If you’re making a trip to Egypt, visiting Luxor is a must-do, known as the “world’s largest open-air museum” considering it’s home to some of the most renowned Egyptian sites, like Karnak and the tomb of the pharaohs.
While there are many ways to see this incredible place, nothing quite compares to floating above the fabled Valley of the Kings as the sun peeks over the horizon. The best way to go about this is on a hot air balloon, where you get incomparable, completely unobstructed views of the treasures below.
I’ve gone ahead and detailed the 5 top hot air balloon rides in Luxor tours so you know which ones are worth your time and money. Let’s get started!
Best Luxor Egypt Hot Air Balloon Rides
Luxury Sunrise Balloon Ride in Luxor with Hotel Pickup | Hot Air Balloons Ride Luxor, Egypt | Hot Air Balloon Ride in Luxor Egypt with Transfers Included | |
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Location: | Hotel pickup and drop-off included | Hotel pickup and drop-off included | Hotel pickup and drop-off included |
Start: | 4:30 AM | 4:30, 5:00 & 5:30 AM | 4:30 AM |
Duration: | 3 hours | 2 hours | 3 hours |
Includes: | 30-minute hot air balloon flight, Pick up from hotel/boat and drop off., All Fees and Taxes, Coffee and/or Tea if crossing by riverboat, Flight certificate | Hot air balloon flight, live tour commentary provided in English, transfer by air-conditioned bus, motor boat to transfer to the West Bank, coffee and/or tea with cake, flight certificate, souvenir | Hod Hod Soliman Balloon Ride Luxor, Egypt, roundtrip transportation to and from central Luxor hotel, air-conditioned car or minivan, live tour commentary provided in English |
Quick Answer: The 5 Best Rated Hot Air Balloon Ride Tours in Luxor For 2025
- Luxury Sunrise Balloon Ride in Luxor with Hotel Pickup
- Hot Air Balloon Ride in Luxor Egypt with Transfers Included
- Hot Air Balloons Ride Luxor, Egypt
- Luxury Hot Air Balloon Riding in Luxor
- Hot Air Balloon Ride In Luxor
Hot Air Balloon Rides in Luxor Tour Reviews
1. Luxury Sunrise Balloon Ride in Luxor with Hotel Pickup
- Duration: 3 hours
- Departure: Hotel pickup and drop-off included
- Departure Time: 4:30 AM
- Include: 30-minute hot air balloon flight, Pick up from hotel/boat and drop off., All Fees and Taxes, Coffee and/or Tea, If crossing by riverboat, Flight certificate
They say that the early bird gets the worm, but in this case, the early bird undoubtedly gets the most breathtaking views of Luxor. The Luxury Sunrise Balloon Ride in Luxor with Hotel Pickup is one that I’d recommend to truly anyone of any background.
Whether you’re a solo traveler, going with that special someone, or the entire family, you will not regret this trip of a lifetime. In fact, if you’re traveling in a larger group of a dozen or so, I’d say this is one of the best activities you can participate in as you can fit everyone into one basket!
However, the smaller your group, the higher up in the air you can travel, so keep that in mind! Your tour starts out at 4:30 am with a pickup right from your hotel lobby in a comfortable vehicle with your knowledgeable guide there to smoothly coordinate everything.
Upon arrival, we were greeted by professional and friendly staff who answered all of our questions and evidently had a solid system in place, perfected over years of experience. There were many balloons out there but we felt safe the entire time, and their laidback attitudes actually only helped.
As we waited for the green light (they have to be 100% certain the weather conditions are ideal), we were provided with incredible coffee and tea while we chatted and enjoyed the environment.
The takeoff was very smooth and easy, and while I was initially a bit nervous, that soon washed away with the great vibes of our guide and the incredible views all around us. Insane views of the temples and tombs below were amazing but paired with the golden rays of the sunset enveloping them all – wow.
