Valley of the Kings tours: what a West Bank day looks like
The usual pattern for a day on the West Bank is a driver or a guided tour that links four sights: the Valley of the Kings, the Hatshepsut Temple, Medinet Habu and the Colossi of Memnon. It is a planning pattern, not one fixed package, so every offer differs in what it includes.
Two points decide most of the price. A driver is not automatically a guide, so a car and driver does not include a licensed Egyptologist. And the monument entries are often not part of the tour price. Check both before you book.
Our picks: Valley of the Kings tours
Our take: the shared day covers both banks, the private day adds Tutankhamun, and the guided tour lets you choose the West Bank.
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.
Private full-day tour of both banks with Tutankhamun
- Private Egyptologist
- Hotel transfer
- Lunch
A private Egyptologist for the day, with lunch; entry fees come with the matching option, so check what you book.
Check availability →Guided tour of the East or West Bank with lunch
- Egyptologist
- Lunch
- Water
Choose the West Bank for the valley, Hatshepsut and the Colossi; tickets come with the ticket option.
Check availability →
Full-day shared tour to the West and East Banks
- English-speaking Egyptologist
- East Bank hotel transfer
- Lunch
A day with an Egyptologist on both banks, with lunch; entry fees come only with the matching option.
Check availability →Valley of the Kings tours and day trips
West Bank tours with transfers, Egyptologist guides and combinations with the Hatshepsut Temple, with live prices and availability. Check which entries each offer includes.
Guided tour or driver only
What each type usually gives you.
| Type | Usually included | Check before you book |
|---|---|---|
| Car with driver | Transport between the sights | Guide, entries and waiting time are not included by default |
| Small-group tour with a guide | Transfers and an Egyptologist | Pickup point, group size, which entries and extra tombs are in the price |
| Private guided day | Transfers and a guide for your group only | Language, route, meals and shopping stops |
| Day trip from the coast | Long transfers, guide, basic entries | Extra tombs are often an option, see the Hurghada page |
For most first-time visitors, a half-day or full-day tour with an Egyptologist guide and hotel transfers is the easiest option, because the logistics are handled for you. If you want to set your own pace, hire a car with a driver and pay the entries yourself.
Guided tours: questions to ask
The details that differ between offers.
Pickup on the right bank
Check whether you are picked up in Luxor on the East Bank or already on the West Bank, and at what time.
Group or private
Ask about the group size, the language of the guide and whether the guide is licensed.
Vehicle and waiting time
Ask what kind of vehicle is used and how long you have at each sight.
Which tickets are included
Ask whether the base ticket is included and which extra tombs are named. Tutankhamun is EGP 700 extra.
Ticket prices →Meals and shopping stops
Ask whether lunch is included and whether the day contains shopping stops.
Return time
Ask when you are back at your hotel, so you can plan the evening.
Be careful with any tour that promises entry to the tomb of Nefertari (QV66). The tomb has been closed since 2024, and no reopening date has been set.
What the entries cost on a typical day
For a foreign adult, entry to the Valley (EGP 750), the Hatshepsut Temple (EGP 440) and Medinet Habu (EGP 220 to 230) adds up to EGP 1,410 to 1,420, before any extra tomb. If the tour does not include entries, budget for them on top of the tour price.
The Colossi of Memnon are statues of Amenhotep III from the edge of his mortuary temple, usually a short stop beside the road. Restoration work continues around them, so do not count on walking the whole temple area.
A car with a driver costs about EGP 250 to 350 for half a day and about EGP 400 to 600 for a full day, without entries or a guide. Agree the price and the route before you set off.
Plan the order of your day
The Valley opens at 06:00 and the heat builds through the morning, so it makes sense to start there and move on to the temples later in the day. The best time page shows the monthly temperatures. Allow time to cross the Nile if you start on the East Bank, and read the getting there page for the ferry, motor boat and bridge.
The big East Bank temples are a separate day. For Luxor tours to Karnak and Luxor Temple, see the Luxor guide. A hot air balloon flight over the West Bank also has its own page. If you are staying on the coast, the day trip from Hurghada follows its own timing.
Valley of the Kings tours: frequently asked questions
Do I need a guide in the Valley of the Kings?
A ticket is what gets you in. A guide adds background on the tombs and the history, and a tour handles transfers and tickets for you.
Are entry tickets included in the tour price?
It depends on the offer. Some include the basic entries, some do not, and extra tombs are usually optional. Check the description before you book.
Which sights does a West Bank day include?
Usually the Valley of the Kings, the Hatshepsut Temple, Medinet Habu and the Colossi of Memnon. Some day trips also add Karnak on the East Bank.
Is a car with a driver cheaper than a tour?
The transport alone is cheaper, at about EGP 250 to 350 for half a day. A tour adds a guide, transfers from your hotel and often the entries.
Can I see all four sights in one day?
It is the usual pattern, and it works best with an early start. Each site has its own opening hours and its own ticket.
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 tours.