A single day in Luxor from Sharm El Sheikh is possible, and by air it is the sensible way to do it. It is also a long, tiring day, and you will see the main sites rather than the whole of Luxor. If you have a week or less on the Red Sea and Luxor is the one place on your list, the trip does what it promises. If you can spare a night, you will enjoy it more.
The trip is private. You and your party have your own guide, vehicle and driver, which lets you move at your own pace and skip what does not interest you. Domestic flights are included. You do not need to arrange anything on the ground, apart from your visa, which you do need to have.
How the day runs
A private transfer takes you from your hotel to Sharm El Sheikh Airport very early in the morning. You fly to Luxor in the morning, direct on some days, otherwise through Cairo, depending on the airline schedule. Your guide and driver meet you at Luxor Airport and take you straight to the sights. The whole day is about 16 hours from hotel to hotel.
- Late morning – the Valley of the Kings, with three tombs on the standard ticket.
- Midday – the Temple of Hatshepsut and the Colossi of Memnon.
- Early afternoon – lunch at a local restaurant.
- Afternoon – Karnak Temple, including the Great Hypostyle Hall.
- Evening – the flight back to Sharm El Sheikh and a private transfer to your hotel.
Exact flight times depend on the airline schedule on your date, which is why the itinerary gives parts of the day rather than clock times. We confirm the actual times with you when you book, and the guide works backward from the evening flight.
What you will see
The Valley of the Kings holds the tombs of New Kingdom pharaohs cut into the rock on the west bank of the Nile. The standard ticket gives you three tombs, chosen by the guide on the day. Hatshepsut's temple at Deir el-Bahari rises in terraces against a cliff. The Colossi of Memnon are two huge seated statues beside the road, a photo stop rather than a visit.
Ask your guide to choose the three tombs with you. Some are plain and some are covered in painted scenes, and the guide knows which are open and which are crowded on your date. Photography rules in the tombs vary, so ask before you take out a camera. The walk from the entrance is short but hot, so carry water.
Karnak is the largest of the sites and the one where time runs out. The Great Hypostyle Hall, with its forest of tall columns, is the core of the visit. A full tour of Karnak can take much longer than the afternoon you have, so the guide will concentrate on the main parts. You leave wanting more, which is the honest summary of a day trip.
The Colossi of Memnon and the temple of Hatshepsut sit on the west bank, so the guide groups them with the Valley of the Kings, then crosses the river to Karnak after lunch. That route keeps driving short. It also means the hottest hour of the day lands at Karnak, so wear a hat and use shade when you can.
The tombs that cost extra
The tombs of Tutankhamun, Seti I and Ramses V and VI each need their own extra ticket, which is not in the trip price. Pay on the spot, in cash, if you want one. Your guide can advise on which tombs are open and worth the time. For most guests, the three included tombs are enough for the day.
Visa, heat and who should skip it
The free Sinai-only entry stamp does not cover Luxor, so you need a full Egypt visa for this trip. The heat is the second issue: in summer, Luxor is very hot in the middle of the day, often above 40 degrees Celsius, and the sites offer little shade. Winter is far more comfortable. If you do not like early starts, flying through Cairo, or a late return, choose something else.
Booking is online up to 48 hours before; inside that, send a request. Cancel 3 or more days ahead for a full refund, between 3 days and 24 hours for half, and inside 24 hours or on a no-show there is none. The price is per person and falls as your party grows, so see the trip page for the current figure on your date.
When a night in Luxor is better
If you can add a night, you gain a second day, the cool of the early morning at Karnak, and an evening by the river. For the plain question of whether a day is enough: it is enough to see the main sights, but not enough to enjoy them.
Plan with us
Luxor from Sharm El Sheikh by flight: is one day enough
Is a one-day Luxor trip by air from Sharm El Sheikh worth it? A private 16-hour day with flights included, what you see and what you miss.