telegraph travel luxor

The Ultimate 3 Day Luxor Itinerary for Travelling Independently

By: Author Sophie Pearce

Posted on Last updated: August 19, 2023

Categories LUXOR , EGYPT

This post may contain affiliate links. Please see my disclosure policy for details.

I have one question; are you ready to get this independent 3 day Luxor itinerary on the road?!

First off, when I say independent, I don’t mean you’re travelling solo. Just that you have chosen to explore Luxor on your own as opposed to in a massive tour group or with a guide!

Kudos to you, not many explorers choose to adventure around Luxor by themselves. But, I can say with suretyyou’ll have a better time.

Not only are you free to do what you want and on your own schedule. You can beat the crowds in the process which is a win in itself! Trust me, independent travellers are a minority in Egypt and the groups can get overwhelming.

There is so much to do in Luxor that it can be difficult to prioritise and you definitely want to make sure you don’t miss the best attractions. So, I’ve put together the perfect Luxor itinerary and I give you my express permission to steal it!

Here’s everything you can get up to in Luxor in 3 days.

Things to prepare before you visit Egypt

• You will need a visa for Egypt. These can be bought for $25USD at the immigration border or online beforehand. If you’re going to be returning to Egypt you’ll need to buy a multiple entry Visa in advance of travel. I’ve written a whole guide here about applying for UK citizens , but it applies for most countries.
• Don’t forget travel insurance! It’s more than possible that you will get sick in Egypt and this covers you for camel rides etc. I always choose World Nomad’s as they have competitive prices.
• Egypt uses the Egyptian Pound and you can get some notes out at the ATMs here. They do accept US Dollars but it’s easier to pay in local currency. I will be referring to prices in EGP (£1 GBP = £22 EGP approx).
• Islam is the recognised religion in Egypt and so it is important to dress respectfully for the culture. I’d advise packing conservative and light clothing for the heat. For outfit inspirations you can check out my ultimate women’s packing list for Egypt here .

How to reach Luxor in Egypt

Most tourists visit Luxor after they’ve wandered around the Great Pyramids of Giza or had enough of the bustling capital of Cairo . Or, some visiting from the neighbouring cities of Aswan and Hurghada.

Either way, Egypt has a variety of affordable public transport options for you to travel around the country. I’ll outline some here;

How to reach Luxor by flight

Egyptair is by far the biggest airline and provides reasonably priced internal flights.

They also provide a generous luggage allowance of 23kg plus a carry on which means more shopping!

A flight from Cairo to Luxor will take roughly one hour and costs around £50-75 GBP depending on the time of year you fly and how far in advance you book.

I always use Skyscanner for the best deals for flights!

How to reach Luxor by train

Most tourists opt for the overnight ‘luxury’ tourist train. It’s definitely far from luxurious but it does save money and time on travel as you move while you sleep!

This train usually runs from Giza or Cairo straight down to Aswan. It also stops at Luxor on the way and stopping here cuts your journey time by four hours. You don’t have to get the train at night, there are also daily services.

The Egyptian railway site is here, but good luck! It’s a minefield to operate. I’d recommend reading the holy grail of train travel resources for booking which is the Man in Seat 61.

How to reach Luxor by bus

Bus travel is a safe way to get around Egypt and there are overnight services from Cairo and Luxor.

I’d recommend GoBus where you can book online and they even have a handy app. This can be as little as £200EGP (£8) and some services have touch screen TV and snacks.

Click here to read my complete GoBus review

Aswan to Luxor Nile Cruise

If you’re sailing the Nile by cruise ship, you’ll probably end up starting or ending your journey in Luxor.

As tour groups only tend to stick to the most popular places, I’d highly recommend staying a few days to check out more of the city. There’s so much to see and do!

Where to stay in Luxor

There are plenty of options to suit all budget types but my personal favourite is a classic.

The Old Winter Palace Luxor is a historic hotel and a lasting legacy from the golden age of Egyptology. Lord Carnavorn himself announced the discovery of King Tutankhamun by Howard Carter at  Valley of the Kings  from its very steps in 1922.

Other famous residents include Winston Churchill and Agatha Christie who stayed here for inspiration to write her infamous novel  ‘Death on the Nile’ .

Today it’s a Sofitel and a 5* resort which makes a statement on the edge of the East Bank of the Nile. For  dates and rates available see here .

Read my full Winter Palace review and why it’s perfect for history lovers!

How to get around Luxor

Unlike Cairo, there is no  Uber  here yet! So, you will need to haggle for transport and haggle hard!   People will easily mislead you here and so it’s always worth negotiating and agree on the price of transport before you get in.

I will also warn you that the taxi vendors and carriage drivers are relentless here! They will hang outside hotels and pounce on you as soon as you walk out the door.

I wanted to walk to a restaurant 5 minutes away and was followed for that 5 minutes the whole way there. I walked, while he followed alongside me in his carriage lol.

It was constant and they didn’t get the message. So, I would ignore it or have a means of transport pre-booked with your hotel or an agency before you leave!

There are plenty of different ways to get around Luxor;

Luxor by Car

I wouldn’t recommend renting a car in Egypt, there wasn’t one I saw without a dent!

I would opt to hire a private car or taxi to take you around the sites. I’d hire one to take you over to the West Bank for temple-hopping one morning.

Then another to visit Karnak and Luxor temple the next day. At night, I hired a cab to take me to Karnak both ways.

Luxor by Horse and Carriage

Luxor is very traditional and before cars were even a thing, horse and carriage ruled the scene.

Today, you will find many horse and carriages parked up along the Corniche to take you around the city. Again, make sure you negotiate.

Luxor on Foot

Luxor is safe to walk around Luxor even at night along the Corniche, to reach restaurants, and to visit Luxor Temple which is centrally located.

Karnak is a little further from the main hub of the city, so I wouldn’t walk there unless your hotel is close.

Luxor engine boat/felucca

To cross over the Nile to the West Bank is actually a quicker option than driving by car. It will cut the journey by 30 minutes! Or you can visit Banana island as well. there are two options;

• Falucca  – a must in my opinion but not if you need to get somewhere fast! These boats are manoeuvred by hand and require wind to sail quick.
• Engine boat  – a modern option and goes much faster than a felucca. Perfect for hopping over to the West Bank in a hurry.

The ultimate Luxor itinerary

Day 1 in luxor: the west bank.

Your introduction to Luxor should start off with a temple hopping on the West Bank.

Luxor is like an open-air museum and so you have endless historical sites to explore, including snooping on real-life excavation projects going on at the Theban Necropolis. These are strictly under wraps but, they’re discovering new tombs all the time!

I’d recommend hiring a private car for half a day to explore. You can hire one with your hotel or head over to the West Bank to cut time and a wealth of cab drivers will be eager to give you a ride.

I paid around £450 EGP (£20) for half a days tour with a driver. No guide or attractions included.

Top tip: always agree to the price of the taxi before you get in and how long the tour is. Also, shop around for deals. I’ll take you through the West Bank highlights you cannot miss.

Go to Valley of the Kings first

Ever since Howard Carter discovered the tomb of King Tutankhamun and ensued the (supposed) Curse of King Tut in 1922, it put Valley of the Kings on the map.

Thousands of tourists go every year to visit the tombs of famous Pharaohs discovered here. Now, this may seem a bit macabre but there aren’t any bodies left inside them, apart from King Tutankhamun’s chamber.

In fact, a lot of people visit these tombs to see the fabulous carving work on the walls.

These tombs were created solely for the purpose of transmitting the pharaoh’s soul to the underworld. So, the artwork inside is scenes from the Book of the Dead, Book of Day, Night, and more. Some are well preserved, some not so much.

Practical information for Valley of the Kings

If you’re visiting independently, it can be a bit of a minefield to understand the process and how to visit. It opens at 6 am and I say the earlier you get there the better. By 10 am it’s overflowing with tour groups.

When you buy your ticket for £160 EGP (£6), you’ll only be allowed into 3 tombs with it out of a possible 8. If you want to see King Tut, Seti I, or Ramses V & VI, you’ll pay extra.

They’ve also lifted the photography ban and photo passes are £300 EGP (£15). But, again, you’re only allowed to photograph 3, even if you buy an extra ticket.

Another problem is that you won’t know what they look like until you get inside and you want to make sure they’re good ones with lots of colours.

I know it sounds overwhelming, but I made plenty of mistakes so you don’t have to!

I’ve put together a full post of the best tombs in Valley of the Kings for photos and things they don’t tell you here.

Head to the temple of Hatshepsut

Hatshepsut was the longest-reigning female pharaoh in Egypt and an all-around badass chick. Known as “the woman who was king”.

She reigned for twenty years here and, as a woman pharaoh was unheard of, they portrayed her in statues as a man.

She even wore a king’s crown and clothes while she lived!

Her mortuary temple, which started construction in 1479BC, is now her lasting legacy.

It was excavated in 1891 and scholars finally identified her remains in 1922.

Today, it’s mostly a reconstruction of the original three floors by the Polish Academy of Science from the 1990s.

Although a lot of the original temple has been preserved.

It’s also one of the greatest ancient Egyptian architectural achievements due to its symmetry and astronomical alignment.

What I love about ancient Egyptian temples is that they weren’t just designed and built to look pretty. They built them to coordinate with the stars, sun, and moon. 

For example, the axis of Hatshepsut’s temple aligns directly with the Winter Solstice sunrise! How incredible is that?! That’s why if you’re in Egypt in December it will be PACKED.

I’d get to this temple earlier in the day as the Theban Necropolis is like a sun trap and packed with tourists after 10 am.

You’ll be praying for some shade, so bring your hat and sunglasses. Drinks and ice creams are also extortionate. I’m talking £100EGP (£4) for a Diet Coke. I mean, what? this is Egypt.

Check out Madinat Habu

A lot of tour groups skip this gem and that’s exactly , why you need to go! It’s not that it’s rubbish either, I just think tour companies get stuck for time.

In fact, Madinat Habu is one of the most well-preserved temples in Luxor in terms of colourful paint.

Did you know that a lot of the ancient Egyptian columns, statues, and obelisks in their temples were originally painted in colour from head to toe? Well, if you didn’t, you can see what it would have looked like here.

Madinat Habu is the mortuary temple of Ramses III. Unlike his tomb at Valley of the Kings to celebrate his passing into the underworld, this temple is meant to celebrate his life achievements.

Including inscriptions describing the defeat of the ‘ Sea Peoples’ in the Battle of Delta.

I loved the peace and quiet of this temple and even though it’s not completely clear of tour groups, it’s far less than the Valley of the Kings.

