Luxor from Hurghada: how far is it and which day trip to choose?

Luxor is about 300 km from Hurghada, roughly 4 hours each way by road. A day trip leaves your hotel at about 4:00 and brings you back at about 22:00. Our Luxor day trips cost from $50 (Karnak, the Colossi of Memnon and the Temple of Hatshepsut) to $80 with the Temple of Dendera. For most first-time visitors the $68 trip with the Valley of the Kings is the one to pick.

How far is Luxor from Hurghada?

About 300 to 320 km by road, depending on where your hotel is. The road runs south along the coast to Safaga, then west through the Eastern Desert mountains to the Nile valley at Qena and on to Luxor. The drive takes 3.5 to 4.5 hours each way, with checkpoint stops, so the whole day is about 18 hours door to door.

The four Luxor day trips compared

	Luxor 1 day	+ Valley of the Queens	+ Valley of the Kings	+ Dendera
Price per person	From $50	From $57	From $68	From $80
Runs	Sun, Tue, Thu, Fri	Sun, Tue, Thu, Fri	Sun, Tue, Thu, Fri	Friday
Karnak Temple	Yes	Yes	Yes	Yes
Colossi of Memnon	Yes	Yes	Yes	Yes
Temple of Hatshepsut	Yes	Yes	Yes	Yes
Extra site	None	Valley of the Queens	Valley of the Kings	Temple of Hathor at Dendera

Every trip includes hotel pickup at about 4:00 by air-conditioned bus with a toilet, a guide, the entrance tickets listed and lunch at a restaurant (drinks extra). The Nile boat ride to Banana Island is optional and paid on the day. Pickup from El Gouna, Safaga, Sahl Hasheesh, Makadi and Soma Bay costs extra.

Which Luxor trip should you choose?

• Luxor + Valley of the Kings (from $68): the classic choice. The painted royal tombs on the west bank are what most people come to Luxor for.
• Luxor 1 day (from $50): the lowest price, with Karnak, the Temple of Hatshepsut and the Colossi. Suits people on a budget or with children who would tire in the tombs.
• Luxor + Valley of the Queens (from $57): smaller and usually quieter than the Valley of the Kings, with tombs of queens and royal children.
• Luxor + Dendera (from $80, Fridays): adds the Temple of Hathor, one of the best-preserved temples in Egypt, with painted ceilings. Best for people who have seen Luxor before or love temples.

Valley of the Kings tickets in 2026

On the Valley of the Kings trip the standard ticket is included. For foreign visitors it costs 750 EGP and lets you into three of the tombs that are open that day. Some tombs need their own extra ticket, which you pay yourself:

Extra tomb ticket	Foreign adult
Tutankhamun (KV62)	700 EGP
Ramesses V and VI	220 EGP
Seti I (KV17)	2,000 EGP

The ticket office does not take Egyptian pound notes. Pay by Visa or Mastercard, or buy an e-ticket in advance. Tutankhamun’s tomb is famous but small and plain inside; Ramesses VI has some of the best-kept ceiling paintings in the valley for a much lower price.

Is a day trip to Luxor too long?

It is a long day: about 8 hours on the bus in total, with the rest of the day at the sites and lunch, in the heat from April to October. It works for most adults and for children who sleep well on a bus. In summer take a hat and plenty of water, as the west bank has little shade.

Tips for the Luxor trip

• Ask your hotel for a breakfast box the night before.
• Wear closed shoes for the temple floors and the paths in the valley.
• Bring a bank card for extra tomb tickets, and cash for drinks, tips and the Nile boat.
• Take a warm layer for the early morning bus, especially from November to February.

Staying in Marsa Alam instead? See Luxor from Marsa Alam.