Luxor Balloon, Valley of the Kings & Karnak from Hurghada

Is this 17-hour day worth it?

Yes, if you want Luxor's biggest sights and a sunrise balloon flight in a single day, and you can tolerate a midnight start. No, if you dislike sleeping in vehicles. Roughly eight of the 17 hours are spent on the road, four each way. The reward is a long list of sights in one day, and you are back at your hotel by about 17:00.

The trip is Luxor Hot Air Balloon at Sunrise, Valley of the Kings & Karnak. It is booked as a private trip, just your party, whatever its size. If you are still choosing between Luxor and Cairo for your one long day, read our Cairo or Luxor day trip comparison first.

The day in order

• 00:00 – hotel pickup in an air-conditioned vehicle.
• About 4 hours – night drive to Luxor's West Bank.
• Sunrise – hot-air balloon flight, about 45 minutes.
• 1h 30m – Valley of the Kings, inside the royal tombs.
• 1h – Hatshepsut's temple at Deir el-Bahari.
• 20 min – Colossi of Memnon and the temple of Amenhotep III.
• 10:00 – lunch on the West Bank (1h).
• Optional, 1h – Nile motorboat ride, at extra cost.
• 12:00 – Karnak Temple, 1h 30m.
• About 4 hours – drive back to Hurghada.

The balloon: what it is really like

You land at the balloon station in the dark and fly as the sun comes up. For about 45 minutes you drift over the West Bank: the Valley of the Kings, Hatshepsut's terraced temple, and the green strip of farmland along the Nile that stops abruptly where the desert starts. That edge is the best view in Luxor.

Two caveats. First, flights depend on weather. If the operator cancels, the balloon portion is refunded, but you will still have made the night drive, so know the risk. Second, the minimum age is 6, and the operator sets height and weight rules. Dawn is cold in the air, so bring a warm layer even if the day will turn hot.

Valley of the Kings: choices and limits

Your Egyptologist guide takes you into the royal tombs, with entrance fees covered. Guides are available in English, German or French. The tombs are cut into the rock, so expect steep corridors, painted walls and stuffy air. What is not included: the special tombs of Tutankhamun and Seti I, which you would pay for separately. Ask your guide on the day whether adding one is worthwhile. Check the rules on photography inside tombs with your guide before you take your camera out.

Hatshepsut and the Colossi

Hatshepsut's temple at Deir el-Bahari is a series of broad colonnaded terraces set against a sheer cliff. You get about an hour. The Colossi of Memnon, two huge seated statues of Amenhotep III on the plain, are a short 20-minute stop. They are a photo and a story rather than a visit, and that is all they need to be.

Lunch, the optional boat ride and Karnak

Lunch is Egyptian dishes at a Luxor restaurant at about 10:00, which feels early but follows a 4 a.m. morning. Drinks at the restaurant are not included. The Nile motorboat ride is optional and costs extra, and it pushes the day later, so take it only if you have energy to spare.

Karnak comes at midday, which is the hottest and often busiest part of the day, and that is the unflattering truth of this schedule. You get 1h 30m among the columns and the ruins of the great temple on the Nile's East Bank. It is enough for the highlights, not for a deep visit. Wear a hat and take water. In cooler months the hours are more comfortable, as our guide to Egypt in October explains.

How to prepare

• Bring your passport or ID, comfortable shoes, a camera and a warm layer.
• Sleep early the evening before. The night drive is your only chance to rest.
• Included: balloon flight, lunch, drinks on the bus, entrance fees to the Valley of the Kings, Hatshepsut Temple and Karnak, taxes and insurance.
• Not included: the boat ride, restaurant drinks, special tombs, tips and personal expenses.
• Staying at El Quseir or Marsa Alam? Pickup is possible with a transfer supplement.

Luxor day trip FAQ

Is the trip private or shared?

It is booked as a private trip, for just your party, whatever its size.

What time will I be back?

Plan for about 17:00 at your hotel. Adding the optional boat ride will push this later.

Can children join?

The balloon has a minimum age of 6, and operators set height and weight rules. Consider the 17-hour length too.

What if the balloon is cancelled?

Flights depend on weather. If the operator cancels, the balloon portion is refunded.

Is the Tutankhamun tomb included?

No. The special tombs of Tutankhamun and Seti I are not included in the trip.