

The tour is structured around the major monuments rather than fixed time blocks at each stop. You spend the morning on the west bank visiting the Valley of the Kings, Hatshepsut Temple and the Colossi of Memnon, then move to the east bank after lunch for Karnak Temple and Luxor Temple before the return drive to Aswan.

Is the tour physically demanding?

The tour is suitable for all fitness levels and involves walking through temples and the Valley of the Kings at your own pace. The sites are wheelchair accessible, and you travel by air-conditioned car between locations, so the physical demand depends on how much time you spend exploring each monument.

What is included in the price?

All transfers by private air-conditioned car, a private English-speaking Egyptologist guide, hotel pickup and return, lunch at a local restaurant, and all service charges and taxes are included. Entrance fees to the monuments are not included and are paid separately.