This post may contain affiliate links. I only recommend excursions, products and tours that I have personally used and purchased myself. If you click on a link and make a purchase, I may receive a very small commission at no extra cost to you. All proceeds go to running this blog and your support is truly appreciated! All opinions are my own. Ahh, magnificent Luxor. It’s likely that you’re heading to Luxor from bustling, frenetic Cairo. Cairo is one of those buzzing cities that is teeming with hectic and vibrant energy in tandem. Consequently, Luxor will likely be a welcomed change of scenery. Similar to Alexandria, fresh air and a calmer pace welcomes you. Luxor, the former capitol of Egypt, is home to just over a million people. Luxor is quieter and greener. It’s calming. There are animals grazing in many areas. It has a certain air to it. Almost as if it transports you back to a different time upon arrival. A portal into ancient Egypt and all its mystery unfolds. While I recommend spending far more than a day in Luxor, I’m going to cover all the essential things to see in case you’re pressed for time. Will you be in Luxor, but only briefly and want to see as much as you can? Don’t worry. It is possible to visit many significant places and sites in one day. Hatshepsut, the longest reigning female Pharaoh in Egypt. She is celebrated as one of the greatest Pharaoh’s in Egypt’s history. Her reign over Egypt lasted for over 20 years and her mortuary temple is considered a masterpiece of ancient Egyptian architecture. Hatshepsut was a woman far ahead of her time and I admire her resolution. Her story is one your guide will tell you as much or as little of as you’d like. In addition, her temple is beautiful- adorned in hieroglyphs. Whether you’re seeing Luxor in one day or over the course of weeks, I recommend checking this out. Tip: There are some areas with no shade and it can be sunny and HOT! Therefore, wear a hat, head wrap, scarf or bandana. Slather on lots of sunscreen. Wear lightweight clothing. There are merchants selling things at the entrance. Make sure you bargain with them to get the best deals if you need anything! If you are approached about buying something and you’re disinterested, simply say “La Shukran” which means “No Thank you.” For many, this might be the main event. Let me tell you… Valley of the Kings is… mesmerizing. What your mind likely conjures when you think of ‘ancient Egypt’ is what your eyes will see at Valley of the Kings. Here, in this mountainous desert landscape, you will find about 63 Pharaohs tombs. Not all of them will be viewable. In truth, you likely won’t have the need or urge to see all of them even if it was an option. Typically, seeing the tomb of the famed ‘boy king,’ King Tutankhamun, is the star of the show. This was the only tomb that was discovered completely intact. During our visit, King Tutankhamun’s mummy was also visible for viewing. Entering the tombs is a surreal and transfixing experience. For instance, wall to wall, floor to ceiling, left to right… you will see hieroglyphs. All shapes, sizes, colors. Some graphics recognizable, others, unfamiliar. Upon closer look, you’ll see the intricacy of the carvings. The exaction. The sheer volume of heiroglyphs cloaking the entire tunnel to the tombs is beyond impressive. Tip: If you take the complete tour I did, entrance fees to the Valley of the Kings is included. If you go on your own, it’s 240 EGP per adult, or about $15 USD per person. In either case, entrance to King Tutankhamun’s tomb is not included. If you would like to add this to your tour, you can purchase a separate ticket for about 300 EGP or roughly $19 per adult. Note: pricing and photography rules change regularly, I will update this as often as possible. The Colossi of Memnon are two massive, towering stone statues depicting the Pharaoh Amenhotep III. The statues are essentially there to ‘guard’ the mortuary temple of Amenhotep III. Unfortunately, the temple itself is in ruins. Or perhaps, more accurately, there is very little left of it other than…debris… and the two statues. Due to this, we opted to spend more time at Valley of the Kings in lieu of visiting Colossi of Memnon. We drove by, but didn’t stop. You can decide this for yourself when you’re there. My goodness, Karnak Temple is captivating. It’s the largest temple in Egypt. Karnak is also one of the largest religious spaces in the world. When you walk up to the entrance, you’re overwhelmed by its grand, imposing presence. The entrance is lined with Ram headed Sphinx. The ancient temple is now basically an open air museum. There are many maze like areas you could get lost in to admire the hieroglyphs. Everywhere you turn there are massive statues. There is also a giant scarab statue in the middle of the Karnak Temple. You may see travelers pacing around in a circle, almost as if they’re playing musical chairs (without music… or …chairs). Ancient Egyptians used to worship the scarab statue. I’ve heard and read countless variations of the amount of times you need to circle the scarab and what it will bring you. For example, some proclaim that pacing around the scarab three times will bring luck and fortune. Similarly, others say five times will nullify envy and bring wealth. A writer penned that nine times around the scarab will make a woman with child. There are more… but you get the picture. Our guide dictated that seven times around the scarab is the magic number for good luck. The scarab is the ancient Egyptian amulet for wealth and good fortune, by the way. Of course we did. Did it bring us luck? Only time will tell. But I certainly didn’t fly almost 8,000 miles across the world to miss an opportunity to get rich by just burning some calories around a sacred statue. Onward march! Tip: Karnak Temple is beautiful to explore by day. They also put on a Sound and Light Show in the evening. This sounded cool to me. However, more than one local strongly advised, not to waste our time or money. In essence, that the show was… erhm, not great. Since I didn’t see it, I can’t weigh in. But at $35 – $55 USD per person, make sure you read reviews if you decide to see it (and don’t say I didn’t warn you by passing along the info!). Visiting the Luxor Temple in the evening is… enchanting. If you’re aiming to visit the best of Luxor in one day, it makes sense to visit Luxor Temple at night. At the entrance, it was a mad house. A sweeping crowd… frenzied and rushing through the metal detectors. Once inside, it’s