How Luxor tours are organised
The Nile divides Luxor into two halves, and almost every tour follows that line. Karnak and Luxor Temple stand on the east bank. The Valley of the Kings, the Temple of Hatshepsut at Deir el-Bahari and the Colossi of Memnon lie on the west bank. A tour that combines both banks needs a crossing of the river, so plan the day around it.
Tours differ in group size, language, transport and what is included. The entry fees below are the fees for the sites themselves. They are not the price of a guided tour, and no single tour price applies to Luxor. Before you book, check whether tickets, lunch and transfers are part of the offer.
Our picks: Luxor tours
The shared full-day tour covers both banks of the Nile with an Egyptologist and lunch; add the entry option when you book. From Hurghada, the day trip fits Karnak and the Valley of the Kings into one long day with tickets in the price. For the balloon, choose between the flight alone and the 30-minute West Bank option, and check that flights run on your dates.
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.
Luxor day trip from Hurghada with Valley of the Kings
- Karnak and Valley tickets
- Tutankhamun's tomb
- Lunch included
A long day with a guide and the entry tickets in the price. Luxor Temple is only a photo stop from outside, and your pickup time is confirmed the day before.
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Balloon flight over Luxor with hotel transfer
- Balloon flight
- Hotel or ship pickup
- Transfer to the launch site
An early start with the transfer to the launch site on the West Bank. The pickup time is usually confirmed the evening before, and flights depend on the weather.
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West Bank balloon flight with hotel pickup
- 30-minute balloon flight
- Hotel pickup and return
Thirty minutes in the air; the three hours cover pickup, the launch and the way back.
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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 guide and lunch. Temple entry tickets are only included with the matching option, so check it when you book.
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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 and a guide. Ask for the exact time and the language of the show before you book.
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Shared full-day tour of the East and West Bank
- English-speaking Egyptologist
- Lunch included
- Karnak and Valley of the Kings
Eight hours across both banks of the Nile. Entry tickets come only with the matching option, and the exact meeting point is on your voucher.
Check availability →Luxor tours and day trips
Karnak, the Valley of the Kings, Luxor Temple and balloon flights, with live prices and availability.
Luxor tour stops compared
Entry fees for foreign adult visitors in 2026. Students pay half at Karnak, Luxor Temple and the Valley of the Kings.
| Stop | Bank | Entry 2026 | Opening hours |
|---|---|---|---|
| Karnak Temple | East | EGP 600, open air museum included | Daily 06:00 to 17:00 |
| Mut precinct at Karnak | East | EGP 200, separate ticket | – |
| Luxor Temple | East | EGP 500 | Daily 06:00 to 20:00 |
| Valley of the Kings | West | EGP 750 | Daily 06:00 to 17:00 |
| Temple of Hatshepsut, Deir el-Bahari | West | – | Daily 06:00 to 17:00 |
| Colossi of Memnon | West | – | – |
| Hot air balloon flight | West | Priced by the operator | Start between 05:00 and 08:00, by season |
For most first-time visitors, two days work best: one for Karnak and Luxor Temple on the east bank, one for the Valley of the Kings and Deir el-Bahari on the west bank. If you have only one day, the one-day plan on our Karnak and Valley of the Kings page shows how to combine them.
Karnak temple tour
A Karnak temple tour is the usual start in Luxor. The temple of Amun is the central precinct, with the Mut precinct to the south and the Montu precinct to the north. A guide helps you read the site, because the complex grew over many centuries and the layout is not obvious.
On a typical route you walk the approach with the ram sphinxes, enter the forecourt and cross the Great Hypostyle Hall with its 134 columns. You can then continue to the obelisk of Hatshepsut, which stands almost 30 m high, and to the Sacred Lake, where priests once purified themselves before rituals. The open air museum with the White Chapel and the Red Chapel is part of the same ticket.
Details for each part are on separate pages: the Great Hypostyle Hall, the obelisk and Sacred Lake and the open air museum. Tickets and hours are on the Karnak tickets page.
The main tour types
What each one involves.
East bank temples
Karnak and Luxor Temple are separate sites about 3 km apart, each with its own ticket. A tour usually visits both. Luxor Temple stays open until 20:00, so it works well as the end of the day.
Luxor Temple →West bank tombs and temples
The Valley of the Kings, Deir el-Bahari and the Colossi of Memnon belong together. The valley holds more than 60 tombs from the New Kingdom, although not all are open to visitors.
Karnak and the Valley of the Kings →Sunrise balloon flight
Flights start from the west bank in the early morning. Operation is not guaranteed every day of the year, and the route depends on the wind.
Hot air balloon guide →Evening sound and light show
The show at Karnak runs at 19:00 in English and at 20:00 in all languages and Arabic, with tickets at $20 for adults and $11 for children aged 6 to 12. A second language session needs at least five foreign guests.
Sound and light show →Trips from other cities
Luxor is a long drive from Hurghada. Some operators sell a private two-day trip with a hotel night covering both banks.
Day trip from Hurghada →What to check before you book
The wording of an offer matters more than the headline price.
Tickets included or not
Some offers include site entry, others add it on the day. Compare the fees above with the price of the tour, and ask whether the Mut precinct or extra tombs are covered.
River crossing and transfers
Combined tours cross between the banks. Ask where the group is picked up and how the transfers are timed.
Language
Guide languages differ by operator and date. The show at Karnak lists a session for all languages, which does not mean a live commentary in German.
Heat and season
From June to August the average daily high is above 41 °C. November to March is the most comfortable time for long outdoor days. See the weather page.
Photos
Private photography without commercial use is free at archaeological sites, but flash is not allowed inside. Drones need a special permit.
Plan the rest of your trip
Where the tours fit.
Karnak Temple tickets
Prices, opening hours and what the ticket covers.
Luxor airport to Karnak
Taxi and transfer options from the airport.
Hot air balloon flights
Start area, flight length and season.
For more on the city itself, see the Luxor tours guide. The tombs of the west bank have their own guide with Valley of the Kings tours.
Luxor tours: frequently asked questions
What is the best Luxor tour for a first visit?
Most first-time visitors combine Karnak and Luxor Temple on one day and the Valley of the Kings with Deir el-Bahari on another. If you have one day only, choose a short list from both banks instead of trying to see everything.
How much do Luxor tours cost?
There is no single price. It depends on group size, transport, language and whether entry is included. For orientation, foreign adults pay EGP 600 at Karnak, EGP 500 at Luxor Temple and EGP 750 at the Valley of the Kings in 2026.
Can I visit Karnak and the Valley of the Kings on the same day?
Yes, with an early start and a crossing of the Nile. Both sites open at 06:00. You will not see every tomb or every part of Karnak, so pick your priorities.
Does a Karnak ticket include Luxor Temple?
No. Luxor Temple is a separate site with its own ticket. The Karnak ticket does include the open air museum.
Is a tour guide necessary?
Many visitors take one, because the sites are large and complex. Check what an offer includes before you decide.
Is this the official site of Karnak or of the tour operators?
No. This is an independent guide. Entry tickets are sold at the sites and through the national ticket channels, and tours are run by the operators shown in the booking block.