See ancient Thebes in one long day from Cairo. You fly to Luxor in the early morning, spend the day with your guide on the East and West Banks of the Nile, and fly back to Cairo in the evening.
The day covers the great temples of Karnak and Luxor, the painted tombs of the Valley of the Kings and the Valley of the Queens, the Colossi of Memnon and the terraced Temple of Hatshepsut, with lunch at a local restaurant in between.
Your driver picks you up at your hotel in Cairo or Giza and takes you to the airport for the early flight to Luxor, about one hour.
Walk through the Great Hypostyle Hall with its 134 columns, the obelisks and the Sacred Lake.
See the temple of Amenhotep III and Ramesses II at the end of the Avenue of Sphinxes.
Lunch at a local restaurant (drinks not included).
Go inside the painted tombs of the New Kingdom pharaohs, cut deep into the desert hills.
Visit the tombs of royal wives and princes on the edge of the West Bank.
Photo stop at the two giant statues of Amenhotep III.
See the terraced temple of the female pharaoh, then fly back to Cairo for your transfer to the hotel.
The numbered pins follow the order of the day, from the airport to the East Bank and then the West Bank.
Luxor holds more of ancient Egypt than almost anywhere else, and with a flight in each direction you can see its highlights in one day from Cairo. Here is how the day works and what you will see on each bank of the Nile.
Luxor is about 500 km south of Cairo, so the only way to see it in a day is by air. You fly out early, about an hour in the air, and your guide meets you at Luxor airport. The morning is for the East Bank, where the living city of ancient Thebes stood, and the afternoon is for the West Bank, the side of the dead, with its tombs and memorial temples. In the evening you fly back to Cairo.
Karnak was built and rebuilt over some 2,000 years and is the largest religious complex of ancient Egypt. The highlight is the Great Hypostyle Hall, a forest of 134 giant columns covered in carvings, followed by the obelisks of Hatshepsut and Thutmose I and the Sacred Lake.
Luxor Temple stands right in the modern city. Amenhotep III built most of it, and Ramesses II added the great pylon, the colossal statues and the obelisk whose twin now stands in Paris. The Avenue of Sphinxes, reopened in 2021, once linked it with Karnak almost three kilometres away.
For about 500 years the pharaohs of the New Kingdom were buried in tombs cut deep into this desert valley, painted with scenes from the journey to the afterlife. The standard ticket lets you into several tombs. A few special tombs, including Tutankhamun’s, need their own ticket. Read our Valley of the Kings guide to choose before you go.
The Valley of the Queens holds the tombs of royal wives and children. It is quieter than the Valley of the Kings, and its tombs are smaller but often just as colourful.
The Colossi of Memnon are two seated statues of Amenhotep III, about 18 metres high, that once guarded his memorial temple. The Temple of Hatshepsut rises in three wide terraces against the cliffs of Deir el-Bahari and was built for one of the few women to rule Egypt as pharaoh.
The tour runs every day. October to April is the best season, with warm days and cool mornings. From May to September Luxor is very hot by midday, so the tombs and covered halls are the most comfortable part of the day. Bring water, a hat and sunscreen in any season.
Price per person in US dollars. Return flights are included in every option. Car and driver is the vehicle only; each option adds more. For 7 or more people, ask us on WhatsApp for a group price.
| 1 person | 2 people | 3 people | 6 people | |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Car and driver | $385 | $330 | $315 | $300 |
| Car and guide | $440 | $360 | $330 | $310 |
| Car, guide and tickets | $485 | $405 | $380 | $355 |
| All inclusive: guide, tickets, lunch and Wi-Fi | $505 | $420 | $395 | $370 |
Prices start from $330 per person for 2 people with a car and driver. With a guide, entry tickets, lunch and Wi-Fi it is $420 per person. See the full price table on this page.
By domestic flight. The flight takes about one hour each way, and the whole day takes around 18 hours.
No. Tutankhamun’s tomb needs its own ticket, which you can buy at the Valley of the Kings if you want to go inside.
From your hotel or any address in Cairo or Giza. Send us the address when you book.
Yes. Our overnight trip to Luxor from Cairo by flight gives you more time on both banks.
Local guides and hotel pickup on every tour.
