5 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

      Arrive at opening time to see the Hypostyle Hall in low morning light before the tour groups and the heat arrive. (2–3 hours, mid-priced).

   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. (1.5 hours, mid-priced).

   3. Lunch

      Lunch: Ful medames

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

   4. Afternoon

      Valley of the Kings

      Go at opening time, and choose the extra ticket for Ramesses VI or Seti I if you can only add one; both have exceptionally well-preserved paintwork. (2–3 hours, expensive).

   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. (1 hour, mid-priced).

   2. Late morning

      Medinet Habu

      Look up in the second court for original blue, red and yellow paint on the ceiling and column tops. (1–1.5 hours, mid-priced).

   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. (1–1.5 hours, expensive).

   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

      Stop on the way back from the tombs in the late afternoon, when the light on the statues is warmer and the tour buses have gone. (20 minutes, free).

   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. (About 3–4 hours including transfers, expensive).

   3. Lunch

      Lunch: Koshari

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

   4. Afternoon

      Avenue of Sphinxes

      Walk a section of the avenue in the early evening when it is cooler, starting from Luxor Temple. (1 hour, low cost).

   5. Evening

      Felucca at sunset

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

4. Day 4: Day trip to Dendera

   About 1 hour 15 minutes by car each way. Getting there: Private car or tour.

   1. Morning

      Travel to Dendera

      About 1 hour 15 minutes by car (Private car or tour); about 70 km.

   2. Day

      Dendera

      The Temple of Hathor at Dendera is one of the best-preserved temples in Egypt, with a recently cleaned ceiling of vivid blue astronomical paintings, a copy of the famous zodiac and rooftop chapels you can climb to. Best for culture and first-timers.

   3. Evening

      Back in Luxor

      Dinner: try Aish shamsi.

5. Day 5: Tombs of the Nobles and Deir el-Medina

   Tombs of the Nobles, Deir el-Medina and Ramesseum, then Tea at the Winter Palace in the evening.

   1. Morning

      Tombs of the Nobles

      Tickets are sold for groups of tombs; the tombs of Ramose and Rekhmire are among the most rewarding. (1–2 hours, low cost).

   2. Late morning

      Deir el-Medina

      The tomb of Sennedjem has some of the brightest paintings on the West Bank. (1 hour, low cost).

   3. Lunch

      Lunch: Aish shamsi

      West Bank villages and local bakeries; some guesthouses serve it at breakfast.

   4. Afternoon

      Ramesseum

      Combine it with Medinet Habu in a half-day on the West Bank's quieter temples. (45 minutes, low cost).

   5. Evening

      Tea at the Winter Palace

      Have a drink or afternoon tea on the terrace of the 1886 hotel facing the Nile.

Before you go

Reserve timed tickets for Valley of the Kings and Sunrise hot-air balloon flight before you travel; the rest of this plan needs no advance booking.

Where to stay for this itinerary

With 5 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 17–22 hours of visiting over 5 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
• 3 days in Luxor

Questions travellers ask