Six kinds of Luxor tour
People use the word "tour" for very different things in Luxor. A half day at Karnak, a dawn balloon flight and a five-day cruise to Aswan have little in common. Before you compare prices, decide which of the six types below you want. The table sums them up, and the sections after it give the details for 2026.
Operators publish their own prices, dates and conditions, and these change from season to season. The figures below are the ones displayed in October 2026. This is an independent guide, and it has no link to any operator.
Luxor tour types compared
What each type gives you and what to check.
| Type | Time | Price in 2026 | What to check |
|---|---|---|---|
| East bank temples | Half day | Entry 600 EGP (Karnak) and 500 EGP (Luxor Temple), adult | Whether entry is in the tour price |
| West bank tombs and temples | Full day | Entry 750 EGP for the valley, plus extra tombs | Which tombs, transport, guide |
| Dendera and Abydos day trip | Full day, 5–6 hours of driving | 295 USD alone, 175 USD each for two, 170 USD each for three, 160 USD each for four or more | Optional special access costs extra |
| Hot air balloon flight | About 3 hours in total | From 100 EUR (standard), 120 EUR (deluxe), 150 EUR (comfort) | Pickup, weather terms, season |
| Nile cruise to Aswan | 4 nights and 5 days on one route | – | Price depends on ship, cabin and date |
| Karnak sound and light show | Evening | 20 USD, children aged 6 to 12 pay 11 USD | Language and show times |
If you have two days, take one on each bank. If you want to see Dendera, give it a day of its own. A balloon flight and a cruise are separate choices that fit around the temples. The things to do page lists every site with its ticket.
Our picks: tours compared
A West Bank tour, a shared East Bank tour and a day trip to Dendera and Abydos.
Hand-picked tours, booked through GetYourGuide. Prices are indicative starting prices in US dollars (as of October 2026). Tap a tour for live availability and the current price in your currency.
Day trip to Dendera and Abydos
A private Egyptologist, an air-conditioned vehicle, lunch, water and entry to the listed sites are included. Tips are not.
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West Bank tour with entrance fees and lunch
Hotel transfer, private transport, a guide, lunch and the regular entrance fees are included. Additional tombs cost $10 each, tips are extra.
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Karnak and Luxor Temple tour with lunch
An English-speaking guide, lunch and an East Bank hotel transfer. Entrance tickets are included only with the matching option; a German, French or Spanish guide is an add-on.
Check availability →Luxor tours and day trips
Guided visits to the temples and tombs, balloon flights, Nile cruises and day trips from Luxor, with live prices and availability.
The tour types in detail
Prices and times are those displayed in October 2026 and can change.
East bank
A half-day visit combines Karnak and Luxor Temple. Entry fees alone are 1,100 EGP for an adult (600 and 500 EGP), or 550 EGP for a student. Karnak includes the open-air museum, and the Mut Temple is a separate 200 EGP ticket. The sound and light show is another ticket.
Karnak guide →West bank
The route runs through the Valley of the Kings, the Valley of the Queens, Hatshepsut Temple and the Colossi of Memnon. One cruise operator's itinerary combines exactly these stops. As an example, the Valley of the Kings, the Tomb of Tutankhamun and Hatshepsut Temple cost 750, 700 and 440 EGP, which is 1,890 EGP for an adult before transport and a guide. Seti I is an extra 2,000 EGP.
Valley of the Kings guide →Dendera and Abydos day trip
One local operator offers a private day trip with an Egyptologist. Dendera is about 75 km (47 miles) and 1.5 hours from Luxor, and Abydos about 170 km (106 miles) and 3 hours. Standard entry fees are in the price, and optional special access is extra. Children under 6 travel free, children aged 6 to 11.99 pay 50 percent and anyone from 12 pays the adult fare. These are one operator's rules, not those of the temples. Holiday surcharges are listed separately.
Dendera guide →Balloon flight
One operator quotes flights of 30 to 40 minutes for the standard package, 30 to 45 for comfort and 30 to 60 for deluxe, depending on the weather. Pickup in September to November is between 4:30 and 5:30. Flights resumed in September 2026 after a summer break.
Balloon guide →Nile cruise
A typical Luxor to Aswan trip on one ship takes 4 nights and 5 days from Monday, and the return takes 3 nights and 4 days from Friday. The stops include Edfu, Kom Ombo and Philae, and the plan can change. A dahabeya, a smaller sailing boat, runs 4 nights and 5 days on one route and 5 nights and 6 days on another.
Nile cruise guide →Sound and light show
The Karnak show has a regular price of 20 USD. The operator lists 10 languages, but not every language runs every night. Check the weekly schedule for your date. The English booking page lists a minimum of five foreign guests for the second show, so confirm the conditions when you book.
What to check before you book
The descriptions differ more than the prices do.
What the price includes
Entry fees, transport, guide language, meals, the boat crossing and pickup differ from offer to offer. Do not assume that every tour includes every ticket. One cruise operator states that sightseeing in 2026 is not part of the cabin price.
Special tombs
Seti I, Tutankhamun and Ramesses V and VI have their own tickets in the Valley of the Kings. Ask whether they are in your price, or whether you pay at the gate.
Children
The rules belong to the operator and are not the same as at the temples. Karnak lists free entry for children under 6, and students up to age 24 with ID pay half the adult price there.
Weather and cancellation
For balloon flights, one operator's pages describe weather cancellation in different ways, from a full refund to a rebooking or a refund minus bank fees. Ask for the exact terms before you pay.
Group size
The Dendera and Abydos trip gets cheaper per person as the group grows, from 295 USD alone to 160 USD in a group of four or more. Check whether you are alone in the vehicle or part of a larger group.
Tips, vendors and carriages
Tips are not set by any tariff, so decide what you want to give. Vendors and horse-drawn carriage drivers near the sites quote their own prices. Agree the price first, and say no politely if you do not want a service.
Plan the rest of your trip
Tours work best when they fit the season and your base.
Luxor tours: frequently asked questions
Are entry tickets included in a Luxor tour?
Not always. The Dendera and Abydos day trip includes standard entry fees, while optional special access costs extra. For other tours, read the list of inclusions and ask about the special tombs in the Valley of the Kings.
Do I need a tour to see the temples?
No. The sites sell their own tickets, and the ministry ticket platform also sells online. A tour helps with transport, especially on the west bank, where the sites are far apart.
Is there a Luxor Pass that covers the tours?
A five-day Luxor Pass was listed in a 2024 ministry document at 130 USD for the standard version and 250 USD for the premium one, for foreign adults. Ask at the ticket office whether it is on sale. It does not cover a tour, and the Tomb of Nefertari is reported closed.
How much does a balloon flight cost?
One operator advertises 100 EUR for the standard package, 120 EUR for deluxe and 150 EUR for comfort in 2026. Pickup and a certificate are included. Prices differ between operators.
Can children join the Dendera and Abydos day trip?
Yes. This operator charges nothing for children under 6, 50 percent for ages 6 to 11.99 and the adult fare from 12. The temples have their own child rules, and Karnak lists free entry under 6.