Both banks in a day
Luxor East and West Bank Private Day Tour
Tombs and Hatshepsut in the morning, Karnak and Luxor Temple in the afternoon light.
This Luxor East and West Bank private tour covers ancient Thebes on both sides of the Nile in one day, in the order that works: the necropolis in the cool morning, the great temples in the afternoon.
Your Egyptologist collects you from your hotel or Nile cruise and crosses to the West Bank. In the Valley of the Kings you enter three royal tombs, their painted walls meant to guide the king through the night to rebirth. Then come the Colossi of Memnon, the twin statues of Amenhotep III, and the terraced temple of Hatshepsut at Deir el-Bahari.
After crossing back to the East Bank, you walk the Karnak temple complex, the largest religious site built in ancient Egypt, where the columns of the Hypostyle Hall dwarf everyone beneath them. The day ends at Luxor Temple in the late-afternoon light, a temple that has layers of Pharaonic, Roman and Islamic history built one upon another.
The vehicle and guide are private, so the day moves at your pace. It is a full day on foot in the sun; with more time, split it across two mornings.
- Travel time
- Short drives and one Nile crossing
- Time at sites
- Most of the 8 hours
- Group
- Private: your party only
- Transport
- Private air-conditioned vehicle
- Departure
- Morning pickup
- Meeting point
- Your Luxor hotel or Nile cruise
- Guide languages
- English, French, German, Italian, Spanish
- Best time to go
- October to April; in summer, split the two banks over two mornings
- Intensity
- Active
What the day includes
- Three royal tombs in the Valley of the Kings
- The Colossi of Memnon and Hatshepsut's temple
- The Hypostyle Hall at Karnak
- Luxor Temple in the late afternoon
Places you visit
- Valley of the Kings
- Colossi of Memnon
- Temple of Hatshepsut
- Karnak Temple
- Luxor Temple
Included
- Hotel or cruise pickup and drop-off in Luxor
- Private air-conditioned vehicle
- Professional Egyptologist guide
- Entry fees to all listed monuments
- Taxes and service charges
Not included
- Tips
- Travel insurance
- Food, drinks and souvenirs
- Entrance tickets
- Included: all monuments listed
- Optional / extra
- Tomb of Tutankhamun and other special tombs
- Cancellation
- Free cancellation up to 24 hours before the tour for a full refund.
- Tour format
- Private
How the day runs
Morning
Pickup
From your hotel or Nile cruise in Luxor.
Valley of the Kings
Three royal tombs.
Colossi of Memnon
The twin statues of Amenhotep III.
Temple of Hatshepsut
The terraced temple at Deir el-Bahari.
Afternoon
Karnak Temple
The Avenue of Sphinxes, the Hypostyle Hall, the sacred lake and obelisks.
Late afternoon
Luxor Temple
The temple of royal renewal, with its Roman and Islamic layers.
Return
Back to your hotel or boat.
Questions about this tour
Is one day enough for Luxor?
It covers the essential sites. It is a long day on foot, and two mornings are more comfortable, especially from May to September.
Is Tutankhamun's tomb included?
No. The standard Valley of the Kings ticket covers three tombs; Tutankhamun's tomb needs an extra ticket.
How much does it cost for my group?
Prices are per person and fall as the group grows: 1 person $150; 2–4 people $100 each; 5–7 people $85 each; 8–10 people $75 each. All prices are in US dollars.
What should I wear?
Light, modest clothing and comfortable walking shoes. Shoulders and knees covered is the safe choice at every site; bring a hat, sunscreen and water.