Full-day tour: sunrise balloon ride and Luxor’s West Bank

This day begins in the air. We collect you from your hotel early and take you to the launch site for a hot-air balloon ride over Luxor, with the Nile, the fields and the West Bank spread out below you.

Back on the ground, your Egyptologist guide takes you into the Valley of the Kings, the burial ground of the New Kingdom pharaohs, including a visit to Tutankhamun’s tomb. Next comes the terraced temple of Queen Hatshepsut, and in the afternoon the two giant Colossi of Memnon.

Transport is in an air-conditioned vehicle, entry fees to the sites are paid, and there is bottled water and juice along the way. We bring you back to your hotel in the early evening.

Who will love the Luxor balloon and West Bank tour

This day is for travelers who want to see Luxor from the sky and then focus on the West Bank, the side of the Nile where the pharaohs built their tombs and memorial temples. It is a calmer alternative to covering both banks in one day.

After the balloon lands, your Egyptologist guide takes you into the Valley of the Kings, including a visit to Tutankhamun’s tomb, then to the terraced temple of Queen Hatshepsut and the Colossi of Memnon. UNESCO’s Ancient Thebes listing explains why this landscape is so important.

The early start means a cool morning, so bring a light jacket you can pack away later. Comfortable shoes, a hat and sunscreen are useful in the valley. Meals are not included, so a snack in your bag helps until you return in the early evening.