Is it possible to see both the Valley of the Kings and Karnak in a single day?

Yes. The usual full-day Luxor tour does the West Bank first thing – the Valley of the Kings, Hatshepsut's temple and the Colossi of Memnon – then crosses to the East Bank for Karnak and Luxor Temple in the afternoon, when the light is at its best. With a private Egyptologist you can keep a gentle pace in the heat.

How many tombs does the Valley of the Kings ticket cover?

Your standard ticket lets you choose three tombs from whichever are open that day. A handful, Seti I, Nefertari and Tutankhamun in particular, need their own tickets, and your guide will tell you which are open and whether they justify the extra cost.

Do you collect us from our hotel?

We do, and it costs nothing extra. A driver collects you from your Luxor hotel, or from the Nile cruise dock where that applies, and brings you back afterwards. You will find your guide waiting in the lobby, and should your plans shift, the local office behind the excursion can rearrange things that same day.

Which months suit Luxor best?

The kindest weather falls between October and April, when days are warm, evenings are cool and walking round the sites is a pleasure. From May to September the heat builds, so excursions set off early and are done before midday, often with quieter sites and gentler prices as a reward. Luxor excursions run in every month of the year.

Is it safe, and can we bring the children?

It is safe, and children are welcome. Our team has worked in Egypt since 1988, with offices across the country and someone on call day and night, and every one of our excursions uses guides and drivers we have checked ourselves. With youngsters along, the guide slows the pace and tells the stories at their level, and child seats or a shorter day can be arranged on request.

What separates the East Bank sites from the West Bank?

The east side has the great temples built for the living gods, Karnak and Luxor Temple, while the west has tombs and mortuary temples for the dead. Most visitors give each side a half day.

Can I add a balloon flight to an excursion?

The balloon is reserved separately and flies at sunrise, subject to the weather. It pairs well with a West Bank morning, and we time the rest of the day so it never feels hurried.

Is a guide needed on the Banana Island boat?

Not at all. The boatman runs the trip, and a guide is optional. Bring one along if you would like the river and its villages explained.

How is the flight to Cairo from Luxor arranged?

Reserve it online and we confirm once flight seats have been checked. We take no payment until then. The outing lasts around 15 hours, with a flight each way and a guide waiting in Cairo.

Should I see Karnak after dark as well?

The sound and light show runs in the evening, lighting the main avenues with narration. Many travellers visit by day, then return at night for a very different impression.

Excursions from Luxor

Luxor Excursions

Karnak, Luxor Temple, Valley of the Kings & the West Bank necropolis

LengthFull & half day

From£16 / person

PickupHotel or Nile cruise included

GuideEgyptologist

There are 20 private excursions from Luxor, spanning the West Bank tombs, Karnak and Luxor Temple, a balloon at dawn, and longer runs out to Dendera, Abydos, Edfu and Kom Ombo. Fares begin at £16 per person, and the table below sets out each outing and its length.

By the Egypt Discovery desk · Reviewed 9 October 2026

Luxor sits on top of the world's largest open-air museum. On the East Bank, Karnak and Luxor Temple set the benchmark for ancient Egyptian architecture. Cross to the West Bank and you walk into the necropolis: the Valley of the Kings, Hatshepsut's cliff-side temple at Deir el-Bahari, and the painted tombs of the nobles. A full-day Luxor excursion covers both banks at a comfortable pace with a private guide.

The best excursion in Luxor is the one somebody else has organised for you. Our people on the ground here have done exactly that since 1988.

Egypt Discovery · in Egypt from 1988

What you'll see

Luxor, stop by stop

Two or three of these stops fit into one unhurried day. Your guide chooses the combination to suit your energy, what you most want to see and the time of year.

Karnak Temple

Karnak is the biggest religious site ever built, added to by pharaohs for some 2,000 years, one pylon after another. Its Great Hypostyle Hall, with 134 columns, is the most overwhelming room in Egypt. Arrive early, ahead of the heat and the cruise-boat groups.

~2.5 hrsEast bank · open 6am

Luxor Temple

Right in the middle of the modern town, and well worth seeing at dusk, when the floodlights come on. An avenue of sphinxes two miles long once linked it to Karnak; much of it has been uncovered again and you can walk it. It fits neatly with Karnak on the East Bank side of the day.

