Luxor
The world’s greatest open-air museum
Ancient Thebes, split by the Nile: temples and daily life on the east bank, tombs and the afterlife on the west. Few places on earth hold so many monuments in one place — Karnak’s forest of columns, the painted tombs of the Valley of the Kings, and Hatshepsut’s temple cut into the cliffs.
What Luxor tours cover: East Bank and West Bank
Luxor's monuments divide across two banks of the Nile. The East Bank holds the living temples — Karnak, one of the largest temple complexes ever built, and Luxor Temple, both a short walk from the city centre. The West Bank is the realm of the dead: the Valley of the Kings contains over 60 royal tombs built for New Kingdom pharaohs (c. 1,550–1,069 BC), plus a further 20 unfinished ones.
Entry to the Valley of the Kings costs EGP 750 (~£10) for adult foreign visitors and EGP 375 (~£5) for students; the site is open 6:00 AM to 5:00 PM daily. The West Bank also holds Hatshepsut's temple at Deir el-Bahari, carved into the cliffs in layered terraces, and the Colossi of Memnon — two statues of Amenhotep III standing there for over 3,000 years.
How many days do Luxor tours take?
One full day covers both banks comfortably: Valley of the Kings and Hatshepsut's temple in the morning, Karnak and Luxor temples in the afternoon. A private full-day tour of both banks costs around £82 per person (Egypt Excursions, September 2026). Two days lets you pace each bank separately — a West Bank half-day runs around £56 and an East Bank half-day around £51 — leaving evenings free for the Sound and Light Show at Karnak (~£41 per person).
Three or more days suits anyone adding a sunrise hot-air balloon flight over the monuments (~£116 per person) or using Luxor as a base for Edfu and Abydos. Luxor also pairs naturally with a Western Desert tour, an entirely different landscape from the Nile Valley.
Getting to Luxor from the UK
A day trip by air from Cairo costs $700–$895 per person (~£551–£705), including flights, an Egyptologist guide, entrance fees and lunch (Luxor and Aswan Travel, September 2026).
Visa and entry: UK passport holders need a valid passport with at least six months remaining and one blank page. A single-entry visa is $30 USD (£24) cash on arrival, or $36 USD (£28) via digital-visa machines at Cairo International Airport from August 2026. FCDO guidance confirms Luxor carries no travel advisory — restricted zones are confined to North Sinai and the Egypt–Libya border area, far from Upper Egypt.
When to visit Luxor
Winter (October to February) is Luxor's busiest sightseeing season, with cooler, more comfortable temperatures than the rest of the year. Book accommodation and tours early during peak season, when Luxor's hotels and top private guides fill up months ahead.
March to May is warmer and quieter than the winter peak. July and August are very hot — local guides recommend limiting outdoor visits to the early morning — but the Valley of the Kings is open year-round and manageable before noon even in summer.
Why Luxor tours here run private, not as group coaches
Every itinerary priced above is a private, small-group tour rather than a fixed coach group. An Egyptologist guide, transfers and entrance fees are quoted together, with the pace and stops set around each traveller's own schedule.
Luxor Tours FAQ
How many days do you need to see all of Luxor?
One full day covers both banks with a private guide: the Valley of the Kings, Hatshepsut's temple and the Colossi of Memnon in the morning, then Karnak and Luxor temples in the afternoon. Two days let you take each bank at a slower pace and add an evening Sound and Light Show at Karnak.
What is the best time of year to visit Luxor?
Winter (October to February) is Luxor's busiest sightseeing season, with cooler, more comfortable temperatures than the rest of the year — book accommodation and tours early. March to May is pleasant with smaller crowds. July and August are very hot; local guides advise restricting outdoor visits to morning hours.
Do UK citizens need a visa for Egypt?
Yes. A single-entry visa costs $30 USD (£24) cash on arrival, or $36 USD (£28) by card via digital machines at Cairo International Airport from August 2026. An eVisa can also be obtained online before travel. Full entry requirements are on the FCDO website.
Can you do a day trip to Luxor from Cairo?
Yes, by domestic flight. A private day trip including return flights, an Egyptologist guide, entrance fees and a restaurant lunch costs from $700 (£551) to $895 (£705) per person, depending on group size (Luxor and Aswan Travel, September 2026).
What is included in a Luxor West Bank tour?
Most private Luxor West Bank tours include the Valley of the Kings, Hatshepsut's temple at Deir el-Bahari and the Colossi of Memnon. The standard ticket covers three tombs and costs EGP 750 (~£10) for adult foreign visitors. A private guide and transfers are typically included; entrance fees are sometimes listed separately.
How much does a private Luxor tour cost in 2026?
