Egypt Discovery
ExcursionCairo

Luxor in a Day by Air from Cairo: Private Guide, Valley of the Kings and Karnak

About 16 hours, return flights, a private Egyptologist guide, the West Bank, Karnak and lunch.

At a glance

Departs
Daily

The short answer

A private 16-hour day from your Cairo or Giza hotel to Luxor and back by air, with the Valley of the Kings, the Temple of Hatshepsut and Karnak, return flights, a private guide and lunch.
  • New
  • Private

Snapshot

Good to know

Destinations
Cairo · Luxor · Valley of the Kings · Temple of Hatshepsut · Colossi of Memnon · Karnak Temple
Includes
Return economy flights between Cairo and Luxor · Private transfers to and from the airport in Cairo and Luxor · An air-conditioned vehicle and driver in Luxor, for your party only · A private English-speaking Egyptologist guide in Luxor · Admission to the Valley of the Kings (three tombs), the Temple of Hatshepsut and Karnak
Guide languages
English

Best time to go

October to April is the most comfortable. In summer the heat in the Valley of the Kings is intense, so the early start helps.

  • Licensed Egyptian tour operator
  • Offices in Cairo, Luxor, Aswan, Hurghada, Marsa Alam and Sharm El Sheikh

02Overview

A first look

Luxor holds more ancient monuments than any other place in Egypt, and with a morning flight you can reach them from Cairo within the hour. This is a long day, but a well-organised one. Your driver collects you from your Cairo or Giza hotel at about 04:00 and takes you to the airport. After a flight of around an hour you are met in Luxor by your guide and driver, who stay with you for the West Bank temples, lunch and Karnak. You land back in Cairo in the evening and are taken to your hotel. Hotels can usually prepare a breakfast box for a very early start, so ask at reception the evening before.

Background

The facts

Luxor lies on the Nile about 500 kilometres south of Cairo. The flight from Cairo takes around an hour, which makes a single-day visit possible.

Named in this entry

Cairo Airport

Suited to

Is this for you?

Yes, if

  • Travellers short of time who want the main Luxor sights in one day and are happy with a very early start.

Maybe not, if

  • Not suited to anyone who wants a relaxed pace, or who cannot manage an early start, airport queues and a long day on foot.

What lingers

  • 01Your pick of three Valley of the Kings tombs, as the basic ticket allows
  • 02Hatshepsut's terraced temple under the western cliffs
  • 03The two seated Colossi of Memnon on the West Bank
  • 04The great temple complex at Karnak in the afternoon
  • 05Return flights, airport transfers and a private guide arranged for you
  • 06Lunch in a local restaurant

Honest assessment

The honest pluses and minuses, as our own team sees them after running this trip.

Highlights

  • The main Luxor sights in one day without an overnight stay
  • Flights, transfers, guide and lunch arranged
  • Private guide and driver in Luxor

Things to Consider

  • A 04:00 start and a late return
  • Extra-ticket tombs are not included

Stop by stop

Detailed itinerary

  1. 1

  2. 2

  3. 3

  4. 4

  5. 5

  6. 6

  7. 7

  8. 8

The fine print

What's included – and what is left out

Included

  • Return economy flights between Cairo and Luxor
  • Private transfers to and from the airport in Cairo and Luxor
  • An air-conditioned vehicle and driver in Luxor, for your party only
  • A private English-speaking Egyptologist guide in Luxor
  • Admission to the Valley of the Kings (three tombs), the Temple of Hatshepsut and Karnak
  • Lunch in a local restaurant
  • Drinking water during the day

Not included

  • Tips for your guide and driver
  • What you drink with lunch
  • Anything you buy for yourself
  • Extra-ticket tombs, such as those of Tutankhamun and Seti I

Field notes

From our Egyptologists

  1. 01

    Ask your hotel for a breakfast box the evening before

  2. 02

    Bring the passport used for the booking and keep it to hand

Before you go

What to pack & wear

Children & families

Children are welcome and count towards your party size. Each traveller needs a passport for the flights. The day starts at about 04:00 and ends in the evening, so it suits older children used to long days. Please tell us their ages when you book.

