Luxor is where we are based. Karnak and Luxor Temple stand on the East Bank; the Valley of the Kings, Hatshepsut's temple, the Colossi of Memnon and Medinet Habu are across the Nile on the West Bank. Most visitors pair the temples with a sunrise balloon flight and an evening on the river.
Best time for Luxor tours
The most comfortable months for Luxor tours are October to April, when the days are warm and the evenings are cool. Summer is very hot, so in those months we plan the temples for the early morning and leave the middle of the day for rest. In every season, the first hours of the day are the best on the West Bank, with soft light for photographs and fewer people.
Plan at least two full days in Luxor. One day covers the East Bank, with Karnak and Luxor Temple, and one day the West Bank, with the Valley of the Kings, Hatshepsut's temple, the Colossi of Memnon and Medinet Habu. A third day leaves time for a sunrise balloon flight, an evening on the river or a day trip north to the temples of Dendera and Abydos.
Do not miss the Great Hypostyle Hall at Karnak, a painted royal tomb in the Valley of the Kings and the terraces of Hatshepsut's temple below the cliffs of Deir el-Bahari. Luxor stands on the site of ancient Thebes, and its temples and tombs are listed together as the UNESCO site of Ancient Thebes. Wear light clothes and comfortable shoes, bring a hat and water, and keep some time for Luxor Temple after dark, when it is lit up.
