Upper Egypt · Destination guide
Ancient Thebes rebuilt in stone – Karnak, the Valley of the Kings and the Nile all within a few miles of each other.
Get your bearings
Luxor stands on the site of Thebes, capital of Egypt at the height of its power, and it packs more ancient monuments per square mile than any other town on the Nile. The Nile splits the town in two: the East Bank, where the living built Karnak and Luxor Temple, and the West Bank, where they buried their kings in the hills above the floodplain.
Karnak alone is the largest religious complex ever built – a forest of stone columns added to by pharaoh after pharaoh for two thousand years. Across the river, the Valley of the Kings hides the rock-cut tombs of Tutankhamun, Seti I and Ramses VI, their painted ceilings still bright after three thousand years.
Most travelers reach Luxor by a short flight from Cairo and use it as the northern end of a Nile cruise down to Aswan. Two nights covers the headline sites; three lets you cross the river slowly, drift up at dawn in a balloon, and give Karnak the morning it deserves.
What you're really here to see
01The largest religious building ever raised, expanded by thirty pharaohs over two millennia. The Great Hypostyle Hall packs 134 columns so vast that a dozen people can stand on a single capital. Go early, before the light goes flat and the coaches arrive.
Half day · go at opening
02Sixty-three tombs cut into the limestone of the West Bank, including Tutankhamun's. The painted walls still carry their original color – gods, star-ceilings and the king's journey through the underworld, rendered for an audience of one.
Tickets cover 3 tombs
03Egypt's most architecturally modern monument, three colonnaded terraces rising straight out of the cliff at Deir el-Bahari. Built for the woman who ruled as pharaoh, it looks more like something from the 20th century than the 15th century BC.
1–2 hours
04Right in the heart of town and best after dark, when the floodlights catch the colonnade and the avenue of sphinxes that once ran the full three kilometers to Karnak. An easy walk from most hotels for a cool evening hour.
Best at night
Time to allow
Luxor is denser than it looks. The honest math on how long to give it.
Karnak and the Valley of the Kings in a single hard day – common on a cruise turnaround, but both get short-changed.
East Bank one day (Karnak, Luxor Temple), West Bank the next (Valley of the Kings, Hatshepsut, the Colossi of Memnon). The right minimum.
Add a dawn balloon over the West Bank, the workers' village at Deir el-Medina, and the quieter tombs of the nobles.
Start a 3–4 night Nile cruise here and let the boat carry you south past Edfu and Kom Ombo to Aswan.
Where it fits
Luxor is the northern hinge of Upper Egypt – the start of the river journey and a short hop from Cairo.
Board a 3–4 night Nile cruise to Aswan, stopping at Edfu and Kom Ombo along the way.
A 70-minute flight returns you to the Pyramids and the Grand Egyptian Museum.
A sunrise hot-air balloon over the Valley of the Kings and the green floodplain – Luxor's signature morning.
Hurghada is a 4-hour drive or short flight for a beach finish after the temples.
From the catalog
A 5-day, 4-night Nile voyage from Luxor to Aswan with guided visits to major temples and sites along the river. Daily departures, paced sightseeing and included transfers make the route straightforward. We are a licensed Egyptian tour operator and provide an Egyptologist for all guided visits. We do not run large coach-bus day trips, so the itinerary allows full visits to Edfu and Kom Ombo rather than abbreviated stopovers. Unlike shorter 3-night cruises, this four-night program includes both Edfu and Kom Ombo with time ashore at each site.
Discover Egypt’s timeless treasures on a private, guided 8-day Nile cruise from Hurghada to Luxor and Aswan. Enjoy seven nights aboard a comfortable Nile ship with daily sightseeing led by a knowledgeable Egyptologist–visit Abu Simbel by road, explore Philae, Kom Ombo and Edfu, and walk through Luxor’s Karnak and the Valley of the Kings. Hassle-free transfers from Hurghada to Luxor and back are included so you can relax from arrival to departure. This carefully paced itinerary balances iconic ancient sites with leisurely onboard time: full-board meals on the cruise, included standard site entrance fees, and expert guided tours let you experience Egypt’s highlights without the planning stress. Ideal for travelers who want an immersive cultural journey–see temples, tombs and Nile life while enjoying the comfort and service of a full-week cruise. Book this private guided experience for convenience and deeper context at each site: customizable upgrades are available for private cars, upgraded cabins or exclusive excursions. Perfect for families, couples and small groups seeking a premium Nile itinerary that covers Luxor and Aswan’s must-sees, plus the once-in-a-lifetime Abu Simbel road transfer.