Tickets cost £80EGP (£3) and photography is free. You will buy tickets at a central counter which is a little far from the temple itself.

Your driver will take you there where you can also buy tickets for other attractions like Howard Carter’s house etc. Tripod tickets are £20EGP (£1) so make sure you buy this at the counter before you go.

Stop off at the Colossi of Memnon

The Colossi of Memnon is a famous pit stop in the West Bank. Most tour groups and taxis will stop here for ten minutes just for a quick photo op and explanation of these statues.

The Colossi are two massive stone statues of Pharaoh Amenhotep III, a pharaoh of the eighteenth dynasty.

They have stood proud in the Theban Necropolis for 3,500 years. They face Eastwards towards the River Nile and Thebes, city of the living.

These blocks of sandstone were actually transported all the way from Cairo overland as they would sink in the Nile as they weigh 720 tonnes each!

It’s free to visit but you’ll need to pay for a tripod ticket here (£20EGP), I took this and got told off!

Other tourist attractions on the West Bank to consider

There are plenty of other attractions to check out on the West Bank if you aren’t fed up of temple hopping;

• Howard Carter’s house –  Carter’s house is now a museum and you can visit to to take a peek. It even has a reconstruction of King Tutankhamun’s tomb there as it would have looked once it was discovered. £60EGP (£3)
• The Valley of the Queens – In ancient times, it was known as Ta-Set-Neferu, meaning ‘the place of beauty’.Hereyou can see the tombs of famous queens, princesses and female pharaohs. The most popular being QV66 Queen Nefertari, famous wife of Ramses II (£1000EGP entry). Normal ticket for three other tombs £160 EGP (£6).
• The Valley of workers –  or locally known as Deir el-Medina is an Egyptian village which was home to the artisans of the Valley of the Kings. In ancient times it was called “Ta Set Maat” meaning Place of truth with the workmen named ‘servants to the place of truth’. The paintings are meant to be spectacular inside. Entry £80EGP (£4).

For Lunch check out Sofra in Luxor

I was quite underwhelmed with a lot of the traditional Egyptian food I had on my travels here. But, all that changed when I was recommended to try Sofra.

This restaurant’s aim is to take you on a journey throughout Egypt, showcasing a menu of traditional dishes from all over the country. They only use Egyptian ingredients and flavours and their food is to die for!

I slaved over the menu for a while, struggling with what to choose as it all sounded so good! In the end, I went for Fatta Bil Moza , a lamb shank casserole served on a bed of rice and bread crumbs with yoghurt sauce. It was heavenly with a little kick!

The staff are also really friendly and were offering complimentary starters and bread. To finish I drank a super sweet Egyptian mint tea which kicked me out of my food coma. If you don’t have a sweet tooth ask to hold the sugar!

It also doesn’t have to stretch your purse strings, my whole meal cost me £100EGP (£4) which is a steal in touristy Luxor. The best seats are upstairs on their terrace.

Reservations are recommended for the evening, but I just turned up for lunch and got a seat straight away.

Spend an afternoon at the pool

After all that temple hopping, I’m sure you’re dying for a rest. It sounds silly, but with the heat and climate, it does take it out of you.

Most tourists, divide out their sightseeing in the morning and relax during the scorching hours of the afternoon.

I would mostly relax in the Winter Palace  poolside with a good book and a Stella, which is the traditional beer in these parts! Then maybe take a little swim and a siesta until sunset!

In the evening: see the Light and Sound show at Karnak temple

Once the sun goes down, the sun-kissed temples of the day truly come alive for you at night. The first time I ever saw Karnak temple was for their light and sound show which was an epic introduction.

Essentially, the show brings you back in time to where it all began. But, unlike other sound and light shows where you just sit and watch.

You actually walk around the temple while it lights up and there’s narration at each part! It’s so much cooler to see it this way.

For the grand finale, you sit in the amphitheatre on the opposite side of the lake. Here, you can see the whole temple of Karnak light up and it blew me away. If you only see one light and sound show (there are many) let this one be it!

Unlike Cairo, the first show isn’t always in English, for showtimes and languages see here . There needs to be a minimum of ten people for the show to go ahead.

Day 2 in Luxor: The East Bank

Visit karnak temple for sunrise.

The great thing about being here without a tour group or guide is exploring temples on your own time and beating the crowds.

Karnak temple is notoriously busy at all times of the day from around 8 am until closing. 

So, my advice? Get here for the opening which is around 6 am. Not only will it be a much better experience to explore it this way, but it will also be a cooler temperature and far less crowded for photos.

Karnak was built over the reign of 30 pharaohs, including the famous Queen Hatshepsut, and took (get this) 2,000 years to complete! 

So, many of them that contributed wouldn’t have lived to have seen it. So, if there’s one thing Karnak taught me, it’s patience haha.

What to see at Karnak Temple

Karnak is a HUGE temple, an open-air museum, and almost like a mini citadel. So, I’d allow at least two hours to explore if not more.

 Although most people only recognise the huge columns, there’s actually a lot more to see like the ram road, double obelisks, the lake, Amun-Ra temples, and many, many statues.

There are 134 columns, each column is 97 feet tall and weighs 323 tonnes. It completely blew my mind. Don’t forget to turn anti-clockwise 6 times for good luck around the scarab!

There are cafés inside this temple by the lake and beyond all the hustle, taking a moment to sit here with a drink and ice cream was heavenly.

Top Tip:  a lot of the temple is closed off to the public, but for a small baksheesh, the guards will let you see forbidden parts! Opening time is from 6 am – 5 pm.

Head on over to Luxor temple

Luxor temple is another one that seems even more crowded than Karnak.

It’s a smaller space and so it gets incredibly packed with tour groups. So, if you would like a photo like the one below, again, I’d recommend opening time.

It’s open from 6 am until 10 pm each evening, so there’s plenty of time to see it throughout the day.

Luxor Temple is centrally located and you can easily walk here from Luxor city if you’re staying near the Nile.

Your Nile cruise ship will probably dock up opposite the temple and it will be a max. five-minute walk. From the Winter Palace, it was ten minutes on foot.

What to see at Luxor Temple

Did you know that the ram road at Karnak used to lead all the way down to Luxor temple so, they were connected?

So, you can walk from Karnak to Luxor on foot like in ancient times. How cool is that?!

Luxor temple was constructed in 1400BC and its dedicated to Amon, his consort Mut and his son Khons.

King Amenhotep III (1390-52BC) started its construction and it was finally completed by King Tutankhamun (1336-27 BC). It was known as the ‘Southern Sanctuary’ and used for Opet festivals where the statues of Amon were brought from Karnak along the ram road.

Here you can also find an old 13th century ‘Abu Haggag’ mosque connected to the temple and mural paintings from the Roman period.

You’ll probably need around an hour here to see everything. For lunch, there are plenty of restaurants dotted around by Luxor temple. I was so sick while I was here, I wanted comfort food. There’s a cheap McDonald’s opposite with a good view of the temple if you fancied the same ;)

Take an afternoon Felucca ride to Banana Island

A felucca ride on the Nile just has to be done. It’s sort of like visiting Paris and not seeing the Seine. You have to ride a traditional boat in Luxor!

Now, unlike the engine boats, you’ll hear noisily making their way around, a felucca is a sailboat that is completely manoeuvred by hand. So, it will need at least two guys to man the sails and row.

These are great for sightseeing, but not if you want to get anywhere fast! The felucca will need a good strong wind to catch the sails to move and if the air is stagnant, so are you. I paid for a one-hour private ride for around £300 EGP (£12).

We were aiming to head over to Banana Island but we didn’t make it due to lack of breeze lol. Here you can see a banana plantation, a ‘zoo’ with crocodiles, and get fresh sugar cane juice. Just be careful you don’t get scammed here!  Maybe it turned out for the best I didn’t go.

In the evening: see Luxor temple at night

If you thought that Luxor temple wowed you in the day, then you HAVE to check it out at night. This sun-kissed temple lights up once the sun goes down and is, in a word, magical!

I didn’t think it was possible, but I’m sure it’s busier in the evenings due to tour groups loving the cooler temperatures. But, it’s so dramatic against the night sky that you won’t mind!

Unfortunately, you can’t use the same ticket to go into the temple again. But, it won’t break the bank and it’s a fun thing to occupy those evening hours.

The temple is open until 10 pm. Luxor is safe at night to wander around by yourself, I walked here from my hotel alone with no issues. But, if you feel safer take a cab or a horse and carriage.

Day 3 in Luxor: Balloons, culture and shopping

Take a hot air balloon ride at sunrise.

One of the most magical experiences I had was flying over Luxor in a hot air balloon at sunrise.

You can feast your eyes over Valley of the Kings , the temple of Hatshepsut, the Nile river, the local farmland, houses, and even wave at people from their rooftops below! It was the most incredible time.

The good news is that it can be factored into the tightest of budgets. I paid $50USD and it was a steal. It’s one of the cheapest places to fly on in the world, so don’t miss it!

Always make sure you fly with a safe company. I flew with Magic Horizon Balloons and they are the biggest fleet in Luxor.

I feel I have to tell you though that these haven’t always had the best safety record, so I’ve put together some no-nonsense tips for riding an air balloon in Luxor that you can read here.

Head to the Luxor Museum

Although not as large as Cairo , the Luxor Museum is well worth checking out. Also, the good news here is that you don’t require a guide to show you around. Most of the exhibitions have English signs so you can understand and learn about what you’re seeing.

The Luxor Museum opened its doors in 1975 and displays antiquities gathered from Thebes (ancient Luxor) and the Necropolis, the Valley of the Kings.

Highlights at Luxor Museum are the red granite head of Amenhotep III, the cow-goddess head from the tomb of Tutankhamun, and a wall of 283 painted sandstone blocks from a dismantled temple in Karnak for Amenhotep IV.

Wander along the Corniche

The Nile snakes through the city of Luxor and it’s always a lovely time to walk along the Corniche on the East Bank.

The best time, in my opinion, is at sunset when the temperature is cooler and you can see the most wonderful view of the sun setting over the West Bank.

If you didn’t fancy walking, you can always get a horse and carriage ride along the Corniche and through the city. Here, you can see markets, mosques, and all sorts of buildings and life going on.

Go shopping

Of course, in Luxor, there is a wealth of shops! All full of interesting local Egyptian souvenirs to buy.

Beyond the typical tourist souvenirs of Anubis keyrings and Tutankhamun magnets. You can get some high-quality items like 18carat gold, alabaster, perfumes, papyrus scrolls, carpets, and spices.

