Valley of the Kings TourLuxor Hot Air Balloon and Valley of the Kings Tour
This Luxor hot air balloon and Valley of the Kings tour from Sunrise ballooning luxor costs $160 per person and runs 9 hours, with a 4.7 rating from 679 reviews on GetYourGuide. The day starts with a 30-minute balloon flight over the West Bank at sunrise, then takes in the Valley of the Kings, Hatshepsut Temple, the Colossi of Memnon and Karnak Temple. Entry fees and parking fees are included, and lunch is not. The trade-off is time. Thirty minutes in the valley is a look rather than a visit, so treat this as a balloon day that adds the sights. This page sets out the price, the itinerary and who should book a slower option instead. For the wider field, see the comparison of Valley of the Kings tours.
About This Tour
This is one package with two halves. You fly first. A van takes you from your Luxor hotel to the balloon take-off site about 15 minutes away, and the basket stays aloft for 30 minutes over the necropolis at sunrise. Then the ground tour begins: the Valley of the Kings for 30 minutes, Hatshepsut Temple for 15, an optional 10 minutes at the Colossi of Memnon, and 45 minutes at Karnak after crossing the Nile to the East Bank.
The listing includes the balloon ride, entry fees, parking fees and hotel pickup and drop-off. Lunch is an optional 30-minute break at an extra fee. A live guide works in English, French or Spanish, and van transfers run between all stops. Cancellation is free up to 24 hours before departure for a full refund, and you can reserve now and pay later.
$160 per person, all taxes and fees included
9 hours, with starting times shown when you check availability
Hotel pickup in Luxor, then a 15-minute van ride to the balloon take-off site
Group size not stated. Live tour guide in English, French or Spanish
Valley of the Kings (30 minutes), Mortuary Temple of Hatshepsut (15 minutes), Colossi of Memnon (10 minutes, optional) and Karnak Temple (45 minutes)
Included in the price, along with parking fees, the balloon ride and pickup and drop-off. Tutankhamun's tomb is not mentioned by the listing and is not included
Not included. The itinerary lists an optional 30-minute lunch break at an extra fee
Free cancellation up to 24 hours before departure for a full refund
Check Dates and Availability
The listing shows starting times only when you check a date. Balloons fly at sunrise, so expect an early departure whatever the calendar says.
Quick answer Price, length and what to expect
This tour costs $160 per person for a 9-hour day that pairs a 30-minute sunrise balloon flight with four sightseeing stops.
Key takeaways
- The balloon, entry fees and parking fees are included, lunch is not. See exactly what the price covers.
- The stops are short: 30 minutes at the Valley of the Kings, 15 at Hatshepsut, 45 at Karnak. Read the day stop by stop.
- Thirty minutes in the valley suits balloon seekers, not tomb seekers. If you want time underground, look at Private West Bank, Kings and Queens instead.
- Prefer the balloon on its own? See the guide to the Luxor hot air balloon.
What the Price Actually Covers
The listing is unusually clean on inclusions: the balloon, entry fees, parking fees and transfers are in the $160, and almost everything else is not.
How the Listings Compare
Each row below comes from the operator's own listing, and anything the listing does not state is marked that way.
| Line | In the price | Notes |
|---|---|---|
| Balloon flight (30 min) | Yes | Take-off site about 15 minutes by van from pickup |
| Valley of the Kings entry | Yes | Entry fees are included. The general ticket covers 3 tombs from those open |
| Hatshepsut Temple entry | Yes | 15 minutes on the itinerary |
| Colossi of Memnon | Yes | 10 minutes, marked optional. No entrance fee at the site itself |
| Karnak Temple entry | Yes | 45 minutes on the itinerary |
| Lunch | No | Optional 30-minute break, extra fee |
| Tutankhamun's tomb KV62 | No | Not mentioned by the listing, EGP 700 if bought separately |
| Tips and tram (EGP 20) | No | Paid on the day |
Included in the $160
Pickup from your Luxor hotel and drop-off at the end, the 30-minute hot air balloon ride, entry fees for the four sites, and parking fees. The listing states the price is per person with all taxes and fees included, and offers reserve now, pay later with free cancellation up to 24 hours before departure.
For reference, the Ministry prices the Valley of the Kings general ticket at EGP 750 for foreign adults and Karnak at EGP 600. Here the entry fees are listed as inside the price.
- Hotel pickup and drop-off
- 30-minute hot air balloon ride
- Entry fees for all four sites
- Parking fees
- Live guide in English, French or Spanish
Not Included
Lunch is the only stated exclusion, listed as an optional 30-minute break at an extra fee. One reviewer noted that lunch was not paid for and that there was no alternative restaurant nearby, so the break can be hard to dodge. Bring snacks or eat a solid breakfast before the balloon.
