One morning, one price, and the whole of Luxor. The Balloon + Luxor Tour combines our sunrise hot air balloon flight with a full guided day on the ground, so you see the Theban necropolis from the air and then walk through it with a qualified Egyptologist. It is the most efficient way to cover Luxor if you only have one full day here — and the package most Nile cruise guests book.
Your day
Before dawn — the balloon
Pickup from your hotel or cruise ship at around 4:00 AM, transfer to the launch field, safety briefing, and a 35–45 minute flight over the Valley of the Kings, Hatshepsut Temple, the Ramesseum and the Nile as the sun comes up. You land, celebrate, and collect your flight certificate.
Morning — the West Bank
Breakfast, then straight into the sites you just flew over: the Valley of the Kings (three tombs included), the Temple of Hatshepsut and the Colossi of Memnon, with your guide explaining what you are looking at rather than reading it off a board.
Afternoon — the East Bank
Lunch at a local restaurant on the Nile, then the Karnak Temple complex — the largest religious building ever constructed — and Luxor Temple. Back at your hotel by late afternoon.
Why book it as one package
Booking the balloon and the day tour separately usually means two operators, two pickups and a gap in the middle where you wait around. Bundled, it is one vehicle, one guide, one bill, and no dead time. It also works out cheaper than the two bought apart.
Good to know
- Entrance tickets to the Valley of the Kings, Hatshepsut and Karnak are included.
- Tombs of Tutankhamun and Seti I carry a separate government ticket and are not included.
- Long day — allow 4:00 AM to roughly 5:00 PM.
- Bring sun protection, water and comfortable walking shoes for the afternoon.
What’s included
- Sunrise hot air balloon flight (35–45 min)
- Private Egyptologist guide for the whole day
- Valley of the Kings (3 tombs), Hatshepsut Temple, Colossi of Memnon
- Karnak Temple and Luxor Temple
- Lunch at a Nile-side restaurant
- Air-conditioned transport and all entrance fees listed
- Hotel or cruise-ship pickup and return
Your morning, step by step
- 04:30 AM — Hotel Pickup. Comfortable ride to the take off site.
- 05:00 AM — Arrival & Preparation. Light refreshments & safety briefing.
- Sunrise — Take Off. The adventure begins.
- 35–45 min — Fly Over Luxor. Enjoy breathtaking views.
- Landing — Celebration & Return. Certificate, breakfast & return to hotel.
What you will see
On a normal morning the balloon drifts within sight of Valley of the Kings, Hatshepsut Temple, Nile River, Colossi of Memnon, Karnak Temple, Luxor Temple — the exact route depends on the wind, which is what makes every flight different.
Questions about this flight
Hotel pickup is usually between 4:00 and 4:30 AM, and the balloon lifts off right at sunrise — roughly 5:30 AM in summer and 6:30 AM in winter. Exact times shift with the season, so we confirm your pickup the evening before your flight.
The flight itself lasts 35 to 45 minutes in the air. Allow around 3 to 3.5 hours door to door, including hotel pickup, the safety briefing, inflation, the flight, the landing celebration and the drive back to your hotel or Nile cruise.
Prices start at $65 per person for the standard sunrise flight, $125 for the balloon-plus-Luxor-tour package and $180 for the premium small-basket experience. Booking direct with us includes hotel transfers, insurance, a flight certificate and refreshments, with no booking fee.
Yes. Every flight is operated under the regulations of the Egyptian Civil Aviation Authority by licensed commercial balloon pilots, with fully insured passengers, modern equipment inspected before each flight, and a strict no-fly rule whenever wind or visibility falls outside safe limits.
Wear comfortable closed shoes, long trousers and a light jacket or fleece — early mornings in Luxor are cool even in summer, and layers come off once the sun rises. Bring a hat, sunglasses and your camera; the basket has room for it.
October to April offers the most comfortable temperatures and the highest number of flyable mornings. Balloons fly year round in Luxor, and summer flights take off earlier when the air is coolest and calmest.