A private full-day tour of both banks runs around £82 per person; half-day options cost approximately £51 (East Bank) or £56 (West Bank). A hot-air balloon flight adds around £116 per person. All prices are from Egypt Excursions, September 2026, and do not include optional extras.
Places in Luxor
Pins are approximate.
The largest religious building ever constructed, a forest of columns built over 2,000 years.
Trips that stop here
What to do
- Walk the Great Hypostyle Hall's 134 columns
- See the Sacred Lake
- Watch the evening Sound & Light Show
Good to know
- Go early morning or for the evening show — midday sun and crowds are both intense
- It's larger than it looks; budget 2+ hours
- Best time
- Early morning, or evening for the Sound & Light Show.
- What to wear
- Modest, breathable clothing; comfortable shoes for uneven stone.
- Weather
- Very hot outside winter months; largely unshaded.
The temple at the heart of modern Luxor, linked to Karnak by an avenue of sphinxes — glowing at dusk.
Trips that stop here
What to do
- Walk the Avenue of Sphinxes
- See the colonnade of Amenhotep III
Good to know
- Late afternoon into dusk, when the lights come on
- Best time
- Late afternoon and after dark.
- What to wear
- Modest, breathable clothing.
- Weather
- Warm; it cools in the evening.
A small Nile island south of Luxor covered in banana plantations, reached by felucca.
Trips that stop here
What to do
- Sail over by felucca
- Walk through the banana groves
- Try fresh banana or fruit juice from local growers
Good to know
- A relaxing half-day add-on, not a full day's activity
- Best combined with a Nile felucca sail
- Best time
- Late afternoon, timed with a felucca sail.
- What to wear
- Casual, comfortable clothing for a boat trip.
- Weather
- Right on the water — a little cooler than inland sites.
Sunrise hot-air balloon flights lifting off from the West Bank, drifting over temples, tombs, and green Nile farmland.
Trips that stop here
What to do
- Watch sunrise over the Nile Valley from the air
- Spot the Valley of the Kings and Hatshepsut Temple from above
- Photograph the balloons inflating at dawn
Good to know
- Pickup is pre-dawn, often 4:30-5am — book the night before
- Flights depend on wind and can be cancelled last-minute
- Reserve well ahead in peak season, as flights sell out
- Best time
- Sunrise only — that's the entire experience.
- What to wear
- Warm layers for the pre-dawn chill — it warms up quickly once airborne.
- Weather
- Cool before dawn, comfortable once the sun is up.
Two towering stone statues of Amenhotep III, standing alone in a field where his mortuary temple once stood.
Trips that stop here
What to do
- Photograph the two colossi against the West Bank hills
- Learn the story of the statues' famous ancient 'singing' cracks
- Stop briefly on the way to other West Bank sites
Good to know
- A quick 15-20 minute stop, easy to combine with anything else on the West Bank
- Free to view from the roadside — no ticket needed
- Best time
- Morning or late afternoon, en route to other West Bank sites.
- What to wear
- Casual, comfortable clothing.
- Weather
- Fully exposed, roadside field — hot with no shade.
Tombs of Egypt's New Kingdom pharaohs, including Tutankhamun's, cut deep into the west bank hills.
Trips that stop here
What to do
- Enter a selection of painted royal tombs
- See Tutankhamun's tomb (separate ticket)
- Learn the tombs' afterlife symbolism from a guide
Good to know
- Standard tickets cover 3 tombs — choose which in advance
- Photography inside tombs is often restricted or ticketed separately
- Go first thing in the morning — it gets very hot and crowded
- Best time
- Early morning, before the heat and tour buses arrive.
- What to wear
- Modest, breathable clothing; comfortable shoes for uneven ground and steps.
- Weather
- Exposed desert valley — extremely hot outside winter months.
A temple carved directly into the cliffs of Deir el-Bahari for Egypt's most powerful female pharaoh.
Trips that stop here
What to do
- Walk the temple's dramatic terraced colonnades
- Photograph it against the cliff backdrop
- Combine with a Valley of the Kings visit — they're minutes apart
Good to know
- Best light for photos is mid-morning
- Pair with the Valley of the Kings in one west-bank trip
- Best time
- Morning, alongside the Valley of the Kings.
- What to wear
- Modest, comfortable clothing; sun protection.
- Weather
- Fully exposed to sun; very hot outside winter months.
Ramesses III's vast mortuary temple, among the best-preserved and least-visited of the West Bank's major sites.
What to do
- Walk the fortified first pylon's battle reliefs
- See some of the best-preserved original paint colors on the West Bank
- Explore the temple's still-largely-intact inner courts
Good to know
- Far less crowded than the Valley of the Kings or Karnak
- Excellent for photography thanks to the light and preserved detail
- Best time
- Morning, combined with other West Bank sites.
