Luxor's essential morning
Luxor West Bank: Valley of the Kings and Hatshepsut
The royal tombs first, while the valley is cool, then Hatshepsut's terraces and the Colossi of Memnon.
5–6 hours · Luxor · Private
- Nothing is booked until you accept a written quote
- A Deluxe Travel Egypt brand: read the reviews
- Duration
- 5–6 hours
- On the road
- Short drives on the West Bank
- At the sites
- Most of the 5–6 hours
- Format
- Private
- Pace
- Moderate
Before you choose
Is this the right tour for you?
This Luxor West Bank tour crosses to the necropolis of ancient Thebes, where the kings of the New Kingdom were buried for nearly 500 years. Pickup is at 8 am from your Luxor hotel or Nile cruise, early enough to reach the Valley of the Kings before the heat settles into it.
The standard ticket opens three tombs of your choice from those open that day, and your guide helps you choose between them for their colour and relief. Tutankhamun's and Seti I's tombs need their own extra tickets, which you can add on the day.
From the valley you continue to the temple of Hatshepsut at Deir el-Bahari, the terraced monument of one of the few women to rule Egypt as pharaoh, set against the cliffs. The last stop is the Colossi of Memnon, two statues of Amenhotep III about 21 metres tall, which once guarded the entrance to his vanished temple.
The morning is best paired with a night or two in Luxor, so the East Bank temples of Karnak and Luxor can have their own time.
Our advice
Stay in Luxor and start here at 8 am. It is the single best reason not to do Luxor as a day trip from the coast.
Consider instead: Want Karnak and Luxor Temple the same day? Take the full-day East and West Bank tour.
5 stops
How the day runs
08:00
Pickup
From your Luxor hotel or Nile cruise.
08:00
Valley of the Kings
Three royal tombs from those open on the day. The valley comes first: here the kings were buried in the rock, out of sight.
Valley of the Kings: The royal cemetery of the New Kingdom, cut into a dry valley beneath a pyramid-shaped peak.
08:00
Temple of Hatshepsut
The terraced temple at Deir el-Bahari. After the hidden tombs, the other half of the idea: a temple for the king's memory, out in the open.
Temple of Hatshepsut: Hatshepsut's terraced temple against the cliffs, facing Karnak across the river.
08:00
Colossi of Memnon
The twin statues of Amenhotep III, each about 18 metres high: almost all that is left of what was once the greatest temple on this side of the river.
08:00
Return
Back to your hotel or boat.
The details
What is included
Highlights
- Three tombs in the Valley of the Kings
- The temple of Hatshepsut at Deir el-Bahari
- The Colossi of Memnon
- An 8 am start for the cooler hours
Included
- Hotel or cruise pickup and drop-off
- Professional tour guide
- Entrance fees
- Transport in Luxor
- Taxes
Not included
- Tomb of Tutankhamun and tomb of Seti I (extra tickets)
- Tips
- Personal expenses
Places you visit
- Valley of the Kings
- Temple of Hatshepsut
- Deir el-Bahari
- Colossi of Memnon
- Group
- Private: your party only
- Transport
- Air-conditioned vehicle with driver
- Departure
- Daily at 8:00 am
- Meeting point
- Your Luxor hotel or Nile cruise
- Guide languages
- English
- Best time to go
- October to April; start at 8 am in any season
- Entrance tickets
- Included: Valley of the Kings (three tombs), Hatshepsut temple
- Optional extras
- Tomb of Tutankhamun; tomb of Seti I
- Cancellation
- Free cancellation up to 24 hours before the tour for a full refund.
- Your price
- Set in your written quote for your party, dates and pickup, with the payment and cancellation terms.
Add to the day
Experiences nearby
Local tips matched to this route
Complete this day
We place these around the tour’s real timing. Anything that cannot fit cleanly stays an untimed request until we confirm it.
Karnak and the West Bank
A photoshoot in Luxor's temples
A photographer who knows Karnak's columns and quieter corners, and the hours when the light comes through them.
Late afternoon · About 2 hours. At opening time or in the last hours before closing.
We confirm the photographer and their portfolio, temple permissions, the edited set and the delivery date.
Add as a request
Photo: Djehouty, CC BY-SA 4.0
Questions
Before you ask
How many tombs can I see in the Valley of the Kings?
The standard ticket covers three tombs from those open that day. Tutankhamun's and Seti I's tombs need separate tickets.
Why start at 8 am?
The valley is a stone basin that traps heat. The first hours are cooler and less crowded.
How much does it cost for my group?
Prices are per person and fall as the group grows: 1 person $150; 2–4 people $85 each; 5–8 people $80 each; larger groups $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.
Pairs well with
Tours that go with this one
Deluxe Trips Egypt
Ask for this tour, for your dates.
Send your dates and party size here. We reply with a written quote: the price for your party, what is included and the terms. Nothing is booked until you accept it.
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Photography credits (4)
Zezinho68, CC BY-SA 4.0; Hamerani, CC BY-SA 4.0; Ovedc, CC BY-SA 4.0; Hamerani, CC BY-SA 4.0