Drinks are not mentioned by the listing, so treat them as not included.
- Lunch, an optional 30-minute break at an extra fee
- Drinks, not stated
- Tutankhamun's tomb, not mentioned by the listing
- Tips, not stated
What You May Still Pay on the Day
The listing does not say which tickets the entry fees cover. The official general Valley of the Kings ticket covers 3 tombs from those open, and special tombs cost extra. The official prices are EGP 700 for Tutankhamun's tomb KV62, EGP 2,000 for Seti I's KV17 and EGP 220 for Ramesses V and VI in KV9.
This tour's 30 minutes at the valley give no realistic window for a special tomb anyway. Tips and the tram inside the valley, listed at EGP 20 round trip, are also normal out-of-pocket costs. Card only at the valley ticket office, so carry a card and small Egyptian pound notes for tips.
Sources: Ministry of Tourism and Antiquities, Valley of the Kings, Wikipedia
A sphinx statue and an obelisk beside the pylon of Luxor Temple at dusk. Photo: David Berkowitz from New York, NY, USA, CC BY 2.0, via Wikimedia Commons
What the Day Is Really Like
The itinerary from the listing runs in a fixed order, with the balloon first and the Nile crossing before Karnak. Durations below are the listing's own figures.
How the Listings Compare
Each row below comes from the operator's own listing, and anything the listing does not state is marked that way.
| Stop | Time on site | Order |
|---|---|---|
| Van to balloon site | 15 minutes | 1 |
| Balloon flight | 30 minutes | 2 |
| Valley of the Kings | 30 minutes | 3 |
| Hatshepsut Temple | 15 minutes | 4 |
| Colossi of Memnon | 10 minutes, optional | 5 |
| Karnak Temple | 45 minutes | 6 |
| Lunch break | 30 minutes, optional, extra fee | 7 |
Pickup and the Ride Out
A van collects you from your Luxor hotel and drives about 15 minutes to the balloon take-off site on the West Bank. The listing does not state the pickup time, and balloon launches happen at dawn, so expect a very early start. Bring layers, because Luxor's mean daily minimum is 7.1 C in January even though afternoons push past 22 C.
The Balloon Flight, 30 Minutes
The basket stays up for 30 minutes over the West Bank, which gives you the necropolis, the river and the desert edge from above. Luxor is the only city in Egypt that offers balloon rides, and flights there began in early 1988. The listing does not name the launch operator beyond the tour provider itself.
Valley of the Kings, 30 Minutes
A 7-minute van transfer brings you to the valley, and the itinerary allows 30 minutes. The guide explains outside the tombs, because guides are not permitted inside them. The general ticket covers 3 tombs of your choice from those open, and the open set rotates, so you cannot choose a tomb in advance.
Thirty minutes is tight against a queue of at least 15 to 30 minutes in peak season and a tram ride of about 3 minutes, so realistically you enter one tomb at pace or skip the tombs and take the view. This is the honest limit of the tour.
Hatshepsut Temple, 15 Minutes
The mortuary temple of Hatshepsut at Deir el-Bahari is 273.5 metres long, with three terraces cut into the cliff. Fifteen minutes is a photo stop, not a tour of the terraces. The middle terrace carries the reliefs of the expedition to the Land of Punt.
Colossi of Memnon, 10 Minutes, Optional
The two statues of Amenhotep III stand about 18 metres high and weigh about 720 tons each. The stop is marked optional and costs nothing to enter, since the site has no entrance fee.
Karnak Temple, 45 Minutes
You cross the Nile to the East Bank for Karnak, the second most visited historical site in Egypt after the pyramids. The Great Hypostyle Hall holds 134 columns, the 12 central ones standing 21 metres high. Forty-five minutes is the listing's allowance for Karnak.
Lunch and the Return
The day ends back in Luxor after an optional 30-minute lunch break at an extra fee. One reviewer found an alabaster factory stop time consuming, although the listing itinerary does not show one. The day ends with drop-off at your hotel.
Who This Tour Rules Out
This package is built for one priority, the balloon, with the sights added on. Several kinds of traveller should look elsewhere, and each case has a linked alternative.
