Luxor sits on the site of ancient Thebes β the capital of Egypt at the height of its imperial power β and holds the densest concentration of pharaonic monuments on earth. The West Bank contains the Valley of the Kings, the Valley of the Queens, and the mortuary temples of the New Kingdom pharaohs. The East Bank holds the two largest temple complexes in Upper Egypt: Karnak and Luxor Temple. These five tours cover the full circuit, from a shared West Bank day to a four-day Nile cruise down to Aswan.
1. Luxor: Valley of the Kings and Hatshepsut Temple Day Tour
Luxor: Valley of the Kings and Hatshepsut Temple Day Tour (from $23 per person)
The Valley of the Kings contains 63 royal tombs cut into the limestone cliffs of the West Bank β the burial site of Egyptβs most powerful pharaohs from the New Kingdom period (1550β1070 BCE), including Ramesses II, Seti I, and Tutankhamun. A standard admission ticket includes three tombs; additional entry for Tutankhamunβs tomb (KV62) requires a separate ticket purchased at the gate. Your guide will recommend which three to prioritise based on current access and current restoration closures.
Hatshepsutβs Mortuary Temple β Deir el-Bahari β is the West Bankβs most visually striking monument above ground: three colonnaded terraces cut into the natural cliff face of the Theban hills, dedicated to the woman who ruled Egypt as pharaoh for 22 years in the 15th century BCE. The paintings inside the colonnades are among the best-preserved in Luxor.
The tour also passes the Colossi of Memnon β the two 18-metre seated statues of Amenhotep III that stood for over three thousand years as the gateway to his mortuary temple, now the largest freestanding sculptures remaining on the West Bank.
Duration: 6β7 hours | Difficulty: Easy to moderate β some climbing in the Valley, strong sun
Best time: Early morning departure; Valley of the Kings becomes very hot by midday
Includes: Licensed Egyptologist guide, hotel transport, West Bank ferry crossing
This is the correct starting tour for any visit to Luxor β the West Bank circuit in a single guided day.
2. Luxor: Private Tour to Valley of Kings and Hatshepsut Temple
Luxor: Private Tour to Valley of Kings and Hatshepsut Temple (from $45 per person)
A private version of the West Bank circuit with a dedicated guide for your group, flexible timing at each tomb, and the option to linger at specific chambers or push through quickly at others. Private format removes the group pacing constraint that matters most in the Valley β if the painted ceiling of Ramesses VIβs tomb (KV9) stops you in your tracks, you can spend 20 minutes there rather than moving on with the group.
The private format also allows you to discuss tomb iconography in more depth with your guide β the astronomy of the tomb ceilings, the Book of the Dead sequences, and the politics of the royal succession are topics that group tours can only skim.
Duration: 5β6 hours | Difficulty: Easy to moderate
Includes: Private licensed Egyptologist guide, air-conditioned vehicle, hotel transfers
Worth the premium for visitors who have a specific Egyptological interest, for families with young children who need flexibility, or for couples who prefer to set their own pace.
3. Luxor: Valley of Kings, Hatshepsut, and Karnak Sound and Light Show
Luxor: Valley of Kings, Hatshepsut, Karnak and Light Show Tour (from $55 per person)
A full-day and evening combination that pairs the West Bank morning circuit (Valley of the Kings + Hatshepsut) with a late afternoon visit to Karnak Temple and the Karnak Sound and Light Show at dusk. Karnak is the largest religious complex ever built β 200 acres of temples, pylons, obelisks, and sacred lakes accumulated over 2,000 years of construction β and the Sound and Light Show narrates its history through coloured illumination projected across the columns and pylons of the Hypostyle Hall at night.
The Karnak Sound and Light Show runs three or four times per week in English (check seasonal schedules before booking), with the monuments lit up from the processional avenue of sphinxes through to the Sacred Lake. It is not a substitute for a daytime visit to Karnak β the show is atmospheric rather than archaeological β but it is an unusually good way to spend the Luxor evening.
Duration: Full day + evening | Difficulty: Moderate β long day on foot
Includes: Guide, hotel transport, West Bank tour, Karnak entry, Sound and Light Show ticket
The right pick for visitors who have two days in Luxor and want to pack both the West Bank and an evening Karnak experience into the first day.