But, please be careful when purchasing. There are many scams in the markets in Egypt and you may be quoted a huge price for a fake.

Speaking from personal experience, I was scammed for my 18carat gold and was charged almost $250 over what the price should be. The police got involved and I got my money back but I learned a big lesson.

Please go to an official government-approved tourist shop or institute to buy products. The price may be higher but you’ll know that it comes from Egypt, it’s made by local craftsmen and it’s a genuine product.

Common scams are Chinese stone sold as alabaster, plastic sold as saffron, banana leaf sold as papyrus, 9-carat gold sold as 18carat or they don’t tell the truth about the weight and overcharge.

Top tip: Don’t shop with your guide! They usually have a relationship with the shop and will receive a commission percentage of what you bought. So, knowing that, the shop owner will bump up the price (for example in my scam it was $100 out of my pocket and I already tipped the guide a lot). If you’re on a tour group, this usually isn’t the case.

If you’re stuck for more things to do in the evening

Egypt isn’t a place to party or go clubbing until the early hours, but there are plenty of interesting things to do after the sun goes down.

If you get bored in the evenings or are looking for things to do and restaurants to check out, I have a whole guide about things to do at night in Luxor. 

Some extra time on your Luxor Itinerary?

I’m sure that this ultimate Luxor itinerary should keep you occupied for three days, if not four if you would like to spread it out. But, there are plenty more things you can get up to in Luxor if you have extra time.

Abydos and Dendera are short road trips away from Luxor and will need another half day to explore by private taxi.

If you’re not heading over the Nile by cruise ship then the temples of Edfu and Kom Ombo are easily accessible by train (there are stops for each) and are only a couple of hours away. Or, you can hire a private car.

Locally, there’s also the Mummification Museum and Papyrus and Alabaster institutes where you can learn about the process.

I bought a gorgeous Papyrus scroll from a local artisan. It was of the mural that was painted on the roof of Ramses V & VI in Valley of the Kings! I love it and hang it in my room.

Have fun exploring Luxor, the world’s largest open-air museum!

Read more of my Egypt articles

My perfect 2 week Egypt Itinerary

My top travel tips for Egypt

The perfect Egypt packing list

The most Instagrammable places in Egypt

My guide to the Valley of the Kings

The ultimate 4-day Nile Cruise

Things to do in Aswan

Top places to visit in Luxor at night

The perfect guide for Abu Simbel

My survival guide for the pyramids

Top things to do in Cairo

Why you NEED to visit Alexandria

Top tips for riding a hot air balloon in Luxor

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Friday 5th of August 2022

I literally have 12 of your blog posts open about Egypt and am using them to create my itinerary! Your insight is literally invaluable and I cannot thank you enough! You have helped take some of the uncertainty away with all your nuggets of truth and experiences! Legit - Thank you!!

Sophie Pearce

Saturday 6th of August 2022

Hi Dana, I'm so happy to hear this, and thank you so much! I'm sure you will love your trip to Egypt. It's honestly one of the best trips I've ever taken! Mind blowing history. Happy to answer any questions :) Sophie x

Sunday 1st of November 2020

How can you tell if a market/store is an official government-approved tourist shop? Are there specific signs to look out for? Or they're mainly stores/shops near the popular historical sites?

Wednesday 11th of November 2020

So, most of the time these shops will be set in a proper boutique, not a market stall. Most hotels, tour guides or locals can recommend officially licensed shops that would sell the genuine artefact. I would try to avoid shops next to the tourist attractions as most of those will hike up prices. But, if you can haggle hard go for it. You'll often find that genuine retailers are workshops as well. So, for example, in a reputable alabaster shop, you'll often find people making the statues there as well as selling them. So, it's an official craft and their livelihood rather than imported plastic from China. Same goes with papyrus scrolls and other gifts. Hope this helps, Sophie x

Monday 8th of July 2019

Thank you for the great article. Where did you book the Luxor felucca sunset cruise. Seems like you got a great price :-) Also, considering a guide for the Luxor temples for ease of transport and information about the sites. Where did you book? take care, Kim

Tuesday 9th of July 2019

Hi Kim, thanks for your feedback! I actually went down to the harbour and negotiated directly with the felucca driver. It's a lot cheaper as you know a tour company or hotel will take a large commission. I didn't take a guide with me, but hired a taxi driver from the airport to take me around a couple of the sites. If you do need a guide, you can ask your hotel for one before you set off :) If you'd prefer to have one for each site this is also possible but may prove more expensive as you'll need to tip each individually. Hope this helps. Sophie x

ahmed sabry

Saturday 15th of June 2019

you have lovely experience and fantastic pictures you may know a lot about ancient Egypt, and maybe you don’t consider yourself to be a big ‘museum’ person. However, having a guide is so much more than having someone to show you around. Your private guide will show you hidden things you never would find on your own, explain in detail what exactly you are looking at, and share some of the most incredible stories, many of which you have never heard before.if you need my services as private egyptologist please contact me at :[email protected]

Hi Ahmed, I prefer self guided tours but did hire guides for certain sites like the pyramids and do agree I learned way more having one around. Thanks, i'll leave your comment up so people can have a look into your services. Thanks, Sophie x

Marissa's Teachable Moments

Sunday 3rd of February 2019

Wow, you got some great photos! This looks like an absolutely amazing trip!

Thank you Marissa! Egypt was incredible and I'd highly recommend it! Sophie x

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9 Amazing Experiences In Luxor, The Valley Of The Kings And Queens

• Destinations
• Middle East

Luxor, the historic city of Thebes, lies in southern Egypt and is called Upper Egypt by the ancient Egyptians because it lies closer to the source of the Nile River. Luxor is, apart from the Pyramids of Giza outside of Cairo, the heart of the Egyptian tourism industry, with incredible amounts of history found — quite literally just a hundred or so years ago — within a handful of miles from the city center. Luxor is also the place where you tend to fly in to catch a boat for the ever-popular Nile cruises.

When I first looked at Luxor as the setting-off point for my Nile cruise, I was utterly amazed by just how many important archeological sites are on both sides of the river, if more so on the West Bank, where you find the Valley of the Kings, among others. What a place this must have been not just 3,000 years ago, but also in the 1920s when all these treasures were being discovered. Even today, the excavations continue, with more and more important sites being discovered every day . 

Luxor itself is an interesting city, with the Luxor Temple, the traditional souk, and the Nile Promenade in the heart of the city, but it is mostly used as a base to head on day trips across the Nile to see the archeological sites. I spent several days there, taking it easy, as it can be very hot indeed, and the valleys are a forbidding place when it’s hot. Here I have collected my favorite things to experience in Luxor, Egypt.

Heading to Egypt? Here are the best Egypt hotels for your next vacation.

1. Exploring Luxor Temple

Luxor Temple was, after the pyramids and the Sphinx, the first ancient Egyptian temple I saw. Sitting right by the Nile, it was beautifully lit up at night and I spotted it from the taxi on the way to my hotel. Needless to say, this was the first stop for my explorations in and around the city the following day. Entering right opposite the old souk, the temple, constructed over centuries by Amenhotep III, Ramses II, Tutankhamun, and other pharaohs, was once the largest and most significant religious center in ancient Egypt. Compared to others you will see along the Nile, it is, in my mind, not the most impressive, but what is utterly outstanding and stunning is its Avenue of the Sphinxes: 1.5 miles of avenue connecting Luxor Temple with Karnak Temple, flanked by what was thought to have been around 1,350 statues of sphinxes. Further on, you’ll see rams, all sitting at attention. Today, not all have been found and the restoration is still ongoing, but standing there, looking down the avenue, is one of the most exhilarating experiences in Luxor.

2. Lightshow At Karnak Temple

Standing at the end of the Avenue of Sphinxes is Karnak Temples, famous for being the backdrop for one of the scenes in the James Bond film The Spy Who Loved Me . You know, the temple with the enormously tall columns, set during a light show at night? That one. The temple is wonderful, a huge complex, and one fun way of experiencing it, with a bit of film nostalgia thrown in, is during the nighttime light show. You get to go on a guided walk, hearing about the history of the temple and its various pharaohs. End the walk sitting by the lake, with perfect reflections of the temple on the water, listening to music and stories of the past with Luxor glittering in the background.

3. Ballooning At Sunrise

Getting up at 4 a.m. is not my favorite thing, I’ll tell you that much, but for a sunrise balloon flight on the other side of the Nile, there is no other option. Being picked up at the hotel, taking a small ferry across the Nile, and then arriving at a field where 20-odd hot air balloons are in various states of inflation is still quite magical. But taking off, with the sun rising on the East Bank, the green field of the Nile below you, and colorful balloons all around you is more than magical. Watching the countless temples, tombs, and valleys below, the Nile with its sharp demarcation between green fields and bleak, sandy desert, the villages waking up, and people riding their donkeys is simply wonderful. For an hour, we flew, not straying far, but there was so much to see. We landed right next to a dig site, scattering archeologists who were not happy, but obviously quite accustomed to the morning spectacle.

4. Valley Of The Kings

This is what we all come to Luxor for: tombs of pharaohs that are so incredibly and beautifully decorated, and preserved yet are thousands of years old. I cannot even begin to describe to you what wonders you will see. Navigating at times very steep stairs down into stifling hot tombs is worth it, and I have seen little old ladies taking on the task and yet loving every minute. Take it slowly if you have rickety knees or wobbly feet, and you will be rewarded. Richly. There are more than 60 tombs in this stark valley with no vegetation, but only a few are open to the public. Of those, each and every one is worth seeing, and three are included in your normal entry tickets. Pay extra to see the tombs of Ramses V & VI (KV9), Seti I (KV17), and not forgetting Tutankhamun (KV62). Do not miss these, and if pushed for time, forget the others, and just pay extra and see these. You will not regret it.

5. Valley Of The Queens And The Mortuary Temple Of Hatshepsut

The Valley of the Queens is the counterpart of the Valley of the Kings, with some 90-odd tombs on the site. However, only a few are worthwhile stopping off for, with the tomb of Nefertari, wife of Ramses II, the most notable. A word of advice — try, if you can, to view these before you head to the Valley of the Kings, because after all the splendor there, these are not half as glamorous. But still worth your while.

Next to the Valley of the Queens stands the imposing Temple of Hatshepsut, one of the very few, and best-known female pharaohs. She is revered for being one of the most successful pharaohs, ruled for over 15 years, and was known to be quite the builder of temples and cities. 