~1.5 hrsBest at golden hour

Valley of the Kings

This was the burial ground of the New Kingdom kings – Tutankhamun, Ramesses, Seti I – with tombs cut far into the cliff and painted from floor to ceiling. Your ticket covers three tombs, and your guide will know which are open and which merit the extra fee (Seti I and Nefertari are the best).

~2.5 hrsWest bank · 3 tombs included

Temple of Hatshepsut

Of all Egypt's monuments, this is the one that looks most modern, built as three colonnaded terraces against a sheer cliff at Deir el-Bahari. It was made for a woman who ruled as pharaoh, and it is a short drive from the Valley of the Kings, so the two go together well on the West Bank.

~1.5 hrsDeir el-Bahari

Colossi of Memnon

Two seated figures of Amenhotep III, 18 metres tall, stand alone in the fields where his mortuary temple has long since vanished. It is a short photo stop between the river and the West Bank tombs; in Roman times visitors came to hear them 'sing' at dawn.

~20 minQuick stop · west bank

Every Luxor excursions

How you could fill the day

Fares are per person and are read from our live booking system, so each figure is up to date.

Every Luxor excursion at a glance

Trip	Duration	Shared or private	From, per person
Luxor Hot Air Balloon Sunrise Flight	–	Private	From £101
Private Banana Island Motorboat Trip from Luxor at Sunset	3 Hours	Private	From £16
Karnak Temple & Luxor Temple – East Bank Half-Day Tour	–	Private	From £61
Karnak Temple Half-Day Tour	–	Private	From £47
Private Luxor Temple Half-Day Tour	–	Private	From £44
Karnak Temple Sound & Light Show, Luxor	–	Private	From £38
Luxor Museum Half-Day Tour	–	Private	From £41
Mummification Museum Half-Day Tour in Luxor	–	Private	From £37
Private Evening Horse Carriage Tour of Luxor with Market Walk	3 Hours	Private	From £27
Dendera Temple Half Day Trip from Luxor	–	Private	From £64
Dendera & Abydos Temples day trip from Luxor	–	Private	From £88
Edfu and Kom Ombo Temples Day Trip from Luxor	–	Private	From £98
Esna and Edfu Temples Day Trip from Luxor	–	Private	From £80
Esna, Edfu and Kom Ombo Temples Day Trip from Luxor	–	Private	From £106
Fly from Luxor to Cairo for the Day, Privately Guided: Pyramids and Grand Egyptian Museum	15 Hours	Private	From £496
Luxor West Bank: Valley of the Kings, Hatshepsut & Colossi of Memnon	–	Private	From £74
Medinet Habu & Valley of the Kings Day Tour: Hatshepsut Temple and Colossi of Memnon	–	Private	From £90
Valley of the Queens Half-Day Tour	–	Private	From £37
Deir el-Medina and Tombs of the Nobles Half-Day Tour	–	Private	From £39
Private Quad Bike Desert Safari on Luxor's West Bank at Sunset	3 Hours	Private	From £65

Afloat and aloft

Two ways to look at the valley from a fresh angle: a balloon drifting over the fields as the sun rises, and a motorboat to Banana Island. The boatman handles the boat, and taking a guide is up to you.

Luxor Hot Air Balloon Sunrise Flight

Float over Luxor West Bank at first light; the flight gives aerial views of the Nile, the Valley of the Kings and Hatshepsut's Mortuary Temple. We are a licensed Egyptian tour operator. Hotel collection is typically between 04:00 and 05:00 depending on season; you receive a short safety briefing and watch the balloon inflate. We reschedule flights rather than fly in marginal winds – a safety-first policy. Unlike cruise-boat excursions, our ride includes private hotel transfers before dawn and a small-group briefing by one of our Egyptologists. Expect an early start and occasional cancellations for wind; launch and landing areas have limited shade and uneven ground. The flight ticket and transfers are included; gratuities are excluded, and breakfast is taken back at your accommodation rather than at the landing site.

From £101

Private Banana Island Motorboat Trip from Luxor at Sunset

Your own motorboat takes you upriver from Luxor's corniche to Banana Island. You walk through the banana and mango groves with the farmer, sit by the river with fresh fruit and mint tea, and ride back as the sun goes down behind the West Bank hills. It takes about three hours and is a gentle choice for families and anyone who prefers to stay out of the water.

