3-Day Luxor Trip from Marsa Alam
A private driver from your resort, two nights in Luxor, an Egyptologist for each day of sightseeing and the entrance fees paid.
The short answer
3-Day Luxor Trip from Marsa Alam is a 3-day, 2-night trip to Luxor and Marsa Alam: 2 nights in Luxor. It includes an Egyptologist guide and transfers. Prices start at £534 per person, two sharing (Essential, October–April).
02Overview
A first look
Staying in Marsa Alam, you are a long way from the temples of the Pharaohs. This short trip closes the gap. A private driver picks you up at your hotel and takes you across to Luxor by road. Because that drive is long, the first day is deliberately light: Luxor Temple, then the sound and light show at Karnak after dark.
The second day belongs to the West Bank, with the Valley of the Kings, Hatshepsut's temple and the Colossi of Memnon. On the third morning you visit Luxor Museum before the road back to the coast. Your own resort stay and your flights to and from Egypt sit outside the trip. We arrange the two Luxor nights, both transfers, the guiding and the entrance fees.
What lingers
- 01A private road transfer from your Marsa Alam hotel to Luxor and back again
- 02Luxor Temple with your own Egyptologist
- 03The Karnak Temple sound and light show on the first evening
- 04The Valley of the Kings (three tombs), Hatshepsut's temple and the Colossi of Memnon
- 05A last morning in Luxor Museum
- 06Two nights in a Luxor hotel, so the West Bank is not an early-morning rush
Choose your comfort level
Prices are per person in GBP, from 2 people sharing a double room, including accommodation at the properties listed or similar.
| Comfort level | Where you stay or similar | Per personfrom, Oct–Apr | Choose |
|---|---|---|---|
| Essentialfrom £5343★ hotels | Luxor · 2 nightsEl Mesala Hotel Luxor | £534May–Sep: from £511 | |
| Comfortfrom £5874★ hotels | Luxor · 2 nightsIberotel Luxor by JAZ | £587May–Sep: from £568 | |
| Classicfrom £5965★ hotels | £596May–Sep: from £598 | ||
| Prestigefrom £5965★ deluxe hotels | Luxor · 2 nightsSteigenberger Nile Palace Luxor | £596May–Sep: from £598 | |
| Luxuryfrom £7505★ luxury hotels | Luxor · 2 nightsHilton Luxor Resort & Spa | £750May–Sep: from £750 |
Hotels on bed & breakfast. You'll stay in these properties, or a similar choice of the same quality. Choose your date in the booking panel for the exact price.
- New
Day by day
Detailed itinerary
3 Days / 2 Nights · Marsa Alam · Luxor · Luxor Temple · Karnak Temple · Valley of the Kings · Hatshepsut Temple
- 1
A private driver picks you up from your Marsa Alam hotel and takes you to Luxor by road. The drive is long, so we plan little else for the day. In Luxor your Egyptologist guides you around Luxor Temple, with the vehicle and entrance ticket included. After dark you go to Karnak Temple for its sound and light show, which lasts about two hours. You then settle into your Luxor hotel.
No meals are included today.
- 2
After breakfast you head to the West Bank with your Egyptologist in an air-conditioned vehicle, for a tour that lasts roughly six hours. In the Valley of the Kings the entrance fees for three tombs are included. You then see Queen Hatshepsut's terraced temple at Deir el-Bahari and the Colossi of Memnon. Tombs are hot and shade is scarce, so carry water.
You spend a second night at your Luxor hotel.
- 3
Once you have had breakfast and checked out, your driver takes you to Luxor Museum for a half-day visit with a private Egyptologist, entrance ticket included. It is a quiet, well-lit museum and a useful way to tie together the temples and tombs of the past two days. Your driver then takes you back to Marsa Alam by road. It is a long journey, so keep the evening free.
