Private Full Day Tour to Giza Pyramids, Saqqara & Memphis
Discover the ancient wonders of Egypt on a Cairo guided tour to the Giza Pyramids, Saqqara & Ancient Memphis. Visit the well-known Pyramids of Giza,...
FromUS$ 80 / person
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Private Day Tour
Private Luxor Day Trip from Cairo by Flight
Trip overview
Discover Ancient Thebes in One Day: Fly from Cairo to Luxor and Back
Luxor is about 650 km south of Cairo, a nine-hour drive, but only about an hour by air. That short domestic flight is what makes a Luxor day tour from Cairo possible. You leave your Cairo or Giza hotel early in the morning, land in Luxor, and your private Egyptologist meets you at the airport. Luxor stands on the site of ancient Thebes, the capital of Egypt’s New Kingdom and a UNESCO World Heritage Site.
Cairo to Luxor and back in one day
At 04:00 AM pickup from your Cairo hotel · 06:00 flight to Luxor (about 1 hour) · 07:30 meet your Egyptologist guide at Luxor airport · Karnak Temple · Valley of the Kings (3 tombs on the standard ticket) · Lunch · Temple of Hatshepsut · Evening flight back to Cairo · Drop-off at your hotel around 22:00.
Is a Luxor day trip from Cairo worth it?
Yes, if your time is short. You will see the three most important sites of ancient Thebes. It is a long day, though; if you can spare one more night, the overnight version adds Luxor Temple and the West Bank at a calmer pace. Overnight Luxor Trip from Cairo by Air (2 Days) is one of the most rewarding Egypt day tours.
Tour highlights
What makes this day different
Temple of Karnak
Egypt's largest religious complex, from the New Kingdom.
Valley of the Kings
Royal tombs with vivid hieroglyphs from the 18th-20th dynasties.
Hatshepsut's Temple
A cliffside temple honouring Egypt's only female pharaoh.
The route
3 stops, one unforgettable day
Your day at a glance
Hotel pickup & drop-off
An early transfer from your Cairo hotel to Cairo International Airport for the flight to Luxor, where your Egyptologist guide meets you.
1
Karnak Temple Complex (East Bank)
Begin at the East Bank, the “land of the living,” to visit Karnak Temple, the largest religious complex of ancient Egypt and the main sanctuary of the god Amun-Ra. Construction began in the Middle Kingdom and continued for about 2,000 years, as pharaohs from Senusret I to Ramesses II and the Ptolemies each added pylons, halls, and obelisks.
Your guide leads you down the Avenue of Rams into the Great Hypostyle Hall, where 134 giant papyrus-shaped columns still carry their original carvings. You will also see Hatshepsut’s obelisk, among the tallest still standing in Egypt, and the Sacred Lake used by priests for purification. The complex honours the Theban Triad: Amun, his wife Mut, and their son Khonsu.
Great Hypostyle Hall
Temple of Amun-Ra, Mut & Khonsu
Hatshepsut’s Obelisk
Sacred Lake
2
Valley of the Kings (West Bank)
Cross to the West Bank, the “land of the dead,” for the Valley of the Kings, the royal burial ground of New Kingdom pharaohs from the 18th to the 20th Dynasty (about 1539-1075 BC). More than 60 tombs are cut into the limestone hills beneath al-Qurn, a natural peak shaped like a pyramid.
Your standard ticket includes three open tombs, chosen from those open to visitors, often including Ramesses IV (KV2), Ramesses IX (KV6), or Merenptah, Ramesses III (KV11). Inside, long corridors are painted with scenes from the Book of the Dead, the Amduat, and the Book of Gates, showing the pharaoh’s journey through the underworld toward rebirth.
The Tomb of Tutankhamun (KV62), found by Howard Carter in 1922, can be added with a separate ticket.
Royal Tombs
Ancient Hieroglyphs & Paintings
Book of the Dead Paintings
3
Temple of Hatshepsut (West Bank)
Next is the Mortuary Temple of Hatshepsut, known in ancient times as Djeser-Djeseru, “Holy of Holies.” Built around 1470 BC for one of the few women to rule Egypt as pharaoh, it rises in three wide terraces against the cliffs of Deir el-Bahari and was designed by her architect Senenmut.
Your guide explains the reliefs of the famous trade expedition to the Land of Punt, the Chapel of Hathor and the Chapel of Anubis, and how later rulers tried to erase Hatshepsut’s name and image.
On the way, stop to photograph the Colossi of Memnon, two 18-metre statues of Amenhotep III.
💡Did you know? Hatshepsut is often shown wearing the false beard and crown of a male king. For centuries, her mummy was missing. In 2007, Egyptian archaeologists finally identified her when a single tooth, found in a box carrying her name, fitted exactly into the jaw of an unnamed mummy.
