Excursion to Luxor from Hurghada

During a stay in the seaside resort of Hurghada, there’s no shortage of activities. And yet, it would be a mistake not to include a cultural excursion, since Luxor, Egypt’s must-see city, is only around 4 hours away. So why not take the opportunity to discover this sublime city with so many treasures? There’s a Luxor excursion from Hurghada, ideal for a one-day visit.

Formerly Thebes, this ancient city is one of the richest in all of Egypt. And with good reason, since it boasts some extraordinary historical sites. The Valley of the Kings, Hatshepsut’s funerary temple and the religious complex of Karnak are breathtaking remains dating back several millennia.

What to see on this excursion to Luxor from Hurghada? Where to book? What is the pick-up procedure? How long does the tour last? We answer all your questions in this guide, providing you with the essential information.

First, we’ll give you some practical information, then describe how the activity works, and finally provide you with a detailed FAQ.

Practical information for your trip to Luxor from Hurghada

Here’s the essential information you need to know before booking your excursion to Luxor from Hurghada.

Offers and prices

Here you’ll find the tour we’re going to describe:

Access and opening hours

The mini-bus pick-up takes place directly at your hotel, around 4am. The tourist agency will contact you via WhatsApp to confirm the pick-up time.

Please note that you need to be at the entrance of your hotel about 15 minutes in advance. We strongly recommend that you respect this time, as the driver will not come a second time if you are late.

From there, you’re on your way. You’ll need to pass a few checkpoints, which may take around ten minutes depending on traffic conditions. There’s a short break halfway along the route, where you can go to the toilet.

Tourism obliges, but you should be aware that they charge a few Egyptian pounds. Drinks, snacks and souvenirs are also on sale.

How long does the Luxor trip from Hurghada last?

Allow an average of 16 hours for your trip to Luxor from Hurghada.

This includes early morning hotel pick-up, with :

• the 4h trip
• visit to the Karnak site
• crossing the Nile in a felucca
• restaurant meal
• a visit to the Valley of the Kings
• Hatshepsut’s mortuary monument
• stop at the Colossi of Memnon
• and return to Hurghada in the evening at around 8pm.

How does the trip to Luxor work from Hurghada?

In this section you’ll find all the information you’ll need for your visit.

Desert landscape & Quena on the road

During the journey, you can sleep in, beforeenjoying the scenery in the early morning: the sun rising in the desert, the road zigzagging between the mountains, the farming town of Quena, the Nile, which you will follow all the way to the finish.

The guide climbs into the mini-bus with us and, throughout the day, recounts details of the ancient city, pointing out ancient monuments and giving lots of explanations.

Karnak temple, famous for its columns

The first historic site you’ll visit on this Luxor tour from Hurghada is Karnak, on Luxor’s eastern shore.

Here you’ll find a hypostyle hall, huge statues and obelisks, including Queen Hatshepsut’s 30-metre-high obelisk, the highest in the world. The only part accessible to the public is the enclosure of Amun, divided into pylons.

First of all, there’s theAlley of the Sphinxes (or Alley of the “Rams”). Few remain at this entrance, but over a distance of 3km, 700 sphinxes guided the route from Karnak to Luxor temples. Following a recent refurbishment, it is still possible to walk between them.

Pass the first pylon of the Amon estate, the monumental Egyptian wall, to discover a vast open-air courtyard with 3 chapels.

Here we see the Temple of Sety, the Column of Taharqa, the Colossus of Ramses II, as well as a dozen columns partially destroyed by earthquakes.

Next comes the most impressive part of this Luxor tour from Hurghada: the Hypostyle Hall, the largest in the world. Its 134 columns are between 21 and 25 metres high.

Stroll between them, admiring the restored colors. In the past, the flooding that was supposed to clean the floor erased the details at the foot of the columns, but upwards, they remain fascinatingly beautiful.

Thanks to this age-old incident, the Egyptians discovered 18,000 statues in one room, thanks to the water that invaded these hidden places.

Just behind is the most sacred part, the sanctuary of Queen Hatshepsut. It is covered and soberly decorated, evoking a starry sky.

Further on, you’ll find the enclosure of Amun-Ra and the statue of the scarab near the sacred lake. All in all, this site took 2,000 years to complete.

The guide takes you on a guided tour, explaining the history of the site, the various events and the great figures who have left their mark on it.

There’s then about 40 minutes of free time to explore the site on your own and take photos. Before heading back to the west bank for the rest of the tour, you can see Luxor Temple as you step off the mini-bus.

Crossing the Nile in a traditional felucca

On this excursion to Luxor from Hurghada, you’ll have the chance to cross the world’s longest river in a typical Egyptian boat.

The colorful felucca takes you on an hour-long tour. The guide gives you more information about the city itself, the buildings and hotels that line the shore, the different sectors of activity in the city, and so on.

Pleasant, relaxing and a change of scenery, this activity allows you to diversify your visit to this ancient city via an ancestral means of transport.

It’s all about having a good, quiet time, away from the crowds that invade these tourist spots. You can even climb up to the roof to take panoramic photos.

Note that if you choose not to take this option, the driver will take you by mini-bus to the other side of the river. Please note that this activity is not included in the price (around ten euros per person).

Lunch

The guide takes you through a few narrow streets before arriving at a restaurant. There’s a large buffet with rice, grilled vegetables, meat and kefta, raw vegetables, pita bread and desserts, including baklava.

