Luxor Travelers Recommend

Ancient temples, painted tombs, colorful bazaars, and desert adventures: Luxor lays out a long lineup of attractions. From admiring the major sights to enjoying cultural experiences, culinary delights, and sports pursuits on top, here’s how to get the most from a 3-day stay.

Day 1: See the Sights

Spend today checking off Luxor’s archaeological highlights, starting with an exhilarating sunrise hot air balloon ride over the West Bank’s mountains and temples. After this aerial overview, set off on a full-day tour of Luxor’s highlights, including the Valley of the Kings, Temple of Hatshepsut, and Colossi of Memnon in the West Bank and Karnak and Luxor Temple in Luxor itself. A private tour with an Egyptologist guide is invaluable in ensuring you get the most out of your visit. As the day ends, relax with a sunset felucca (boat) cruise on the River Nile or dinner at a local family home for memorable insight into local life and cuisine.

Day 2: From Abu Simbel to Abydos

Spend your second day exploring outside Luxor. Leave before dawn for a whistle-stop day trip to the UNESCO World Heritage Site of Abu Simbel, or consider an overland 2-day tour to Aswan and Abu Simbel, with visits to Edfu and Kom Ombo en route. Alternatively, go for a full-day tour of Aswan, traveling by road and train to see the city’s Unfinished Obelisk, Philae Temple, and gargantuan High Dam. The archaeological sites of Dendera and Abydos, two of Egypt’s best-preserved temples, make another popular day trip. Dendera serves up extraordinary astronomical ceiling reliefs, while Abydos is home to a series of richly detailed wall paintings.

Day 3: Delve Deeper or Kick Back

On your last day, discover any attractions you’ve missed, and, if you wish, kick back with desert sports or other activities. Choose a tour of the Luxor Museum to admire artifacts from Tutankhamun’s tomb and other pharaonic exhibits, or take a guided shopping tour to scout out quality souvenirs such as carpets, perfumes, and gold at Luxor’s lively bazaars. For an active day out, head to Hurghada to join a snorkeling cruise to Utopia Island on the Red Sea, or hop onto an ATV to race across Luxor’s desert plains and hills. Perhaps end your stay on a high note with a Sound and Light Show at Karnak. Book a ticket-and-transport package and view the temple on a walk-through experience of lights, music, and special effects.

With the mighty Nile flowing through its center, Luxor is often described as a city of two halves—the modern East Bank and the picturesque West Bank, an archaeological paradise. Here are some famous sites not to miss while exploring Luxor’s historic side.

Valley of the Kings

Considered among the most significant archaeological destinations on earth, the Valley of the Kings was the burial place for many of Egypt’s New Kingdom pharaohs—the most famous of which is the tomb of Tutankhamun, aka King Tut. The remaining tombs are divided into three sections; those of Ramses VI and Ay rank among the most beautiful, thanks to their intricate detail.

Temple of Ramses III

One of the most underrated historical sites in Luxor is the Temple of Ramses III, situated at the base of the Theban mountains. It’s best to visit this quiet complex—a palace and town surrounded by a defensive wall—in the late afternoon.

Temple of Queen Hatshepsut

This impressive mortuary temple, built by Queen Hatshepsut, seems to blend in with the limestone cliffs from which it was cut. The meticulously restored complex happens to sit on one of the hottest places on the planet, so most visitors come in the cooler morning hours.

Valley of the Artisans

It took a small army of builders and artisans to construct the magnificent monuments in the Valley of the Kings, and those workers lived in a village today known as the Valley of the Artisans. You can still make out the streets and outlines of old buildings, and a visit offers fascinating insight into the daily lives of average ancient Egyptians.

Colossi of Memnon

Standing nearly 60 feet (18 meters) above the desert plain, the two faceless statues of Pharaoh Amenhotep III are often the first monuments you’ll see when visiting Luxor’s West Bank. Each of the two Colossi was cut from a single block of stone.

Only got one day in Luxor? With advance planning, it’s possible to cover its highlights in a single day. From tours of the must-see ancient temples and tombs to shopping at the city’s bazaars and sailing on the River Nile, here are our suggestions for getting the most out of your 24 hours.