6. The Tombs Of The Nobles

Near the Colossi of Memnon, which sits by the side of the road, and makes for a perfect selfie-spot on the way to the Valley of the Kings. You will see countless holes in the ground, in the hillside, everywhere. These are the Tombs of the Nobles, tombs of people with influence, in ancient Egypt, but not royal. More than 415 have been found, and more are being unearthed continuously. If you just visit one, make it the Tomb of Ramose and then stop off at the small artisan study and shop outside. Here, two craftsmen fashion sculptures and pictures in the old traditional way, and their skill is magnificent to watch. Their work makes for worthwhile souvenirs, too.

7. The Village Of The Artisans, Deir-El-Medina

This site is often overlooked on tours that concentrate on the tombs and temples of the pharaohs, yet this village is where all the artisans lived, those craftsmen who decorated the magnificent tombs. Here are the remains of the village, from where they climbed across the mountain ridge into the Valley of the Kings, together with some open tombs of the artisans themselves.

8. Stay At The Sofitel Winter Palace Luxor

The Winter Palace is the historic hotel where all the dignitaries and, more importantly, where the archeologists who discovered the treasures on the West Bank stayed in their day. It is a little shabby around the edges but eminently charming, and the garden is simply to die for. The large pool is heaven-sent after a day looking at tombs in dusty valleys.

9. Eat At Sofra

For some authentic Egyptian food away from your hotel or cruise ship, head straight to Sofra Restaurant . Just off the bustling El-Mansheya Street, which, at night is full of food stalls selling sweets, super-sized chapati breads, ready-to-eat dishes to take away, and fresh juices. In a quiet side street lies this lovely restaurant where you can sit on the open terrace on the upper floor and sample local dishes without having to try and eat as you navigate the traffic. Clean, nicely decorated, and with friendly waiters who can suggest dishes to you in halting English, this is a great place to sit after a long day’s sightseeing. Try the Khiyar Bil Zabadi , the local version of Tzatziki, the hummus, and the Salata Baladi for starters. If you are not averse to trying local specialties, try the pigeon, or the rabbit for mains, all washed down with fresh melon or pomegranate juice.

Pro Tip: The most important piece of advice I can give is to spend a few days in Luxor. So many people fly in, catch their cruise ship, and head off after a quick look at the Valley of the Kings, but there is much to keep you occupied. So please, stay awhile.

The Egyptian archeological sites have always been a huge attraction for visitors:

• Seeing The Pyramids: Is It Worth The Hassle?
• 7 Reasons To Put Egypt On Your Bucket List
• Snorkeling Egypt’s Red Sea: What To Expect From This Incredible Experience

A travel writer and guidebook author for the last 20 years, Ulrike's work has been seen in National Geographic , BBC , The Independent , Australian Women's Weekly , The Telegraph , The Australian , Fodor's , France Today , CNN Travel , Lonely Planet , Travel + Leisure , CNTraveler , numerous inflight magazines, and many others.

She has written three books for Moon Travel Guides: 'Living Abroad in Australia' (3rd edition), 'Sydney & the Great Barrier Reef', and the shorter version 'Spotlight Sydney' and are all available in print and as e-books.

Having lived in seven countries (Germany, UK, Qatar, Oman, UAE, Australia, and France) to date and traveled to more than 100, she specializes in writing about travel, art and architecture, expat living, and life and style.

How to visit Luxor independently, in 2 days

By Joan Torres 66 Comments Last updated on April 24, 2024

 This is regularly updated, including all the prices. If you have any additional information based on price increase or any relevant tip, kindly let me know!

Established on the shore of the great Nile river and surrounded by both mango plantations and desert, Luxor is a city of half a million inhabitants and also the world’s greatest open-air museum , containing some the largest and most striking ancient monuments ever constructed.

The history of Luxor (originally called the city of Thebes) dates back to 3,200 B.C. Nevertheless, the city didn’t prosper until the 2,134 B.C., during the 11th Dynasty, when Mentuhotep II brought peace and stability to the region, and Thebes started to grow as a city, becoming, during the 18th Dynasty, in 1,550 B.C., the religious and political capital of Ancient Egypt.

Luxor has been ruled by some of the most famous and important pharaohs and, today, most of their tombs, monuments and temples still remain, very well-preserved, including the tomb of the world-famous Tutankhamun . 

Luxor is the most important archaeological site in Egypt and, in this guide, I will tell you all the things to do in Luxor and how to organize your visit in only 2 days.

In this Luxor travel guide:

Table of Contents

• Visit Luxor – Entrances Tickets
• Where to stay in Luxor
• What to see in Luxor on Day 1 – Visiting the West Bank
• Things to do in Luxor on Day 2 – Visiting Karnak and Luxor temples
• More Information

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Unless you go with a tour group, visiting Luxor independently can be quite overwhelming . The list of archaeological sites and things to do in Luxor is so big that visiting every single temple and tomb would take several days, and loads of money as well!

Therefore, unless you have all the time in the world (which most travelers don’t), you have to choose and be pretty organized.

Furthermore, most sites tend to be overrun by dozens of tour groups, which could make your visit slightly unpleasant.

So, what should you visit and how can you avoid the tour groups?

Well, avoiding the tour groups is practically impossible but, usually, they seem to follow the same itinerary so, after making some observations, I figured out when it’s the best time to visit each site.

In this article, I am going to show you how to visit Luxor independently, in two days, and beat the crowds , based on the best temples and the best time to visit them.

Travel to Luxor – Entrance Tickets

Below, you can find the most updated prices:

Prices for the sites located in the West Bank

Habu Temple: 60EGP Ramesseum Temple: 60EGP Temple of Seti I: 60EGP Merenptah: 40EGP (museum closed) Isis Temple: 80EGP

Noble’s Tombs

1. Sheikh Abd el-Qurna area (11 tombs) : Nakht + Menna + Amenemopet: 60EGP Rekhmire + Sennefer: 40EGP Ramose + Userhat + Khaemhat: 80EGP Khonsu + Userhat + Benia: 80EGP

2. Khokha area (3 tombs): Neferrenpet + Nefersekheru + Djehutymes: 40EGP

3. Dra Abu el-Naga (3 tombs) : Roy + Shuroy + Amenemope: 40EGP

4. Dair el-Medina area (3 tombs) Sennedjem + Inherkau & temple: 80EGP Pashedu: 40EGP

5. Qurnet Murrai area (3 tombs): Imnhotep/Hwy + Imnement + Amunemheb: 40EGP

6. El-Asasif area (4 tombs) 60EGP: Kheruef + Ankh_Hor + Mentuemhat: 60EGP

Where to buy the tickets – Typically, for all the above sites, you should buy the tickets at the office located next to the Nourh El Gourna Hotel. These are the exact coordinates:  25.722725, 32.604387 .

Valley of the Kings

General entry ticket, including 3 tombs of your choice: 240EGP for any 3 tombs

Additional tickets for:

Rameses 5th & Rameses 6th: 90EGP Tutankhamun: 250EGP Seti 1st: 1000EGP

Valley of the Queens

General entry ticket: 80EGP

Additional ticket for:

Queen Nefertari: 1000EGP

Where to buy the tickets – For this 2 sites, tickets are bought at the site itself

Update 2020! You can additionally buy a photo ticket for 300EGP which will allow you to take photos inside the tombs. Previous to this, it was not allowed to take pictures unless you bribed the guard. However, many people do take photos without this permit.

Prices for the sites located in the East Bank

Luxor Temple: 160EGP Luxor Museum: 160EGP + 50EGP (Photo) Mummification museum: 80EGP Karnak Temple: 200EGP Karnak (open-air museum): 80EGP Karnak – Mut temple: 80EGP Opet temple: 80EGP

Tip: If you have a student card and you are less than 30 years old, you will get a 50% in all the attractions

Where to stay in Luxor?

Backpacker Hostel – Venus Hotel and Hostel Luxor – Located close to Luxor Railway station and a 5-minute walk away from Luxor Temple. It offers both dorm beds and private rooms, free Wi-Fi service, and breakfast.

Budget Guest House – Luxor Guest House – Located on the shore of the Nile River, on the West Bank side, but right next to the ferry station, this guest house is one of the best-rated places in town, and it’s easy to understand why. Excellent service, breakfast, super clean rooms and everything at a very affordable price. This place is perfect for both couples and independent travelers.

Mid-range Hotel – Amon Hotel – With a very beautiful and lovely garden, Amon Hotel is another great choice in town for mid-range travelers. A hotel with a real character, the staff is some of the friendliest ever, very kind and informative. The food is also great and the location better than ever. A great choice for families and couples who are visiting Luxor.

Top-end – Hilton Resort and Spa – The Hilton is the top-rated top-end hotel in Luxor. Located on the shore of the Nile with excellent views to the sailing boats, this luxury hotel is everything you can expect from the world-wide famous Middle Eastern service.

Things to do in Luxor: 2-day itinerary

Luxor is composed of three main archeological areas:

West Bank –   Located on the west of the Nile, the West Bank contains a large number of tombs and temples spread across the area, including the Valley of the Kings.

Karnak Temple –   Situated a little bit outside of the city, Karnak is the second largest ancient religious site in the world, after the Angkor Wat Temple in Cambodia.

Luxor Temple –   This huge temple complex is situated right in the middle of the city.

Following my guide, you can easily visit all the three sites in only two days. Allow one full day for the West Bank and one full day for both Karnak and Luxor temples.

What to see in Luxor on day 1: The West Bank

All right. First of all, you need to bear in mind that the West Bank is composed of 14 archaeological sites, plus the Valley of the Kings and the Valley of the Queens, spread across a huge area. Visiting them on foot isn’t really an option, as several kilometers separate them.

The only way to visit them is with a tour group (which sucks), by taxi (which is expensive) or by bicycle, which is the coolest option if you want to do it independently. I rented a bicycle from my hotel for only 30EGP a day ($1,80).

Remember to check my guide for traveling to Egypt

How to get there?

If you are staying on the East Bank (which is where most of the hotels are), you need to take a ferry across the Nile river. There are local boats that cross the river every 15 minutes and cost only 1EGP. Where do you take the boat? Here:

Which archaeological sites should you visit?

Like I said, in the West Bank, there are 14 different archaeological sites plus the Valley of the Kings and the Valley of the Queens. Visiting all of them would require several days, so you need to choose what you would like to visit.

Please note that each of these sites has a separate ticket. See previous prices.

After talking to one archaeologist and a couple of locals, these were the sites I chose, based on their importance, architectural beauty and also the number of visitors they receive (note that this is merely a personal opinion):

Habu Temple – The mortuary temple of Ramses III, located inside Medinat Habu is, according to many archaeologists, one of the most underrated sites in the West Bank. Why? Because despite its huge dimensions and architectural and artistic importance, many tourists decide to skip it.

