Ancient Thebes, and by most counts the greatest concentration of monuments anywhere on earth. Temples on the east bank, tombs on the west, and the Nile between them.
The ancient Egyptians put the living on the sunrise side and the dead on the sunset side, and the town still works that way.
Karnak and Luxor Temple are on the east bank, in the modern town, walkable from most hotels. The Valley of the Kings, Hatshepsut's temple and the Colossi of Memnon are across the river on the west bank, reached by a short ferry or the bridge. Two full days covers both properly. The single most important practical point is the heat: everything is unshaded stone, and from May to September it regularly exceeds 40°C, which turns a remarkable trip into an ordeal.
Temples, tombs, and a balloon at dawn.
The largest religious building ever constructed, added to over 2,000 years. The hypostyle hall of 134 columns is the thing you'll remember.
Sixty-odd rock-cut tombs. The standard ticket covers three; Tutankhamun, Seti I and Nefertari cost extra and Seti I is the finest.
Terraces cut into a cliff at Deir el-Bahari, built for Egypt's most successful female pharaoh. Go at opening — there's no shade.
Over the west bank as the sun comes up on the temples and the river. Weather-dependent, and worth the four o'clock alarm.
A traditional sail boat at sunset, which is when the light on the west bank is at its best. An hour, and inexpensive.
Lit at night, in the middle of the modern town, and far quieter than by day. Ten minutes' walk from most hotels.
East bank for convenience, west bank for quiet, or a cruise.
Where the hotels, restaurants and Luxor Temple are. Walkable, and where most people stay.
Village guesthouses among the fields, minutes from the tombs. Far quieter, and you'll ferry across for dinner.
Three or four nights sailing, with the temples at Edfu and Kom Ombo en route. The classic way to do it.
Hurghada is four hours by road. Ruins then a beach is the fortnight we book most.
November to March. Anything else is dictated by heat.
December and January are the coolest at 22–25°C, and the busiest. November, February and March are warm and comfortable. April and October are hot but manageable at 33–35°C. May to September exceeds 40°C routinely, and the sites offer no shade at all — prices collapse for that reason.
5 hours to Luxor (LXR), or via Hurghada with a four-hour road transfer.
Taxis, calèches and the local ferry across the Nile. Agree fares before setting off — nothing is metered.
Egyptian pound. Cash for tips, tickets and taxis; cards work in hotels.
UK passports need a visa, available on arrival or as an e-visa in advance. We'll confirm current rules.
We'll build it with a guide, add a cruise or a Red Sea week, and write the payment plan out in full.
Three or four for Luxor itself. Add three or four more for a cruise to Aswan, or a week on the Red Sea.
Not required, and it transforms the visit. Half a day with a qualified Egyptologist is worth more than any extra ticket.
Luxor and the Nile valley operate normally and tourism is heavily policed. FCDO advice treats different parts of Egypt differently — we'll go through it with you.
Yes, and most people should. Hurghada is four hours by road, and ruins-then-beach is the best shape for an Egypt fortnight.
Flights, accommodation and transfers as one package. Every one can be reshaped — different dates, different board, a different airport, or a stopover on the way.
Guide prices, per person, based on two sharing, including return flights, accommodation and transfers. They indicate what a holiday of this type has typically cost and are not an offer or a quotation. Your price depends on dates, party, board basis, departure airport and availability, and is confirmed in writing before any payment is taken.
Ready-built itineraries with flights, transfers and internal hops booked as one package, ATOL protected. Every one can be reshaped around your dates.
10 nights · May–Jun, Sep–Oct · from £1,449pp
11 nights · May–Jun, Sep · from £1,149pp
10 nights · Mar–May, Sep–Nov · from £849pp
11 nights · Apr, Oct · from £2,699pp
12 nights · Jun–Oct, Jan–Feb · from £3,399pp
12 nights · Jul–Oct · from £3,099pp
11 nights · Jun–Oct, Dec–Feb · from £1,799pp
11 nights · Nov–Apr · from £2,199pp