- What to wear
- Modest, breathable clothing; comfortable shoes.
- Weather
- Exposed site — hot outside winter months.
A small, well-curated museum on the Nile corniche, tracing Thebes's history through a tightly chosen collection.
What to do
- See statues recovered from the Luxor Temple cachette
- View royal mummies of Ahmose I and Ramesses I
- Take in Nile views from the museum terrace
Good to know
- Much quieter and quicker than Cairo's museums — a good midday break
- Well air-conditioned, a good escape from the heat
- Best time
- Midday, when temples outside are at their hottest.
- What to wear
- Casual, comfortable clothing.
- Weather
- Air-conditioned indoors.
A focused corniche-side museum devoted entirely to the tools, process, and beliefs behind ancient Egyptian mummification.
What to do
- See the actual embalming tools and canopic jars used in the process
- Learn the religious meaning behind mummification, not just the technique
- View a genuine mummified priest on display
Good to know
- Small and quick — pairs easily with Luxor Museum or Luxor Temple
- A good introduction before visiting the tombs themselves
- Best time
- Any time — indoor and rarely crowded.
- What to wear
- Casual, comfortable clothing.
- Weather
- Air-conditioned indoors.
What to expect
- Very hot outside the winter months — visit tombs and temples early morning.
- Most sites involve walking on uneven ancient stone — comfortable shoes matter.
- Photography inside tombs is often restricted or ticketed separately.
- Balloon rides depend on weather and sell out early — book ahead.
Planning the practical side?
Currency, weather, what to wear, visas, airports and public holidays — everything for your trip in one place.
- One day, start to finish
A day in Luxor
Luxor: Karnak, the Valley of the Kings, the west bank. Scroll, and the map follows the day.
The order we’d take these places in, and the time between them. Yours is planned around you.
- Places
- 5
- Getting about
- 1 h 57
- From your stay and back
- 08:30–18:59
From your stay, 31 min by car · 17.8 km
1Valley of the Kings
Tombs & pyramids · about 3 h 00 here
Royal tombs of the New Kingdom, west bank.
Then, 18 min by car · 6.3 km
2Temple of Hatshepsut
Temples · about 1 h 15 here
Terraces cut into the cliffs at Deir el-Bahari.
Then, 10 min by car · 4.3 km
3Colossi of Memnon
Monuments · about 20 min here
Two seated giants of Amenhotep III.
Then, 16 min by car · 12.0 km
4Karnak Temples
Temples · about 2 h 30 here
Two thousand years of building, the great hypostyle hall.
Then, 43 min on foot · 3.2 km
5Luxor Temple
Temples · about 1 h 15 here
In the middle of town, lit after sunset.
Back where you’d stay
At Luxor, east bank Corniche (our example). The rings are 10, 20 and 30 minutes on foot; what’s nearby comes live from OpenStreetMap.
Finding what’s nearby…
Also worth the trip
- Medinet HabuRamesses III’s temple, colour still on the walls.5 km
- Luxor MuseumSmall, quiet, on the Corniche.2 km
- DenderaTemple of Hathor, a day trip north.51 km
- AbydosTemple of Seti I, the finest reliefs in Egypt.91 km
Start from this day: change the stops, add your details, and keep it as a document.
Back home, and still talking about it
Experience in Egypt
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Read it all on TripadvisorThe most value for money experience
The whole experience was amazing. The responses were immediate and the guys really tried to tailor the trip to our needs. They calculated everything, making our trip easy and enjoyable. From picking us from the airport till dropping us off in the end , we felt safe during the whole time. 100% worth
Read it all on Tripadvisor5 friends in Egypt
Yahya is an amazing guy who loves what he does. He planned some fantastic days for our group, tailored to our preferences. He had amazing partners and drivers who picked us up no matter the place or time. Also he was there for us when we needed his help. If I had to plan my trip again I would definitely choose him.
Read it all on TripadvisorThe way to experience Cairo - So easy and great
Once again a super well planned trip and a guide who is funny and very well into the things we see and experience. This was my second time in Cairo and the dessert with Yaya as my guide. He arranged everything and we had a very packed three days full of interesting sights and experiences. We wanted to add a stop not originally planned and he managed that also. My best recommendations hereby sent.