After half an hour of pure euphoria, we came back down and landed smoothly, receiving a thoughtful souvenir flight certificate to remember it by.
More Information & Tour Booking
100% refund for cancellations within 24 hours of tour experience
2. Hot Air Balloon Ride in Luxor Egypt with Transfers Included
- Duration: 3 hours
- Departure: Hotel pickup and drop-off included
- Departure Time: 4:30 AM
- Includes: Hod Hod Soliman Balloon Ride Luxor, Egypt, roundtrip transportation to and from central Luxor hotel, air-conditioned car or minivan, live tour commentary provided in English, All Fees and Taxes
There’s no better way to get your head around the grandeur of Luxor than from the amazing heights of a hot air balloon. You’ll soar past sprawling temples, glide past the Nile, and get to witness the Valley of the Kings in all its splendor.
The Hot Air Balloon Ride in Luxor, Egypt with Transfers Included is one of the most reliable, convenient ways of doing so, with expert guides there to ensure safety and lots of fun!
This 3-hour experience kicks off with a hotel pickup and 4:30 in the morning, so make sure that you’re all ready to go and bring a jacket as it can get a bit chilly sometimes.
Meticulously curated to ensure you avoid crowds, you can expect a tranquil journey high above the noise of the city before it comes alive. The early morning departure means you get to see Luxor’s most renowned landmarks covered in a light that makes them seem like they’re from another planet.
Our transportation to the take-off site was climate-controlled and comfortable, with our guide telling us some interesting info about Luxor along the way. Once we arrived, we did waited about 15 minutes, watching the dozens of balloons all being inflated at the same time, which was a cool sight to see.
Our experienced pilots were a ton of fun, offering us intimate knowledge of the area, and allowing for a deeper connection to the rich culture below. They did a great job of pointing out sites and telling us different stories about how they came to be.
Whether you’re a frequent traveler or it’s your first time here, I can practically guarantee that you’re going to love it.
More Information & Tour Booking
100% refund for cancellations within 24 hours of tour experience
3. Hot Air Balloons Ride Luxor, Egypt
- Duration: 2 hours
- Departure: Hotel pickup and drop-off included
- Departure Time: 4:30, 5:00 & 5:30 AM
- Includes: Hot air balloon flight, live tour commentary provided in English, transfer by air-conditioned bus, motor boat to transfer to the West Bank, coffee and/or tea with cake, flight certificate, souvenir, all taxes, fees, handling charges
If you’ve already checked out temples and pyramids within Egypt, it can be hard to imagine an even more captivating way to experience them. However, do yourself a favor and take the Hot Air Balloon Ride Luxor, Egypt, and you’ll see that this bird’s-eye view as dawn breaks is simply unbeatable.
If you’re looking for a tour you’re sure to remember for years to come, this is one of the best choices you can make. Just like the others we’ve covered so far, this excursion also includes a complimentary hotel pickup in the morning.
They will bring you to the take-off site in a comfortable, air-conditioned vehicle with your professional guide there to lead the way. Upon arrival, you’ll be greeted by friendly, professional staff who are more than happy to answer any questions you may have and provide you with a proper safety briefing.
They even let us know that after our flight, they’d provide roundtrip transport back to our hotels, giving us one less thing we had to worry about. We did wait about 20 minutes or so until the weather and wind were perfect to take off, though it wasn’t like we were waiting around, bored.
They provided us with fresh coffee and tea along with the thoughtful addition of delicious cake, which already put me in an even better mood! Then it was time to take off, and we had elected to do the group tour where we shared our basket with another group.
Everyone in our basket was super nice and genuinely seemed interested in the historical and cultural commentary our pilot provided us with, pointing out different landmarks as we soared way up high.
Seeing this legendary place enveloped in the golden warmth of sunrise was simply magical, with a smooth ride and helpful tips that provided us with more things to do later on in our trip. This is one of those must-do tours, and for the price, it’s actually crazy to think that there are people who haven’t done it!
