3 days in Luxor

Day by day

1. Day 1: Karnak Temple and Luxor Temple

   Karnak Temple, Luxor Temple and Valley of the Kings, then Luxor souq in the evening.

   1. Morning

      Karnak Temple

      The largest religious complex of ancient Egypt grew over some 2,000 years as successive pharaohs added pylons, obelisks and chapels to the temple of Amun-Ra.

   2. Late morning

      Luxor Temple

      Visit around sunset and stay as the floodlights come on; it is much cooler and the reliefs look dramatic under the lights.

   3. Lunch

      Lunch: Ful medames

      Street carts and small cafés around the souq and station in the morning.

   4. Afternoon

      Valley of the Kings

      Pharaohs of the New Kingdom were buried in rock-cut tombs in this desert valley for about 500 years.

   5. Evening

      Luxor souq

      Haggle with a smile and walk away if the price does not suit; the same items are sold at many stalls.

2. Day 2: Temple of Hatshepsut and Medinet Habu

   Temple of Hatshepsut, Medinet Habu and Valley of the Queens, then Sunrise balloon flight in the evening.

   1. Morning

      Temple of Hatshepsut

      Visit early or late in the day; the terraces have almost no shade and reflect the heat.

   2. Late morning

      Medinet Habu

      The mortuary temple of Ramesses III has some of the best-preserved painted reliefs in Egypt, with colours still vivid on the ceilings and deeply carved scenes of battles against the Sea Peoples on the outer walls.

   3. Lunch

      Lunch: Ta'ameya

      Sandwich shops around the souq and Television Street.

   4. Afternoon

      Valley of the Queens

      If Nefertari's tomb is open during your visit and the budget allows, it is worth the extra ticket for its colour alone.

   5. Evening

      Sunrise balloon flight

      Watch the sun rise over the Nile valley from a balloon floating above the temples and fields of the West Bank.

3. Day 3: Colossi of Memnon and Sunrise hot-air balloon flight

   Colossi of Memnon, Sunrise hot-air balloon flight and Avenue of Sphinxes, then Felucca at sunset in the evening.

   1. Morning

      Colossi of Memnon

      Two seated stone statues of Amenhotep III, each about 18 metres tall, are all that remains above ground of his vast mortuary temple.

   2. Late morning

      Sunrise hot-air balloon flight

      Choose an established licensed operator and book for your first morning, leaving later days free in case wind cancels the flight.

   3. Lunch

      Lunch: Koshari

      Specialist koshari shops in the town centre; cheap, quick and served in different sizes.

   4. Afternoon

      Avenue of Sphinxes

      The ceremonial processional way linking Luxor Temple and Karnak runs for about 2.7 km, lined with rows of sphinxes, many restored.

   5. Evening

      Felucca at sunset

      Hire a felucca for a private sail as the sky turns orange behind the Theban hills.

Before you go

• Valley of the Kings: Extra tickets for individual tombs are sold at the site's ticket office; which tombs are open changes, so check on the day.
• Sunrise hot-air balloon flight: Book a day or more ahead in winter, when flights are most popular.

If it rains

• Swap in Luxor Museum (East Bank Corniche): Visit in the heat of the afternoon, when outdoor sites are punishing.
• Swap in Mummification Museum (East Bank Corniche): Older children usually enjoy it; it takes under an hour and pairs well with Luxor Temple nearby.
• Swap in Howard Carter's House (West Bank Qurna and Al-Bairat): Stop on the way to or from the Valley of the Kings; it is on the same road.

Where to stay for this itinerary

With 3 nights, East Bank Corniche keeps most of this route within easy reach. For a calmer or cheaper base, Khaled Ibn al-Walid Street ($$$) suits families, luxury and quiet stays. Compare every area.

Pace and daylight

The sights in this plan add up to roughly 14–18 hours of visiting over 3 days, before meals and getting between them. Daylight runs from about 10.5 hours in December to 13.7 hours in June.

More or fewer days

• One day in Luxor
• 2 days in Luxor
• 5 days in Luxor

Questions travellers ask