From £163 Hours

Karnak, the East Bank and the town

The East Bank is where Luxor lives today. Karnak and Luxor Temple stand here, with two museums, a night-time light show and a horse-drawn carriage through the market lanes. Most are half-day outings led by an Egyptologist.

Karnak Temple & Luxor Temple – East Bank Half-Day Tour

A private half-day visit to Luxor's East Bank: Karnak Temple and Luxor Temple with one of our Egyptologists. We don't run group bus tours; our visits are private with a licensed driver and a private car. Unlike cruise-shore excursions, we schedule Karnak early to avoid peak coach arrivals. Karnak's Great Hypostyle Hall dates to the New Kingdom; Luxor Temple was begun by Amenhotep III and completed by Ramesses II. The two temples lie approximately 2.5 km apart (8–10 minute drive). Standard site entrance fees are included. Expect limited shade and uneven stone underfoot; we recommend morning starts and sun protection. We are a licensed Egyptian tour operator and can add the Luxor Museum or a felucca at sunset.

From £61

Karnak Temple Half-Day Tour

Karnak Temple is a vast complex on the east bank of the Nile in Luxor, developed over many centuries and dedicated chiefly to the god Amun-Ra. Its pylons, courtyards and monumental columns reflect successive phases of ancient Egyptian building. The Sacred Lake is within the complex and forms part of this visit. A private licensed Egyptologist guide explains the site’s history and architecture as you explore. Unlike a group visit, the private format allows you to follow the site with your own guide. Expect substantial walking on ancient paths and uneven surfaces; shade is limited in exposed areas.

From £47

Private Luxor Temple Half-Day Tour

Luxor Temple stands on the east bank of the Nile in central Luxor. Construction began under Amenhotep III in the 14th century BC, with later additions associated with Tutankhamun and Ramesses II. Its courts, columns and statues show how the temple changed across different periods of ancient Egyptian history. The avenue once linking Luxor Temple with Karnak Temple offers further context for the religious landscape of ancient Thebes. Unlike excursions that combine several monuments, this visit focuses on Luxor Temple, giving your licensed Egyptologist time to explain the site’s details. We arrange the visit as a licensed Egyptian tour operator.

From £44

Karnak Temple Sound & Light Show, Luxor

The Karnak Temple Sound & Light Show presents recorded narration and music across the Karnak complex after dark. Narration explains Amun‑Ra, Hatshepsut and Ramses in the context of the Great Hypostyle Hall. The public performance uses floodlighting and fixed seating and is theatrical rather than a guided lecture. As a licensed Egyptian tour operator, we sell standard tickets and can arrange private after‑hours visits with one of our Egyptologists on request for quieter interpretation. Trade-offs: the public show can be crowded, uses recorded audio, and starts late; a private visit costs more but offers direct questions and clearer sightlines.

From £38

Luxor Museum Half-Day Tour

Luxor Museum presents archaeological finds from ancient Thebes, including objects from the New Kingdom and finds associated with royal tombs. A private licensed Egyptologist guide can explain how individual objects relate to the history of the city and its rulers. Unlike a self-guided visit, this tour includes a guide to provide historical context as you view the collection. The visit centres on the museum rather than combining it with other archaeological sites, so the focus stays on the objects and their stories. It is a considered introduction to Luxor’s ancient past, indoors and away from the scale of the city’s open-air temple complexes.

From £41

Mummification Museum Half-Day Tour in Luxor

The Mummification Museum in Luxor explores how ancient Egyptians prepared human and animal bodies for burial. Its displays include preserved remains, tools and materials associated with mummification. With a private licensed Egyptologist, you can connect these objects to beliefs about death and the afterlife, rather than seeing them as a collection of artefacts without context. Unlike visits focused on Luxor’s temples and tombs, this tour centres on burial practices and the treatment of the body. We arrange private pickup and drop-off at your Luxor hotel or Nile cruise, and the museum entrance ticket is included.

From £37

Private Evening Horse Carriage Tour of Luxor with Market Walk

Spend an evening seeing Luxor town from a horse-drawn carriage, with your own guide alongside. The route follows the corniche beside the Nile, turns into the old back streets, and pauses at the market, where you get down to browse the hibiscus, spice and cotton stalls on foot. There is a tea stop at a café on the pavement, and the evening ends outside Luxor Temple once the floodlights are on. It takes about three hours and is a relaxed way to see the town.

