Overview
While high-traffic sites like the Valley of the Kings draw large tour groups, Medinet Habu (Mortuary Temple of Ramesses III) and the Ramesseum (Mortuary Temple of Ramesses II) offer some of the most preserved architectural and artistic details in the Theban Necropolis. Operating with private air-conditioned vehicles and dedicated expert guidance, this focused 4-to-5-hour morning tour explores the military and economic power of New Kingdom pharaohs. The experience begins at Medinet Habu, a fortified temple complex famous for its massive mudbrick enclosure walls, intact brightly painted ceiling beams, and deeply incised relief carvings depicting naval battles against the Sea Peoples. The tour then proceeds north to the Ramesseum, where travelers inspect the shattered 1,000-ton granite colossus of Ramesses II—the historical inspiration for Percy Bysshe Shelley’s poem Ozymandias—and explore the surrounding ancient mudbrick granaries and administrative storerooms. Trip information Duration: Half Day Schedule: Daily Tour location: Luxor Pickup location: Your hotel or Nile cruise in Luxor Tour type: Private
Why You Will Love This Trip
- Inspect the deeply incised naval battle reliefs and preserved ceiling paint at Medinet Habu.
- Stand before the fallen 1,000-ton granite colossus of Ramesses II inside the first court of the Ramesseum.
- Explore the ancient mudbrick vaults and granaries that formed the economic center of the Ramesseum.
- View the unique Syrian-style fortified entrance gate (migdol) guarding the precinct of Ramesses III.
- Stop for photo opportunities at the 18-meter-tall quartzite Colossi of Memnon statues.
- Enjoy private air-conditioned door-to-door transfers with a flexible, unhurried sightseeing pace.
Detailed Itinerary
Stop 1: Pickup and Nile crossing (08:00)
Collection from your hotel or cruise and the crossing to the West Bank. This half day covers the two mortuary temples that most West Bank tours skip in favour of the Valley of the Kings.
Stop 2: Medinet Habu (08:45)
The mortuary temple of Ramesses III, and the best-preserved of its kind. The reliefs are cut so deeply into the stone that much of the original paint is still there: look for the Sea Peoples battle scenes and the counted hands of the defeated, one of the most unflinching records left by any pharaoh.
Stop 3: The palace and the migdol gate (09:45)
Inside the enclosure sit the remains of the royal palace and the fortified Syrian-style gatehouse Ramesses III built as a statement of military authority.
Stop 4: The Ramesseum (10:45)
The mortuary temple of Ramesses II, where the fallen colossus that inspired Shelley's poem Ozymandias still lies in the second court. The site was quarried and flooded for centuries, so it is a ruin, and that is precisely why it is quiet.
Stop 5: The mud-brick storerooms (11:30)
The vaulted granaries and storerooms behind the temple, among the best surviving examples of pharaonic mud-brick construction anywhere.
Stop 6: Return transfer (12:00)
Back across the river to your hotel or cruise. This pairs well with the Valley of the Kings on a separate morning rather than the same one.
Inclusions & Exclusions
Included
- Hotel or Nile Cruise pick-up and drop-off in a private air-conditioned vehicle.
- Licensed professional Egyptologist guide fluent in your selected language.
- Standard entry tickets to Medinet Habu and the Ramesseum.
- Bottled drinking water provided inside the vehicle throughout the tour.
- All mandatory government taxes, site entrance surcharges, and service fees.
- The tour price includes all standard admission tickets required for the visits and activities listed in this itinerary. Optional visits and special-access upgrades outside the listed itinerary cost extra.
Excluded
- Entry tickets to additional nearby West Bank sites (such as Deir el-Medina or Tombs of the Nobles).
- Lunch and beverages (available as an optional add-on).
- Gratuities for the guide and driver (baksheesh).
- Personal expenses and commercial camera permits where applicable.
- Domestic and international airline tickets are not included.
Prices by Group Size
Every amount is the USD price for one traveler, not the total booking price. Choose the row that matches your group size.
| Travelers | Price per traveler |
|---|---|
| 1 Traveler | $175 per travelerTotal for 1 traveler: $175 |
| 2 Travelers | $112 per travelerTotal for 2 travelers: $224 |
| 3 Travelers | $110 per travelerTotal for 3 travelers: $330 |
| 4 Travelers | $105 per travelerTotal for 4 travelers: $420 |
| 5 Travelers | $105 per travelerTotal for 5 travelers: $525 |
| 6 or More Travelers | $105 per travelerFrom $630 total for 6 travelers |
We will confirm the date, availability and final price by email or WhatsApp before booking.
Pricing Information
The final price depends on travel date, availability, category and traveler count. Currency conversions are estimates updated from the central rate setting.
Children Policy
Child rates depend on age, room occupancy and the hotel or cruise policy. Send each child age for a confirmed quote.
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