The fine print
What's included – and what is left out
Included
- Two nights in a Luxor hotel, with breakfast on days 2 and 3
- Private transfer by road from your Marsa Alam hotel to Luxor on day 1
- Private transfer by road from Luxor to Marsa Alam on day 3
- A private, licensed Egyptologist for Luxor Temple, the West Bank and Luxor Museum
- Entrance to Luxor Temple, three tombs in the Valley of the Kings and Luxor Museum
- Admission to the Karnak Temple sound and light show on day 1
- Private air-conditioned vehicle for all sightseeing
- Meet and assist from your transfer representative
- All service charges and taxes
Not included
- Flights to and from Egypt
- Egypt entry visa
- Your hotel and holiday in Marsa Alam
- Tips for guides and drivers
- Meals other than breakfast on days 2 and 3, and all drinks
- Premium tombs such as Tutankhamun's, and tickets not named in the itinerary
- Travel insurance and personal spending
Field notes
From our Egyptologists
- 01
Set off from Marsa Alam in good time on day one, which leaves a comfortable gap before the Karnak evening show.
- 02
Slip a thin shawl into your bag for the Karnak show, because the temple grounds feel cooler at night.
- 03
Rules on cameras inside the Valley of the Kings tombs vary, so ask your guide before you raise a phone.
- 04
At Luxor Museum, head first for the Tutankhamun-period exhibits and spend your remaining time on whatever catches your eye.
Tailor it
Make it yours
You choose the standard of Luxor hotel when you book. Ask us about extra nights in Luxor, a hot-air balloon flight over the West Bank, or a longer holiday that adds a Nile cruise.
Your own specialist deals with each request before you book.
Suited to
Is this for you?
Yes, if
- Guests on a beach or diving holiday in Marsa Alam who want to see Luxor's temples and tombs without organising it themselves. Suits couples, friends, families with older children and solo travellers who can manage long drives and a day of walking.
Maybe not, if
- Travellers who need step-free access to every site, or who dislike long drives. Days 1 and 3 both include the journey between Marsa Alam and Luxor.
Honest assessment
The honest pluses and minuses, as our own team sees them after running this trip.
Highlights
- Luxor Temple, Karnak after dark, the Valley of the Kings and Luxor Museum in three days
- Two nights in Luxor, so the West Bank is not hurried
- A private driver and Egyptologist, with no flights to catch
Things to Consider
- A long drive on day 1 and again on day 3
- Uneven stone, steps and little shade at the West Bank sites
- Breakfast is the only meal included, on days 2 and 3
Where it fits
A good fit for a beach holiday that needs a break for ancient history. It is not a full airport-to-airport tour of Egypt, as your resort stay and flights are separate.
Worth knowing
How this compares
A one-day run to Luxor from Marsa Alam is a very long day for a small amount of sightseeing. This three-day version spends two nights in Luxor, so the temples, tombs and museum are not crammed into one hurried day. The standard of hotel is your choice; the sightseeing does not change.
Compare
Similar tours to compare
On the ground
Your route
Snapshot
Good to know
- Travel style
- Guided short trip from a Red Sea resort
- Accommodation
- Luxor hotel, standard chosen at booking
- Destinations
- Marsa Alam · Luxor · Luxor Temple · Karnak Temple · Valley of the Kings · Hatshepsut Temple · Colossi of Memnon · Luxor Museum
- Includes
- 2 nights in a Luxor hotel, with breakfast on days 2 and 3 · Private road transfers from Marsa Alam to Luxor and back · Private Egyptologist on sightseeing days · Entrance to Luxor Temple, three tombs in the Valley of the Kings and Luxor Museum · Karnak Temple sound and light show · Private air-conditioned vehicle
- Best for
- Guests already staying in Marsa Alam · First-time visitors keen to see Luxor's temples and tombs · Travellers who accept two long days on the road
The morning of
Meeting point & timing
- Where
- Your hotel lobby in Marsa AlamMap
Before you go
What to pack & wear
What to bring
- Passport and any visa or travel documents
- Comfortable walking shoes with good grip
- Sun cream, SPF 30 or higher
- Sun hat and sunglasses
- Refillable water bottle
- Any regular medication
- A small bag for two nights away from your resort
- A light layer for the evening show and the air-conditioned car
What to wear
- Light, breathable clothing for sun and heat
- Closed shoes for temples, tombs and uneven ground
- Clothing that covers shoulders and knees at temples and mosques
- A hat and sunglasses
- A light jacket or scarf for the show at Karnak in the evening
Children & families
Children are welcome. Each child needs a seat in the private vehicle, and hotel and ticket costs depend on age, so we give you the exact figure once you tell us how old your child is at booking. Days 1 and 3 include a long drive, and the Karnak show lasts around two hours in the evening, so think about how your child copes with long car journeys and late nights. The tombs can be hot and steep.