How the Listings Compare
Each row below comes from the operator's own listing, and anything the listing does not state is marked that way.
| If you want | This tour gives | Better alternative |
|---|---|---|
| Time inside the tombs | 30 minutes in the valley | Private West Bank, Kings and Queens |
| The balloon alone | $160 with stops bundled in | Luxor hot air balloon guide |
| Lunch included | Optional break at an extra fee | Shared Full Day, Both Banks at $30 |
| A slow pace | Four stops in one 9-hour day | Private Both Banks with Tut's Tomb |
Tomb Seekers
Thirty minutes at the Valley of the Kings cannot hold a queue, a tram ride and three tombs. If the tombs are the reason you are going, book Private West Bank, Kings and Queens instead, a private 8-hour day with entry fees to five sites included. For a dedicated deep visit, Private Valley of the Kings, 4 Hours gives you four hours in the valley alone.
Balloon-only Travellers
If you want the flight and already have your own plans for the sites, paying $160 for stops you do not need is poor value. The standalone guide to the Luxor hot air balloon covers the flight on its own.
Slow Starters and Families
The balloon launches at dawn, so the pickup comes before sunrise, and the whole day runs 9 hours with no stated rest window before the East Bank. There is no stated minimum age or infant seat policy on this listing. Families who need a gentler shape might prefer Kings and Queens Half Day with Lunch, a 5-hour morning with lunch included.
Travellers Who Want Lunch Handled
Lunch here is an extra-fee option, and one reviewer reported no nearby alternative restaurant. Every Hurghada day trip in the comparison includes lunch at a local restaurant, for example Hurghada Day Trip with Tut's Tomb, and the shared Shared Full Day, Both Banks includes it too at $30.
Wheelchair Users
The listing states no wheelchair policy, and the day involves climbing into a balloon basket, steps and slopes into the tombs and long walks over uneven temple ground. Not stated does not mean accommodated, so confirm directly before booking any Luxor tour.
Summer Visitors
Luxor's mean daily maximum runs 39.1 C in May and 41.4 C in July, and US News advises avoiding the valley in summer when temperatures pass 100 F. A dawn balloon beats the worst of it, but the midday stops do not.
Tickets, Heat and the Rest of Your Day
If you book this tour, you do not buy the site tickets yourself. If you are weighing it against going alone, here is what the official side looks like.
How the Listings Compare
Each row below comes from the operator's own listing, and anything the listing does not state is marked that way.
| Ticket | Official price | Notes |
|---|---|---|
| Valley of the Kings general | EGP 750 adults, EGP 375 students | 3 tombs of your choice from those open |
| Tutankhamun KV62 | EGP 700 | Extra ticket, not part of the general one |
| Seti I KV17 | EGP 2,000 | Extra ticket, no foreign student discount |
| Ramesses V and VI KV9 | EGP 220 | Extra ticket |
| Karnak | EGP 600 adults | Includes the Open Museum |
| Payment | Card only | No cash at the valley ticket office |
The Official Tickets
The Valley of the Kings general ticket costs EGP 750 for foreign adults and EGP 375 for foreign students per the Ministry, and it covers 3 tombs of your choice from those open that day. The open set rotates, so which three is decided on arrival. Special tombs sit outside that ticket: KV62 Tutankhamun at EGP 700, KV17 Seti I at EGP 2,000 and KV9 Ramesses V and VI at EGP 220.
The ticket office takes card only. Compare that with the $160 here, which already carries entries for the valley, Hatshepsut and Karnak plus the balloon.
Hours and the Early Start
The Ministry lists the valley as open daily from 6:00 AM to 5:00 PM, though some sources give a 4:00 PM close in winter. Karnak opens 6:00 AM to 5:00 PM, Hatshepsut's temple the same, and Luxor Temple stays open to 8:00 PM, which matters if you want an evening site after this tour ends. Peak crowds at the valley fall between 10 AM and 2 PM, so a dawn balloon followed by an early valley stop is genuinely good timing even if the stop is short.
The Valley of the Kings tickets page has the full fee picture, and the Tutankhamun's tomb page explains the KV62 ticket.
Heat and What Fits Around It
Luxor's mean daily maximum hits 41.2 C in June and 41.4 C in July, and nights stay near 25 C in summer, so the heat does not break at sunset. The tombs themselves run cooler because they sit underground, and winter from October to April is the comfortable season. Around this tour, Luxor Temple is the natural evening add-on, open until 8:00 PM and about 3 km south of Karnak along the 2.7 km Avenue of Sphinxes.
For more flight detail, see the Luxor hot air balloon guide, and for temple background the pages on Temple of Hatshepsut and Karnak Temple.
Itinerary Step by Step
Clock times are not stated on the listing, so the steps below use the durations and the order it gives. Balloon launches happen at sunrise, so the first hours fall before and just after dawn.
-
Start
Hotel pickup
A van collects you from your Luxor hotel. The listing does not state a pickup window, but the flight is at dawn, so expect a very early alarm.