A 13-day tour linking Alexandria, Cairo, Aswan, Luxor and Hurghada by domestic flight, road and a three-night Nile cruise between Aswan and Luxor. We arrange private guided touring with a dedicated Egyptologist, private air-conditioned transfers, and meet-and-assist at airports. Standard site entrance fees are included; the Khufu pyramid interior and premium tombs such as Tutankhamun or Seti I are not included unless requested. Unlike short fly-cruise packages, this itinerary allows proper guided visits to Edfu and Kom Ombo during the three nights on the Nile. Discovery Tours Egypt is a licensed Egyptian tour operator and we coordinate all ground arrangements for the trip.
This 8-day, 7-night Luxor round-trip by Nile visits major temples and river towns between Luxor and Aswan. You will see Karnak Temple, Luxor West Bank including the Valley of the Kings and Hatshepsut, and make calls at Edfu, Kom Ombo and Philae. We are a licensed Egyptian tour operator and we coordinate transfers, Egyptologists and accommodation on the ground. Unlike rushed one-way cruises, this round-trip schedule allows fuller visits to Edfu and Kom Ombo and morning access at key temples before the busiest hours.
A 9-day, land-based tour that visits Cairo, Alexandria, Aswan and Luxor with private Egyptologists and a combination of domestic flights and a first-class train. We arrange all airport meet-and-assist, modern private transfers and guides for the major sites named in the itinerary. Unlike large coach programs, every major visit is private and paced to avoid peak crowds whenever possible. We do not run fixed-seat group buses; instead you travel in air-conditioned cars with your Egyptologist. Entrance fees for the listed monuments are included, while pyramid interiors and premium tombs are excluded unless requested.
This 10-day Egypt tour combines Cairo’s ancient monuments, Alexandria’s Mediterranean setting, a Nile cruise from Luxor to Aswan and time on the Red Sea coast. Our Egyptologist guides you through the Giza Plateau, including Khufu, Khafre, Menkaure and the Sphinx, then introduces the Grand Egyptian Museum and historic Cairo. Along the Nile, visits include Karnak Temple, the Valley of the Kings, Hatshepsut Temple, Edfu Temple, Kom Ombo Temple and Philae Temple. The route continues to Abu Simbel, including the temples of Ramesses II and Nefertari, before finishing in Hurghada. We arrange private air-conditioned transport rather than group bus touring, with a cruise cabin and Cairo hotel accommodation included.
Start in Cairo with an Egyptologist at the Giza Plateau, the Great Sphinx and the Grand Egyptian Museum. Fly to Luxor for a full day on both banks of the Nile: the Valley of the Kings, the Temple of Hatshepsut and the Colossi of Memnon in the morning, then Karnak and Luxor Temple. After a night in Luxor, transfer to Esna and board your dahabiya, a traditional two-masted sailing boat that carries a small group of guests. Over four nights you visit the temples of Esna, Edfu and Kom Ombo, with full board on board, before disembarking in Aswan for Philae Temple, the High Dam and the Unfinished Obelisk. A flight takes you back to Cairo for your last night. Dahabiyas embark on Mondays, so this tour starts on a Friday. We arrange the hotels, the dahabiya cabin, the flights and every transfer through trusted local partners.
