Valley of the Kings from Hurghada: the day in numbers
Luxor is about 4 hours from Hurghada by road, so a day trip is possible. That is a rough road figure, not a door-to-door timetable from your hotel to the tombs. With about 4 hours each way, the transfers alone take roughly 8 hours, and the visits, pickups and breaks come on top.
A day trip from Hurghada is therefore a long day with an early start. Do not plan a fixed return time for dinner or a flight on the same evening.
Our picks: from Hurghada
Our take: the small-group trip has the most reviews, the second includes three tombs and Karnak, and the bus day costs less.
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.
Luxor day trip from Hurghada in a small group
- Small-group transfer
- Guide and entry tickets
- Lunch and Nile crossing by boat
Karnak, the Valley of the Kings, Hatshepsut and the Colossi with lunch; Tutankhamun's tomb comes with the matching option.
Check availability →
Valley of the Kings day trip from Hurghada
- Valley of the Kings, three standard tombs
- Hatshepsut and Karnak entry
- Hotel transfer and lunch
Three standard tombs, Hatshepsut, Karnak and the Colossi with lunch, in a small group.
Check availability →
Luxor day trip from Hurghada by big bus
- Air-conditioned coach
- Guide and entry tickets
- Lunch by the Nile
The lower-cost bus day with the valley, Hatshepsut and Karnak; Tutankhamun comes with the booked option.
Check availability →Day trips to the Valley of the Kings from Hurghada
Day trips by road with transfers and an Egyptologist guide, with live prices and availability. Check the pickup time, the return time and which entries each offer includes.
Day trip or overnight in Luxor
Two ways to see the West Bank from the coast.
| Day trip from Hurghada | Overnight in Luxor | |
|---|---|---|
| Time on site | One day, with about 8 hours of transfers | More time, no long drive on the day of the visit |
| Start | Early pickup from your hotel | You can be at the Valley when it opens at 06:00 |
| Sights | The Valley, plus the stops your operator includes | The West Bank sights, and the East Bank temples on another day |
| Return | Late evening, depending on the program | Next day, or the evening after your last stop |
| Best for | Short stays with one free day | Visitors who want the Valley and Hatshepsut without a rush |
For most visitors with only one free day, a guided day trip is the practical choice. If you have two days and want the Valley, the Hatshepsut Temple and more, an overnight stay is the more relaxed plan. See where to stay for the West Bank and East Bank.
Marsa Alam: a similar day, with different numbers
If you start from Marsa Alam instead, a day trip takes about 4 hours each way and 13 to 14 hours in all, with a pickup at about 04:00, depending on your hotel and the season. A private trip can take almost 5 hours each way and about 16 hours in total, with the entries extra.
Times differ by product and hotel, so there is no single travel time. Such a day is long, so ask your operator for the pickup and return time of your own trip.
What to check when you book
The points that differ between day trips.
Pickup and return time
Ask for the exact pickup time at your hotel and the expected return, and how long you have at each stop.
Entries and extra tombs
Ask whether the Valley entry is included. Day trips from the coast often include the basic entries and offer extra tombs as an option. Tutankhamun is EGP 700 extra.
Ticket prices →The stops of the day
A typical day joins the Valley with the Hatshepsut Temple and the Colossi of Memnon, and some trips add Karnak. Check which stops are in your offer.
West Bank tours →Group or private
Ask about the group size, the guide's language and the vehicle.
Convoy and checkpoints
Expect checkpoints on the road. Whether your vehicle travels in a convoy on the day is something your operator can tell you.
Nefertari
The tomb of Nefertari (QV66) has been closed since 2024, with no reopening date set. Do not book a trip because it promises entry.
Valley of the Queens →Driving advice and travel notices
The German Foreign Office (Auswärtiges Amt) advises against driving at night in Egypt and names risky driving and poor lighting. The advice has applied unchanged since 29 September 2026. A pickup in the early morning is not an all-clear, so look at how your operator handles the drive in the dark. The same notice contains a partial travel warning for certain regions, not for Egypt as a whole.
The British Foreign Office (FCDO), in its notice updated on 4 August 2026, advises against non-essential travel to parts of the Western Desert and explicitly excludes Luxor and the Valley of the Kings. That is not a guarantee of safety. Read the current advice from your own government before you travel.
Emergency numbers in Egypt are 126 for the tourist police and 122 for the police.
Plan the day on the West Bank
The Valley opens at 06:00 and the last entry is 17:00 in summer and 16:00 in winter and Ramadan. Allow at least 1 hour before the end of the day, and see the opening hours for the details. Entry to the Valley, the Hatshepsut Temple and Medinet Habu adds up to EGP 1,410 to 1,420 for a foreign adult, if you visit all three and take no extra tomb.
If you would rather sleep near the Nile and see Luxor in more depth, the Luxor guide covers the city, and Luxor to Aswan cruises cover the river. The getting there page explains how to cross to the West Bank once you arrive.
Valley of the Kings from Hurghada: frequently asked questions
How long does it take to get from Hurghada to Luxor?
About 4 hours by road, each way. That is a rough figure for the road, not a timetable from your hotel. A day trip adds about 8 hours of transfers to the time you spend at the sights.
Can I see the Valley of the Kings in one day from Hurghada?
Yes, as a guided day trip with an early start. Expect a long day, and do not plan a fixed return time. An overnight stay in Luxor gives you more time.
Is there a public bus or train to the Valley?
Plan with a tour or a private transfer. A day trip needs transport at both ends, because the Valley lies on the West Bank, away from the city.
Are entry tickets included in a day trip from Hurghada?
It depends on the offer. Some include the basic entries, with extra tombs as an option. Check the description before you book.
Is it safe to drive from Hurghada to Luxor?
That is your own decision, based on current advice from your government. The German Foreign Office advises against night driving in Egypt. See the notices above.
Is valley-of-the-kings.org a tour operator?
No. This is an independent guide. It is not the website of the Ministry of Tourism and Antiquities or the Supreme Council of Antiquities, and it does not run day trips.