almost as if you’ve walked onto a movie set. Scads and scads of people are all milling around what feels like a giant party at a temple that’s almost 3500 years old. Statues lit up, hieroglyphs illuminated. It’s really something else. There is quite a bit to explore at Luxor Temple. The energy is incredible and something you can describe as articulately as possible, yet, it still won’t compare to feeling it. Tip: Entrance tickets to Luxor Temple is about 323 EGP or about $20.50 USD. If you take the complete tour I took, it’s included in the price of the tour. There are many experienced travelers that opt to visit Luxor and it’s main attractions independently. While Luxor has a very safe feeling atmosphere, I’d still highly recommend taking the tour we took. Why? โข You really won’t want to have to fuss with finding a cab. That will mean having the ability to speak Arabic or trying to find a cab that also speaks at least some English. A private car and driver is included with the tour to maximize time, comfort and efficiency. โข Many of the sites visited in Luxor would not be easily self guided. In essence, you get there and there’s little to no information about any of the attractions. Unless you simply want to see the places and take pictures, your guide will provide context and a wealth of knowledge you won’t find without them. Your guide will also speak fluent (flawless) English and Arabic which will make your entire experience more uncomplicated. โข The tour is private, so you can customize it to your exact interests and needs โข It includes entrance to all attractions, snacks, water bottles in the car and lunch The tour I took includes snacks and water in the car and a full meal, excluding beverages. In theory, I think you’re supposed to stop at a certain time for lunch. We ended up going to eat for dinner. I think this was better, because we got more time at the sites while they were open. Our guide took us to a very unassuming restaurant, yet it was four levels tall. The food was absolutely delicious. Similar to our site seeing in Cairo, the tour does include a pitstop that some might consider a tourist trap. We visited a Pottery exhibit where they do an engaging reenactment of what it was like to make pottery in ancient Egypt. Then, you, of course, browse the showroom, which, in fairness has a lot of beautiful pottery, statues and trinkets in likeness of antiquities. Nothing has prices on it. This is where it gets a bit shifty. You select everything in the showroom you’re interested in, then your assigned sales employee kind of plays, “let’s make a deal” with you. Sigh. We bought the most beautiful alabaster vase and onyx dish. Even though there was a significant amount of negotiating that transpired, I still left there thinking we had maybe been ripped off. I didn’t know for sure, because in all honesty I had never researched how much a handmade alabaster vase goes for, nor was it even on my radar for my visit to Luxor. Months later, I did some research and these Egyptian alabaster vases and onyx dishes can go for some serious cash online. Okay, didn’t get ripped off and they look mighty good in my parlor. Phew. If you don’t have a guide, most attendants at the attractions will speak a little English Bring cash with you in case you want to buy snacks, beverages, trinkets and for any gratuities you give out (specifically for your guide and driver, who will be expecting it) While there is no strict dress code in Egypt, men and women tend to dress what would be considered conservative by western standards. It’s recommended to wear loose or flowy clothing, long or at least partial sleeve, skirts or dresses below the knee or pants. Egyptian Men tend to dress “smartly” and women usually are completely covered. It seems like shorts are not recommended for either, but especially for women while in Egypt (unless you’re at a resort). Luxor is truly a beautiful part of Egypt. I hope you find it as magical as I did! Have any questions about this tour or visiting Luxor? Drop them in the comments, below! Check these out: 7 Spectacular Things to do in Alexandria Egypt Discover Amazing Things to Do in EGYPT โ Cairo Edition The Fairmont Nile City Hotel Cairo โ a GREAT Place to Stay Going – I have been subscribed to Going (formerly, beloved, Scott’s Cheap Flights) awhile now and it’s an amazing resource for finding… did you guess cheap flights? Yes, you can set your preferences from airports to flight class and get destination deals right to your inbox. It’s fab! I use the Premium paid version, but they have a FREE version too. So what are you waiting for?! Let’s get Going! Booking.com – the majority, if not almost all of my stays are booked on Booking.com. It’s a reliable site to book and manage your reservations. It’s a great way to find boutique stays and unique accommodations at the best rates! You can also easily communicate with your accommodation through the app! Expedia – If I am looking for a flight to a specific destination for specific dates, I find myself booking the majority of my flights on Expedia. It’s user friendly and straight forward. I often can find the most cost effective rates, while earning points for every flight I book (in tandem with the points I receive from the credit cards I pay with). Viator – most of the activities, tours and excursions I book for my trips are booked through Viator. Whether you’re seeking a guide for the day, a group tour, a cooking class, Viator has you covered! Get Your Guide – this is another great marketplace to find tours, excursions and activities to book for your upcoming trip. How to See Magical Luxor in One Day
Visit Queen Hatshepsut’s Temple
Tour Valley of the Kings
Colossi of Memnon
Explore Karnak Temple
Don’t Miss the Scarab at Karnak Temple
So Did We Tread Around the Scarab Seven Times?
Luxor Temple at Night
What Does the Tour Include?
The Food Situation
Ancient Egyptian Pottery
Know Before You Go
Headed to Egypt?
Travel Tips & Resources to Help You Plan an Epic Trip!
Such a great guide! Would love to visit Egypt one day!
Thank you, Jessica! Egypt is truly an experience like no other. I really enjoyed my time in Luxor and hope to return. Let me know when you plan to go, would love to chat about it.
What a thorough description of the spots to visit. I would love to visit Egypt some day and go around that scarab statue!
Thank you, Ashley! Egypt is a wild ride, but it’s full of the most incredible landmarks and sites to see. It’s like walking through a history book.