Luxor sits atop the world's largest open-air museum. On the East Bank, Karnak and Luxor Temple define what Egyptian architecture means. Cross to the West Bank and you step into the ancient necropolis: the Valley of the Kings, Hatshepsut's cliff-face temple at Deir el-Bahari, and the painted tombs of the nobles. A day covers both banks comfortably with a private guide.
Day tours from Luxor
Luxor Day Tours
Karnak, Luxor Temple, Valley of the Kings & the West Bank necropolis
LengthFull & half day
From$75 / person
PickupHotel or Nile cruise included
GuideEgyptologist
The best day tour in Luxor is the one you don't have to organize yourself. We've been arranging them, in this country, since 1988.Discovery Tours Egypt · since 1988
What you'll see
Luxor, in the order that makes sense
A full day comfortably covers two or three of the stops below – your guide tailors the mix to your pace, interests and the season.
01
Karnak Temple
The largest religious complex ever built – 2,000 years of pharaohs adding to it, pylon after pylon. The Great Hypostyle Hall and its 134 columns is the single most overwhelming space in Egypt. Go early, before the heat and the river cruisers arrive together.
02
Luxor Temple
In the heart of the modern town, and the rare site that rewards a visit at dusk when it's floodlit. Once joined to Karnak by a two-mile avenue of sphinxes – much of it now re-excavated and walkable. A natural pairing with Karnak on the east-bank half of the day.
03
Valley of the Kings
The royal necropolis of the New Kingdom – Tutankhamun, Ramesses, Seti I – tombs cut deep into the cliffs and painted floor to ceiling. The standard ticket covers three tombs; your guide knows which are open and which are worth the extra entry (Seti I and Nefertari are the prizes).
04
Temple of Hatshepsut
Egypt's most architecturally modern-looking monument, rising in three colonnaded terraces against a sheer cliff at Deir el-Bahari. Built for the woman who ruled as pharaoh – a short drive from the Valley of the Kings, so the two pair naturally on the west bank.
05
Colossi of Memnon
Two seated giants of Amenhotep III, 18 meters tall, standing alone in the fields where his vanished mortuary temple once was. A brief but worthwhile photo stop on the way between the river and the west-bank tombs – Romans came here to hear them 'sing' at dawn.
Every Luxor day tours
Ways to spend the day
Every private, fully-guided day tour we run here – hotel or Nile-cruise pickup included. The price you see is the all-in rate.
Luxor West Bank: Valley of the Kings, Hatshepsut & Colossi of Memnon
This private West Bank day tour visits the Valley of the Kings, Hatshepsut's Deir el‑Bahari, and the Colossi of Memnon. We are a licensed Egyptian tour operator. Your driver meets you at your Luxor hotel; we arrange an air‑conditioned car, a short West Bank crossing, and our Egyptologist guides every visit. We don't run group bus tours; we set the pacing to avoid the midday heat and minimise queue time. Unlike typical cruise shore excursions, we allow longer time at tombs and the temple. Note: shade is limited on the West Bank and tombs have uneven steps; premium tomb tickets (Tutankhamun, Seti I) and gratuities are excluded.
From $80
Karnak Temple & Luxor Temple – East Bank Half-Day Tour
This private, approximately 3–4 hour East Bank tour visits Karnak Temple and Luxor Temple with our Egyptologist. Karnak is part of the Ancient Thebes (Theban Necropolis) UNESCO World Heritage Site. We are a licensed Egyptian tour operator and provide private transfers and on-site guiding; your hotel pickup is included. Distinctive POV: we do not run mass-bus schedules – we keep the visit private and allocate 90–120 minutes at Karnak so you see the Hypostyle Hall (134 columns) properly. Compared with standard cruise shore-excursions that often allow 30–45 minutes, this timing reduces rushed visits. Trade-offs: limited shade at midday, many uneven stones and steps, and some areas are not wheelchair accessible.
From $63
Karnak Temple Sound & Light Show, Luxor
The Karnak Temple Sound & Light Show presents narrated lighting across the Karnak complex in Luxor, with standard site entry and an evening performance. Karnak is part of the UNESCO World Heritage Site "Ancient Thebes with its Necropolis" (inscribed 1979). The presentation is theatrical rather than archaeological: timed lighting and scripted narration outline pharaohs, construction phases, and temple rituals. We treat the Sound & Light show as an optional evening activity rather than a default in our day tours, because it requires a late return. We are a licensed Egyptian tour operator and can reserve seats and arrange transfers from central Luxor hotels. Trade-offs: seating can be limited, the site has stairs and uneven stone, and the late-evening schedule can be tiring after a full day. Standard Karnak entry is included; premium archaeological commentary is not part of the theatrical script.