Seti temple – Despite being located in one of the greenest areas, next to a palm grove, the Seti temple receives very few visitors. Seti I died before the temple was finished, so his son Ramses II was the one who actually completed it.

Tombs of the Nobles – The Tombs of the Nobles are an important archaeological site composed of more than 400 tombs. Some of them are open to the public and, since the Valley of the Kings and the Valley of the Queens receive all the focus when it comes to tombs, the Tombs of the Nobles don’t get the attention they deserve but, the truth is that their paintings and hieroglyphs are impressive and very well-preserved. The tombs that are open to the public are divided into groups of three, each group requiring a separate ticket. I chose the Tombs of  Nakht, Menna & Amenemopet . Why? Because I was told that they had very colorful paintings.

The Valley of the Kings – When you visit Luxor, this will be one of the highlights of your trip, as the Valley of the Kings is where the greatest of the great pharaohs that ruled in the New Kingdom rest in peace. There is a total of 63 impressive tombs, each very different from each other. The entrance ticket allows you to visit three of them. Yeah, I know. Again, you need to choose. The tombs of Tutankhamun and Ramses VI have separate tickets. Which tombs should you visit? One archaeologist recommended me to visit: Nerenptah, Ramses IV and Tuthmosis III  and, of course, buying a separate ticket for Tutankhamun . The Valley of the Kings is, definitely, one of the best things to do in Luxor.

These are the locations of the 4 sites I recommend:

How to beat the tour groups?

Like I said before, avoiding the tour groups when you visit Luxor completely is practically impossible but, for some reason, most of them start with the Valley of the Kings. For this reason, you should leave the Valley of the Kings for last. It closes around 5 pm, so you should get there at 3:30 pm, when most people leave.

Therefore, when you wake up in the morning, go straight to the ticket office. No need to say that the earlier you go, the fewer people you’ll find. Once you get your tickets, visit the Habu Temple first, before the visitors come. When you finish, ride to the Tombs of the Nobles afterwards, visiting the Seti Temple. Take a lunch break and, around 3 pm, head to the Valley of the kings.

Important note: Due to the crisis, most of the restaurants are closed so, I highly recommend bringing your own food.

Day 2: Karnak and Luxor temples

The second day is pretty straightforward, as you only need to visit Luxor and Karnak temples.

How to beat the crowds?

Easy. Since the Temple of Luxor is situated in the city center and also opens at night, many tour groups and people decide to visit it during the evening hours and the Karnak Temple during the morning hours. Therefore, you just need to do it the other way around. Wake up as early as possible to visit the Luxor Temples and, after lunch, around 3 pm, head to the Karnak Temple (3km).

Important: Opening hours vary per temple and season. Some of them open at 6am while other at 8am. I suggest you ask at your hotel. Furthermore,pPlease note that both temples receive visits all day long. As I said, avoiding the crowds is impossible but, my suggested timings are definitely the least busy ones.

Luxor Temple

Mainly built during the New Kingdom by both Amenhotep III and Ramses II, the Temple of Luxor was constructed to worship Amun Ra , the greatest of the Gods, considered as the God of the Kings and the King of the Gods. The Avenue of the Sphinxes, which actually connected Luxor Temple with Karnak Temple is impressive, as well as the giant statues of Ramses II. Together with the Valley of the Kings, for me, this was among the best places to visit in Luxor.

Between the Luxor and the Karnak Temples, if you have time, you can also visit the Luxor museum.

Karnak Temple

Karnak was the most important religious complex in Ancient Egypt and today, this is the second largest ancient religious site in the world, after the Angkor Wat Temple in Cambodia. In this huge complex, everything is built at a supergiant scale. From its huge decorated pillars to the obelisks, statues and kiosk, the Karnak Temple will definitely leave you breathless. According to one local, it took around 2,000 years to finish it completely. Can you imagine?

More information for visiting Egypt

📢 In my Travel Resources Page you can find the list of all the sites and services I use to book hotels, tours, travel insurance and more.

Don’t forget to check our travel guide to Egypt .

As well as all our Egypt articles:

• Off-the-beaten Track to Egypt
• Egypt-Sudan border crossing
• Kalabsha Temple Travel Guide

If you like my website and found this post useful, remember that, if you book any service through any of my links, I will get a small commission at no extra cost to you. These earnings help me maintain and keep Against the Compass going! Thanks 🙂

66 comments

I will just say… this is the most specific (and updated) travel summary of Luxor that I found over the internet, it have the most accurate information it helped me a lot to plan mi visit, I will be there in May 11th 2017 and surely I will follow your tips.

Thanks and congratulations for your valuable information.

Jorge Ortiz Cd. Juarez, Mexico

Thank you, Jorge! I hope you enjoy Egypt. Very soon, I will posting more content so, hopefully, you’ll have it before your trip. Cheers,

Does this include the museums when visiting Luxor Temple and Karnak temple? Or just the temples themselves

Sorry but I don’t understand your question. What are you referring to?

Great post. I hope this is really helpful to us. Thanks for sharing valuable information, Keep sharing.

That’s some good information, however, as far as I know you aren’t allowed to click pictures inside the tombs, are there some tombs where you can click them?

hi, I don’t think so but you can always take them without being noticed! All the ones you, are sneaky pics 🙂

Thank you for this helpful overview! Yours is the most concise and thorough report I’ve found and was perfect for answering my final questions before we visit in a couple weeks.

Thank you! Hope you enjoy it there 😉 If there is any update, like raising prices, for example, I’d appreciate if you let me know please 🙂 !

Prices did rise sometime in the past 6 months. I don’t have a full list, myself, but I found it ahead of time on the Trip Advisor Forum. The biggest new thing, though, is that you can now buy photo tickets to go with your entry ticket (in both Luxor & Cairo). This allows you to take photos at the site/museum. It was great at the tombs, especially (although there were still some special ones that didn’t allow photos).

Hi Michelle, that’s some very valuable information, thank you very much 🙂 May I ask how much are these photo tickets? Thanks!

Wow! what a very concise blog about luxor! I just want to ask if you also rented a bicycle I west bank and where?

Hi Felix, I rented my bicycle at Bob Marley Hostel for very cheap. You can also find bicycles in a lot of other places.

When you say as early as possible, how early do the sites in the West Bank actually open? I can’t find a straight answer online. Some say 6am, but my tour guide said they don’t really open until 8/9am.

Yeah, it opens at 6am. I think that your guide doesn’t want like to wake up early 😀 !

We got to Valley of the Queens right at 8 am and they were just opening. I, too, had seen info online that said 6 am. I wonder if it depends on the season? This was late December. Maybe your hotel can help?

To be honest, I don’t know about the Valley of the Queens maybe but I am almost certain that Luxor Temple, in the center of the city, opens at 6am. But yeah, it may depends on the season, as well.

Everyone is allowed to take pictures with a mobile. Also often guards entourage you to make pictures with your camera for baksheez. I Just visites Luxor and I would recommend the Tombs of the Nobles over the Valley of the Kings. The colours of the paintings are still very bright and they capture scènes of everyday life, instead of only scènes of gods and kings, as you can also see in temples.

Sadly the entrance fees have increased 🙁

Btw, would you suggest an itinerary for backpacking Egypt, as what you did for Tajikistan and Azerbaijan?

I do and will try to publish it soon 🙂

Hello, this guide is so helpful. We will follow the suggestions as we (2 people) will only be in Luxor for 2 days and Cairo for 2 days. Iwe will be there the first week of April. Questions about Luxor: We don’t want to join a tour group and are comfortable doing it alone, but I think I’d like to hire a guide(just for the two of us) to tell us about the sites. How does that work? Are they just hanging around the sites for hire? What are your recommendations? Also what is a reasonable price? Also any comments on tipping? Lastly, we probably won’t do the bicycle option but grab taxis. Are they ready available everywhere? Also is Uber popular in Luxor? Questions about Cairo: Do you have a two day guide for Cairo? We plan to do one day at pyramids and another at the main market and Egypt museum. Welcome suggestions. Thanks so much!!!

Hi Doug, it’s extremely easy to find any guide or taxi to show you around in Luxior. Actually, there are too many and they won’t leave you alone. As per the prices, I am not sure what would be a fair price and it will highly depend on your negotiation skills. Just bear in mind that, definitely, they will try to rip you off. I suggest you try to bargain with 10 different people and then you will get an idea of what is the minimum price. Regarding Cairo, I don’t know about any guide, sorry. However, there are thousands of guides at any archaelogical site. Cheers,

Hi Doug,we just had a terrific day with Marwan of Emo tours. Did Giza plateau & pyramids and then went on to the Red pyramid and Step pyramid. Lovely, knowledgeable, flexible.

Great info here! We are currently in Luxor and this information was very useful. Rather than rush everything in two days though, we ended up breaking everything up over a few days (a lot of people don’t have that time). We found it fairly easy to use the public vans to get around most of the places. Some required us to take a taxi one way but if you’re experienced with bargaining, it ends up pretty cheap. For budget accommodation I highly recommend Oasis Hotel. The staff is nice, it’s located just a 7 minute walk from Luxor temple and only cost us $6 a night for a private room (with A/C). Its not the cleanest place, but it is clean enough, especially if you carry a sleeping bag liner with you along your travels.

Thanks for the feedback and information man!

I’ll be in Luxor May 1st, 2018. Thank you very much for the tips!!

cheers, enjoy it!

Hola , estamos en Luxor y la información es muy precisa , muchas gracias , aclaración el templo de Seti si cuesta 60 egipcias , la que cuesta 1000 libras es la tumba de Seti en el valle de los reyes Maravilloso el templo de Habu, gracias por la recomendación. Otro tip viajen con credencial de estudiante , pagas la mitad en todo , pero tienen que ser menores de 30 años . Y por cuestiones de clima nosotros contratamos un taxi que nos cobró 250 libras por llevarnos al templo de Seti , Habu , las tumbas de los nobles , el valle de los reyes y al palacio de Hatshepsut, ya que hacía 41c , pero nos quedamos con las ganas de la bici. Por cierto , también tú post de la frontera de Israel con Jordan nos sirvió un buen , nosotros cruzamos en el king Hussein que es tal como dices , es carísimo en cuanto a las tasas que pagas y los camiones , También cruzamos por Eilat para ir a Egipto , fue más sencillo , no cobran tasa de salida de Jordania y no hay que pagar autobus, puedes cruzar a pie . Y si aceptan tarjeta en Israel . Otra cuestión para los que van a Egipto por Taba , aparte de comprar la visa que cuesta 25 dólares hay que pagar una carta con una agencia de que no vas al Sinaí por otros 25 dólares , aparte 400 libras egipcias por el paso de la frontera. Puf eso no lo sabíamos y fue una sorpresa . Felicidades por tu blog nos ayudo mucho , espero también aportar algo

Muchas gracias Raziel. No sabía lo del 50% de descuento y lo he añadido a la guía!