Accessibility
Who can join this
Luxor Temple, the Valley of the Kings and Hatshepsut's temple mean walking on uneven stone and sand, with steps and a few narrow, sloping tomb passages. The West Bank is open and offers little shade. Luxor Museum is easier going, though we cannot promise step-free access everywhere. Vehicles are private and air-conditioned. The drive between Marsa Alam and Luxor is long, and the Karnak show is an evening outing. Tell us what you need when you book and we will say honestly which parts will suit you.
– Responsible travel
How we travel here
The trip relies on private road transfers, so we make no claim about carbon savings. Sightseeing is led by local Egyptologists and arranged through suppliers in Luxor, which means a good share of what you spend stays in the city you visit. We ask guests to carry a refillable water bottle and to keep their hands off the painted walls in tombs.
Licensed Egyptologist guides
State-licensed, and people we have worked with for years
Fair wages on the ground
Drivers + guides paid above market
Site preservation
We follow the Ministry of Tourism and Antiquities' site rules: marked paths, no touching reliefs
Local teams, real help
Our own offices in Cairo, Luxor, Aswan, Hurghada, Marsa Alam and Sharm El Sheikh
If plans change
Cancellation and refunds
If you cancel, your refund depends on how soon you let us know and on the kind of holiday. See our current cancellation and refund terms
Asked & answered
Frequent questions
01How far is it by road from Marsa Alam to Luxor?
It is a long drive each way, on days 1 and 3. That is why the first day holds only Luxor Temple and the evening show, and the last day only the museum before the drive back. A private vehicle and driver are included in both directions.02Do we get into the Valley of the Kings?
Yes. Day 2 is a West Bank tour of about six hours with your Egyptologist, and entrance for three tombs in the Valley of the Kings is included. Premium tombs, such as Tutankhamun's, are ticketed separately.03Is the trip private?
Your driver and Egyptologist are private for the transfers, Luxor Temple and Luxor Museum. On day 2 the guide and vehicle are arranged for your party.04What is the sound and light show at Karnak?
It is an evening performance at Karnak Temple lasting about two hours, with lighting and narration that tell the story of the site. Admission is included on day 1. It is not a replacement for seeing the temple by day.05What about my room at the resort?
Your resort stay is not part of this trip. Many guests keep their room in Marsa Alam and leave bags there, but please check with your hotel first, as we do not arrange it.06Can I catch a flight home on the day I return?
We would advise against it. Road journeys can overrun, and we only arrange the transfer back to your hotel. If you have to leave that day, pick a late-evening flight, allow a generous margin and take travel insurance that covers a missed flight.07Which meals are included?
Breakfast at your Luxor hotel on days 2 and 3. Nothing is included on day 1, so plan to eat on the way and in Luxor. Lunch and dinner on days 2 and 3 are at your own cost.08Which hotel will I stay in?
You choose a standard when you book, from budget to luxury, and we name the Luxor hotel for your dates. Sightseeing is the same whichever standard you pick.09What does the trip not cover?
Flights to and from Egypt, the Egypt visa, your hotel and holiday in Marsa Alam, tips for guides and drivers, drinks, meals not listed above, the Khufu pyramid interior and premium tombs in the Valley of the Kings.
Last updated Product ID: TOU-MRS-140843
At a glance
- Length
- 3 days · 2 nights
- Starts
- Daily
- Includes
- Egyptologist guide, transfers