From £273 Hours

Longer outings from Luxor

All of these set off from Luxor and return there: north to Dendera and Abydos, south along the river to Esna, Edfu and Kom Ombo, or by air to Cairo and the Pyramids.

Dendera Temple Half Day Trip from Luxor

The Temple of Dendera is dedicated to Hathor, an ancient Egyptian goddess associated with music, love and motherhood. Its main temple took shape chiefly during the Ptolemaic and Roman periods, offering a different architectural setting from the predominantly New Kingdom temples around Luxor. Look for carved columns, reliefs and astronomical imagery across the temple complex. Our private licensed Egyptologist guide explains the site’s history and features as you explore. The excursion includes lunch at a local restaurant. Unlike visits focused only on Luxor’s New Kingdom monuments, Dendera adds a clear contrast in period and religious dedication.

From £64

Dendera & Abydos Temples day trip from Luxor

A private day from Luxor visiting Dendera and Abydos by road, led by one of our Egyptologists. Dendera lies about 60 km north of Luxor (roughly 1 hour); Abydos is about 165 km further north (roughly 2.5–3 hours' drive). We operate this as a private-car day rather than a large coach, allowing flexible stops en route and proper time at Seti I’s reliefs and the Dendera Hathor ceiling. Expect a long day with an early pickup and several hours on the road; shade is limited at both sites around midday. Standard site entrance fees are included; special permissions or premium-access areas are extra. We are a licensed Egyptian tour operator.

From £88

Edfu and Kom Ombo Temples Day Trip from Luxor

Visit the Temple of Horus at Edfu and the Temple of Kom Ombo on a private excursion from Luxor. Edfu’s temple is among the best-preserved ancient temples in Egypt, with monumental pylons and carved reliefs. Kom Ombo stands beside the Nile and is dedicated to Sobek and Haroeris, also known as Horus the Elder. A licensed Egyptologist explains the architecture and religious imagery at both sites. Unlike an unguided visit, this excursion includes an Egyptologist to put the carvings and temple layouts in context. We arrange private transport, pickup and drop-off at your Luxor hotel or Nile cruise, entrance tickets and lunch at a local restaurant.

From £98

Esna and Edfu Temples Day Trip from Luxor

Visit the Temple of Esna and the Temple of Edfu on a private excursion from Luxor, with a licensed Egyptologist guide. Esna’s temple is dedicated to Khnum, the creator god, and its hypostyle hall features carved columns and an astronomical ceiling. Edfu is dedicated to Horus and is among Egypt’s best-preserved ancient temples, with inscriptions and reliefs across its walls. We arrange private transport with pickup and drop-off at your Luxor hotel or Nile cruise, plus lunch at a local restaurant. Unlike a group coach outing, this visit is privately arranged, allowing your guide to focus on both temples with your group.

From £80

Esna, Edfu and Kom Ombo Temples Day Trip from Luxor

Visit the temples of Esna, Edfu and Kom Ombo on a road-based excursion from Luxor. At Esna, the Temple of Khnum stands below modern street level, with its surviving hypostyle hall known for carved columns and a decorated ceiling. Edfu’s temple is dedicated to Horus, while Kom Ombo has paired sanctuaries associated with Sobek and Horus the Elder. Our private licensed Egyptologist guide can explain the buildings and their reliefs as you explore. Unlike brief stops on some Nile cruise itineraries, this excursion visits all three named temples in one day. Lunch is served at a local restaurant.

From £106

Fly from Luxor to Cairo for the Day, Privately Guided: Pyramids and Grand Egyptian Museum

Fly from Luxor to Cairo and back in a single day. In the morning you see the Pyramids of Giza and the Sphinx, after lunch you spend the afternoon in the Grand Egyptian Museum, with a private Egyptologist guide and car in Cairo. Return flights are included and are confirmed once we have checked seats for your date.

From £49615 Hours

Across the river on the West Bank

The tombs lie on the far bank. Here you will find the Valley of the Kings, the Valley of the Queens, Hatshepsut's temple, the Colossi of Memnon and the painted tombs of Deir el-Medina, along with a quad-bike run into the desert.

