Luxor Multi-Day Trips by Pace

How many days Luxor needs depends less on the sights than on your pace. Some people want a boat that carries them, some want a base and a plan, and some want to tick off the lot in five days. Here are three paces, with the money attached.

Slow: the Nile cruise to Aswan

A cruise runs 3 nights and 4 days or 4 nights and 5 days, with stops at the Esna lock, Edfu and Kom Ombo. The season starts around 1 October. Listings for 2026-27 run from roughly USD 670 to 1,750 per person. Entrance fees are often extra, so ask what the price covers and whether meals and a guide are included. You can browse Nile cruise options on GetYourGuide to see the spread.

Steady: three or four days on land

This pace puts one major sight in each half-day. A sensible order starts with Karnak at gate opening, spends a second morning in the Valley of the Kings and Hatshepsut’s temple, and fills evenings with Luxor Temple floodlit. The three day Luxor itinerary and the four day itinerary show how that can run. Single tickets are cheap: Karnak EGP 600, Luxor Temple EGP 500, Hatshepsut EGP 440 and the Valley EGP 750 for three tombs.

Fast: five days with the Luxor Pass

The pass lasts five days. Standard costs USD 130 and Premium USD 250, with student prices of USD 70 and USD 130, and Premium adds Seti I and Nefertari. Add the tickets you would use before buying, because the pass usually costs more than single tickets. Buy it at the Karnak or Valley of the Kings booths with your passport and passport photos, and confirm the payment method there.

Which one suits you

  • Choose the cruise if you hate logistics and would like a bed that moves.
  • Choose steady days on land for a mix of early starts and long, cool afternoons.
  • Choose the pass only if you are certain you will use the Premium tombs.

Season and heat

From October to April all three work well. In June to August the temperature is 42 to 46C, so start before 09:30 on land. A cruise gives shade between stops. Check the UK government’s Egypt travel advice before booking, and visit the Ministry of Tourism and Antiquities for current site fees.

Tip: spend two days in Luxor before boarding a cruise, so Karnak and the west bank are done and the boat days stay unhurried.