Valley of the Kings
Kings were buried in this dry wadi for nearly 500 years, from about 1539 to 1075 BC.
5.0 on TripadvisorPrivate tour Valley of the Kings, Hatshepsut & Colossi Private Day Tour
The West Bank of Luxor with a private Egyptologist: royal tombs, Hatshepsut's terraces, the Colossi of Memnon and the village of the tomb builders.
- Duration
- About 6 hours
- Where
- West 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 tour is about the people who were buried on the West Bank and the people who dug the graves. You start in the Valley of the Kings when it opens, go on to Hatshepsut's temple under the cliffs at Deir el-Bahari, pass the two giant statues known as the Colossi of Memnon, and finish at Deir el-Medina, where the tomb workers lived.
It suits travellers who like stories behind a monument and do not mind a hot, quiet morning. Tomb corridors are narrow and slope downward, and visitors walk in single file, so it is a poor fit for anyone who dislikes enclosed spaces or cannot manage steps. It leaves out Karnak and Luxor Temple, which sit on the other bank.
Tutankhamun's tomb
Howard Carter found it on 4 November 1922. It has its own ticket.
Hatshepsut's terraces
Three levels against the cliff, with painted reliefs of her expedition to Punt.
Colossi of Memnon
Two seated statues of Amenhotep III, about 18 m high with their bases.
Deir el-Medina
The village of the royal tomb workers, where a labour dispute around 1170 BC may be the first recorded sit-down strike.
How the day runs
- 1
Early morningValley of the Kings, outside the tombs
The valley sits in a wadi opposite Luxor, overlooked by a pyramid-shaped peak the ancient Egyptians called "The Peak". Guides may not lecture inside the tombs, so yours briefs you at the entrance: who is buried where, how to read the walls, and which tombs are open today. Only about twenty tombs in the valley held kings, and not all can be visited at once.
- 2
MorningInside the royal tombs
Your ticket covers a few tombs, chosen on the day. Candidates include the shared tomb of Ramesses V and VI, the bent-axis tomb of Thutmose III, and Seti I's tomb, which is often described as the finest in the valley. Closures for restoration change the list, so we decide at the gate.
- 3
Late morningTutankhamun's tomb (optional)
Tutankhamun's tomb, KV62, needs a separate ticket paid at the gate. It is small, and most of the objects found in it are now in the Grand Egyptian Museum in Giza. Some travellers go in for the setting, others skip it and spend the time in a larger tomb. Your guide helps you decide.
- 4
MiddayHatshepsut's temple at Deir el-Bahari
Hatshepsut ruled as pharaoh in the fifteenth century BC. Her temple rises in three terraces, with colonnades on the upper levels. The Punt reliefs are on the middle terrace, and a shrine to Hathor and a chapel of Anubis sit at either end of it. Polish archaeologists from Warsaw have been restoring the temple since 1961.
- 5
Early afternoonColossi of Memnon
The two statues once guarded the entrance to Amenhotep III's mortuary temple, which has almost entirely gone. An earthquake in 27 BC cracked the northern statue, and in Roman times visitors reported that it made a sound at dawn. The last reliable report dates from 196 AD.
- 6
AfternoonDeir el-Medina
About 68 mudbrick houses stood here, home to the craftsmen who cut and decorated the royal tombs. They were salaried state workers who called themselves "Servants in the Place of Truth". Which of the workmen's tombs can be entered, and whether the small Ptolemaic temple of Hathor is open, changes from season to season, so your guide confirms the list at the site on the day.
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 the sites listed, with the standard tomb ticket in the Valley of the Kings
- Bottled water
Not included
- Tutankhamun's tomb and any other tomb sold on a separate ticket
- Lunch and drinks
- Tips
Booking policies
Important information
Start early
The Valley of the Kings opens at 6:00, and there is almost no shade in the wadi. Arriving at opening is the simplest way to avoid the hottest part of the day.
Wear
Closed shoes with a good grip, light layers and a hat. The air inside the tombs is warm, and the floors can be sloping or stepped.
Tickets and photos
The ministry's page for the Valley does not state camera rules, and they can differ from tomb to tomb. Ask your guide and the gate staff before you take a camera into a tomb.
Last entry
The ministry lists the Valley as open from 6:00 to 17:00 every day. We schedule it first because the wadi has no shade and the day only gets hotter.
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.
Which tombs will we actually see?
The guide chooses from the tombs open that day. Some are closed for restoration, and the list changes, so we agree on the final choice at the gate.
Is Tutankhamun's tomb worth the extra ticket?
It depends on what you want. The tomb itself is small and the treasures are in Giza, but standing in the chamber where Carter worked means something to many people. Your guide gives you a straight answer on the day.
Why is the Valley visited before the temples?
The valley has no shade and the tombs are warm inside. Hatshepsut's terraces and the Colossi are easier to take later in the morning.
Can I combine this with a sunrise balloon flight?
Ask us when you book. Both are on the West Bank, so we can plan one around the other.
Is the Karnak temple included?
No. Karnak is on the East Bank. See our Karnak and Luxor Temples tour, or the full-day tour that covers both banks.
Make it a trip
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Before you go
Guides for this trip
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