Egypt Luxor Tours
EN

From the Red SeaRed Sea · Hurghada to Luxor

Hurghada to Luxor day trip — bus, minivan or private car

A Luxor day trip from Hurghada means roughly four hours on the road each way and about six hours at the sites. The real choice is the vehicle and what the price includes, not the sights.

Road distance
about 290–310 km each way
Hotel pickup
about 04:00–05:00
Shared big bus
from about $56
Most-reviewed trip
8,821 reviews

Updated October 21, 2026

Turquoise Red Sea water off the coast at Hurghada
Turquoise Red Sea water off the coast at Hurghada Photo: Marc Ryckaert (MJJR), CC BY 3.0

The short answer

  1. Best overallLuxor Day Trip from Hurghada Small Group & Tutankhamun Tomb4.88,821 reviewsfrom $95GetYourGuide

    The most-reviewed Luxor trip on any platform, by minivan rather than coach, with the main entry fees and Tutankhamun's tomb in the package. You pay for the smaller group, and it shows in the timing.

  2. Lowest priceFrom Hurghada: Luxor Day Trip by big bus & Tutankhamun Tomb4.9155 reviewsfrom $56GetYourGuide

    The same West Bank and Karnak circuit on a full-size coach for the lowest price in the feed. Fine if you don't mind waiting for 40 people at every stop.

  3. Best valueHurghada: Luxor Valley of the Kings & Tutankhamun Tomb Trip5.01,953 reviewsfrom $68GetYourGuide

    A five-star average across nearly 2,000 reviews at a mid-range price, with a choice between Tut's tomb and the tomb of Ramesses V and VI.

  4. Skip it ifYou can spare a night in Luxor

    Two days halve the fatigue and add a sunrise balloon flight, from about $215 including a Luxor hotel night.

How a Hurghada to Luxor day trip works

Every Luxor trip from Hurghada follows the same shape: a pre-dawn pickup, about four hours across the desert via Safaga and Qena, the West Bank in the morning, Karnak in the afternoon and the long drive home. The road is about 290–310 km each way. Day trips are listed at 14 to 16 hours door to door, and El Gouna (about 25 km north of Hurghada) gets the earliest pickups, while Makadi Bay (about 30 km south) and Soma Bay (about 45 km south) sit on the way.

What differs is the vehicle, the group size and the fine print on tickets.

Option Price on the platforms Vehicle & group Tickets included? Best for
Big bus from about $56 Full-size coach, large group Usually main sites; Tut's tomb optional Lowest price, unbothered by crowds
Small-group minivan from about $68–95 Minivan, small group Varies; the top-rated ones bundle entry fees and Tut Most people
With lunch & Nile boat from about $145–150 Small group Tut's tomb, lunch and a short boat ride Fewer surprises on the day
Private car & guide roughly $150–200 per car, plus guide and tickets Your own car You buy at the gate Families, slow walkers, photographers

Most-booked Luxor trips from Hurghada

US-dollar prices come from each platform's own feed and were checked on October 21, 2026. Dates and group size change them — the booking page has the final price.

Big bus, minivan or private car?

The big bus is the cheapest seat and the slowest day. A full coach queues as one big group at each ticket gate, toilet and restaurant, and the guide talks to the whole group at once. The two coach trips in the feed rate well and cost from about $56–57.

The small-group minivan is where most of the reviews are. The most-booked trip, with 8,821 reviews at 4.8 stars, costs from about $95 and includes the main entry fees plus Tutankhamun's tomb. Several cheaper small-group trips start at about $68–72; read their "includes" line, because Tut's tomb or lunch may be extra.

Private makes sense from three or four people. A car and driver for the day runs about $150–200, and you add a licensed guide and your own tickets. You set the pace, stop when you want, and can swap Karnak for Luxor Temple at dusk.

A typical day from Hurghada

A typical Luxor day trip from Hurghada
  1. Pickup in El Gouna or northern Hurghada; central and southern hotels follow until about 05:00
  2. Police checkpoint on the Safaga–Qena road; the driver shows the trip permit, then a rest stop on the desert road
  3. Arrive in Luxor and cross to the West Bank
  4. Valley of the Kings: three tombs on the standard ticket, Tut's tomb if booked
  5. Temple of Hatshepsut, then a photo stop at the Colossi of Memnon
  6. Lunch at a local restaurant (if included)
  7. Karnak Temple, about 1.5 hours
  8. Leave Luxor for the drive back
  9. Back at your hotel; later if you're in El Gouna

Times are approximate and confirmed by the operator the evening before. In winter the return drive is entirely in the dark.

Tour or DIY? The honest ladder

Option Cost per person Hours on the road Hours at the sites Flexibility
Shared coach tour from about $56 8–9 about 6 None
Small-group minivan from about $68–95 8–9 about 6 Low
Private car, two people about $75–100 + guide + tickets (~$34) 8 6–7 High
GoBus + night in Luxor under $10 each way + tickets + hotel 8 over two days as long as you like Full

Entry fees at the gate (checked 21 Oct 2026): Valley of the Kings EGP 750 (about $14), Karnak EGP 600 (about $11), Hatshepsut EGP 440 (about $8), Tutankhamun's tomb EGP 700 (about $13) extra.