Cliffside Temple at Deir el-Bahari
Deir el-Bahari Terraces
Punt Reliefs
Colossi of Memnon Photo Stop
Back to your hotel
Return transfer at the end of your day — hotel, Nile cruise dock or the airport.
What's included
Everything's taken care of
Included
- Hotel pickup and drop-off.
- Expert Egyptologist guide during your Cairo sightseeing tour.
- Entrance fees for all sightseeing are included in Cairo city tours.
- All service charges and taxes are included in Cairo guided tours.
- Air-conditioned vehicle transportation.
- Being met and assisted upon arrival and departure at Luxor Airport.
- Entrance fees to the mentioned historical place.
- Domestic flights Cairo - Luxor - Cairo.
- Meals are included in the itinerary.
Not included
- Tipping.
- Cairo adventure tours exclude everything that isn't included in the itinerary.
Prices
One rate all year — the more of you, the less each pays
Group sizePrice per person
Solo travellerPrivate tour for one
US$ 630/ person
2–4 travellers
US$ 530/ person
5–8 travellers
US$ 490/ person
9–14 travellers
US$ 450/ person
- Prices may vary based on the season and group size.
- Rates typically cover entrance fees, transportation, and guided Cairo day trips.
- Cairo guided tours include standard costs but extra charges will occur for optional activities that are excluded from the package.
- Children's discounts may be available depending on age and operator policy.
- Prices are usually quoted in USD or EGP and may be subject to exchange rate fluctuations.
Optional extras
Add these if you have the appetite
Hot Air Balloon Ride
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US$ 75 per personLuxor Temple
Nestled on the east bank of the Nile in the heart of modern-day Luxor, the Luxor Temple is one of Egypt’s most breathtaking ancient landmarks....
US$ 35 per personEssential information
Before the morning of your tour
An early transfer takes you from your Cairo hotel to the airport for the flight to Luxor, where your guide meets you; you fly back to Cairo the same evening.
- Closed walking shoes
- A hat, sunglasses and sunscreen
- Small notes for tips
Phone and camera photography is free across all sites; photography is not permitted inside some tombs.
All three sites involve walking on stone pathways and some uneven ground.
Free cancellation up to 24 hours before pickup. No prepayment is taken to reserve the date — you settle with your guide on the day.
Good to know
Day tour FAQs
The fastest way is by plane. The flight takes about 1 hour each way. We book your round-trip domestic flights, pick you up from your Cairo or Giza hotel, and a private Egyptologist meets you at Luxor Airport.
Yes, if you are short on time. In one day, you can see Karnak Temple, the Valley of the Kings, and Hatshepsut Temple. If you want Luxor Temple, the Valley of the Queens, or a sunrise hot-air balloon ride as well, consider our 2-day overnight Luxor trip.
About 1 hour. Luxor is about 650 km south of Cairo, so flying saves 8 to 9 hours of driving each way.
October to April is the most comfortable, with mild daytime temperatures. From May to September, Luxor regularly exceeds 40°C, so the itinerary starts early and saves indoor tomb visits for the hottest hours.
Phone photos are allowed at all three sites. Photography may be restricted inside certain tombs, and professional cameras or tripods require a special permit.
Yes. Cancellation is free up to 24 hours before pickup.
Three. The standard ticket covers three open tombs of your choice. Tutankhamun (KV62), Seti I (KV17), and Ramesses V & VI (KV9) need separate tickets, which your guide can buy for you on-site.
Pickup is usually around 4:00 AM, and you’ll be back at your Cairo hotel around midnight, depending on flight times. Exact times are confirmed when your flights are booked.
Not on the same-day trip. Luxor balloons fly at sunrise, before the morning flight from Cairo lands. Choose our 2-day overnight Luxor trip if you want the balloon.
Yes. Round-trip flights Cairo–Luxor–Cairo and all transfers are included.
Yes, entrance fees to Karnak Temple, the Valley of the Kings (standard ticket, 3 tombs), and Hatshepsut Temple, lunch, a private Egyptologist guide, and all transfers are included.
Yes. Lunch at a local restaurant in Luxor is included; your guide will confirm the details on the day.
Moderate walking of approximately 3-4 km, mostly on flat ground. Karnak Temple is the longest walk, and some sites have uneven ground. Let us know when booking if you have limited mobility so we can tailor the experience to your needs.
Light, covering clothes, closed walking shoes, a hat, sunglasses, sunscreen, and a passport for the domestic flight. Bring small Egyptian pound notes for tips.
What travelers say
Stories from real explorers
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