4. Luxor: West and East Banks All-Inclusive Tour with Balloon Ride
Luxor: West and East Banks All-Inclusive Tour and Balloon Ride (from $99 per person)
The single most comprehensive Luxor experience available as a day tour: a sunrise hot air balloon flight over the West Bank at dawn, followed by a ground-level full-day tour of both the West Bank (Valley of the Kings, Hatshepsut Temple, Colossi of Memnon) and East Bank (Karnak Temple, Luxor Temple). The balloon section launches before sunrise from the West Bank and drifts for approximately 45β60 minutes over the temple complex, the Valley of the Kings plateau, and the farmland of the Nile valley as the light changes from dark blue to gold.
The view from the balloon is the defining perspective on Luxorβs scale β from the air, the relationship between the temple complexes, the Valley, and the agricultural land that surrounded ancient Thebes becomes immediately legible in a way that ground-level visits cannot convey.
Duration: Full day (7β8 hours, including pre-dawn balloon departure)
Difficulty: Easy β balloon flight is seated; ground tour moderate
Includes: Balloon flight, licensed guide, hotel transport, all temple entries, lunch
Book early in your Luxor stay; balloon flights are weather-dependent and operators may need to reschedule for wind conditions. Most offer one free reschedule.
5. Luxor: 4-Day Nile Cruise with Guided Tours and Abu Simbel
Luxor: 4-Day Nile Cruise with Guided Tours and Abu Simbel (from $180 per person)
The classic Upper Egypt experience: a four-day cruise from Luxor to Aswan with guided visits to Edfu Temple (the best-preserved temple in Egypt), Kom Ombo (the double-entry temple dedicated jointly to Sobek and Horus), the Aswan High Dam, and optional flight extension to Abu Simbel β Ramesses IIβs twin temples relocated by UNESCO from rising Nile waters in the 1960s, one of the great archaeological rescue operations in history.
The Nile cruise is the most efficient way to cover the Upper Egypt temple circuit. Sailing between Luxor and Aswan takes roughly three days at cruising pace; the temples at Edfu and Kom Ombo appear directly on the river bank and are walked to from the dock, requiring no separate transfers. Accommodation, all meals, and Egyptologist guide are included on board.
Duration: 4 days / 3 nights | Difficulty: Easy β guided walks, flat temple floors
Includes: All meals, cabin accommodation, licensed Egyptologist guide, all temple entry fees, airport transfers
The 4-day format covers more ground than the standard 3-night version and adds Abu Simbel β worth the extra day for a first visit to Upper Egypt.
How to Choose
| Tour | Duration | Best for | From Price |
|---|---|---|---|
| West Bank Day Tour (Shared) | 6β7 hrs | First visit β West Bank essentials | $23 |
| West Bank Private Tour | 5β6 hrs | Flexible pace, deeper discussion | $45 |
| West Bank + Karnak + Light Show | Full day + evening | Maximum Luxor in one day | $55 |
| Both Banks + Balloon | Full day | Best single-day Luxor experience | $99 |
| 4-Day Nile Cruise | 4 days | Luxor to Aswan temple circuit | $180 |
Prices are per person in USD as of 2026. Most tours offer free cancellation β check individual listings for specific windows. Browse all Luxor tours on GetYourGuide.
When to Book Luxor Tours
October through March is Luxorβs prime season. Temperatures range from 15Β°C at night to 28Β°C by midday β comfortable for the West Bank circuit and especially good for the balloon flight, which requires clear, calm mornings. Book West Bank day tours at least 3β5 days ahead during high season; the balloon + full day combination and the 4-day Nile cruise should be reserved a minimum of 1β2 weeks in advance.
April and May are the transition months β still manageable, though midday temperatures climb past 35Β°C. June through September is high desert heat (40Β°C+ by midday), and tours depart at 6β7 AM to complete the Valley of the Kings before the worst of the afternoon heat. Some operators reduce frequency in August. The Nile cruise remains comfortable in summer because the boatβs air conditioning handles the cabin, and the guided site visits are timed for the early hours.
The Valley of the Kings is under continuous restoration β some tombs are periodically closed for conservation work. Your guide will advise on which tombs are accessible on the day. Entry to KV62 (Tutankhamun) requires a separate ticket purchased at the gate; this is not included in standard admission.