Read it all on TripadvisorThe Best Tour Guide in the World – I Came to Egypt and Found a Brother! ❤️🇪🇬
Yahya is not just a tour guide. He is so much more than that! I have traveled to many places around the world, but my experience in Egypt was truly unforgettable, and one of the biggest reasons for that was Yahya. From the very first moment, he made us feel welcome, comfortable, and part of his family. Every single experience was incredible! From the amazing activities and breathtaking places we visited to the delicious local food and hidden gems he introduced us to, everything was simply perfect. He didn’t just show us Egypt. He made us experience the real Egypt, its culture, its people, its beauty, and its magic. But what makes Yahya truly special is not only how amazing he is at his job. It’s his personality, his kindness, his positive energy, and, above all, his enormous heart. He is one of those rare people you meet while traveling who end up becoming a part of your life forever. Without a doubt, he is the BEST TOUR GUIDE IN THE WORLD! I would return to Egypt a thousand times, and I know I will be back! Not only because Egypt is such an incredible country, but also because I now have someone there who feels like family. And here’s something special: His name is Yahya, but I always called him Yannis, the Greek name I gave him. I met him as Yahya, I called him Yannis, but in the end, I found a brother in Egypt. ❤️ Some trips give you beautiful memories. Others give you friendships that last a lifetime. I was lucky enough to experience both. Thank you for everything, my brother! Until we meet again! 🇪🇬❤️
Read it all on TripadvisorFORGOTTEN EXPERIENCE
We always dreamed of being in Egypt... This dream of Yahya and his colleagues made a reality. The days we were there, we met outstanding and kind people, excellent guides, and historically informed people who helped us understand Egyptian culture and have fun. This trip will remain unforgettable for us We certainly recommend it.
Read it all on TripadvisorA dreamlike experience 🤩
It was an incredibly enjoyable and fun vacation, filled with fulfilling moments. I highly recommend it to those who want a genuine experience, unlike classic tours. You'll feel like you're visiting a local friend rather than a guide. It was wonderful how every detail was thoughtfully considered for you. Yahya's knowledge, experience, cheerfulness, and fun-loving nature made him stand out from the very first moment. Thank you so much for everything, I can't wait to go again! 🤩☺️
Read it all on TripadvisorThe best trip of my life
There are trips that come and go, that fade in memory over time, and others that, even when they end, you carry inside you forever. Egypt had been for a long time, a destination I really wanted to visit and the expectations were high, I won't hide it. But sometimes the beauty of a place is not only hidden in what you see, but also in the way someone helps you discover it. And when you have a person next to you who is passionate about what they do, knows the history of the place, and manages to convey a piece of that love to you, then the trip becomes something much more than a simple experience. From the moment we set foot in Egypt, we were caught up in its rhythms. We walked the streets of it, smelled its scents, felt its pulse and intensity. Somewhere among all of this, we forgot that we were guests. We weren't satisfied to see it through the eyes of a tourist, we lived it and for a week we became a small part of it. I don't want to sound exaggerated, but the week we spent in Egypt was one of the best weeks - not to say the best - of my life. Amidst all this, without realizing it, completely naturally, people who were initially just companions became our people. And maybe that is the most beautiful part of a trip: the people you meet by chance and end up having a special place in your life and in your mind. Some trips end, but those that leave you remain inside you forever. For the moments, the laughs, the jokes, the kilometers, the tears... forever grateful.
Read it all on Tripadvisor5 Guys in Egypt
Great experience and great guys to make your memories so special.
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Great guys with love for what they do. 100% suggest them
Read it all on TripadvisorUnforgettable experience!!
I'm going to be honest with my review. I had my hesitations with booking a guide for my trip, as I was thinking that it was going to be awkward and typical, as the relationship with any regular guide. But Yahya proved me wrong. He is the most significant reason why I had such an enjoyable holiday, not only because the program he made was good, but most importantly because his personality was his greatest quality. He arranged for us such unique activities, that made us all desire more, and be even more excited for the next day that came. But apart from the unforgettable things we did, the car rides and chilling times were just as amazing. I could talk all day about this trip, but unless you book with him, you won' t be able to comprehend the experience. So, with all my heart, I encourage everyone to book with Yahya, if they want to love their trip as much as we did, and miss it the moment they return home! 🥰😍🥺🐪⛺️🇪🇬🕊🐿
Read it all on TripadvisorAn Unforgettable Experience in Egypt!
We had an amazing experience with Yahya in Egypt! Everything was perfectly organized from start to finish. He was professional, friendly, and always willing to help. He was incredibly knowledgeable and made every visit interesting and enjoyable. We felt safe, well taken care of, and truly welcomed throughout the trip. Thank you for helping us create unforgettable memories in Egypt! 🫶🏻 Highly recommended to anyone looking for a reliable and high-quality tour experience. ⭐⭐⭐⭐⭐
Read it all on TripadvisorOnce in a lifetime trip
Going to Egypt with Yahya is literally an experience that no other experience comes even close! He really is THE BEST !! Everything was so well organised, he really was there for everything and made us feel safe and comfortable the whole trip ! Yahya’s program makes you never want to go back home , he is so fun and charismatic!!! I would do a lobotomy to do this trip again!!!!!
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