We booked a private tour on the 18th of February 2023 with my wife and 6 year old son as we read wonderful reviews here.
We were looking for either a private or small group tour to avoid the compulsory store visits that are often included in the usual big group tours and be more flexible.
So, here is how it goes:
- reservation: super simple and fast via the website and/or Whatsapp. Mohammed is very responsive.
- for Luxor, you will be picked up from your hotel at around 5AM in a very recent minibus (we had aToyota Hiace with 40 000 km) so there is plenty of space for you and your stuff :)
- coming with you will be 2 drivers that will replay each other (even though the trip isn't that long, you will see the driving requires some concentration) and your guide, Mohammed.
- As you're being picked up, Mohammed will just explain to you briefly the road to get to Luxor and then you can get to sleep. The road will take you to Safaga, then through the desert (big double lane road) - quick stop around 7AM to eat/use restroom - then to Qena and finally to Luxor.
You should arrive there around 9AM.
- in our case we started with Karnak temples. Mohammed will be with you to take care of the tickets and of course the explanations. Besides the historic facts, lots of fun facts - so it is not just a boring tour. Mohammed has a great sense of humour :) Once you reach the sacred lake, you ll have the time you need (30 min more than enough) to stroll around and take pics.
You wil notice Mohammed sort of knows anyone and you won't be bothered too much by salespeople.
- back to the minibus to cross the Nile by boat and see the city from the water. Once on the other side, it is time to eat at a local restaurant. Of course many tourists come there but food was really good ! Lunch included, drinks extra, 2eur/usd per bottle which is very fair. Free toilets on the spot.
- back to the bus to go to the Valley of the Kings before the rushour. The basic ticket includes 3 tombs you can choose from the 9 open (at the time). Mohammed can advise you - in our case, I had checked before and he had the exact same recommendations. So he knows his stuff :)
NB: you can buy extra tickets to visit 3 others tombs: Seti I (1000EGP), Tutankhamun (300EGP) and Ramses V and VI (100 EGP). You can pay by credit car or EGP cash there. My advise is to definitely visit the tomb of Ramses 5 and 6, 100 EGP for it is a bargain as it's the most beautiful we've seen.
Tutankhamun is in our opinion sort of a ''scam'' because there isn't much to see (smallest tomb there) besides the body that is exposed there and still some nice decorations but you pay for the name mostly. If you have the budget, go for Seti 1er but it''s quite expensive.
To get there he will buy the transfer tickets so you do not have to walk to the tombs from the entrance.
The guide cannot come with you inside but he will give you some explanations outide and wait for you.
- next stop is the mortuary Temple of Hatshepsut. Similar as before but you mostly visit it yourself after a few words at the entrance.
- finally, you will start driving back with a quick stop by the Colossi of Memnon for a few pics. If there is anything you want to take a pic of around, you can ask for a stop, they ll gladly do so.
But you will be tired by then already :) in our case, it was around 3.30PM.
We reached our hotel in Hurghada by 7.30 PM with the same stop on the way back.
Overall it was exactly what we were looking for. Spend time visiting the monuments, not shops as we had done it previously. The private tour is of course a little more expensive but it is definitely worth it - you ll be a lot more flexible, especially if you have a kid.
Big thanks again to Mohammed for his guiding and the overall organisation that was basically perfect, and the 2 drives (sorry I forgot the names) for navigating us through the (sometimes) crazy Egyptian traffic safely :D
