Luxor 2-Day Trip with Hotel, Balloon and Felucca from Hurghada

The road from Hurghada to Luxor

Luxor lies roughly 290 kilometres west of Hurghada, across the Eastern Desert and over the Red Sea mountains to the Nile Valley, and the drive takes about four to five hours each way. Leaving at about five in the morning means you reach Luxor early enough to start sightseeing the same day. The road crosses open desert, with dry valleys and mountains on both sides.

Our driver and air-conditioned vehicle take care of the journey, with rest stops on the way. Because you stay overnight in Luxor, the two-day Luxor trip from Hurghada is far more relaxed than a one-day round trip, and you are not on the road at night. Bring a light jacket for the early start and the cool desert air.

The Valley of the Kings

The Valley of the Kings is the royal burial ground of the New Kingdom, on the West Bank of the Nile in the Theban hills. For about five centuries, from roughly 1500 BC, pharaohs were buried here in rock-cut tombs decorated with painted scenes and texts from the funerary books. Your English-speaking guide explains the symbolism, the journey of the king through the afterlife and the history of the valley.

A standard ticket opens several tombs, chosen on the day, and the tomb of Tutankhamun and some others need a separate ticket. The tombs are hot and narrow, and photography inside is restricted, so wear light clothes and keep water with you. The valley is open from early morning, and arriving early beats the heat and the crowds. Entry fees are not included in this option.

The sunrise hot air balloon

The balloon flight is the highlight of the second day. You are collected from the hotel in the dark, watch the balloon being inflated and lift off as the sun rises, floating over the Nile, the green farmland, the Theban hills and the temples of the West Bank. The flight lasts about forty-five minutes, and the pilot chooses the height and direction according to the wind.

It is the best way to understand how the desert and the river meet in Luxor. Balloon flights depend on the weather, and a strong wind can delay or cancel a flight; tell our team if you need a backup plan. Wear layers because it is cool before sunrise, and bring a camera or phone with a secure strap. The flight is quiet and smooth, and suitable for most adults and older children.

The felucca and the camel ride

A felucca is the traditional Nile sailboat, with a white triangular sail and a wooden hull, and a ride on one is a gentle way to see Luxor's banks, palms and fields. The mood is peaceful: the boat glides with the current and the breeze, and the crew serves tea if the programme includes it. Sunset is the most beautiful time, with the sky turning orange over the river.

The camel ride is a short experience on the West Bank edge of the desert, led by a handler, and children enjoy it. These two activities fill the quiet part of the programme between the sightseeing and the dinner. If you ask whether a felucca ride in Luxor is worth it, yes, especially at the end of a day of temples and tombs.

Your night in Luxor

The 4-star hotel in Luxor gives you a proper rest between the two days, with breakfast the next morning. Luxor is a small city on the Nile with the East Bank markets and the temples of Karnak and Luxor Temple, and an evening walk along the corniche is pleasant after dinner. Dinner on the first day is included.

If you would like to add Karnak Temple, Luxor Temple or Hatshepsut Temple, tell our team before you book, and we will advise you what fits the time. Entry fees to the sites are paid separately in this option. The return to Hurghada is by the same vehicle, arriving in the evening of the second day.