Luxor Tours &
Things to Do
Discover the best Luxor tours, Valley of the Kings and Karnak Temple tickets, sunrise hot-air balloon rides, Nile cruises and day trips to Abu Simbel and Aswan. Compare top-rated activities and plan your perfect Luxor itinerary.
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Explore Luxor by interest
Whatever brings you to Luxor — world-class museums, the river, or a long lunch — start with the experiences travellers love most.
Tombs & temples
The Valley of the Kings, Karnak, Luxor Temple and Hatshepsut.
ExploreHot air balloons
Sunrise flights over the West Bank monuments and the Nile.
ExploreNile cruises
Multi-day cruises between Luxor and Aswan via Edfu and Kom Ombo.
ExploreFelucca sailing
Traditional sunset sails on the Nile past Banana Island.
ExploreWest Bank tours
The necropolis: royal tombs, Hatshepsut and the Colossi of Memnon.
ExploreEast Bank temples
Karnak and Luxor Temple, with the evening sound-and-light show.
ExploreDay trips
Abu Simbel, Aswan, Dendera and the cruise temples.
ExploreRed Sea escapes
Hurghada beaches, snorkelling and diving on the coast.
ExploreTop attractions in Luxor
The landmarks that define the city — and the tickets and tours that get you in, often skipping the line.
Valley of the Kings
The rock-cut royal tombs of pharaohs, including Tutankhamun.
Karnak Temple
The vast temple complex with its Great Hypostyle Hall of columns.
Luxor Temple
The grand riverside temple, beautifully floodlit at night.
Hatshepsut Temple
The terraced temple of Egypt’s great female pharaoh at Deir el-Bahari.
Hot air balloons
Sunrise flights over the West Bank and the green Nile Valley.
Nile cruises
Multi-day sailings between Luxor and Aswan via the river temples.
Felucca sailing
Traditional sunset sails on the Nile past Banana Island.
Abu Simbel
The colossal rock temples of Ramses II, reached via Aswan.
Luxor in 1 day
- 1Sunrise balloon ride
- 2Valley of the Kings & Hatshepsut
- 3Karnak Temple
- 4Luxor Temple at night
Luxor in 2 days
- 1Day 1: West Bank & balloon
- 2Day 2: Karnak & Luxor Temple
- 3Sunset felucca sail
- 4Optional Dendera day trip
Luxor to Aswan cruise
- 1Luxor: Karnak & West Bank
- 2Edfu: Temple of Horus
- 3Kom Ombo Temple
- 4Aswan: Philae & Abu Simbel
Luxor with kids
- 1Balloon ride at dawn
- 2Tutankhamun's tomb
- 3Karnak Temple
- 4Felucca sail with snacks
Full day awayAbu Simbel
The colossal rock temples of Ramses II, reached via Aswan.
3 hrs awayAswan
The Temple of Philae, the High Dam and Nubian villages.
Multi-day awayNile cruise
Sail to Aswan via the temples of Edfu and Kom Ombo.
1.5 hrs awayDendera Temple
A superbly preserved temple with vivid painted ceilings.
2 hrs awayEdfu & Kom Ombo
The Temple of Horus and the riverside double temple of Kom Ombo.
3.5 hrs awayHurghada (Red Sea)
Red Sea beaches, snorkelling and coral reefs on the coast.
Know before you go
Short, straight answers to the questions every Luxor visitor asks before booking.
The best months
October to April is the best time to visit, with warm, comfortable days ideal for temples, balloon rides and Nile cruises.
Winter (Dec–Feb)
Peak season with pleasant, sunny days and cool nights — perfect for sightseeing, so book ahead.
Spring (Mar–Apr)
Warm and comfortable, a great shoulder season before the summer heat arrives.
Summer (May–Sep)
Very hot, often above 40°C. Visit temples at dawn, keep midday for rest, and stay well hydrated.
For balloons
Dawn balloon flights run year-round when weather allows; clear, calm winter mornings are ideal.
Abu Simbel Sun Festival
Around 22 February and 22 October the sun illuminates Abu Simbel’s inner statues — popular dates, so book early.