What to bring

  • Passport or a clear copy; checkpoints and ticket offices may ask.
  • Closed shoes. Tomb corridors have steep ramps and stairs.
  • Hat, sunscreen and more water than you think, even in winter.
  • A warm layer for the 04:00 start and the air-conditioned vehicle.
  • A breakfast box. Most hotels will pack one if you ask the night before.
  • Small Egyptian pound notes for toilets, tips and a cold drink.

Tipping

Tips are almost never in the price. One Hurghada operator suggests €5–10 per person for the guide and driver together on a group day. On a private day, $30–50 for the guide and $15–20 for the driver (per car, not per person) are common figures. Toilet attendants usually expect EGP 10–20.

If one day sounds like too much road, a two-day trip with a balloon flight is the obvious upgrade. Planning a longer Luxor stay instead? Start from Luxor tours and the ticket prices.

In this section

Questions travellers ask

How far is Luxor from Hurghada?

About 290–310 km by road, depending on where your hotel is. The route runs south to Safaga, inland across the Eastern Desert to Qena and then down the Nile to Luxor. Tour vehicles take roughly four hours each way, sometimes closer to five with the breakfast stop and the checkpoints.

Is a day trip from Hurghada to Luxor worth it?

For most people, yes — if you go in with the right expectations. You get the Valley of the Kings, Hatshepsut's temple and Karnak in one day, but you leave around 04:00–05:00 and get back around 21:00–22:00. Families with small children and anyone who sleeps badly in vehicles should look at the two-day version.

Is there still a police convoy from Hurghada to Luxor?

Reports from 2025–2026 are mixed, and we found no official statement either way. Tourist vehicles pass a police checkpoint on the Safaga–Qena road and need a travel permit arranged by a licensed operator; some travelers describe waiting at the checkpoint for a group departure, others just a document check. Your tour company handles it, which is one reason pickups are so early.

Are entry tickets included?

It depends on the listing. Some of the trips here bundle the entry fees and Tutankhamun's tomb; the cheapest coach trips often list Tut's tomb as an option. At the gate the Valley of the Kings costs EGP 750, Karnak EGP 600, Hatshepsut EGP 440 and Tut's tomb EGP 700 extra (checked 21 Oct 2026).

Can I go from Hurghada to Luxor by bus on my own?

Yes. GoBus runs Hurghada–Luxor several times a day in about four hours, and the fare on booking sites is under $10. The catch is timing — the morning buses arrive too late to see both banks and ride back the same evening, so the bus works best with a night in Luxor.

How much should I tip on a Luxor day trip?

Tips aren't included on most listings. One Hurghada operator suggests €5–10 per person for the guide and driver together on a group trip. On a private day, guides are commonly tipped $30–50 and drivers $15–20 for the car. Keep EGP 10–20 notes for toilet attendants.

Sources and checks

  1. GetYourGuide — Hurghada day trips to Luxor (prices, ratings, review counts) — checked 21 Oct 2026
  2. Rome2Rio — Hurghada to Luxor (road distance, bus operators) — checked 21 Oct 2026
  3. Continent Hop — Hurghada to Luxor day trip (distance, pickup, GoBus, private car cost) — checked 21 Oct 2026
  4. Hurghada To Go — Hurghada to Luxor day trip itinerary, tipping and packing notes — checked 21 Oct 2026
  5. FTS Travels — Luxor day tour from Hurghada (drive time, inclusions) — checked 21 Oct 2026
  6. Marsa Alam Tours — 2-day Luxor tour from Hurghada (police permits, Safaga checkpoint) — checked 21 Oct 2026
  7. Egypt Ministry of Tourism and Antiquities — Valley of the Kings ticket prices — checked 21 Oct 2026
  8. Egypt Ministry of Tourism and Antiquities — Karnak ticket prices — checked 21 Oct 2026
  9. Egypt Ministry of Tourism and Antiquities — Hatshepsut Temple ticket prices — checked 21 Oct 2026
  10. Egypt Ministry of Tourism and Antiquities — Tomb of Tutankhamun ticket prices — checked 21 Oct 2026
  11. Moneyexchangerate.org — USD to EGP, mid-October 2026 (about 52.8) — checked 21 Oct 2026
  12. Pyramids Land — Tipping in Egypt (May 2026) — checked 21 Oct 2026
  13. UK FCDO — Egypt travel advice, safety and security (road travel, ID checks) — checked 21 Oct 2026
  14. Cruise-port.com — Safaga cruise port guide (checkpoint hours, permits) — checked 21 Oct 2026
  15. Olympic Holidays — Hurghada resort guide (El Gouna, Soma Bay distances) — checked 21 Oct 2026

Read next