This 8-day Egypt tour combines Cairo’s ancient monuments with a Nile cruise between Luxor and Aswan. In Cairo, our specialist Egyptologist accompanies visits to the Giza Plateau, the Great Sphinx and the Grand Egyptian Museum. You then travel south by overnight sleeper train instead of flying, which keeps the price down, and join a four-night Nile cruise from Luxor to Aswan, with scheduled visits to Karnak and Luxor Temple, the Luxor West Bank, the Valley of the Kings, Hatshepsut Temple, Edfu, Kom Ombo and Philae Temple. You will also see the Aswan High Dam. Unlike a Cairo-only holiday, this itinerary connects Egypt’s principal archaeological sites with the changing scenery of the Nile. Evening options in Luxor include the Karnak sound and light show or a felucca sail, subject to availability and additional cost.
Steigenberger Resort Achti Luxor is a hotel in Luxor. As a licensed Egyptian tour operator we book rooms, private transfers and guided visits from the hotel. We recommend hotel stays in Luxor when clients plan full-day West Bank visits; hotels let you start early without the luggage restrictions of river cabins. Unlike short cruise stopovers, a multi-night hotel base lets you return mid‑afternoon for a break before an evening temple visit. Trade-off: hotel stays require daily transfers if you join a Nile cruise; we arrange those transfers and meet-and-greet services.
Every way in
Day trips, classic multi-day tours, Nile cruises, hotels and private transfers – every part of an Egypt trip can be arranged from Luxor. Start wherever makes sense.
Hotel pickup, a private Egyptologist, half or full day.
2–15 day private itineraries, hotels and guides included.
Pair Luxor with a 3–4 night river cruise in one trip.
Aswan ↔ Luxor sailings, dahabiyas and classic cruisers.
5★ and boutique stays, hand-picked by our team.
Private meet-and-greet from the airport to your hotel.
Best time to visit
Luxor sits in the desert south, so the seasons bite harder than on the coast.
22–30°C and clear – ideal for long mornings among the temples. Peak season; book the balloon and hotels ahead, especially December and February.
40–45°C by midday. Sightseeing is a dawn-only affair, but prices fall sharply and the sites are nearly empty before 9am.
Karnak's evening show is a gentle way to see the complex lit up once the heat drops – worth an hour on a first night.
Flights run almost year-round but cancel in high wind. Build a spare morning into the plan if the balloon is a must.
The practical part
Small, walkable and split by the river – the practical part.
Luxor has its own airport (LXR), about 20 minutes from the East Bank, with several daily flights from Cairo and seasonal international charters.
The West Bank tombs are a short drive over the bridge or a few minutes by local ferry. We run the West Bank as a guided half-day by private car.
The East Bank sites are walkable or a quick caleche ride; the West Bank needs a car. A private Egyptologist turns the tombs from pretty to legible.
Valley of the Kings entry covers three tombs; Tutankhamun, Seti I and Nefertari carry separate tickets. We pre-arrange the ones worth the upgrade.
Common questions
Two full days is the comfortable minimum – one for the East Bank (Karnak and Luxor Temple) and one for the West Bank (the Valley of the Kings, Hatshepsut and the Colossi of Memnon). A third day adds the dawn balloon and the quieter tombs.
Karnak is the vast temple complex on the edge of town, built over two thousand years; Luxor Temple is the smaller, elegant one in the center, best seen floodlit at night. An avenue of sphinxes once connected the two.
Yes. Your ticket covers three tombs, and the painted walls are extraordinary – gods, hieroglyphs and star-ceilings still in their original color. Tutankhamun's tomb and the long, deep tomb of Seti I are worth the separate tickets.
By Nile cruise – a 3–4 night sailing south past Edfu and Kom Ombo is the classic way and the most scenic. There's also a 3-hour drive or a short domestic flight if you're not cruising.
Operators are licensed and fly at dawn in calm conditions, cancelling in high wind. It's one of the most popular things to do in Luxor – at sunrise the temples and the green floodplain spread below you and the Nile catches the first light.
The East Bank has most hotels, restaurants and the two big temples within walking distance – the easy choice for a first visit. The West Bank is quieter and closer to the tombs, better for a second stay or a slower pace.
Plan your trip
Tell us your dates and what you want out of Luxor – we'll send a private, tailored itinerary within 24 hours. Cairo · Luxor · Aswan · Hurghada · Marsa Alam · Sharm El Sheikh, on the ground since 1988.