Morning: Hot-Air Balloon and the East Bank

Luxor’s sights are spread between the River Nile’s West and East banks. Begin on the West Bank, with a dawn hot-air-balloon flight over its mountains, pharaonic sites, and River Nile as the sun rises. Then, head off on a seamless full-day tour of both areas with lunch in between, or two half-day tours that cover each in turn. If you’ve opted for the latter, kick things off on the East Bank, the site of Luxor itself. Here, roam the pillared halls of Karnak—a UNESCO World Heritage Site—and then delve into the smaller Luxor Temple, both with a guide to shed light on their history and carvings. 

Afternoon: The West Bank and Markets

This afternoon, switch your sights back to the West Bank, this time seeing it from the ground. Explore some of the Valley of the Kings’ mountain-carved pharaonic tombs—perhaps choosing to pay extra to visit Tutankhamun’s chamber if it’s open to visitors. Then, travel along the Nile to the spectacular Temple of Hatshepsut, built for Egypt’s first female ruler, and the two broken Colossi of Memnon statues of Amenhotep III, each etched with Roman-era graffiti. Maybe finish your afternoon on a shopping tour of Luxor’s markets, with a guide to help you find and haggle for mementoes such as alabaster ornaments, papyrus, gold, and jewelry.

Evening: Sunset Cruise and Light Show

Round off your day off with more classic Luxor experiences. Soak in the beauty of the Nile at sunset with a private cruise on a traditional felucca sailing boat, or enjoy a horse-drawn carriage ride that takes in Luxor’s Nile Corniche, boulevards, markets, and local quarters. If an evening show is more your style, opt for the Sound and Light Show at Karnak Temple. Wander the halls and columns as they come alive with multicolored illuminations, laser beams, video projections, and the ‘voices’ of the pharaohs. Many ticket packages include hotel pickup and drop-off, so you won’t have to worry about transport.

Two days in Luxor allows you to see all the major ancient sights, from mighty Karnak to the tombs of the pharaohs in the West Bank mountains. You’ll also have time to punctuate your sightseeing with more leisurely cultural experiences, such as shopping in Luxor’s bazaars and boating on the River Nile. Here’s how.

Day 1: West Bank and River Nile

**Morning:**Dedicate this morning to the must-sees of Luxor’s West Bank. Take a sunrise hot-air-balloon ride to see the ruins and landscapes from on high, then follow up with a half-day tour of the treasures, including the Valley of the Kings’ tombs and Temple of Hatshepsut.

**Afternoon:**After a morning outdoors, escape the afternoon sun at the Luxor Museum. This atmospheric attraction houses some precious Tutankhamun-era artifacts—including the boy king’s chariot—and a guided tour will ensure you hear their stories and secrets. Alternatively, slow the pace with a horse-and-carriage ride around Luxor’s bazaars and boulevards.

**Evening:**Cap your day with a serene sunset cruise on the River Nile. Settle into a traditional white-sailed felucca and watch Luxor’s sights glide by as the sun glints on the water. Many trips let you choose your departure time for flexibility and include convenient round-trip hotel transfers.

Day 2: Sights, Shopping, and Showtime

**Morning:**Use your second morning to discover Luxor’s East Bank big-ticket sights, studded in and around the city. Explore the shadowy sanctuaries and courts of Karnak and Luxor Temple on a private walking tour that ensures you cover all the highlights and hear their backstories.

**Afternoon:**Having checked off the key sights, indulge in some retail therapy on a shopping tour. With a guide providing navigation and bartering tips, trawl Luxor’s bazaars for souvenirs such as gold, papyrus, and jewelry. Alternatively, enjoy one of Luxor’s quintessential experiences: a gentle Bedouin-style camel ride along the West Bank’s desert trails.

**Evening:**End your Luxor stay in style with another look at magnificent Karnak—this time cast in a spectacle of color. Book a ticket for the Sound and Light Show and explore the temple as a festival of lights, lasers, video projections, music, and booming commentary conjure up the days and designs of its pharaoh builders.