More Information & Tour Booking
100% refund for cancellations within 24 hours of tour experience
4. Luxury Hot Air Balloon Riding in Luxor
- Duration: 1 hour
- Departure: Hotel pickup and drop-off included
- Departure Time: 5:30 AM
- Includes: Transfer by air-conditioned vehicle, bottled water, flight certificate, all services, charges, and taxes, coffee and/or tea
This is the shortest tour of them all, but is in no way lacking in quality or experience. The Luxury Hot Air Balloon Riding in Luxor is a great option if you’re on a tight budget or a tight schedule, and don’t have the ability to take a longer tour.
You’ll be sharing your basket with other groups, though I noticed they make it a point to not pack them full, which still makes it comfortable and exciting.
It’s important to note that even though this is a more budget-friendly tour, they still include hotel pickup and drop-off so you don’t have to worry about booking separate transportation, yourself.
If you’re going with a larger group of people, I’d further recommend this tour even more, as it’s possible you’ll just get a basket all to yourselves without having to pay the additional price.
Upon booking, we were sent a WhatsApp message almost immediately by someone from the tour company, helping to organize our transportation and answering any questions we may have, which was foreshadowing to the great customer service we experienced throughout.
After we were picked up, we set off to the take-off site while our guide offered up entertaining anecdotes as well as historical accounts of the area, which made it that much cooler once we arrived.
We traveled by motorboat then to the West Bank over the Nile to the exact location, watching the hot air balloons inflate against the dark sky while we enjoyed a light breakfast freshly made just for us.
Once our balloon was ready, we got in with another group and our pilot, setting off high into the air, while tranquility overtook us.
We got to see iconic sites like the Temple of Hatshepsut at Deir el Bahari, the Valley of the Kings, Luxor Temple on the East Bank, and plenty of other jaw-dropping landmarks. It’s hard to believe that the experience is real – I can’t wait to do it again!
More Information & Tour Booking
100% refund for cancellations within 24 hours of tour experience
5. Hot Air Balloon Ride in Luxor
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- Duration: 5 hours
- Departure: Hotel pickup and drop-off included
- Departure Time: 5:30 AM
- Includes: Tea and coffee, flight over Luxor City, flight certificate, insurance, all fees and taxes
Last but certainly not least is one of the best tours to take if you want something a bit more “exclusive” or “VIP” than the standard balloon tours we’ve talked about.
It is a bit longer, but the Hot Air Balloon Ride in Luxor is a completely private experience, making it a fantastic option for a romantic couple’s activity or ideal for families with kids. This tour has thought of just about everything, ensuring all the logistics are well taken care of so all you have to worry about is having a great time!
The 5-hour experience also starts off with a convenient hotel pickup, though it’s important to note that ours started an hour later than the others on this guide. I’m not sure why that is, by I can say that it was still an incredible view and the sun was still rising so we didn’t miss out on that aspect.
We traveled in an air-conditioned transfer with an expert guide who was very welcoming and already had us hyped up for the ride we were about to take!
While it’s not always a guaranteed option, in most cases if you book far enough ahead, you can do an optional upgrade to the first trip with a sunrise view, where it feels like you have all of Luxor between yourself and the gods.
Speaking of which, as you glide along over these legendary pieces of archaeological history, you’ll learn all about the gods ancient Egyptians believed in and how it affected their daily lives. They related all of that back to why some of these landmarks were constructed, and the importance they still hold to the country, today.
With certified pilots and the most modern fleet of balloons in Luxor, quality and safety are clearly their top priorities, and we felt super safe throughout the experience. This is one of my all-time favorite Luxor tours, and I recommend you put it at the top of your list, too.
More Information & Tour Booking
100% refund for cancellations within 24 hours of tour experience
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The Luxury Sunrise Balloon Ride in Luxor with Hotel Pickup is our Editors Choice for the best hot air balloon ride in Luxor