You can have lunch outside, in the company of the group accompanying you on your day trip to Luxor from Hurghada. One hour is dedicated to lunch.

Egypt’s mythical Valley of the Kings

The city’s most emblematic land mark, the Valley of the Kings, is located on the west bank.

This is an extremely famous funerary site, located in the Libyan desert. It consists of hypogea containing 63 tombs of New Kingdom kings who reigned over more than 30 dynasties.

People come here to visit those of Pharaohs Ramses III, Sety I and Ramses II, and those of his sons, Merenptah and Ramses XI, etc.

A dozen of them are open for several months.

In fact, to preserve the site, visits alternate and rooms are rotated. On the Luxor tour from Hurghada, you can visit just three. They will punch your entrance ticket at each tomb visit to check.

Others, such as Tutankhamun’s, are accessible but remain as extras. The latter’s still-intact burial chamber contains the tomb and the mummy itself.

The guide takes you through the valley, describing what you can see before you go and visit a particular tomb.

In all, the west bank is home to 419 tombs, including this burial site of the kings and that of Queen Hatshepsut, the penultimate stop on this Luxor tour from Hurghada.

The impressive funerary temple of Queen Hatshepsut

The highlight of the show is the Temple of Hatshepsut, located south of the Valley of the Kings in Deir el-Bahari. Made of limestone set directly into the stone, it was built for and byone of ancient Egypt’s greatest pharaoh queens.

On her husband’s death, she became regent until her son-in-law came of age, before appointing herself ruler of the 18th dynasty (New Kingdom). She reigned for over 20 years.

The monument is architecturally striking, with its superimposed terraces and access ramp, particularly for its period, since it was built between A.D. 7 and A.D. 22.

During your visit, you can enter this mortuary temple.

You’ll first see the large statues of the god Osiris before entering. After crossing the courtyard, you can see the small funerary chamber, where the tomb of Hatshepsut and her father Thutmosis I lie.

Visit to an alabaster factory

A short stop is planned to discover the stonecutters.

You’ll see how the little statuettes are made. You can also buy them on site as souvenirs.

The Colossi of Memnon

Last stop on this tour of Luxor from Hurghada. You’ll discover the two Colossi of Memnon, rising to a height of around 18m.

These monumental statues adorned the entrance to Amenhotep III’s Temple of Millions of Years, the only vestige of this site now completely destroyed.

These statues were made by an amateur and have deteriorated over the centuries, with one of the feet missing. An earthquake in 27BC caused the partial collapse of the North Colossus (on the right).

Legend has it that locals believed the statues were singing because of a noise around them from an unknown source.

After this exciting but exhausting day of sightseeing in Luxor from Hurghada, you’ll make your way back to the resort, before being escorted back to your hotel at around 8pm.

Frequently asked questions

In this section, we’ll look in detail at all the questions travelers may have about the Luxor excursion from Hurghada.

This FAQ is in list form, to help you find what you’re looking for more quickly.

Can I take photos in the tombs?

Yes, but you must remove the flash out of respect for the preservation of the site. As a reminder, refuse all requests to have your photo taken by locals, at the risk of having to pay for the service afterwards.

Does the guide speak English?

Yes, when you book, you can opt for a tour in English. The guide speaks excellent English, explains the history of the monuments and sites, and answers all your questions.

Is it hot?

Yes, the heat is very high, around 40° in summer, as the city is located inland. Fortunately, the agency will provide you with several bottles of water throughout your trip to Luxor from Hurghada.

Get as much shade as possible, drink plenty of water and avoid physical exertion as much as possible.

There are many steps down to the tombs, so don’t hesitate to take a rest between two landings. One last thing you’ll appreciate at Zenith: the mini-bus is air-conditioned.

Note that for the Valley of the Kings and the Temple of Hatshepsut, you’ll take a mini-cart up into the heights. This will save you walking in the sweltering heat.

What should I take with me?

Sunscreen, scarf or hat to prevent sunstroke, sunglasses, your own water bottle (in addition to those provided by the agency).

It’s best to carry small backpacks, and don’t take on too much, as you’ll be making a lot of trips back and forth between the mini-bus and the various attractions. Note that your driver will follow you all day, and you can leave your belongings in the vehicle if you need to.

You’ll also need cash (European and Egyptian) if you wish to take the felucca crossing. You’ll also pass several souks in front of the various tourist sites.

Even if the sellers are pushy and the scam very likely, you may fall under the spell of a souvenir!

Are there catering facilities on site?

Yes, you’ll find snacks and fast food at the Valley of the Kings and the site of Queen Hatshepsut. Note that there is often a queue, and you probably won’t have time to stop there.

Fortunately, this trip to Luxor from Hurghada includes a meal at a quality restaurant serving local cuisine.

This guide to the Luxor tour from Hurghada has come to an end. You now know everything there is to know about this tour. From the Valley of the Kings, the Temple of Karnak and Queen Hatshepsut to the Colossi of Memnon, you can discover all the wonders of Egypt’s thousand-year-old city during a stay in Hurghada.

As one of Egypt’s must-see cities, we highly recommend a visit, as it’s packed with ancient treasures and extraordinary historical sites.

If you’re looking for other activities, take a look at our guide to excursions in Hurghada.