Description
Few day trips from Hurghada come close to matching the historical weight of a full day in Luxor. The **Luxor Day Trip from Hurghada by Bus** takes you across the Eastern Desert to the world's greatest open-air museum — a city where ancient Egypt is not reconstructed but simply still standing, exactly as the pharaohs left it.
## Why Luxor is the Greatest Day Trip from Hurghada
Hurghada is a 3.5-hour drive from Luxor through Egypt's Eastern Desert — close enough for a full day, far enough that most visitors never make the journey. That's a mistake. Luxor contains more than one third of all the world's ancient monuments. The temples here are not ruins in the traditional sense — they are intact, inscribed, still coloured structures that date back 3,500 years, spanning the New Kingdom of Ancient Egypt at its most powerful.
A single day in Luxor takes you to four of the most extraordinary ancient sites on Earth:
**Karnak Temple** — The largest ancient religious site ever constructed. The Hypostyle Hall alone, with its 134 massive columns up to 21 metres tall, is one of the most awe-inspiring spaces in human history. Karnak was built, extended, and rebuilt over 2,000 years by generation after generation of pharaohs — each adding their own monuments, obelisks, and sanctuaries. Walking through Karnak is walking through millennia of Egyptian history in a single space.
**The Colossi of Memnon** — Two massive stone statues of Pharaoh Amenhotep III, 18 metres tall, that have stood guard over the West Bank since 1350 BC. For centuries, one of these statues was reported to emit a melodious sound at sunrise — which the ancient Greeks believed was Memnon greeting his mother, the goddess of the dawn.
**The Valley of the Kings** — Hidden behind the limestone cliffs of the West Bank, this remote desert valley contains the royal tombs of Egypt's New Kingdom pharaohs, including Tutankhamun, Ramesses II, and Seti I. You will enter three of these tombs — carved deep into the rock and decorated with vivid paintings and hieroglyphic texts from the Book of the Dead. The scale, colour, and atmosphere of the Valley of the Kings is impossible to adequately describe.
**Hatshepsut Temple (Deir el-Bahari)** — Rising from the desert in three grand terraces against the sheer limestone cliffs of the West Bank, the mortuary temple of Queen Hatshepsut is one of the architectural masterpieces of the ancient world. Hatshepsut was Egypt's first female pharaoh — one of the most successful rulers in Egyptian history — and her temple, built around 1479 BC, remains one of the best-preserved structures in Luxor.
## The Full Day Itinerary
Your day begins at **4:30 AM**, when your guide picks you up from your Hurghada hotel. The early departure is essential — it allows you to arrive in Luxor when the sites open, before the midday heat and before the bulk of the tourist crowds.
The drive from Hurghada to Luxor crosses the Eastern Desert — a dramatic, wide-open landscape of golden desert hills and sand corridors. A comfort stop with breakfast is made en route at approximately 7:00 AM.
You arrive in Luxor around **9:30 AM** and begin your guided tour immediately. Your professional guide leads you through each site with expert historical commentary, providing context that transforms what you are seeing from stone into living history.
After visiting the East Bank's Karnak Temple, lunch is served at a local restaurant in Luxor before crossing the Nile to the West Bank for the Valley of the Kings, the Colossi of Memnon, and Hatshepsut Temple.
The return journey departs in the late afternoon, and you will be back at your Hurghada hotel by approximately **10:00–10:30 PM**.
## What's Included
Your Luxor Day Trip from Hurghada includes everything you need for a seamless, comfortable visit:
- Air-conditioned bus transfer from and to your Hurghada hotel
- Professional English-speaking guide throughout the entire day
- All entrance fees to Karnak Temple, Valley of the Kings (3 tombs), Colossi of Memnon, and Hatshepsut Temple
- Lunch at a local restaurant in Luxor
- All taxes and service charges
## Practical Tips for Your Luxor Day Trip
The Valley of the Kings requires an additional ticket if you want to enter Tutankhamun's tomb specifically — this is not included in the standard entrance fee. Your guide will advise you on the day. The alabaster workshop and optional papyrus institute visits provide excellent free time shopping opportunities and are worth experiencing.
Dress modestly for temple visits (shoulders and knees covered). Given the 4:30 AM start, we strongly recommend laying out everything you need the night before and setting two alarms.
