Cultural & Historical Tours · Luxor
Luxor Small-Group Day Trip from Hurghada
Leave the Red Sea before sunrise, cross the Eastern Desert, and spend a full day among the royal tombs, terraced temples and columned halls of ancient Thebes.
- Duration 15 hours
- Experience Cultural & Historical Tours
- Group size 4–8
- Pickup Hurghada
- Start times 04:30
- Guide languages English
€90.00
Overview
Luxor sits roughly 300 kilometres inland from Hurghada, and reaching it means crossing the Eastern Desert while it is still dark. It is a long day, and deliberately so: what waits at the other end is the densest concentration of surviving pharaonic monuments anywhere in the world.
On the west bank you walk down into rock-cut tombs in the Valley of the Kings, where painted ceilings and carved passages have held their colour for more than three thousand years. A short drive away, Hatshepsut's mortuary temple rises out of the cliff face at Deir el-Bahari in three broad terraces – the monument of a woman who ruled Egypt as king. Between them stand the Colossi of Memnon, two weathered seated figures that once guarded a temple the Nile has since carried away.
The east bank belongs to Karnak, a complex enlarged by pharaoh after pharaoh across some two thousand years. Its hypostyle hall alone holds a forest of sandstone columns tall enough to make the people beneath them look incidental.
This is a full day of walking, sun and history, travelling with a guide and a small group rather than a coach. It suits travellers who want to understand what they are looking at. It suits less well anyone hoping for an easy pace or a short outing.
Highlights
- Descend into rock-cut royal tombs in the Valley of the Kings, their painted walls still holding colour after three millennia
- Stand below the three terraces of Hatshepsut's mortuary temple, carved straight into the cliff at Deir el-Bahari
- Walk the hypostyle hall at Karnak, among sandstone columns raised over two thousand years of building
- Photograph the Colossi of Memnon, the last survivors of a vanished temple on the Theban floodplain
- Travel with an Egyptologist guide who reads the walls rather than recites dates
- A small group, not a coach party - close enough to ask questions and hear the answers
Itinerary
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Pickup from your Hurghada hotel
Pre-dawnCollection from your hotel in an air-conditioned vehicle. The early start is what makes a same-day return possible.
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Across the Eastern Desert
Approx. 4-5 hoursThe road climbs inland from the coast through open desert and low mountains before dropping into the Nile valley. Most travellers sleep part of it.
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Valley of the Kings
Approx. 1 hourThe burial ground of the New Kingdom pharaohs, cut into the rock of a dry valley. Entry covers a set of open tombs; certain tombs, including Tutankhamun's, are ticketed separately at the gate.
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Temple of Hatshepsut
Approx. 1 hourDeir el-Bahari, where the temple is built in terraces against a natural amphitheatre of cliff. Exposed and bright - shade is scarce.
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Colossi of Memnon
Approx. 30 minutesA photo stop at the two seated figures of Amenhotep III, standing where the temple behind them once did.
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Lunch in Luxor
Approx. 1 hourA break at a local restaurant before crossing to the east bank.
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Karnak Temple
Approx. 1 hourThe largest religious complex ever built, and the one that most rewards a guide. Expect open ground, long sight-lines and very little shade.
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Return to Hurghada
Approx. 4-5 hoursThe same desert road back, arriving late in the evening.
What's included
Included
- Hotel pickup and drop-off in Hurghada
- Air-conditioned vehicle for the full journey
- Egyptologist guide, English-speaking
- Entrance to the Valley of the Kings (standard open tombs)
- Entrance to the Temple of Hatshepsut
- Entrance to Karnak Temple
- Photo stop at the Colossi of Memnon
- Lunch at a local restaurant
Not included
- Separately ticketed tombs, including Tutankhamun and Ramses VI
- Drinks other than those served with lunch
- Gratuities
- Personal spending and souvenirs
- Travel insurance
Useful info
Pickup
Pickup is from the lobby of your Hurghada hotel. The exact time depends on where you are staying and is confirmed the evening before - expect it to be well before sunrise.
Important information
This is a long day with a great deal of walking, much of it on uneven stone and in full sun. Bring a hat, sunscreen and more water than you think you need, and wear shoes you can walk several kilometres in.
Photography rules vary by site and some tombs charge separately for a camera permit. Modest clothing that covers the shoulders and knees is appropriate and will also keep the sun off.
Carry your passport. The desert road is subject to checkpoints.
Accessibility
The Valley of the Kings involves descending and re-climbing sloped tomb passages and steps, and Karnak covers a large area of uneven ground. There is no step-free route through either. Travellers with limited mobility should contact us before booking so we can be honest about what is and is not manageable.
What to bring
- Passport
- Hat and sunglasses
- High-factor sunscreen
- Refillable water bottle
- Comfortable walking shoes
- Small change for camera permits and facilities
Meeting point
Your hotel lobby in Hurghada
FAQs
How long is the drive from Hurghada to Luxor?
Roughly four to five hours in each direction, across the Eastern Desert. That is why the pickup is before dawn and the return is late in the evening.
Is Tutankhamun's tomb included?
No. The standard Valley of the Kings ticket covers a set of open tombs. Tutankhamun's tomb and a small number of others are ticketed separately and paid at the gate.
Is this suitable for children?
It can be, but it is a long day - well over twelve hours door to door - with a lot of walking in heat. Older children who are interested in the history generally manage it far better than young ones.
What should I wear?
Light, loose clothing that covers your shoulders and knees, closed walking shoes, and a hat. The sites are open, stony and almost entirely without shade.
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