One day
Enough for the West Bank tombs and the East Bank temples on a packed guided tour, ideally with a dawn balloon ride.
Two days
A relaxed pace: the West Bank one day, the East Bank the next, with a felucca sail.
Three days
Add a day trip to Dendera or Aswan, or the lesser-visited West Bank temples.
Nile cruise (4–5 days)
Sail from Luxor to Aswan via Edfu and Kom Ombo, with the option of Abu Simbel.
A week
Combine Luxor with Aswan, Abu Simbel and a few days on the Red Sea at Hurghada.
Travelling with kids
Keep days short and early, mixing tombs and temples with balloon and boat rides.
Crossing the Nile
The East Bank (city, Karnak, Luxor Temple) and the West Bank (tombs, Hatshepsut) are linked by a road bridge, public ferry and tour boats.
Tours with transport
The West Bank monuments are spread out in the desert, so a tour or hired car with a driver is the easiest way to visit them.
Taxis & calèches
Taxis are cheap (agree the fare first), and horse-drawn calèches are a traditional way to ride along the East Bank corniche.
On foot
The East Bank corniche, Luxor Temple and the souk are walkable; the West Bank is not, due to distances and heat.
Trains & flights
Trains link Luxor with Aswan and Cairo, and Luxor has an airport with domestic flights, handy for Abu Simbel or Cairo add-ons.
Beat the heat
Start early and carry water; the desert West Bank gets very hot by midday, especially in summer.
Special tombs
The tombs of Tutankhamun, Seti I and Ramses VI in the Valley of the Kings need separate tickets on top of the standard three-tomb entry.
Photo passes
Photography inside some tombs requires an extra photo ticket; check the rules before you snap to avoid fines.
Cash & tipping
Carry Egyptian pounds for tickets, drinks and tipping (baksheesh), which is customary for small services.
Guides & touts
A licensed Egyptologist guide adds enormously to the temples; politely decline persistent vendors and unofficial “guides”.
Sun protection
Bring a hat, sunglasses, sunscreen and water — there’s little shade among the tombs and temples.
Book balloons & cruises early
Sunrise balloon rides and multi-day cruises sell out in peak season — reserve ahead.
Hot-air balloon rides
Dawn flights are limited and weather-dependent, so book a few days ahead with a flexible date.
Nile cruises
Multi-day Luxor–Aswan cruises run on set departures and sell out in winter — book early.
Abu Simbel trips
Long day trips and flights to Abu Simbel have limited places, especially around the Sun Festival.
Special tombs
No need to pre-book, but bring cash for the separate Tutankhamun and Seti I tomb tickets on the day.
Private guided tours
Top-rated Egyptologist guides get booked up — reserve ahead for the best.
Red Sea add-ons
Hurghada beach trips and overnight stays are popular in winter — plan ahead.
Temple tours
Around €40–90 for a guided full-day West Bank and East Bank tour with transport.
Hot-air balloons
About €80–120 for a sunrise flight with hotel transfers and a Nile crossing.
Nile cruises
Roughly €250–600+ for a 3–5 night Luxor–Aswan cruise with full board and guided visits.
Day trips
About €35–80 for Dendera, Edfu and Kom Ombo or Aswan; Abu Simbel and Hurghada cost more.
Felucca sails
Around €10–25 for a one- to two-hour sunset felucca sail on the Nile.
How to save
Join group tours, take the public ferry to the West Bank, and travel in the spring or autumn shoulder season.
Luxor through the seasons
What's best, how busy it gets, and one booking tip for each time of year.
- Best for
- Pleasant, sunny days and cool nights — the peak season for temples and cruises.
- Crowds
- Booking tip
- Book balloons and cruises well ahead.
- Best for
- Warm and comfortable, a great shoulder season before the summer heat.
- Crowds
- Booking tip
- Ideal weather with slightly thinner crowds.
- Best for
- Very hot and quiet, with the lowest prices — for early risers only.
- Crowds
- Booking tip
- Visit at dawn and rest at midday; hydrate constantly.
- Best for
- Cooling temperatures return, making autumn a comfortable time to visit.
- Crowds
- Booking tip
- A great-value window as peak season begins.