-
Van, 15 minutes
To the balloon take-off site
The take-off site sits about 15 minutes from the pickup by van, on the West Bank where all Luxor balloon launches happen.
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Sunrise
Balloon flight, 30 minutes
Thirty minutes aloft over the necropolis, the desert edge and the Nile. Luxor is the only city in Egypt offering balloon rides, and flights there began in early 1988.
-
Van, 7 minutes
Valley of the Kings, 30 minutes
The general ticket covers 3 tombs from those open, and the guide explains outside the entrances because guides are not permitted inside. Thirty minutes leaves room for one tomb at pace.
-
After the valley
Hatshepsut Temple, 15 minutes
A short visit to the 273.5-metre terraced temple at Deir el-Bahari, with the Land of Punt reliefs on the middle terrace.
-
After Hatshepsut
Colossi of Memnon, 10 minutes, optional
Two 18-metre statues of Amenhotep III, each about 720 tons. The stop is optional and free.
-
East Bank
Karnak Temple, 45 minutes
Cross the Nile to the East Bank for the Great Hypostyle Hall and its 134 columns. The listing does not state the crossing mode or duration.
-
End of the day
Optional lunch and drop-off
An optional 30-minute lunch break at an extra fee, with one reviewer noting no alternative restaurant nearby, then the van returns you to your hotel in Luxor.
Pros and Cons
The honest split, based only on what the listing states and what reviewers reported.
What we genuinely like
- The balloon, entry fees, parking fees and transfers are all inside the $160, so there are no ticket surprises on the day
- A 4.7 rating from 679 verified bookings is a strong record
- Free cancellation up to 24 hours before departure, and reserve now, pay later
- A live guide in English, French or Spanish
- Four major sites in one 9-hour booking, including both banks of the Nile
The honest downsides
- Thirty minutes at the Valley of the Kings is too short for the tram ride, a queue and any real time in a tomb
- Lunch is an extra fee, and one reviewer found no alternative restaurant nearby
- One reviewer found the alabaster factory stop time consuming
- No stated pickup time, and a dawn launch means a very early start
- Group size, wheelchair access and minimum age are all not stated
- Optional stops marked optional on the itinerary can compress the timed stops further
Who it's NOT for: Not for travellers whose priority is time inside the tombs, since 30 minutes at the valley is a balloon day with the sights attached, not a tomb day.
Questions About This Tour
How much does this Luxor hot air balloon and Valley of the Kings tour cost?
$160 per person, with all taxes and fees included. The balloon ride, entry fees, parking fees and pickup and drop-off are all inside that price, and lunch is the only stated exclusion. For context on other listings, see the comparison of Valley of the Kings tours.
How long do you spend at the Valley of the Kings?
Thirty minutes on the listing's itinerary, reached by a 7-minute van transfer after the flight. The general ticket covers 3 tombs from those open, and guides explain outside because they are not permitted inside. If you want longer, Private West Bank, Kings and Queens runs 8 hours with entries included.
Is the Tutankhamun tomb included?
Not stated on the listing, so no. The price covers the general entry fees, and Tutankhamun's tomb KV62 always needs its own extra ticket, listed at EGP 700. The Tutankhamun's tomb guide explains the ticket and what you see inside.
Is lunch included in the $160?
No. The itinerary lists lunch as an optional 30-minute break at an extra fee, and one reviewer reported no alternative restaurant nearby, so plan to pay or bring food. Several other Luxor listings include lunch, such as Shared Full Day, Both Banks at $30.
What time does the balloon flight take off?
The listing does not state a pickup or flight time and shows starting times only when you check a date. Balloons launch at sunrise from the West Bank, so the pickup falls before dawn. See the Luxor hot air balloon guide for how the flights work.
How fit do you need to be for the balloon and the sites?
The listing states no difficulty level, minimum age or wheelchair policy. You climb into a basket, then face steps and slopes at Hatshepsut's temple and inside the tombs, where visitors move in single file. For site practicalities, read the Valley of the Kings tickets page.
Can I cancel this tour?
Yes, free cancellation up to 24 hours before departure for a full refund, and you can reserve now and pay later. The listing states no bad-weather policy and one reviewer reports a balloon flight cancelled for wind, so check the operator's policy when you book via the availability checker above.
What Travelers Said
Our balloon man Rufac? Was fantastic. Funny, helpful, took us over the best areas. A great memorable experience
A fantastic, memorable experience that we are happy to recommend
This package includes a hot air balloon ride and sightseeing around Luxor. On the first day, the wind conditions were bad, so the hot air balloon ride was canceled. We did some sightseeing around Luxor. The next morning, the wind was fine, so we were able to ride the hot air balloon, which I'm very happy about.
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