Luxor Travel Guide
Plan your visit to the world’s greatest open-air museum: Karnak, the Valley of the Kings and the West Bank, with tips from our local guides.
Plan your visit to the world’s greatest open-air museum: Karnak, the Valley of the Kings and the West Bank, with tips from our local guides.
Luxor sits on the site of ancient Thebes, split by the Nile into two very different halves: the East Bank, with Luxor and Karnak temples and the city’s hotels and souks, and the West Bank, a quieter necropolis of royal tombs and mortuary temples, including the Valley of the Kings and Hatshepsut’s temple. It’s often called the world’s largest open-air museum, and most travellers spend two to three days here, either as a standalone stop or bookended by a Nile cruise.
Sunrise hot-air balloon flights over the West Bank are a Luxor highlight worth planning around, and an early start also helps beat both the heat and the tour-bus crowds at the Valley of the Kings. A private driver or a short taxi ride covers most East Bank distances, while the West Bank is best explored by car given the spread-out sites.
For guided experiences, explore our Luxor Day Tours.
01The largest ancient religious complex in the world, built up over centuries by successive pharaohs.
02A grand riverside temple, beautifully lit at night, connected to Karnak by the ancient Avenue of Sphinxes.
03The burial ground of Egypt's New Kingdom pharaohs, including the tomb of Tutankhamun, on Luxor's West Bank.
04The dramatic terraced mortuary temple of Egypt's most famous female pharaoh, set against the desert cliffs.
05A sunrise balloon flight over the West Bank temples and the Nile is one of Luxor's signature experiences.
06End the day on the water: sail past the West Bank as the temples and hills catch the last light. The corniche cafés work too.
Karnak and Luxor Temple on the East Bank, then cross the Nile for the Valley of the Kings and Hatshepsut Temple. Doable, but a long day.
Split the banks: East Bank temples on day one; a sunrise balloon, the Valley of the Kings, Hatshepsut and Medinet Habu on day two.
Add the Dendera & Abydos day trip, quieter West Bank tombs, a felucca at sunset and time to simply watch the Nile go by.
Prefer to explore Luxor with a private guide? These Luxor day tours cover the city’s essential highlights with hotel pickup and flexible pacing.
Ready to visit Luxor? Browse private, guided experiences and start planning.
Best for first-time visitors who want to be close to Luxor Temple and the Corniche, with easy access to the souk.
Best for travellers who want river views without leaving the East Bank, a short drive from Karnak and the West Bank ferry.
Best for early risers who want a head start on the Valley of the Kings and Hatshepsut Temple.
Sites open around 6am: first light beats both the heat and the coach crowds, especially on the West Bank.
Book the first flight and keep a buffer morning free: flights cancel in windy weather and re-book fast.
Guards, ferry crossings and bathrooms all run on small change: keep 5s and 10s handy.
The public boat crosses the Nile for pennies and is a slice of everyday Luxor between the two banks.
Some tombs charge for cameras; phones are usually fine where photography is allowed.
Luxor is the classic start or end point for Luxor-Aswan Nile cruises: plan the order around it.
DestinationContinue south along the Nile: Philae, Abu Simbel and Nubian culture, 3-4 hours by road or a classic cruise away.
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DestinationAn hour’s flight back north for the Pyramids and the Grand Egyptian Museum.
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DestinationThe Red Sea is about 4 hours by road: temples first, then a beach-and-reef finale.
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Our local team builds private Luxor itineraries with expert Egyptologist guides: East Bank, West Bank, sunrise balloons and beyond, paced your way.
Private guides · Hotel pickup included · Flexible pacing · Local experts
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