How many days · Luxor · Egypt
How many days do you need in Luxor?
A straight answer, then what each trip length really gets you.
Updated By the AMZBooking editorial team
Photo: Zureks, CC BY-SA 3.0
Quick answer
4 days is the sweet spot for Luxor, and 2 days is the minimum to see the main sights. Two full days covers Karnak and Luxor Temple on the East Bank and the Valley of the Kings, Hatshepsut and the Colossi of Memnon on the West Bank. Four days adds Medinet Habu, the Tombs of the Nobles, the Luxor Museum, a balloon flight and a day trip to Dendera or Abydos.
Key facts
- Ideal
- 4 days
- Minimum
- 2 days
- Day trips available
- 5
- Daylight
- 10.5 h (Dec) to 13.7 h (Jun)
What each trip length gets you
| Trip | Pace | What you can see |
|---|---|---|
| 1 day | Rushed | Karnak Temple, Luxor Temple, Valley of the Kings and Temple of Hatshepsut |
| 2 days | Good | Temple of Hatshepsut, Colossi of Memnon and Sunrise hot-air balloon flight |
| 3 days | Good | Avenue of Sphinxes, Medinet Habu and Valley of the Queens |
| 5 days | Relaxed | The highlights plus a day trip to Dendera |
| 7 days | Plenty | A slow trip with day trips such as Dendera and Abydos |
How long the top sights take
The 12 best-known sights in Luxor add up to roughly 16–21 hours of visiting time — about 2–3 days at seven sightseeing hours a day, before travel between them and meals. The biggest time commitments are Sunrise hot-air balloon flight (About 3–4 hours including transfers), Karnak Temple (2–3 hours) and Valley of the Kings (2–3 hours).
| Sight | Time needed | Area |
|---|---|---|
| Karnak Temple | 2–3 hours | Karnak |
| Luxor Temple | 1.5 hours | East Bank Corniche |
| Valley of the Kings | 2–3 hours | West Bank Qurna and Al-Bairat |
| Temple of Hatshepsut | 1 hour | West Bank Qurna and Al-Bairat |
| Colossi of Memnon | 20 minutes | West Bank Gezira |
| Sunrise hot-air balloon flight | About 3–4 hours including transfers | West Bank Gezira |
| Avenue of Sphinxes | 1 hour | East Bank Corniche |
| Medinet Habu | 1–1.5 hours | West Bank Qurna and Al-Bairat |
| Valley of the Queens | 1–1.5 hours | West Bank Qurna and Al-Bairat |
| Tombs of the Nobles | 1–2 hours | West Bank Qurna and Al-Bairat |
| Deir el-Medina | 1 hour | West Bank Qurna and Al-Bairat |
| Ramesseum | 45 minutes | West Bank Qurna and Al-Bairat |
By type of trip
| Trip | Days | Why |
|---|---|---|
| First visit | 4 days | The main sights at a comfortable pace |
| Short break / repeat visit | 2 days | Focus on Karnak Temple and Luxor Temple |
| With children | 5 days | Slower days and time for Mummification Museum |
| With day trips | 6 days | Add Dendera and Abydos |
Daylight changes the maths
Sightseeing days are much shorter in December (about 10.5 hours of daylight) than in June (about 13.7 hours). Daylight varies little through the year, so plan by weather instead.
Ready-made itineraries
Combining Luxor with other destinations
| Destination | Distance | Suggested stay |
|---|---|---|
| Hurghada | About 210 km | 7 days |
| Sharm El Sheikh | About 299 km | 7 days |
| Cairo | About 504 km | 4 days |
Questions travellers ask
+Is 2 days enough in Luxor?
It covers the main sights at a brisk pace; 4 days is more comfortable. Two full days covers Karnak and Luxor Temple on the East Bank and the Valley of the Kings, Hatshepsut and the Colossi of Memnon on the West Bank. Four days adds Medinet Habu, the Tombs of the Nobles, the Luxor Museum, a balloon flight and a day trip to Dendera or Abydos.
+Is a week too long in Luxor?
No — a week leaves time for day trips such as Dendera and Abydos.