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Sunrise Balloon Flight & private luxor tour &Sunset Felucca Ride

Luxor, Egypt

11 hours (approx.)
Pickup offered
Group discounts
Mobile ticket
Offered in: English

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Overview

What's Included

Pick up Service from your hotel & return
Full Day tour of East bank & West Bank
All transfers by A-C vehicles with qualified driver
Sunrise Hot Air Balloon Ride Luxor
Professional Egyptologist, English language
Sunset Felucca Ride
Lunch

Tipping
Another language Guide

Meeting and Pickup

Pickup points

Select a pickup point

Pickup details

Pick-up is available from anywhere you choose in Luxor

Itinerary

Hot air balloon Luxor Take Off Site

45 minutes • Admission Ticket Included

Colossi of Memnon

15 minutes • Admission Ticket Included

Valley of the Kings

2 hours • Admission Ticket Included

Tomb of King Tutankhamun (Tut)

30 minutes • Admission Ticket Included

Temple of Hatshepsut

2 hours • Admission Ticket Included

The Karnak Temple

2 hours • Admission Ticket Included

Avenue of Sphinxes (Pass By)

Luxor Temple

1 hour 30 minutes • Admission Ticket Included

Luxor

1 hour • Admission Ticket Free

Luxor Governorate

30 minutes • Admission Ticket Free

Additional Info

Confirmation will be received at time of booking
Not wheelchair accessible
Near public transportation
Infants must sit on laps

Most travelers can participate
The balloon ride is not private, it can be upon request.
This is a private tour/activity. Only your group will participate

Supplied by

Cancellation Policy

You can cancel up to 24 hours in advance of the experience for a full refund.

Traveler Photos

Gallery picture 1 (from a traveler's review)

Gallery picture 2 (from a traveler's review)

Gallery picture 3 (from a traveler's review)

Gallery picture 4 (from a traveler's review)

Gallery picture 5 (from a traveler's review)

Reviews

1.0

based on 4 reviews

Total reviews and rating from Viator & Tripadvisor

We perform checks on reviews

Missed Sunrise Balloon Ride, Fake Felucca, and Ahmed the guide Who Took No Responsibility

Qasim_M, Feb 2026

We had a fairly terrible experience with our guide Ahmed on this tour. It started from initial communication, we had been very excited about the sunrise balloon ride so we had actively selected a 4AM start for our tour (options range from 4am - 6am). So when he told me that we 'll have a 545AM pickup, I was confused. How would we get picked up at 545AM, make it across the river, down to where the hot air balloons are, and be up in the air to catch a 630AM sunrise? I let him know that it seemed off but he reassured me that we would not miss sunrise and that we were the last pick up as we are his "VIP" guests. The day of pickup, the driver arrived at 6AM. Already 15 minutes late. Then he proceeded to wait for another group that delayed us till 610AM. The driver then had to do another pick up (guess we weren't the last pickup?). At this point we knew we were going to miss the sunrise which is the entire point of the sunrise balloon ride. If we had wanted a "just missed the sunrise balloon tour", we would've booked that. When we arrived at the hot air balloon field, we had to wait 15-20 minutes while the driver complained it was not his fault we're late and that the reason we're going up late is due to weather and government permit conditions. I guess the 50 other balloons in the air were all breaking the law and unaware of the weather conditions (which were clear, sunny skies with limited wind). The rest of the balloon ride was fine but we were disappointed to have to see the sunrise while still on the ground (we didn't get up high in the balloon till around 715AM -- have time stamped photos to prove it). After this we finally met up with our tour guide, Ahmed. When we told him about the morning issues, he tried to say this and that but we told him point blank his reasonings and excuses didn't make sense. But we decided that we'll move on with the day as we still had most of it ahead of us. The next few hours were spent going across the Valley of the kings, multiple temples, etc. Ahmed loved to exclaim that he's the most knowledgeable and renowned Egyptologist in the region but he seemed to fumble through a lot of his explanations, would pull far ahead of the rest of the group (even if they were taking pictures, is it not a guide's job to make sure he keeps the group together or waits up?) and kick off his mumbled, half hearted explanations before most of the group was there. For such a knowledgeable specialist, he seemed to not know the answers of some of the basic questions we asked (i.e. why did the pharaohs wear false beards? his response was that it was fashionable at the time - which a quick google search will tell you is not true.) It was almost as if he relied on us not knowing the answer to give us some random explanation that he assumed we would buy. He also was quite arrogant in the way that he spoke, belittling in the way that he responded to our inquiries, and gaslit us when we wanted to make minor changes to the plan (i.e. do the felucca tour last so we can see the sunset on the Nile -- which is literally what is listed as will be provided, and do Luxor Temple before that). His response to this was -- I know best, let me do my job. Mind you, the question was asked gently, calmly, and with the intention to guide us back to what we're supposed to be experiencing -- a SUNSET felucca ride on the Nile. But whatever, we decided to do it his way and do the felucca ride on the Nile before sunset around 4PM. We proceed to get into a motorized boat. Now a quick google search shows that a felucca boat is essentially a sail boat. Why are we on a motorized boat? The one we had already been on earlier in the morning? We reasoned that maybe we're taking this boat to the felucca because maybe those boats can't come as close to the shore considering their wind powered and may not be as nimble to bring closer to shores for boarding. We then proceed to have a full pre-sunset motorized boat ride on the Nile. Obviously we were very disappointed. That was not what we paid for and that was not what was promised in the itinerary. We proceed to go to Luxor Temple where once again (as he had done throughout the day), Ahmed fumbled through some half-hearted explanations, told us to wander on our own for 30 minutes, and just went to the front so he could smoke. Lovely. At this point with all of the fumbles of the day, we had decided we'll let him respectfully know that we'll be writing an honest review about our experience. Ahmed had proactively shared a review link over Whatsapp. Once we are dropped off at the hotel, we asked Ahmed to chat. We relayed all of the details above. A side note to all of this is that Ahmed had proudly told us multiple times during the day that 2 years ago, he had left working for others to run his own company, Luxor Private Day Tours. So it means he has ownership over all aspects of the tours and the operators he contracts. When we relayed the details above, his first reaction was not ownership. He said that the sunrise balloon ride is operated by someone else so he can’t control that. Interesting thing to say when he is the one who selected that operating group, assured us even with late time for pickup we’d still make it, and then decides to take zero ownership of the mistakes. When we called out the felucca ride, he said that he had asked us in the car if we wanted to do motorized or felucca because there was limited wind that day. He must’ve been talking to himself because none of us heard him ask that question. And for his reference, there were tons of felucca boats out in the water that day (not being pulled by other motorized boats — picture evidence provided). So he was just banking on us not knowing the difference between the regular cheap boats and the felucca boat. He then proceeded to offer us the felucca ride right then and there. Why would he want to do a felucca ride in the dark with someone who had scammed us left and right the entire day? But it was nice to hear him admitting that we had not been given the felucca ride as promised and instead provided a cheap boat that’s mostly just used to cross the Nile river for tours on the opposite side. At this point we realized he was not going to hear us out and instead would try to placate us with things that he knew we couldn’t use (i.e he offered us a felucca ride the next morning despite us telling him we’re leaving that night). We told him calmly that we’ll just be writing an accurate review so others know what they’re getting into. At this point, he proceeded to BOLT to his car, screamed at this driver to drive off, and that was that. We stepped to the window asking him if this is how he wanted to handle it, to which he decided to not respond at all. The cherry on top of all of this was that he deleted the review link he had shared with me earlier — which looks like quite an admission of guilt if he wants honest reviews. So please select this tour carefully and know that Ahmed will not have your best interest at heart, but will do what he wants to do so, banking on the fact that either you don’t know better or you won’t speak up.

