Luxor West Bank Tour: Valley of the Kings

About this trip

The royal tombs side of Luxor: the Valley of the Kings in the morning, Hatshepsut's terraced temple before the midday heat, lunch in Luxor, then the Colossi of Memnon. Private car and Egyptologist, entrance fees and lunch are included. Some tombs, such as Tutankhamun's, need an extra ticket.

The day

1. Morning

   Pickup from your hotel or Nile cruise

   Our representative meets you at your Luxor hotel or cruise boat, introduces your private Egyptologist guide and drives you over to the West Bank. An early start pays off here: the valley floor and the temple terraces have very little shade, and both are far more comfortable before the sun climbs.

2. Morning

   Valley of the Kings

   Pharaohs of the 18th to the 20th Dynasty, Ramses II and Tutankhamun among them, were buried in tombs cut deep into this dry limestone valley and stocked with everything a king might need in the next world. Many wall paintings are still bright. Your guide helps you choose which open tombs to enter and explains the scenes before you go down.

3. Late morning

   Temple of Hatshepsut

   The mortuary temple of Hatshepsut, one of the few women to rule Egypt as pharaoh, is built in three levels linked by wide central ramps beneath a sheer cliff. It is one of the best preserved temples in Egypt, and your guide shows you the carved scenes of her trading expedition to the land of Punt.

4. Midday

   Lunch at a restaurant in Luxor

   Lunch is at a restaurant in Luxor and is included in the price. It is a proper sit-down break out of the sun, and a good moment to ask your guide everything the morning raised before the last stop of the day.

5. Afternoon

   Colossi of Memnon

   Two huge seated statues of Amenhotep III, carved from quartzite sandstone, are nearly all that remains of what was once a vast mortuary temple. Greek and Roman travelers already came to see them two thousand years ago. It is a short, easy open-air stop with good light for photographs.

6. Afternoon

   Return to your hotel or Nile cruise

   Your driver takes you back to your hotel or boat. The guide, car, lunch, bottled water and the entrance fees for the sites above are already paid, so the only money you need on the day is for tips and any extras you decide to add.

Questions about this trip