## Book Your Luxor Day Trip from Hurghada
At **€70 per adult**, the Luxor Day Trip from Hurghada by Bus represents extraordinary value for one of the most significant cultural experiences available anywhere in the world. Children aged 6–12 travel at half price; under 6 travel free.
Free cancellation up to 24 hours before departure.
Itinerary
4:30 AM -
Hotel Pickup in Hurghada
Your qualified guide picks you up from your hotel around 4:30 AM (depending on hotel location) and departs by A/C vehicle toward Luxor.
7:00 AM -
Rest Stop — Breakfast & Facilities
Stop for rest, breakfast, and restroom facilities on the way across the Eastern Desert toward the Nile Valley.
9:30 AM -
Karnak Temple
Begin your visit at Karnak Temple — the largest place of worship ever built, known in ancient times as Ipet-isut ("the most sacred of places"). Explore the incredible Hypostyle Hall with its forest of giant pillars, built by generations of pharaohs over 2,000 years.
11:30 AM -
Lunch at Local Restaurant in Luxor
Enjoy an included lunch at a local Egyptian restaurant in Luxor.
1:00 PM -
Colossi of Memnon
Visit the West Bank of the Nile to see the two colossal statues of Amenhotep III — the iconic Colossi of Memnon.
1:45 PM -
Valley of the Kings
Explore the Valley of the Kings, where magnificent tombs were carved deep into the desert rock, richly decorated and filled with treasures prepared for the afterlife of the pharaohs.
3:30 PM -
Hatshepsut Temple
Visit the Temple of Queen Hatshepsut at El Deir El Bahary — a breathtaking temple dedicated to the only female pharaoh, rising from the desert plain in a series of terraces.
4:30 PM -
Free Time & Shopping
Enjoy free time at leisure in Luxor — visit the original papyrus institutes, perfume palaces, and local shops.
6:00 PM -
Departure Back to Hurghada
Begin the drive back to Hurghada with your guide.
10:00 – 10:30 PM -
Arrival at Your Hotel
Drop-off at your Hurghada hotel around 22:00–22:30 after a full 16-hour day trip to Luxor.
FAQ
Q: What is included in the Luxor Day Trip from Hurghada?
A: The tour includes air-conditioned bus transfer from your Hurghada hotel, a professional English-speaking guide, entrance fees to Karnak Temple, the Valley of the Kings (3 tombs), the Colossi of Memnon, and Hatshepsut Temple, lunch at a local restaurant, an en route breakfast stop, and all taxes and service charges.
Q: How long is the drive from Hurghada to Luxor?
A: The drive from Hurghada to Luxor takes approximately 3.5–4 hours each way through the Eastern Desert. This is why pickup is at 4:30 AM — to arrive in Luxor when the sites open and before the midday heat.
Q: Is Tutankhamun's tomb included?
A: Tutankhamun's tomb requires an additional ticket beyond the standard Valley of the Kings entrance fee — it is not included in the tour price. Your guide will advise you on the day. If you want to enter Tut's tomb, bring extra cash.
Q: What is the price for children?
A: Children aged 6–12 years pay €35 (half price). Children under 6 years travel free.
Q: Can I book this trip from Sahl Hasheesh?
A: Yes, pickup from Sahl Hasheesh hotels is available for a small additional supplement of approximately €5 per person. Please mention your hotel location when booking.
Q: What should I wear to visit the Luxor temples?
A: Dress modestly for temple visits — shoulders and knees should be covered. Loose, breathable clothing is recommended as temperatures in Luxor can be significantly higher than Hurghada. A hat and sunglasses are essential.
Q: Is this tour suitable for elderly visitors or people with limited mobility?
A: The sites involve significant walking on uneven ground, steps, and inclines. The Valley of the Kings tombs in particular require descending and ascending steep ramps and stairs. If you have limited mobility, please contact us in advance so we can advise on the most suitable tombs and manage expectations.
Q: Is lunch included in the Luxor day trip?
A: Yes, lunch at a local Egyptian restaurant in Luxor is included in the tour price. Drinks at the restaurant are not included. An en route breakfast stop is also included on the way to Luxor.