Great Hypostyle Hall
134 columns in 16 rows, with the twelve central ones about 21 m tall.
5.0 on TripadvisorPrivate tour Karnak & Luxor Temples Private Day Tour
Karnak and Luxor Temple on the East Bank with a private Egyptologist: a long morning at Karnak, then Luxor Temple later in the day. No tombs.
- Duration
- About 5 hours
- Where
- Karnak and Luxor Temple, East Bank of Luxor
- Pick-up
- Hotel or Nile ship in Luxor
- Language
- English (other languages on request)
From, per person$456 or more travellers
- Starts any day
- Free quote, no obligation
- Change anything you like
About this tour
This is the East Bank half of ancient Thebes, taken at a walking pace. Karnak gets the long visit it needs, and Luxor Temple follows later in the day. There are no tomb descents and no climbing, so it suits travellers who find the Valley of the Kings too steep or too hot, and anyone who wants to look properly at architecture.
The two temples belong to one story. Karnak was the home of Amun. Luxor Temple, a few kilometres south, was the place his statue travelled to during the Opet festival, along a processional avenue. Your guide uses that link to explain why each building is laid out the way it is.
It does not include the West Bank. If you want the tombs as well, pair it with our West Bank tour on a second day, or choose the full-day East and West Bank tour if you only have one.
Hatshepsut's obelisk
Almost 30 m high and over 300 tons, standing inside the Amun precinct.
The Opet link
A 2.7 km avenue once joined Karnak to Luxor Temple for the festival procession.
Ramesses II's courtyard
The pylon at Luxor Temple once had two obelisks. One is still here, the other has been in Paris since 1836.
A mosque on ancient columns
The Abu Haggag mosque still stands inside Luxor Temple.
How the day runs
- 1
Early morningKarnak and its layout
Karnak opens at 6:00 and we time the pick-up so you walk in soon after the gates open. Before the walking starts, your guide sketches the plan: the large Amun precinct, the Mut precinct to the south, the Montu precinct to the north and Akhenaten's Aten temple to the east. The ancient name, Ipet-sut, means "The Most Select of Places".
- 2
MorningThe Great Hypostyle Hall
This is the stop most people come for. The hall covers about 5,000 square metres and the columns stand in 16 rows. Your guide reads the carved scenes with you and points out why the twelve central columns are taller than the rest.
- 3
Late morningObelisk, Akh-menu and the sacred lake
Hatshepsut raised twin obelisks here. One still stands, and the other lies broken nearby. From there you walk to the Akh-menu, the festival temple of Thutmose III, and to the sacred lake the priests used for purification. How long you stay at each is up to you.
- 4
MiddayLunch break
Lunch is not included in this tour. Your driver takes you to a restaurant of your choice in Luxor, or straight back to your hotel if you prefer to rest first.
- 5
AfternoonLuxor Temple
Amenhotep III built the core of the temple and its great colonnade. Tutankhamun and Horemheb finished the decoration, and Ramesses II added the courtyard and the pylon. In the late third century AD the Romans built a fort around it, and one chamber became a sanctuary with wall paintings. The mosque of Abu Haggag sits on the ancient columns, still in use.
How much does this tour cost?
| Group size | Price per person |
|---|---|
| Single traveller | $70 |
| 2 travellers | $55 |
| 3 to 5 travellers | $50 |
| 6 or more travellers | $45 |
In US dollars, per person, for a private trip. The price in your written quote, made for your dates and group, is the one that counts. International flights are not included.
What’s included
Included
- Pick-up and return by private air-conditioned vehicle in Luxor
- Private Egyptologist guide
- Entrance fees to Karnak and Luxor Temple
- Bottled water
Not included
- Lunch and drinks
- Tips
Booking policies
Important information
Start early
Karnak opens at 6:00. In the warmer months the first hours are the coolest, and the huge open courtyards have little shade later on.
Wear
Flat closed shoes, a hat and sunscreen. Luxor Temple has a working mosque inside, so keep shoulders and knees covered out of respect.
Walking
The ground is level but uneven in places, and the distances inside Karnak are long. Tell us if anyone in your group tires easily and we will shorten the route and add rest stops.
Evening option
The Ministry of Tourism and Antiquities lists Luxor Temple as open until 20:00, so we can move that visit later in the day if you prefer.
Payment and deposit
- Prices are in US dollars and the price in your written quote is the one that counts.
- The deposit is 30 percent of the total price (50 percent for trips that start from 18 December to 5 January).
- The balance is due 15 days before arrival. If you book later than that, the full amount confirms the booking.
- Payment instructions come with your written quote.
Cancellation and refund
Send every cancellation by email so that we can confirm it in writing. The charge is a percentage of the tour price, and anything you paid above it is refunded.
| Days before arrival | Normal dates | 18 Dec to 5 Jan |
|---|---|---|
| Until 61 days | 20% | 35% |
| 60 to 31 days | 35% | 50% |
| 30 to 15 days | 50% | 75% |
| 14 to 1 days, or no-show | 100% | 100% |
A bank and payment fee of 6 percent is deducted from every refund. Full rules: terms and policies.
Children
- Children under 3 travel free.
- Children from 3 to 11.99 years pay 50 percent of the tour price.
- From 12 years, travellers pay the adult price.
Please give the age of every child at the time of travel when you ask for a quote.
Travel tips
Know before you go
Start early
Pickup around 8:00 gets you to the pyramids before the heat and the coach groups.
Wear
Closed shoes, a hat and sunscreen, expect sand, steps and uneven ground.
Extra tickets
Entry inside the Great Pyramid is an optional ticket bought on the day.
Photos
Photos are free outdoors; some tombs charge for cameras. Drones are not allowed.
Traveller reviews
What our travellers say
A Fantastic Tour of Egypt
“The entire trip was seamlessly executed.”
Best tour guide!!
“He made our trip to the pyramids and Alexandria fun and memorable.”
Amazing 2 week trip
“My friends and I spent two weeks in Egypt and he was with us every step of the way.”
FAQ
Questions about this tour
Still unsure? Message us on WhatsApp and a real person from our team will answer.
Are Karnak and Luxor Temple the same place?
No. They are two separate temples, linked in ancient times by a 2.7 km avenue that was reopened to the public in November 2021. We visit both in one tour.
Do I need to be fit for this tour?
You need to be comfortable walking for a few hours on flat, uneven ground. There are no tomb descents and no stairs you have to climb.
Can we add the Valley of the Kings to the same day?
Not on this tour, which stays on the East Bank. The East and West Bank tour covers both sides of the river in one day.
Which temple is better if I only have time for one?
Karnak is the larger site and needs the most time. Luxor Temple is shorter and works well in the late afternoon.
Is the tour suitable for children?
Yes, if they can walk for a few hours. Your guide can keep the stories short for younger children, and the open courtyards give them room to move.
Make it a trip
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Before you go
Guides for this trip
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