Luxor West Bank: Valley of the Kings, Hatshepsut & Colossi of Memnon

This private half-day tour visits Luxor’s West Bank: the Valley of the Kings, Hatshepsut Temple at Deir el‑Bahari and the Colossi of Memnon. We provide a local Egyptologist and a private car; standard site entrance fees are included. Premium tombs such as Tutankhamun or Seti I are excluded and require separate tickets. We are a licensed Egyptian tour operator and run small private departures rather than large coach groups. Unlike cruise-ship shore excursions, we schedule early starts to avoid the morning boats and midday heat. Expect uneven ancient stone and limited shade; comfortable shoes and a hat are essential.

From £74

Medinet Habu & Valley of the Kings Day Tour: Hatshepsut Temple and Colossi of Memnon

Luxor’s West Bank brings together royal tombs, funerary temples and the Colossi of Memnon, two seated statues of Amenhotep III. At the Valley of the Kings, the standard entrance ticket covers three tombs; Tutankhamun’s and Seti I’s tombs require separate tickets. The route also takes in Hatshepsut’s terraced temple at Deir el-Bahari and Medinet Habu, the mortuary temple of Ramses III. Unlike itineraries that stop after the Valley of the Kings and Hatshepsut Temple, this one adds Medinet Habu, where reliefs record events from Ramses III’s reign. Our private licensed Egyptologist guide provides context at each site.

From £90

Valley of the Queens Half-Day Tour

Visit the Valley of the Queens on Luxor’s West Bank with a private licensed Egyptologist guide. Used mainly for the burials of queens and royal children during Egypt’s New Kingdom, the valley contains the tomb of Nefertari. Entry to Nefertari’s tomb is not included and requires a separate ticket. The visit involves walking across archaeological ground, where surfaces can be uneven and shade is limited. Unlike a general West Bank overview, this excursion focuses on the valley and its royal tombs. We arrange private transport with pick-up and drop-off at your Luxor hotel or Nile cruise.

From £37

Deir el-Medina and Tombs of the Nobles Half-Day Tour

Deir el-Medina preserves the remains of the village where workers lived while building and decorating royal tombs in ancient Thebes. At the nearby Tombs of the Nobles, decorated burial places reflect the status and lives of officials and other members of elite society. The contrast between a workers’ community and noble tomb art gives this Luxor West Bank visit its focus. Unlike a broad West Bank itinerary, this half-day excursion concentrates on these two archaeological sites. A private Egyptologist guide provides context as you visit, with a private vehicle for pickup and drop-off at your Luxor hotel or Nile cruise.

From £39

Private Quad Bike Desert Safari on Luxor's West Bank at Sunset

A private, guided quad bike ride through the sugar-cane tracks and desert edge of Luxor's West Bank, timed for the late afternoon light over the Theban hills. Your party rides together, each rider on their own quad, behind a private guide on a lead quad. You get a safety briefing and practice ride first, then about an hour and a half on the move with a tea stop. No experience is needed.

From £653 Hours

Who these excursions suit

Those new to EgyptA full West Bank day or an East Bank half day, each with an Egyptologist to yourselves.
Early startersA dawn balloon flight, then breakfast and a temple visit before the heat builds.
Museum-goersTwo compact museums that slot in easily between the major sites.
Visitors with a spare dayDrive out to Dendera, Abydos or Edfu, or fly to Cairo and back, all in a private party.

Egypt Discovery is a home-grown Egyptian operator, trading since 1988. We carry ETAA Licence No. 718 (Category A), hold IATA accreditation, and keep six offices around the country: Cairo · Luxor · Aswan · Hurghada · Marsa Alam · Sharm El Sheikh.

Sort the rest of your holidayWhere to stay in Luxor Transfers from Luxor airport

Worth knowing beforehand

The practical bits

What to wear

Mosques and churches ask for shoulders and knees to be covered. Wear sturdy closed shoes, as the ground is rough stone in places and soft sand in others.

Tipping

Most guests give their guide about £2–4 for the day, with something smaller for the driver. It is your choice entirely, since the excursion fare already covers everything.

Heat & water

Bring at least a litre and a half of water each. By ten in the morning there is little shade at the sites, which is why we set off early: it is cooler as well as quieter.

Cameras & fees

Some sites ask for a camera ticket at the entrance, and a handful of tombs and inner rooms carry their own charge. Ordinary admission to each site is part of your fare.

What guests ask us