Another magnificent place you might want to visit would be Luxor temple. It is different from the other temples in Thebes as Luxor temple is not dedicated to a cult god or a deified version of the king in death. But, it is dedicated to the renovation of kingship; it is said to be where many of the kings of Egypt were crowned in reality or conceptually.

Thanks 🙂 However, I am already mentioning it in the ‘second day’ section of the article 🙂

Thank you for the amazing tips! 🙂 I am also planning a bike tour to luxor in this Dec . But a little bit worry to leave the bike outside. Is it safe to leave in front of the temple? Thank you 🙂

Well, I believe that, in any case, if you rent a bike they will give you a lock as well.

Wow this is really good information, I really appreciate the time you put to it. I’m planning to visit Egypt (mostly Luxor) in July 2019 (I know is hot, but we can do only July or August). My question would be, is Egypt in general a safe place to go with my daughter (19) and son (17)? And also, is July so unbearable hot that you would say forget about it, is better to miss Luxor rather than visiting while is an oven?

Thanks for you help and please forgive me if my questions are to basic, but we never traveled to middle east and we have some concerns.

Hi Diego, Luxor is totally safe, more than anywhere else in the country and it is very family-friendly. Furthermore, I am not sure how hot is going to be. I am sure it will be very hot but not humid, so evenings and nights should be fine I believe. In the end, summer is high season, so if you wear the proper clothing and don’t walk too much around, you should be fine. Enjoy, cheers,

Hello Joan, I am reading your web page with great interest and appreciation. Do you think that for solo woman traveller Luxor is a safe place? Especially now in november as may be there are not so many tourists? Greatly appreciate your answer, Monic

Hi Monic, it’s not high season but still, there will be so many tourists. It is a safe place, seriously, very peaceful

I would like to take photos of outside of pyramids and temples in Luxor at night. Is this safe or would having guide be good idea?

Hi Ron, it’s completely safe. You will see many tourists roaming around. Karnak temple, however, I think you can’t

Hi, It might be a silly question, but how can you park the bike on the archeological sites? Is there a safe way to leave the bike somewhere when discovering the tombs/temples? Also, how difficult is to get there by bike? I mean, I’m not so young anymore, is the land flat enough? 🙂 Thank you! Osara

The place where you rent it from should provide you with a locker. All Luxor is completely flat, except for going to the Valley of the Kings, which is located on the top of a hill.

Thank you so much for this detailed information! My husband and I followed your advice on the West Bank and we had an amazing time. Just wanted to let you know our experience as it may help others as well. It was too hot for a bike ride so we decided to negotiate a private taxi instead. Our driver agreed to a price of 230 Egyptian pounds to take us to Habu Temple, Tombs of the Nobles, and Valley of the Kings. He was excellent and I would highly recommend others to use him too. His number is: 01003710497. At the Tombs of the Nobles the guard walked around the tomb with us and gave us explanations and also provided additional light using a mirror to reflect the sun. In exchange we gave him a small tip. He insisted on more ( as is typical in Egypt) but we stayed strong and replied that it’s “all we had”. At the Valley of the Kings the Tuthmosis III tomb was closed to the public so our driver recommended Ramses IX instead. We were not disappointed.

Do you know what kind of student cards are accepted? My family will visit Luxor this November. We are 6 people (3 college students and one high school student) and we all have student IDs issued by our schools. Can we use these for the discounts or do we all need to order ISIC cards?

I have no idea to be very honest…

Egypt was always on my bucket list, even before traveling as an adult. Love the pictures and info. Thanks!

Hi Joan, great information you put together here. We’ve just been in Luxor (January 2020) and here are some updates, that could be helpful to others, too: WESTBANK 1) Valley of the Kings: – price: 240 EGP / students 120 EGP, including three tombs – Everyone took photos inside the tombs with their mobile phones, the photo license is hence not worth the additional 300 EGP – tomb no 14 was the most interesting in our opinion – we recommend travellers to go visit the tombs that are located in the back as those seem to be less crowded (organised tours apparently visit the tombs at the beginning of the valley) – there is a little transport / train that brings people up from the ticket booth to the entrance of the valley, they charge 4EGP (round trip), however it’s only a few hundred meters which you can easily walk 2) Deir el-Bahari / Hatschepsut – price: 140 EGP / students 70 EGP EASTBANK 1) Luxor Temple – price: 160 EGP / students 80 EGP 2) Karnak Temple – price: 200 EGP / students 100 EGP GENERAL – students should bring their International Student Identity Card (ISIC), in our case a photo of it on our mobile was sufficient – we arrived in Luxor by Go Bus from Hurghada which took us 4,5h (240 EGP for a round trip). Bookings can be made online or at a Go Bus Station. Comfort level is quite ok and on the trip back to Hurghada the driver was kind enough to let us get off the bus at Senzo Mall in Hurghada – ferry from Eastbank to Westbank is 5 EGP (each way) – from the ferry point at Eastbank to Valley of the kings it’s approx 8km, bicycles are available a few streets from the ferry landing, however as we had little time we took a taxi the way up which cost us 50 EGP – our taxi driver at Westbank: Hussein Ali 01065730330 (text msg) – Restaurant recommendation at Westbank: Sunflower (not far from the ferry point) with a view on the Nile, everything is cooked freshly so better bring some time! (whole menu was 110 EGP and fed 2 people 🙂 )

thanks for the update, very useful 🙂

Hey man, my name is Lukas. I am travelling on bicycle from Germany to let’s see where and Ive been reading your blog a few times. Really like most of it a lot. Thanks for the work! I am in Egypt now and would like to inform you that the prices on the west bank have again gone up. Ill send you some pictures for you that show the actual prices (dating 10.02.2020). I visited the Habu temple as you suggested and that turned out to be a really good recommendation. I was basically one of 3 people there at 8 o’clock and it was so worth it even with the higher price. I was totally alone at the Seti I after that, but for me the Habu temple would have been enough to see to be honest and I wouldnt recommend Seti I as a highlight.

The entrance to the valley of kings is still the same (taking pictures or free without problem), but actually quite a lot of the tombs are closed (dont know if that was also the case when you visited). I followed your recommendations and visited the Ramses IV, which was great, and Merenptah, which was okay. Thuthmosis III is currently closed but I was recommended Tausret and Sethnacht which was awesome. I was totally alone there without any other visitor. Getting there late around 3pm worked fine for me. So if someone is short on time, on bicycle you can easily see the valley of kings, the Habu temple and the karnak temple in a single day and see some of the best Luxor has to offer. Thanks again and hear from you soon.

Hey Lukas, I really appreciate your update, and I will send you an email

Thanks for sharing such an informative and useful post. Actually although I am an Egyptian but I always find day and half day tours when arranged by budget hostels cheaper, because you simply split the transportation costs with others. But I really liked your post and specifically the historical background of the temples.

Hi and thanks for this informative post! I used it to navigate Luxor during a bicycle trip I took in Feb/Mar from Luxor to Khartoum. Perhaps this is covered in the updates sent by Lukas above, but I wanted to let you know that a few prices were higher for me than what’s listed here: – Valley of the Queens: 100 EGP – Habu: 100 EGP – Deir El Medina: 100 EGP Those are all from mid-February 2020. Thanks again! Take care.

Thanks for the updated prices, Alissa 🙂

Same prices ststed by Alissa in November 2021. And: Valley of Kings 240 EGP Seti I tomb 1000 EGP Nefertari tomb 1400 EGP Al Deir Al Bahari 140 EGP

THanks a lot for this post! I just visited Luxor and this post clarified a lot of stuff!

Thanks Renata 🙂 Any update worthwhile mentioning?

The historical sites are currently doing a discount of 50% on the tickets, for example, the Valley of the Kings which was 240 GBP I paid 120 and the Karnak Temple which was 200 I paid 100.

Hi! Thanks for this post, very useful! I’ve enjoyed Luxor for 2 days and a half with another 3 friends. We had a driver during these 2’5 days, 24h, from airport to airport and we paid 100$ (we agreed 80$ but the driver was very nice and very kind, so we decided to give him 20$ as tips). I highly recommend our driver Hamdy, very friendly and honest, (and he speaks good english). You can contact him by whatsapp: +201222505870

Regarding Hamdy, did you mean $80 PER PERSON (for you and 3 friends) or $80 TOTAL PER DAY for all 4 of you?

Also, Airport to airport did you do you mean ONE WAY Cairo airport to Luxor airport? Or ROUNDTRIP Cairo and back to Cairo airport?

Hello, I’m wondering how many kilometers would it be per day ? We will go in one month (April) so we were wondering if it would not be too hot for cycling ? We did it to visite ankor wat and really loved this liberty !

I really like your blog! I visited Luxor last year and it has become one of my favorite places in Egypt. Especially the Karnak Temple took my breath away.

Hello, do you take the bike you rent on board to cross Nile? thanks!

Hi, Is Mortuary Temple of Queen Hatshepsut on the list of West bank you refered above? thank you!

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Luxor travel blog — the fullest luxor travel guide for first-timers.

Luxor is one of the most beautiful and ancient cities to visit in Egypt. The entire city is an open-air museum full of Egyptian magnificent palaces, temples and ruins so beautiful that it has been dubbed the “City of Palaces”. This city is home to a lot of interesting things about an extremely prosperous civilization of ancient times.

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So, is Luxor worth visiting, how to visit Luxor, what to do in Luxor and how to plan a budget trip to Luxor for the first-time perfectly? Let’s check out our Luxor travel blog (Luxor blog) with the fullest Luxor travel guide (Luxor Egypt travel guide, Luxor tourist guide, Luxor city guide, Luxor guide) from how to get to Luxor, best places to visit, best time to come, what to eat as well as top things to do in Luxor and suggested Luxor itinerary to help you maximize your trip as follows!

In addition to the name Luxor, people also remember that this city is the ancient capital of Thebes, which witnessed many historical fluctuations of the once majestic Egypt. Located in the upper reaches of the Nile River. This destination not only has a rich and diverse culture but also possesses countless attractive attractions for tourists to visit.

