Luxor hits both sides of the Nile. This full-day tour strings together the big West Bank tomb sites and the towering East Bank temples, with a qualified Egyptologist guide shaping the day so it makes sense. I like the way it keeps the pace moving while still giving you time at each landmark.

I also like that pickup is flexible. You can start from your hotel, a Nile cruise, or even Luxor airport with Roxana Travel, then ride in a private A/C vehicle.

The main catch is cost planning. The tour includes a guide and lunch, but tickets are not included, and entry inside the Tomb of King Tutankamoun is specifically not part of this option.

Key highlights at a glance

• Private A/C transfers between the West Bank and East Bank, designed for a smooth day
• Valley of the Kings with time to see famous royal tombs, in a West Bank-first schedule
• Hatshepsut at Deir el Bahari in 2 hours, a must for anyone drawn to Egypt’s female pharaoh
• Karnak Temple focused on the gods Amon, Mut, and Khonsu
• Luxor Temple with construction ties to Amenhotep III and Ramses II
• Max 15 travelers, so you are not packed in like a ticket line

East and West Banks in One 7-Hour Loop

This is a single-day Luxor route that crosses the Nile for you, then lets you hit the top monuments without having to map out logistics yourself. The total duration is about 7 hours, and the group is capped at 15 travelers, which usually keeps the day feeling less chaotic than the big-bus approach.

You start around 7:00 AM, with pickup from your hotel or Nile cruise, or you can meet the guide at Luxor airport. Then Roxana Travel transfers you by private A/C vehicle, newest model, which matters because the driving time can feel long when you are not in control of it.

The plan is simple: West Bank royal sites first, then East Bank temples. That order helps you experience two different “moods” of Luxor, the silent desert-side burials, then the ceremonial temple scale on the river side.

Valley of the Kings at 7:00 AM: Royal Tombs in the Desert Valley

Your West Bank day begins at the Valley of the Kings, where royal burials shaped the landscape for generations. You get 2 hours here, enough time to orient yourself and see several major tombs without rushing the whole place.

The stop list calls out well-known tombs including Tutmosis I, Tutmosis III, Tut-Ankh-Amon, Ramssess VI, Mrenptah, and Amonhotep II. Even if you already know the names, the value of a guided visit is that the tombs stop being random facts and start linking together as a burial program.

One important note for expectations: tickets and specific tomb entry are not included as part of this tour, and entry inside the Tomb of King Tutankamoun is excluded. So you can still experience the Valley’s significance, but if Tutankamoun’s tomb interior is your top goal, you will need a separate option.

Deir el Bahari and Hatshepsut’s Temple: El Dir El Bahari’s Power Story

Next comes the Temple of Queen Hatshepsut at Deir el Bahari, also known as El Dir El Bahari. You get 2 hours at this site, which is a good amount of time because it is not just about walking, it is about understanding the story behind the place.

Hatshepsut is presented here as the only pharaonic woman who ruled ancient Egypt, and the timeline given is about 1490 to 1469 B.C during the 18th Dynasty. For me, that matters because the temple is not just a pretty structure, it is political messaging in stone, built by her, for her reign.

The setting also helps the day. Deir el Bahari sits in the West Bank desert valleys, and pairing it after the Valley of the Kings makes the whole region feel connected. You are moving through royal themes in different forms, burials on one side, rule and monument-building on the other.

As with other stops, entry details depend on the ticket situation for your specific booking. The safest mindset is to assume you will pay for whatever entrances are required separately, since tickets are listed as not included.

Colossi of Memnon and Lunch at Local Restaurants

After Hatshepsut, the tour moves to the Colossi of Memnon. These are described as remains of the mortuary temple of Amenhotep III, so you are seeing a surviving chunk of a much bigger sacred complex idea.

You get a 1 hour block here, which works well because this is a photo-friendly stop but not one that needs hours to appreciate. The value is in how the guide frames what you are looking at, linking the statues to the broader mortuary tradition and Amenhotep III’s role in the story of Luxor.

Lunch comes next, with a built-in break. The tour says lunch is at a local restaurant with a full meal for each person, but beverages are not included, so you may want to plan for that if you expect a drink with your meal.

Also, because this is a fixed-time day with multiple sites, lunch timing can be the part that catches people off guard if they are used to long, slow meals. The upside is that you get fed without having to track down a restaurant on your own while traveling between sites.

Karnak Temple: Amon, Mut, and Khonsu on the East Bank

Then you shift to the East Bank for Karnak Temple. This stop is 1 hour, and it is aimed at the big picture: Karnak as a major example of worship dedicated to Amon, his wife Mut, and their son Khonsu.

Karnak is huge in scale, so the biggest question is not whether you can see it all, but whether you can understand what you are seeing. With a guided visit, you can focus on the most meaningful features in the time you have, instead of feeling lost in a maze of columns and walls.

