Medinet Habu, Deir el-Medina and Valley of the Queens Tour

Duration: 5–6 hours
Style: Private Tour
From, per person: $60

Luxor's west bank holds far more than the Valley of the Kings. This half-day private tour follows a quieter trail through three places that show how ancient Thebes worked, lived and buried its dead: a royal temple, the village of the tomb builders and the valley where queens and royal children were laid to rest.

Medinet Habu is the mortuary temple of Ramesses III, with a massive fortified gateway and walls carved with battles, festivals and offerings. At Deir el-Medina you walk among the ruins of the village where the craftsmen of the royal tombs lived, see some of the small tombs they made for themselves and visit the Ptolemaic temple of the goddess Hathor. The Valley of the Queens holds the tombs of queens and royal children.

Which tombs are open in the Valley of the Queens changes from time to time, so your guide chooses the best of those available on the day. The tomb of Nefertari needs a separate extra ticket and is not in the price; tell us before the trip if you would like to add it.

These sites are quieter than the headline monuments, so your Egyptologist has time to explain what you see. The visit takes about five to six hours door to door from your Luxor hotel, and it suits history lovers, return visitors and families with older children who enjoy a relaxed pace.

Woman standing before the Medinet Habu pylon wall with a palm tree

Excavated stone foundations of the Deir el-Medina workers' village below the Theban hills

Your itinerary

01

Medinet Habu, Deir el-Medina and the Valley of the Queens

Your guide and driver collect you from your Luxor hotel or Nile cruise boat in the morning and cross the river to the west bank. The first stop is Medinet Habu, the mortuary temple of Ramesses III. Walk through its great fortified gateway into courtyards covered with carved battle scenes, festivals and offerings; plan on about an hour and a half.

Next is Deir el-Medina, the village where the craftsmen who built the royal tombs lived with their families. You see the layout of the houses, a few of the small tombs the workers made for themselves and the Ptolemaic temple of Hathor; allow about an hour.

The last visit is the Valley of the Queens, the burial place of queens and royal children. Which tombs are open varies, so your guide takes you into the best ones available that day. Nefertari's tomb needs its own extra ticket and is not part of the price.

A late lunch at a local restaurant fits in, and then you return to your hotel.
Lunch

Colonnaded courtyard of Medinet Habu mortuary temple with carved columns on the Luxor west bank

Gravel path and tomb shelter in the rocky Valley of the Queens with visitors

A visitor in front of the Colossi of Memnon on Luxor's west bank

Included

Pick-up and drop-off at your hotel or Nile cruise boat in Luxor
All transfers by a private air-conditioned vehicle
Private Egyptologist guide in your language
Entrance fees to Medinet Habu, Deir el-Medina and the Valley of the Queens
Late lunch at a local restaurant
Bottled water during the visits
All service charges and taxes

Not included

Tomb of Nefertari (separate extra ticket, on request)
Drinks with meals
Tipping (recommended)
Optional extras not in the itinerary

Good to know

We confirm your pick-up time on WhatsApp the evening before the trip.
Pick-up areas: hotels and Nile ships on the east and west banks of Luxor.
Private trip: the day is for your group only. Vehicle: a car for up to 3 to 4 guests, a minivan for up to 7 to 8, and two vehicles for larger groups.
Walking at the sites, often in the sun. Suitable for most ages, with rests for young children and older guests.
Bring a hat, sunscreen, water, comfortable shoes and modest clothing for temples and religious sites.
Runs all year. October to April is the most comfortable; in summer we start early.
The price shown is the starting price per person. The final price depends on your dates, group size and hotel area, and we confirm it on WhatsApp before you book.
Children: under 6 travel free, ages 6 to 11 pay half the adult price, and ages 12 and over pay the full price.
Free cancellation up to 24 hours before pick-up. After that the trip is not refundable.

Questions

Can we visit the tomb of Nefertari?

Nefertari's tomb needs a separate extra ticket that is not in the tour price. If you would like to add it, tell us when you book and we will arrange it for your date. Otherwise your guide takes you into the other tombs that are open.

Which tombs will we see in the Valley of the Queens?

Which tombs are open changes from time to time, so we cannot promise a fixed list. Your guide takes you into the best ones available on the day and explains who was buried there and what the wall scenes show.

What is Deir el-Medina?

It is the village of the workmen who cut and painted the royal tombs. You see the ruins of their houses, some small decorated tombs they made for themselves and a temple of the goddess Hathor from the Ptolemaic period.

How long do we spend at each site?

Roughly an hour and a half at Medinet Habu, about an hour at Deir el-Medina and about an hour in the Valley of the Queens. Your guide adjusts the time to your interests, the heat of the day and how busy the sites are.

How hot does it get?

The west bank is open desert with little shade, and summer afternoons can be very hot. We begin in the morning, and you should bring a hat, sunscreen and water. Comfortable shoes help on the sandy paths.