- DurationApprox. 4–5 hours
- Tour typePrivate tour
- StartsPickup from your Luxor hotel or Nile cruise
- PriceFrom $50 per person based on 6+ travellers
OverviewItineraryWhat’s includedPricesFAQ
Tour Overview
This private East Bank of Luxor tour takes you to the two great temples of ancient Thebes, Karnak and Luxor Temple, with your own Egyptologist guide and driver. It is the natural first tour in Luxor, explaining the gods, kings and festivals that you will keep meeting on the West Bank and along the Nile.
Karnak grew over almost 2,000 years into the largest religious complex of the ancient world, and your guide helps you make sense of its pylons, courts, obelisks and the forest of columns in the Great Hypostyle Hall. Luxor Temple, linked to Karnak by the restored Avenue of Sphinxes, is smaller and more graceful, and many guests choose a later start to see it as the sun sets and the floodlights come on.
Highlights
- Karnak’s Great Hypostyle Hall and its 134 columns
- Hatshepsut’s obelisk and the Sacred Lake
- The Avenue of Sphinxes linking the two temples
- Luxor Temple’s colossal statues of Ramesses II
- Morning or late-afternoon start, with sunset at Luxor Temple
- Private Egyptologist and entrance fees included
Itinerary
08:00 – Pickup in Luxor
Your Egyptologist and driver meet you at your hotel or cruise boat. The drive to Karnak takes 10 to 20 minutes from most hotels. For a sunset finish at Luxor Temple, we can start at about 14:00 instead, especially in winter.
08:15 – Karnak Temple
Spend about two and a half hours exploring the temple of Amun. Walk through the first pylon into the great court, then into the Great Hypostyle Hall, where 134 papyrus columns rise up to 21 metres. See Hatshepsut’s granite obelisk, the Festival Hall of Thutmose III, the giant scarab and the Sacred Lake, as your guide explains how the temple worked.
10:45 – Avenue of Sphinxes
Drive or, in cooler months, walk part of the 2.7 km Avenue of Sphinxes, the ancient processional way used during the Opet festival, when the statues of the gods travelled by boat and road from Karnak to Luxor Temple.
11:15 – Luxor Temple
Visit Luxor Temple, built mainly by Amenhotep III and Ramesses II. See the obelisk at the entrance, whose twin stands in Paris, the seated colossi of Ramesses II, the elegant colonnade and the Roman-era wall paintings, as well as the mosque of Abu el-Haggag built on top of the temple.
12:30 – Return to your hotel
Your driver takes you back to your hotel or cruise boat. If you would like lunch at a Nile-view restaurant, a visit to the Luxor Museum, or a felucca sail afterwards, tell us and we will add it.
Good to know: Luxor Temple stays open into the evening, so the order can be reversed for a sunset finish. Karnak is busiest from about 09:30 to 12:00, when cruise groups arrive.
What’s Included
Included
- Pickup and drop-off at your Luxor hotel or Nile cruise
- Private air-conditioned vehicle with driver
- Private Egyptologist guide
- Entrance fees: Karnak Temple and Luxor Temple
- Bottled water
Not included
- Karnak open-air museum and other extra tickets
- Lunch and drinks
- Tips for the guide and driver
Prices
| Group size | Price per person |
|---|---|
| Single traveller | $115 |
| 2 travellers | $76 |
| 3–5 travellers | $62 |
| 6+ travellers | $50 |
Per person in USD. Child prices depend on age and the services included – ask us for a child price before you book.
Frequently Asked Questions
How long does the East Bank tour take?
About four to five hours, including around two and a half hours at Karnak and an hour at Luxor Temple. Because the tour is private, you can take longer at either temple, or shorten it if the heat is tiring.
Is it better to go in the morning or afternoon?
Mornings are cooler and Karnak is quieter just after opening, which is best from May to September. In winter, an afternoon start lets you reach Luxor Temple at sunset, when the stone glows and the floodlights come on. Both work well.
Can I combine this with the West Bank?
Yes. Many guests do the West Bank tombs in the morning and the East Bank in the afternoon, or book our full-day Luxor tour with lunch that covers both banks. With two days, you can split them and travel at a gentler pace.
Is the tour suitable for older travellers?
Yes. Both temples are mostly flat, although the ground is uneven in places and Karnak covers a large area. There are shaded spots and benches, and your guide will plan a route that suits your pace and stop whenever you need.
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Want to combine tours or change anything? Contact us or message us on WhatsApp and we will tailor it for you.