The East Bank portion is where the day often clicks for first-timers. After the West Bank tombs and temples in the desert valley setting, Karnak brings you back to ceremonial architecture and the feeling of a living religious center, not just a resting place.

Time is tight by design, so if you are the type who wants to linger for half the day in one section, you may feel that the 1 hour goes fast. If you want a guided sweep that still hits the core experience, the timing is right.

Luxor Temple Built by Amenhotep III, Finished Under Ramses II

The final major stop is the Temple of Luxor. You get 1 hour here, and the construction story is clearly laid out: built by Amunhotep III in the 18th Dynasty in the New Kingdom, then completed by Ramses II in the 19th Dynasty.

That blend of dynasties is part of why Luxor Temple is so satisfying to close the day with. It gives you a sense of continuity, that monuments were not one-and-done projects, they were inherited and finished by later rulers.

Luxor Temple also helps you connect the dots between the East and West Banks. After Karnak’s focus on divine worship, Luxor Temple feels more intimate in its organization and easier to read in a single visit. Even with only 1 hour, it is a strong wrap-up point for the day.

Once the tour finishes, you are driven back to your hotel in Luxor. The tour notes that it can even end in Luxor airport, which is handy if your schedule after the day is tight.

Roxana Travel, Licensed Guidance, and a Small Group Day

This is not a self-guided hop-on, hop-off style experience. Pickup and transitions are handled by Roxana Travel, and the guiding is done by a qualified Egyptologist guide, plus you meet a Licensed Tour Guide for the day.

I like small groups for places like Luxor because the guide can pace the conversations. With a maximum of 15 travelers, the tour style tends to stay organized, and questions are more likely to happen naturally instead of getting swallowed by a crowd.

The tour also uses a mobile ticket, so you are not dealing with paper logistics in a busy arrival and departure flow. If you are planning your day around a cruise schedule or flight, that kind of simplicity can save mental energy.

Also, the tour is commonly booked about 15 days in advance on average. That does not guarantee availability, but it does hint that this is a popular way to cover both banks efficiently.

Price and What Makes It Good Value at $69.99

The price is $69.99 per person, and the value comes from what is included, not just the headline number. Your package includes all transfers by private A/C vehicle, hotel or airport pickup and drop-off, a qualified Egyptologist guide, and lunch at a local restaurant.

For many visitors, those included parts are the costly headaches. Private A/C transport matters in Luxor, and guided interpretation is what turns a list of monuments into a connected story you can actually recall later.

What is not included is equally important. The tour lists tickets as not included, and it also specifically excludes entry inside the Tomb of King Tutankamoun. Tipping is not included either.

So the real comparison to make is this: you are paying for a structured guided day plus transport and lunch, while entrance fees are a separate line item. If that matches how you want to travel, the price can feel like a straightforward deal. If you want everything bundled including specific tomb interiors, you may need a different tour format.

When This Luxor Tour Fits Best

This tour is a strong match if you want to see both Nile banks in one day with a clear sequence. It is also a good pick if you like your history with names and connections, because the tour plan repeatedly frames what the monuments represent.

You will likely enjoy it if:

• You want Valley of the Kings plus Karnak and Luxor Temple without planning between sites
• You are traveling on a fixed schedule, since pickup options include hotel, Nile cruise, or Luxor airport
• You prefer a small group experience capped at 15 travelers
• Lunch at a local restaurant with a full meal is part of your comfort zone

Should You Book This East and West Banks Luxor Tour?

If your goal is a tight, guided highlights day, I think this one makes sense. The mix of West Bank burial sites and East Bank temples, plus private A/C transfers and an Egyptologist guide, is a practical way to cover the core Luxor experience in about 7 hours.

I would only hesitate if your top priority is going inside Tutankamoun’s tomb. Since entry inside that tomb is not included here, you would need to choose a different option to get that specific interior experience.

One more practical factor: the tour requires good weather. If it is canceled due to poor weather, the plan offers a different date or a full refund, so it is not a total gamble, but it is worth keeping your calendar flexible if you can.

FAQ

What is the duration of the Luxor East and West Banks tour?

The tour lasts about 7 hours.

What time does the tour start?

Pickup begins at 7:00 AM, and the West Bank visit starts from there.

Where can I be picked up for this tour?

You can be picked up from your hotel or Nile cruise in Luxor, and it can also include pickup from Luxor airport.

Is pickup and drop-off included in the price?

Yes. Hotel and airport pickup and drop-off are included.

Does the tour include lunch?

Yes. Lunch at a local restaurant is included, with a full meal for each person. Beverages are not included.

Are tickets included for the sites?

Tickets are listed as not included.

Is entry inside the Tomb of King Tutankamoun included?

No. Entry inside the Tomb of King Tutankamoun is not included.

How big is the group size?

The tour has a maximum of 15 travelers.

What is the cancellation policy?

You get free cancellation up to 24 hours in advance for a full refund. If canceled less than 24 hours before the start time, the amount paid is not refunded.