Luxor West Bank — Valley of the Kings and Hatshepsut
Private tourSmall groupsNo forced shopping stops
from €53 per person
Overview
The West Bank is best seen early, before the sun hits the valley hard, so we set off at dawn. The Valley of the Kings isn't one tomb but more than sixty, cut into the rock over nearly five centuries; the standard ticket covers a limited number of tombs open on any given day, and your guide helps you pick the ones that match what you're actually curious about — painting, hieroglyphs, layout — rather than just joining the nearest queue.
From there we go on to Hatshepsut's temple at Deir el-Bahari: a terraced design unlike anything else you'll see in Egypt, built for a female pharaoh who ruled for twenty years and whom her successors later tried to erase from the record. On the way back, a short stop at the Colossi of Memnon — two massive statues over 3,000 years old, the only visible remains of a vanished funerary temple.
It's a full morning, but not an exhausting one if you start early — which is exactly the point of this excursion, and why we'd rather beat the heat than fight it.
This price covers the guide and private transport
This price covers the guide's fee and private transport during the excursion (hotel pickup, travel between the sites, drop-off). It does not include entrance tickets or meals. You buy your own tickets at the official price: we take no cut on them, and we never take you into a shop.
Highlights
- A tomb selection in the Valley of the Kings matched to your interests
- Queen Hatshepsut's terraced temple at Deir el-Bahari
- The Colossi of Memnon, remnants of a vanished funerary temple
- An early start to beat the crowds and the heat
Schedule for the day
- 06:00
Early departure
Pick-up at your hotel before sunrise, timed to reach the Valley of the Kings as it opens.
- 06:45
Valley of the Kings
A visit to three tombs chosen together based on your interests, with explanations of the excavation techniques and the funerary texts covering the walls.
- 08:30
Hatshepsut's Temple, Deir el-Bahari
A terraced design unique in Egypt, built for one of the very few female pharaohs, and the story of the attempt to erase her after her death.
- 10:00
Colossi of Memnon
A photo stop at the two giant statues of Amenhotep III, the only visible remains today of what was once Egypt's largest funerary temple.
- 10:30
Return
The drive back to your hotel, with time to talk through what we've just seen.
- 12:00
End of the excursion
Drop-off at your hotel or anywhere else in Luxor you choose.
What's included / What's not included
What's included
- Guide fee for the French-speaking Egyptologist for the 6-hour excursion
- Private transport throughout the excursion: hotel pickup, travel between the sites, drop-off
- Advice on which tombs to visit based on your interests
- In-depth historical explanations at every site
- A flexible route, with no forced shopping stop
What's not included
- Entrance tickets to the Valley of the Kings, Hatshepsut's temple, and any extra-fee tombs (such as Tutankhamun's)
- Meals and drinks
- Tips
The stops on the map
Meeting point
Meeting point
Your hotel in Luxor, before sunrise — the exact pick-up time is adjusted by season.
Cancellation
Free cancellation up to 48 hours before the tour begins. No deposit is required at booking: you settle on site, on the day of the tour.