To visit all of these places and discover all that Luxor has to offer in a limited amount of time requires a bit of planning and that is the purpose of this article. In this article you will find all the information you need to visit Luxor with a complete list of great places to visit and top things to do.

Overview of Luxor (# luxor travel blog)

Luxor City is known as the largest open-air museum in the world where thousands of ancient structures are kept. Luxor is located in the southern region of Egypt, is an ancient city with many ancient architectural works that are extremely unique and attract tourists the most in Egypt. According to scientists, Luxor contains about 1/3 of the most precious monuments and antiquities worldwide. Currently, the city of Luxor is divided into two parts by the Nile River, the western area is mainly desert while the eastern area is more fertile. The city of Luxor has a history dating back thousands of years, being the cultural and economic center of ancient Egypt.

Luxor was the capital of Thebes in ancient Egyptian history. Thebes is also known by another name: “City of Amun”. Research by archaeologists shows that Thebes was the peak of the cultural development of Egypt at that time. During this period, the trio of gods considered as guardians for Thebes were Amun (the Sun God), Mut (the wife of Amun) and the God of the moon Khonsu (the son of Amun).

Today Luxor is a bustling and developed tourist city, but when standing in Luxor you will fully feel the power and splendor of ancient Egypt. The temples, structures, and tombs that have survived to this day in Luxor are proof of the greatness of human intelligence.

The Nile flows between Luxor, the two sides of which are called the East and West banks. The East bank is full of hotels and historical attractions such as Karnak temple, Luxor temple, Luxor museum and Mummy museum. The West bank has the Valley of the Kings, which became famous when Howard Carter discovered the tomb of Pharaoh Tutankhamun in 1922. The West bank also has the Valley of the Queens, including Nefertari’s tomb.

When is the good time to go to Luxor? (# luxor blog)

Egypt has an arid desert climate and is generally hot and sunny. Part of the Northern Hemisphere, the seasons in Egypt follow the same pattern as in Europe and North America, with winter between November and January, and the peak summer months between June and August.

I recommend going in the close seasons instead of June or September, where you’ll be able to get the best of it, with fewer people at the tourist spots, cooler weather with lower services prices than in peak season.

How to get to Luxor? (# luxor travel guide)

To get to Luxor from abroad, you must first go to Cairo, the capital of Egypt, then you can reach Luxor by various means of transportation.

By train (# luxor travel blog)

From cairo to luxor.

Egypt is well connected by train, and one of the most time and scenic ways to get from Cairo to Luxor is to board one of these sleeper trains to go to Luxor.

There are several trains per day but the most recommended “sleeping train” is the one that departs from Cairo Ramses Station at 7:45pm and arrives in Luxor at 05:55am the next day.

If you want to go on the way to see the view along the journey, you should depart from Cairo at 08:00 am and arrive in Luxor at 7:00 pm.

Tickets range from 7 USD for second class seat to 80 USD for bed to single bed 120 USD.

You can book trains online from the official website.

If you want to take a train with a bed, you can book with Watania. You can book train tickets directly on the website: https://wataniasleepingtrains.com/Home . Bed cabin fare is from 80-120USD including dinner and breakfast, you only have to pay for drinks.

From Aswan to Luxor

Train tickets can be booked at the station or on the website: https://enr.gov.eg/ticketing/public/smartSearch.jsf . Look for express trains marked OD or Speed AC Spanish.

For the most suitable way, I will go by bus. Trains are great if you enjoy the journey as much as the destination but since it’s not cheap you can do as I did and take the train to Luxor and then catch the bus back.

This is the cheapest way to get from Cairo to Luxor as there are many buses going directly to Luxor and going by bus is definitely cheaper than taking the train and quite comfortable if you don’t mind sleeping on the bus.

Go Bus, Super Jet and Upper Egypt Travel are the main bus companies operating the Cairo – Luxor route. Go Bus departs from Tahrir Square, Super Jet and Upper Egypt Travel depart from Cairo Gateway bus station. Travel time is about 9 hours and tickets cost from 14-24 USD. You can find information and book tickets at the website.

https://go-bus.com/about?lang=en

https://www.superjet.com.eg/

Go Bus is a great bus operator to go with if you want to get from Cairo to Luxor and vice versa. They have 4 buses daily at 01:50 AM, 05:35 AM, 09:40 PM and 11:34 PM, the departing point near Tahrir Square.

The journey will take about 9 hours to get to Luxor and the fare is 190 EGP, 265 EGP and 450 EGP depending on the class you choose.

By plane (# luxor travel guide)

You can also fly from Cairo to Luxor Airport on one of the 4 daily flights operated by EgyptAir and AirCairo from 6am to 5:30pm. The journey will take about 1 hour and cost 50 USD/person.

From the airport, you’ll have to find your way out of the terminal and away from scammers who will likely charge twice as much to get to the city center. Choose a reputable taxi company.

Taking a taxi from the airport to the city center will not cost more than 200 EGP ($6.5) and it will take you about 20 minutes to get there.

You can refer to the airport shuttle booking website at: https://www.airportshuttles.com/luxor.php

By Nile cruise (# luxor blog)

Luxor can be reached by 5-star cruise (cruise) from Cairo or Aswan. During the boat stop in Luxor you can visit the cluster of temples and the Valley of the Kings. Cruise costs from 2 to 5 days cost from 200-500USD including accommodation on board, meals, you only have to pay for drinks ordered.

How to get around Luxor? (# luxor guide)

Minibus (# luxor guide).

This is the cheapest way to get around Luxor, local people moving in the city also use minibus. Costing about 2EGP/trip, the minibus is clearly marked with different colors and runs on fixed routes. Ask the owner of the hotel/hostel you are staying at to find out which bus routes to the attractions.

Places like Karnak Temple are easily accessible by minibus. The matter will be the minivan to get on and the easiest way to know is to ask your hostel/hotel to show you to do it right. It’s a fun way to get around Luxor and great if you’re looking for a crazy adventure.

By taxi (# luxor egypt travel guide)

You can also hire a taxi to take you to all the tourist attractions in the East bank of Luxor for about 300 EGP and about 500 EGP to explore the West Bank but I do not recommend doing this. You will have to deal with taxi drivers, some of whom are not very nice, and it will cost you more than just going with an organized tour.

By buy a tour

For other more remote places like the Valley of the Kings and Queen Hatshepsut’s Tomb, it’s recommended to go on a tour as it will allow you to see all of these places without the hassle need. I went this way and I’m glad I did.

If you go in a large group or want someone to take care of transportation and sightseeing tickets, you should buy a day tour. The tour has an English-speaking guide, so when you visit the attractions you will have a brief understanding of its history and architecture.

Horse/Horse-drawn carriage

The interesting thing when coming to Luxor is that you will see a lot of elaborately decorated horse-drawn carriages. You can rent them to walk around the city, to the temples, feeling like you are lost in the past.

If you’re in the city center, there are some places in this article that you can walk to like Luxor Temple but for those further afield, you’ll need something extra.

Motorboat/Felucca

From the East coast to the West coast to visit, the fastest way is by motorboat, it only takes about ten minutes. If you have a lot of time and want to relax, watching life on both sides of the river slowly, you can choose the felucca sailboat (Old Egyptian sailboat).

Where to go and what to do in Luxor?

Luxor temple.

Address: Luxor City, Luxor, Luxor Governorate 1362501, Egypt Hours: 6 AM–10 PM

Not far from Karnak temple is Luxor temple located close to the bank of the Nile, built by Pharaoh Amennhotep III, where Queen Hatshepsut and the Egyptians worshiped the god Amun. In front of the temple is the towering Obelisk stone pillar built by Pharaoh Ramesses II depicting his victories, the Pharaohs of the Nubian dynasty also recorded their victories there. Actually in Luxor temple there used to be 2 Obelisk stone pillars, but in 1830, the ruler of Egypt at that time, Muhammad Ali ordered to bring 1 Obelisk stone column as a gift to France and it is now located at Place de la Concorde in Paris.

Luxor Temple is one of the first temples you will see when you arrive in Luxor. This ancient Egyptian temple complex is located right in the middle of Luxor City and is easily accessible on foot.

The Luxor Temple is an ancient Egyptian ruin built in 1400 BC when the area was still known as Thebes and it was built as a place where the ancient Egyptians were crowned their kings.

The main entrance to the temple complex is adorned with six colossal statues of Pharaoh Ramesses on either side – four sitting and two standing, but today only two sit survive. Even the headless statues are still very massive and retain their majesty. The most impressive thing in Luxor temple is the intricately sculpted giant pillars, taking the trunk of the Papyrus tree as the main theme to build the column. Luxor Temple was built to worship the gods Amun, Mut and Khonsu but is often used for the purpose of hosting the annual Opet festival. Luxor Temple is truly a masterpiece, demonstrating the prosperous period of ancient Egypt.

The temple was expanded during its existence by various Pharaohs and was divided into several parts. Right at the entrance, you will find the Obelisk of Ramses II and upon entering the temple you will find yourself in the Grand Colonnade area surrounded by giant pillars.

As you continue, you’ll be at the Sun Court of Amenhotep III, a great place to be at sunset. Behind the courtyard of the sun is Sphinx Avenue, on both sides of the path there are Sphinx statues, the more spectacular at night.

Due to its proximity to the city, it’s also one of the few temples you can visit at sunset and at night to see the ancient ruins illuminated by artificial light, it’s a sight to be admire.

I highly recommend visiting around 6pm to watch the sunset and stay until the temple lights up. You will definitely like it. Luxor Temple is open from 6 am to 10 pm and the entrance fee is 160 EGP per person.

Hot air balloon (# luxor egypt travel guide)

Coming to Luxor, you should not miss the experience of flying a hot air balloon at dawn. Tour costs from 75 USD for 40 minutes of flight. You will be picked up by the tour operator at your hotel at 4am so you can fly up to the sky to catch the first rays of the new day. Under the magical light, the view of the Nile, the houses, the green fields, the barren desert, the valley of the Kings, the temple of Hatshepsut, the temple of Amenhotep III are shimmering, magical, just like we are flying back to the past thousands of years ago.

If you’re spending another day in Luxor, I highly recommend book a hot balloon ride over Luxor to see Luxor and all its beautiful tourist attractions from an angle you haven’t seen yet from above.