These fares are a guide, as prices and departure move through the year. Do ask us and we will confirm the fare for the days you have in mind.

On the ground

Your route

✈1Cairo2Luxor

Asked & answered

Frequent questions

  1. 01How do I book this excursion, and when do I pay?
    You book online. No payment is taken at that point. Our team then checks flight seats for your date and confirms availability and the final fare, and only after that do you pay. If seats are not available, we tell you and you pay nothing.
  2. 02Do I need to buy my own flights?
    No. Return economy flights between Cairo and Luxor are part of the excursion. Flight times follow the airline timetable on your date, so the times in the itinerary are a guide until we confirm them.
  3. 03What do I need to bring?
    Bring the passport you used for the booking, as you need it for the domestic flights. Wear comfortable shoes, and carry a sun hat, sun cream and some cash for tips and any extra tickets.
  4. 04What about food at such an early start?
    Ask your hotel the evening before for a breakfast box. Hotels usually provide one free of charge. Lunch in Luxor is included in the fare.
  5. 05Can we see Tutankhamun's tomb?
    It is not included, as it needs an extra ticket on top of the standard Valley of the Kings ticket. Your guide can tell you how to add it on the day if you wish.
  6. 06What happens if I cancel?
    You are refunded in full if you cancel three or more days before. Between three days and 24 hours before, half is refunded. After that, or if you miss your pick-up, there is no refund. Once the flight tickets have been issued, the airline's own rules apply to the flight part of the trip.

If plans change

Plans change? We make it easy.

  • More than 72 hours before your tour: keep the full amount as credit towards a future holiday with us, or take a refund.
  • Between 72 and 24 hours beforehand: hold on to the whole amount as credit, or have part of it refunded.
  • Within 24 hours of the tour, or if you don't turn up, we're unable to offer a refund or credit.
  • Should we ever have to cancel, because of the weather or anything else beyond our control, you won't lose a penny.

Credit stays valid for 12 months from your original travel date and can go towards any tour, cruise or stay with us.See the complete terms for cancelling and refunds

Continue reading

From the archives

Product ID: EXC-CAI-470319

You Might Also Like

Nile Dinner Cruise & Evening Show, CairoCairo

Nile Dinner Cruise & Evening Show, Cairo

A three‑hour Nile dinner cruise in central Cairo runs typically from 19:00 to 22:30, with table service and a folkloric Tanoura show. We arrange private, air‑conditioned hotel transfers rather than sending coach groups; dining is restaurant‑style at reserved tables rather than buffet seating. Expect a set menu (vegetarian options available on request), an evening finish around 22:30–23:00, and a return time that can be 30–60 minutes in heavy Cairo traffic. We are a licensed Egyptian tour operator and handle all local logistics on your behalf.

From £43

Saqqara, Memphis and Dahshur: Private Day from CairoCairo

Saqqara, Memphis and Dahshur: Private Day from Cairo

A private day out from your Cairo or Giza hotel to the older pyramid fields south of the capital. You see the Red Pyramid and the Bent Pyramid at Dahshur, the Step Pyramid at Saqqara and the open-air museum at Memphis. A private Egyptologist guide and driver are with you throughout, and lunch is included. Allow about eight hours from pick-up to drop-off.

From £87

National Museum of Egyptian Civilization & Egyptian Museum Day TourCairo

National Museum of Egyptian Civilization & Egyptian Museum Day Tour

Visit the National Museum of Egyptian Civilization and the Egyptian Museum (Tahrir) in one full day with a private Egyptologist and private transfers. Standard museum entrance fees are included; premium or temporary exhibition surcharges are extra. Unlike coach-based museum runs, we operate this as a private visit so you have time with key displays and the Royal Mummies Gallery at NMEC. Our Egyptologists explain provenance, conservation and display context, and we arrange the car, driver and a relaxed lunch stop in central Cairo. Trade-offs: the Egyptian Museum (Tahrir) can be crowded and has older cases and queues during peak hours. We are a licensed Egyptian tour operator.

From £91