From $45
Luxor Hot Air Balloon Sunrise Flight
We arrange a pre-dawn hot-air balloon flight over Luxor, including hotel pickup and a post-flight light breakfast. Flights typically run before sunrise and last about 45–60 minutes. As a licensed Egyptian tour operator we book locally licensed balloon operators and organise direct transfers to the launch field rather than moving groups by coach. Unlike mass-market vendors that squeeze launches into busy timetables, we prioritise launch timing and site choice to maximise views of the Valley of the Kings, Hatshepsut Temple and the Nile. Trade-offs: early start (hotel pickup around 4:00–4:30 AM), weather-dependent cancellations, and occasionally bumpy landings.
From $127
Aswan to Kom Ombo, Edfu & Luxor – Day Tour
This one-day itinerary travels by private car from Aswan to Kom Ombo, Edfu and Luxor with scheduled Egyptologist-guided visits. Kom Ombo lies approximately 48 km north of Aswan (about 45 minutes by road); Edfu is a further 40–50 minutes north. We run this as a private road transfer rather than a cruise-boat hop, so visit time at each temple is longer and more flexible. Site entrance fees are included; premium tombs and optional carriage or felucca rides are extra. Expect an early pickup, several hours on the road, and walking on uneven ancient stone with limited shade at midday.
From $2571 Days
Dendera & Abydos Temples day trip from Luxor
We take you from Luxor to Dendera (Temple of Hathor) and Abydos (Seti I temple) in a private car with our Egyptologist. We are a licensed Egyptian tour operator and the Egyptologist stays with your party throughout the day. We don't run coach-group day tours; this trip uses one private vehicle and one dedicated guide. Unlike rushed cruise or combined-site excursions, we allocate focused time at each temple to study reliefs and inscriptions such as the Abydos King List. Expect an early hotel pickup, long stretches on rural roads and limited shade at midday. Standard site entrance fees are included; optional photography permits or special-access requests are extra.
From $98
Know before you go
The practical bits
What to wear
Cover shoulders and knees for mosques and churches. Closed, comfortable shoes – you'll cross uneven stone and sand.
Tipping
Around $2–4 a day for your guide is standard, and a little for the driver. Never obligatory – your day tour price is complete.
Heat & water
Carry 1.5L minimum. Sites are in full sun by 10am – the early start isn't just about crowds, it's about comfort.
Cameras & fees
A few sites charge a separate camera fee at the gate; some interiors are extra. Standard site entry is always included.
Questions we hear most
Luxor day tours, answered
- Can I do the Valley of the Kings and Karnak in one day?
- Yes. A classic full-day Luxor tour pairs the West Bank (Valley of the Kings, Hatshepsut's temple, the Colossi of Memnon) in the morning with the East Bank (Karnak and Luxor temples) in the afternoon, when the light is best. A private Egyptologist keeps the pace comfortable in the heat.
- How many tombs can you enter in the Valley of the Kings?
- The standard ticket includes three tombs of your choice from those open that day. A few tombs – notably Seti I, Nefertari and Tutankhamun – require separate tickets; your guide will advise which are open and which are worth the extra entry.
- How much does a Luxor day tour cost?
- Private day tours in Luxor start from $45 per person, with the exact rate depending on the itinerary, group size and season. Every Discovery Tours Egypt day tour is private and all-inclusive: a licensed Egyptologist guide, air-conditioned vehicle, hotel pickup and drop-off, and all listed entry fees. There are no hidden add-ons at the sites.
- Are your Luxor day tours private?
- Yes. Every day tour we run is fully private – just your party, your own Egyptologist guide and your own driver. Nothing is shared with strangers, and the pace, stops and timing are tailored to you on the day.
- Is hotel pickup included?
- Yes. Pickup and drop-off at your Luxor hotel (or Nile cruise dock, where relevant) are included at no extra cost. Your guide meets you in the lobby; if your plans change, the local office that arranged the day tour can adjust it on the day.
- When is the best time to visit Luxor?
- October to April is the most comfortable season, with warm days and cool evenings ideal for sightseeing. May to September is hotter, so day tours start early to beat the midday heat – and you'll often find fewer crowds and lower prices. We run day tours in Luxor year-round.
- Is it safe, and are families welcome?
- Yes on both counts. We've operated in Egypt since 1988 from offices nationwide, with 24/7 in-country support, and day tours run with our own vetted guides and drivers. Families are very welcome – guides adjust the pace and content for children, and we can arrange car seats and shorter itineraries.
Plan your day in LuxorTell us your dates.
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We'll build the day.
Private Egyptologist, hotel pickup, all entry fees, clear pricing. Offices across Egypt – and the person who answers the phone can fix things on the day.
Free cancellation up to 48 hours before pickup* · we reply within 30 minutes in Cairo office hours
*Excludes trips with pre-issued flight or train tickets.