Why a Karnak Temple private tour makes sense
A Karnak Temple private tour fits a site that is easy to get lost in. The temple of Amun grew over many centuries, with the Great Hypostyle Hall and its 134 columns, the obelisk of Hatshepsut and the Sacred Lake spread across the precinct.
The six private options below differ in length and in what the price covers. All prices are starting prices per person from October 2026.
Our picks: private Karnak tours
Take the three-hour guided visit with the Karnak ticket for Karnak alone, a half day to add Luxor Temple, or the full day to reach the Valley of the Kings as well. The evening tour and the museum tour complete the choice.
Hand-picked tours, booked through GetYourGuide. Prices are indicative starting prices in US dollars (as of October 2026). Tap a tour for live availability and the current price in your currency.
Private full-day tour of the East and West Bank
- All entry tickets
- Private guide and transport
- Lunch included
A full day covering Karnak, Luxor Temple and the Valley of the Kings, with entries and lunch in the price.
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Private tour of Luxor Museum and the Mummification Museum
- Tickets for both museums
- Private guide
- Lunch included
Four hours with a private guide through two museums. The Luxor Museum is not the Open Air Museum at Karnak.
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Private guided tour of Karnak with entry ticket
- Karnak entry ticket
- Private English-speaking guide
- Air-conditioned transfers
Half-day private tour of Karnak and Luxor Temple
- Private guided tour
- Lunch included
- Hotel or ship pickup
Four hours on the East Bank with a private guide and lunch. Temple entries come with the matching option.
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Private Karnak sound and light show with transfers
- Show entry
- Private guide
- Hotel pickup and return
A private evening with an air-conditioned transfer, a private guide and the show entry.
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Private half-day tour of Karnak and Luxor Temple
- Entry tickets
- Private guide
- Hotel pickup and return
Four hours with a private guide and the temple entries already in the price. The Avenue of Sphinxes is part of the route.
Check availability →Private Karnak and Luxor tours
Compare private guides, half days and a full day across both banks of the Nile, with current availability.
Private tour at Karnak: the three-hour visit
Choose it as a couple or as a first-time visitor who wants Karnak done properly without the rest of Luxor.
Half day with Karnak and Luxor Temple
Karnak and Luxor Temple stand about 3 km apart and have separate tickets, so a half day joins them. The private half-day tour for $39 lasts four hours with guide, entries, hotel pickup and water, and it is the one that brings the Avenue of Sphinxes into the route. The $40 half day adds lunch and a private guide, with temple entries as an option you add.
Luxor Temple stays open until 20:00, so a half day can end there late in the day. From June to August, daily highs average above 41 °C, which makes the early start worth taking.
Full day on both banks
The Valley of the Kings is on the West Bank, so Karnak and the tombs mean a river crossing. The private full-day tour at $105 takes eight hours with a guide, private air-conditioned transport, all entries and lunch, covering Karnak, Luxor Temple and the Valley of the Kings. Pickup is possible from a hotel, a Nile cruise ship or the airport. It suits friends or a family with a single day in Luxor, since entries and lunch are already in the price.
Evening and museum options
The private sound and light tour costs $39 for two hours and includes the show entry, a private guide, hotel pickup and return, and water. The private museum tour at $58 takes four hours through the Luxor Museum and the Mummification Museum with tickets, lunch and water. It suits visitors who have already seen the temples.
Private tour or shared group
If cost matters most, the shared full-day tour of both banks starts at $30 with an Egyptologist and lunch, though entries are an option you add. A small-group day tour from Hurghada with a sunrise balloon ride starts at $210 and takes 18 hours. Pick private when you want a guide for your own party at Karnak, and shared when you are happy to follow a group. Our Luxor tours page compares the group options.
Private Karnak tours: practical questions
How much is a private tour of Karnak?
The private guided visit with the Karnak ticket starts at $42 per person. The half days start at $39 and $40, and the full-day tour of both banks at $105.
How long does a private visit take?
Three hours covers Karnak alone. The half days take four hours, the full day eight hours and the sound and light tour two hours.
Is hotel pickup included?
Yes on the guided visit, both half days, the sound and light tour, the museum tour and the full day. The full day also picks up at a Nile cruise ship or the airport.
Are entry tickets in the price?
On the $42 visit, the $39 half day and the full day, yes. On the $40 half day, temple entries come with the matching option, so add it when you book.