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Egypt Voyage · Hurghada

The budget run to Luxor

A minivan of up to 15 people leaves Hurghada at 4:30 am for Karnak, lunch on the Nile, the Valley of the Kings and Hatshepsut's temple, and gets you back late at night. Pick it if price matters most and you can handle a 16-hour day.

Small-Group Luxor Day Trip from Hurghada

About this experience

This is the classic Red Sea excursion at the lowest price on Viator. A shared, air-conditioned minivan collects you from your Hurghada hotel at about 4:30 am (El Gouna and Sahl Hasheesh cost extra). In Luxor the plan is Karnak (1.5 hours), lunch at a restaurant by the Nile (45 minutes), the Valley of the Kings (1 hour), Hatshepsut's temple (45 minutes) and the Colossi of Memnon. Then the long road home.

The $35 buys transport, a guide and lunch. The entrance fees are an option ("Upgrade to include entrance fees"). At the gate that is EGP 600 at Karnak, EGP 750 for the Valley of the Kings and EGP 440 for Hatshepsut (the official Valley of the Kings page; the Ministry price list): EGP 1,790 per foreign adult, about $34. Drinks are for sale, tips are on you, and guests mention an optional Nile boat ride sold on the day.

It is rated 4.3, the lowest of the tours we list, and the reviews explain why: some fast driving, seats that get uncomfortable, pushy shops (papyrus, essences, alabaster) and a few very long days. Others had a superb guide and a near-private van. Only 45 minutes at Hatshepsut's temple is the real cost. Bring water; one guest nearly fainted from the heat.

  • Lowest price from Hurghada: $35 with lunch
  • Karnak, the Valley of the Kings and Hatshepsut's temple in one day
  • Small group, 15 people at most
  • Lunch at a restaurant on the Nile
  • Free cancellation up to 24 hours before

How the day runs

  1. About 4:30 amPickup in Hurghada

    The supplier confirms the exact time the day before. Send your room number after you arrive.

  2. About 4 hRoad to Luxor

    One toilet and driver-change stop each way. Bring a pillow.

  3. 1.5 hKarnak

    The hypostyle hall, the obelisks and the sacred lake.

  4. 45 minLunch by the Nile

    A buffet at the Nile Restaurant. Some groups are offered a boat ride there for a fee.

  5. 1 h 45 minValley of the Kings and Hatshepsut

    Three tombs on the general ticket, then 45 minutes at the temple.

  6. About 4 hColossi and back

    A stop at the Colossi of Memnon, then the drive back. Guests report getting in between 7 and 10:30 pm.

The avenue of ram-headed sphinxes at Karnak TempleThe Temple of Hatshepsut seen from a distance below the cliffsVisitors walking up the ramp to the Temple of Hatshepsut

What's included

Included

  • Hotel pickup and drop-off in Hurghada
  • Air-conditioned minivan
  • Local guide
  • Lunch
  • Entrance fees, only if you select that option

Not included

  • Entrance fees on the basic price
  • Drinks (for sale)
  • Gratuities
  • Pickup from El Gouna and Sahl Hasheesh (extra)
  • Optional Nile boat ride

Who it suits

Book it if

  • You're in Hurghada on a tight budget
  • You don't mind sharing a van with up to 14 others
  • You want Karnak as well as the West Bank
  • You're fit and travelling without small children

Skip it if

  • You have back problems or are pregnant (the listing says so)
  • You want more than 45 minutes at Hatshepsut's temple
  • You hate shopping stops
  • You can afford a private car: the private trip from Hurghada includes tickets

What guests say

★★★★★

Included in our tour was 3 entries to whatever tombs we liked. [...] There was an option to see Tutankhamen’s tomb at an extra cost. [...] We then visited the Temple of Hatshepsut. Wow. The views from here were breathtaking.

Rebecca_Faye92 · Mar 2020
★★★★★

You will also get the opportunity to take an optional boat trip on the Nile. This is not included in the price and costs LE200 per person so make sure that you have enough money with you if you wish to do it. You will also get to visit a couple of Egyptian industries, papyrus makers and alabastors.

Carl M · Sep 2018
★★★★★

We got picked from our hotel around 05:00hrs as we were the first ones, and we got back around 22:30hrs as we were the last ones. [...] It was a long trip (so if you have young children it may be tough for them) but if you are up for an adventurous trip, its perfect!

OlaLove · Mar 2018

Tips before you book

  • Choose the option with entrance fees, or bring about EGP 1,790 per adult and a card.
  • Carry 2 litres of water each. Luxor runs about 5 degrees hotter than the coast.
  • Have EGP 5 coins and notes for toilets and tips; guests say most toilets charge.
  • Sit near the front if you get carsick, and near the guide if you want to hear the commentary.
  • Say no politely and firmly at the shops. You don't have to buy.

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Frequently asked questions

How long is the Luxor day trip from Hurghada?

About 16 hours. Pickup is around 4:30 am and guests report getting back between 7 and 10:30 pm, with roughly 4 hours each way on the road.

Does the $35 trip include entrance tickets?

No. Transport, a guide and lunch are included; entrance fees are an upgrade. At the official gate prices Karnak, the Valley of the Kings and Hatshepsut's temple cost EGP 1,790 per foreign adult.

How big is the group?

15 travellers at most, in an air-conditioned minivan. On quiet days guests have had the van almost to themselves.

How long do you get at the Temple of Hatshepsut?

About 45 minutes on the plan. Enough for the main terraces with the guide, not for a slow visit.

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The cheapest way from Hurghada to Luxor: a shared minivan, a guide and lunch, with the entry tickets as an option.

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The cheapest way from Hurghada to Luxor: a shared minivan, a guide and lunch, with the entry tickets as an option.

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