Response from Host, Feb 2026

. , you tried to force me for full refund for good reviews , why ? You got the link after you are very happy , right or do you think I gave it to you and you were sad ? If you are honest why did you ask for full refund to give me good reviews ? can you show your honest faces ? No , why ? Because someone will recognise you , You asked for full refund for good reviews , are you honest ???? I started and followed up with you all the details and it was your choices all the time and you were very happy all the time everything done on the best way according to our WhatsApp conversation for long time to give you the best tailor made tour , you can show another screen shots for your requests , I am very disappointed of you . then blamed me for government orders for all tourists with you and all others hot air balloon companies they all move according to government permission with you , and you didn't miss anything according to the video of the balloon you get sunrise flight and very happy ,( video shows you are very happy and all other tourists ) , you ask for late pickup as you showed in screenshots of WhatsApp conversation , or even less , it was clear , you hd the best program and the special expensive tombs service and you wish to make me pay for it ? Why ? Because you say so ???!? Are you honest ? Consume big money for your happiness and you want me to pay for you 4 pax why ???? I don't think you can say honest , From the beginning you all were very happy according to your fotos and videos all your answers nothing wrong , got longer time , up grade restaurant , and many more up grade balloon excellent breakfast , and explained and more requested opening the door for the ladies ( with pleasure ) and give full refund after finishing why ??? and you insulted me and shouted and i didn't say anything because my manners forbidden me to act or say like you even if I can eat both of you but you still provoke me after i tried to make any thing to calm down your sudden anger and aggressive towards me and i left after you said this sunset is not sunset according to me and i want full refund ???!!! I kept silent because i am polite , but you chased me and entered your head inside the window in order i do something with your face but luckily the window door closed and i didn't give you the chance for any word or action my manners forbidden me to harm any but you are honest ???!!! Right !!?? You should be name honest. !!?? , thanks for you showed my proof of sunset and I told you about the change of the boat and your wife confirmed and you were very happy as your fotos up the roof and down in the boat double time saying , thanks for showing my proof , you didn't pay any thing even the tipping of all the ppl serviced you i paid for it as you see me all the time , try to show you hospitality and generosity , tried all my best to answer all your questions and give you full information and full service as i do normally , but at the end it appeared i failed and not capable for your level of understanding and honesty it should be someone else with special experiences for you , I AM very disappointed more than i was impressed between all the other groups only our private group make ground noises all the time we moved i was very impressed by the non decent behaviour of you , but.you are honest ???!!! you understand or shall I explain multiple times as normal ..,. Maybe i should made police report when you asked for full refund , but you are honest and want full refund for good reviews ??!! You honest and insulted me , chase me to car and luckily I closed the car window before you injure yourself , but street and hotel cameras with other videos showing you were too happy and after the you get my link because you are happy and in the car once arrived your condition changed to aggressively shouting and insulting without any beginning , and you are honest ??? but i believe you know exactly what you are doing , Since you are honest but fight for full refund for.good reviews ??!! tourists will say bad for bad and good for good but you are honest ???!! All was perfect and very happy , and because you are honest want full refund for your food you eat and the best time as you confirm , but because you are honest asked for full refund for good reviews.,? Are you honest ?