Hot air ballooning is also one of the most affordable rides that you can participate in with a tour costing only about $30-40 per person and you will be in the air for about 45 minutes fly over places like the Valley of the Kings…

Fly a hot air balloon, watch the sunrise and the Valley of the queens: I recommend this tour, I have never seen a place to fly a hot air balloon as cheap as here (about 50 dollars). I booked this tour at my hostel. However, you can book a package of hot air balloons in a cruise tour. Fly to watch the sunrise over the Nile and the entire valley of the Queens… From above, the hot air balloon also has a panoramic view of Hatshepsut temple.

The tour includes 2-way pickups at the hotel, a certificate after the flight is over 🙂

But keep in mind that hot air ballooning is subject to favorable weather and the ride may be canceled at the last minute.

Karnak Temple

Address: Karnak, Luxor, Luxor Governorate, Egypt Hours: 6 AM–5:30 PM

Temples in Egypt are countless, but the greatest and most massive is the Karnak temple, only Karnak can compare with the Pyramids in scale and majesty. This is the clearest evidence of the peak architecture and culture of ancient Egypt.

Karnak Temple is another major temple complex to visit, not too far from the city of Luxor. Located just north of the city center, Karnak temple is a great place to visit, especially if you are planning a trip to Luxor independently and cheaply as you can easily reach Karnak Temple by minibus for around 2 EGP.

Right at the entrance of Karnak Temple you’ll be greeted with rows of ram-headed sphinxes on either side, and within the temple you’ll find the Hypostyle Hall, a large corridor with over 130 massive columns lined up in 16 rows that will take your breath away.

Karnak was built over 1300 years, through 30 Pharaoh dynasties including the famous Queen Hatshepsut. So Karnak is getting bigger and bigger in size, rich in architecture cannot be found in any other temple. The temple complex is divided into four main parts, including: Amun worshiping area, Montu worshiping area in the north, Mut worshiping area in the south and Pharaoh Amenhotep IV’s temple in the east. Only the Amun worshiping area is open to the public and it is a cluster of temples that reflect the splendor and culmination of the architecture of the ancient Egyptians.

Everywhere are wonderful art sculptures, stone statues, sphinxes, tons of stone pillars that stand there for thousands of years. The great hall inside is the pride of Kanak with 136 giant stone columns over 20m high, over 3m in diameter decorated with countless vivid reliefs. Karnak also preserves two cylindrical obelisk columns weighing hundreds of tons that were transported from Aswan by river.

Continued reading…

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Your Ultimate Travel Guide to Luxor, Egypt

Egypt is full of historical sites, impressive temples, and beautiful cities. However, of all the places we visited in Egypt, Luxor had to be my favourite. The religious capital of Egypt, and what used to be ancient Thebes, Luxor simply has so much to offer.

Besides being a picturesque city located on the Nile, it is also filled with rich history and famous temples. But, given the many monumental sites, temples, and landscapes, where do you even start? What sites cannot be missed and what time of day is the best time to visit? Well, look no further... we're about to get into all of it!

To make the most of your time in Luxor, be sure to visit the following sites. For reference, we spent 2 full days (3 nights) in Luxor and were able to visit all of the below!

Luxor Temple

Luxor Temple was built in approximately 1400 B.C. by Amenhotep III but completed by Tutankhamun and Horemheb. It was then added to, later on, by Ramesses II.

Unlike other temples in Luxor, the Luxor Temple was not built in adoration to a god or a deified version of the pharaoh in death; rather Luxor Temple was built in dedication to the rejuvenation of kingship. It was also a place of worship and is one of the oldest continuously used temples in the world.

During the Roman Era, it was converted into a church. The remains of a Coptic church can also be found on the west side of the temple’s compound. Then, for thousands of years, the temple was buried beneath the streets and houses of Luxor...

A mosque was eventually built over top of the temple in the 13th Century. The mosque of Sufi Shaykh Yusuf Abu al-Hajjaj still stands today and was carefully preserved when the temple was uncovered and still forms part of the site.

If the history itself isn’t enough to blow you away, it’s an iconic site for photography and is an incredible place to catch the light during golden hour.

Hours: 6 AM - 10PM

Entrance Fee: 160 EG10 PMP (13 CAD)*

*Prices are approximate

Valley of the Kings

Located on the West Bank of Luxor, the Valley of the Kings is the most famous collection of elaborate tombs in the world. It was the royal burial ground for pharaohs and other elites during Egypt’s New Kingdom from 1539-1075 B.C. Today, you can explore the excavated tombs of pharaohs like Tutankhamun (King Tut) and witness reliefs and colours that date back more than 3,000 years.

When visiting the Valley of the Kings, it’s important to note that the entrance fee only covers a few tombs (which rotate each year to help preserve them – there are about 64 tombs in total). Other tombs will incur extra fees. We decided to pay the extra fees to enter the tombs of Tutankhamun (King Tut) and Ramesses VI and it was absolutely worth it.

Because the tombs are hidden from sunlight, all reliefs and colours in the tombs are in perfect condition. They have also never been restored. Knowing that everything you see is the original art makes the sights of these tombs even more impressive. I recommend heading here early in the morning as it is one of the most popular tourist sites in the area and tombs can get busy, very quickly.

Note for photographers: The Valley of the Kings is one of many sites in Egypt that requires the additional purchase of a photography permit, should you wish to take photos with a professional camera. While I did not choose to do this during our visit, I may have chosen differently had I known in advance just how vibrant and detailed some of the tombs were. Regardless though, the photos from my phone still turned out pretty good.

Hours: 6 AM - 4 PM (winter) or 5 PM (summer)

Entrance Fee: 240 + 4 (Taftaf “Electric Train”) EGP (20 CAD)

Tomb of Tut Ankh Amon: 150 EGP (12 CAD)

Tomb of Ramses VI: 50 EGP (4 CAD)

Karnak Temple & Karnak Open Air Museum

Karnak is a temple complex located on the East Bank of the Nile River. It was developed over the course of 1500 years, with construction beginning around 2000 B.C., and is the largest building for religious purposes ever to be constructed.

During the New Kingdom, this complex was the center of the ancient faith. It was dedicated to the ancient Egyptian gods Amun (god of the sun and air), Mut (the mother goddess), and Khonsu (god of the moon).

Today, it is an incredible site worth visiting in Egypt, believed to be the second most visited historical site in the country.

I recommend setting aside a couple of hours at the complex to thoroughly walk through the open-air museum and temple as there is a great deal of shrines, temples, monuments and reconstructions to see. Plus, the Great Hypostyle Hall where you’re surrounded by 134 giant sandstone columns is an absolute photographer’s dream! This is another amazing place to capture golden hour.

Hours: 6 AM - 4:30 PM

Entrance Fee: 200 EGP (16 CAD)

Mortuary Temple of Hatshepsut

The Temple of Hatshepsut is a mortuary temple that was built during the reign of Pharaoh Hatshepsut of the Eighteenth Dynasty of Egypt. It was also a sanctuary of the god, Amon Ra. Considered to be an architectural masterpiece, it’s also pretty badass because Hatshepsut was one of the most famous female pharaohs of Egypt. Commissioned in 1479 B.C., it took nearly 15 years to complete.

In addition to the site itself being very grandiose, the history is fascinating, filled with family drama, pettiness, and power. The Mortuary Temple of Hatshepsut is located near the Valley of the Kings.

Hours: 6 AM - 5 PM

Entrance Fee: 140 + 4 ( Taftaf “Electric Train”) EGP (12 CAD)

Medinet Habu (Also called Medinat Habu)

Also located close to the Valley of the Kings, Medinet Habu is one of the ancient Egyptian temples that was built by Pharaoh Ramasses III and dedicated to the god, Amon. It was built as a mortuary temple for Ramesses III who is considered the last great pharaoh of Egypt.

Less commonly visited compared to other sites like the Temple of Hatshepsut, you’ll likely encounter fewer tourists -- but don’t let that fool you.

Medinet Habu boasts incredibly detailed hieroglyphics and some of the most vibrant colours we saw outside of the Valley of the Kings (be sure to look up). The famous relief detailing the Sea People invasion during the rule of Ramesses III can be found on the northern outside wall.

Entrance Fee: 100 EGP (8 CAD)

Valley of the Artisans (Deir-el-Medina)

Though less glamorous than the Valley of the Kings, the Valley of the Artisans (also known as "Deir-el-Medina" or the "Workers' Village") offers a glimpse into the lives of the men who constructed the tombs in the Valley of the Kings, including the stone-cutters, the plasterers and decorators.

The workers and their families were the only ones to live on the West Bank of Luxor, considered to be the City of the Dead. To keep secret the happenings on the West Bank, Kings provided the workers and their families with everything they needed so they would never have to go to the East Bank of Luxor, considered to be the main settlement of the living. Their jobs as workers held great prestige and workers were believed to be honoured in death for their service.

At Deir-el-Medina, you can see the excavated remains of the workers' village, several tombs of some of the artisans, and a temple dedicated to Hathor, the goddess of the sky, of women, and of fertility and love.

Note: Children under the age of 12 years and older than 6 years can enter the sites at half price. International Student ID card holders can also enter sites at half price.

BONUS: Nile Cruise

If travelling through Egypt, I recommend taking a Nile Cruise between Aswan and Luxor. We spent a total of three nights and two days on our cruise between the cities, with one full day spent on the boat. During the cruise, we had one stop off to visit Kom Ombo, a temple dedicated to the Egyptian crocodile god, Sobek.

Overall, we found the Nile cruise to be a welcomed break in our trip as a chance to rest and relax. With a variety of amenities to make our stay comfortable, our cruise ship had a small shop onboard to browse Egyptian gifts and souvenirs, a pool and lounging chairs on the top deck, a bar and live entertainment one evening, and food served buffet style for each meal. Our room even had a balcony with sliding doors that opened to stunning views of the Nile.

We cruised on the Steigenberger Royale .

As I have mentioned in my other Egyptian blog posts, I do highly recommend having an Egyptian guide and Egyptologist take you through these historical sites. In addition to ensuring a more safe and organized experience, there is simply too much history and vital information to risk missing or misunderstanding. I promise that having access to this information and knowledge will add greatly to your experience travelling through Egypt.

Our trip to Egypt was partially supported by G Adventures , a small group travel company focused on changing the world through authentic and sustainable travel. We were able to visit all of these sites and more through their Egypt Upgraded tour.

If you enjoyed this blog post, you may also be interested in reading, “ Is Egypt Safe? | What to Consider Before Travelling to Egypt ”.

Disclaimer: Our trip to Egypt was partially supported by G Adventures. The content of this blog is generated for entertainment and informative purposes. All views expressed on this site are my own and do not represent the opinions of any entity whatsoever with which I have been, am now, or will be affiliated.

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