3 Days in Luxor: The First-Timer Itinerary

Three days gets Karnak and Luxor Temple on the East Bank, the Valley of the Kings and Hatshepsut on the West Bank, then a third day for Medinet Habu and the Tombs of the Nobles, the site most itineraries skip and shouldn’t. Coming with less time or want the extended version? See the 2-day , 4-day , or full week itinerary.

Book these before you go

  • Hotel: compare East Bank corniche rates on Booking.com before Dec-Feb peak pricing hits
  • A West Bank guide or driver: book a Valley of the Kings tour on GetYourGuide rather than negotiating cold at the ferry landing
  • A sunset felucca: search current boats on Viator and fix the price before you board
Day Focus
Day 1 Karnak Temple, Luxor Museum, Luxor Temple lit at night
Day 2 Valley of the Kings, Colossi of Memnon, Hatshepsut’s Temple, sunset felucca
Day 3 Medinet Habu, Valley of the Queens, Tombs of the Nobles, Mummification Museum

Day 1: East Bank First Look

Morning (6:00 am - 10:00 am)

  • Karnak Temple at opening, EGP 600, before the coach groups fill the Hypostyle Hall’s 134 columns
  • Walk a stretch of the Avenue of Sphinxes, the 2.7km processional walkway reopened in 2021, running from Karnak toward Luxor Temple

Midday (10:30 am - 1:00 pm)

  • Luxor Museum, EGP 400, a compact, air-conditioned break with a genuinely strong artifact collection
  • Lunch on the corniche, expect EGP 300-500 for a Nile view, or step one block back for a EGP 150-250 local spot

Afternoon (1:00 pm - 4:00 pm)

  • Retreat to your hotel through the worst of the heat, this isn’t a wasted afternoon, it’s how you survive the rest of the trip

Evening (5:00 pm - 9:00 pm)

  • Luxor Temple after dark, EGP 500, the best-lit night site in Luxor and one most day-trippers skip entirely
  • Dinner and a stroll along the corniche

Day 2: West Bank Essentials

Morning (6:00 am - 11:30 am)

  • Cross the Nile early, the local ferry runs roughly EGP 5-10 for foreigners, or arrange a private motorboat for speed
  • Valley of the Kings, EGP 750 general ticket covering 3 tombs from a rotating pool, not the marquee ones by default, check current rotation on the official Valley of the Kings site
  • Colossi of Memnon, free, a quick roadside stop on the way to Hatshepsut

Midday (11:30 am - 1:30 pm)

  • Hatshepsut’s Temple (Deir el-Bahari), EGP 440, the three-tiered colonnade built into the cliff face, our Hatshepsut visitor guide covers tickets and timing in full

Afternoon (1:30 pm - 4:00 pm)

  • Lunch near the West Bank ferry landing, then cross back before the afternoon heat peaks

Evening (5:00 pm - 8:00 pm)

  • A sunset felucca ride, fix the total price and duration before you board
  • Dinner on the East Bank

Day 3: Medinet Habu and the Nobles

Morning (7:00 am - 11:00 am)

  • Back to the West Bank for Medinet Habu, EGP 200, the mortuary temple of Ramesses III and the most underrated site on this side of the river
  • Valley of the Queens general ticket, roughly EGP 180-220, skip Nefertari’s tomb today unless you’re ready for the EGP 1,500-2,500 splurge, it needs confirming open same-day regardless

Midday (11:00 am - 1:00 pm)

  • Tombs of the Nobles, better preserved than the royal tombs since grave robbers ignored them, with intimate scenes of daily life, fishing, feasting, musicians at banquets

Afternoon (1:00 pm - 4:00 pm)

  • Lunch and a break from the heat near the West Bank ferry, then cross back east

Evening (5:00 pm - 8:00 pm)

  • Mummification Museum on the corniche, EGP 220, a manageable indoor stop before your last Luxor dinner
  • Farewell dinner and an early night if you’re departing tomorrow

Where to Stay

Base yourself on the East Bank corniche or downtown, walkable to Karnak and Luxor Temple with easy ferry access for the West Bank at dawn. Our Luxor guide covers neighborhoods, price bands, and the hotel-rate booking link in more depth.

Things to Know

  • Sites are card-only in 2026, cash is not accepted at Karnak or the West Bank gates, bring a working Visa or Mastercard
  • Baksheesh (EGP 5-20) is a constant low-level expectation, keep small EGP notes on hand
  • Confirm current entrance fees on Explore Luxor before you build a morning around a specific price

Transportation

  • Luxor International Airport (LXR) sits roughly 20 minutes from East Bank hotels, taxi only, agree the fare before you get in, expect EGP 150-250
  • Around town, negotiate every taxi and caleche fare as a total price for the whole group, never per person, before you board

Tips

  • Caleche drivers and felucca captains both run the same trick, claiming the quoted price was per person or that the wind died mid-ride, state the total upfront and don’t renegotiate
  • Three days is the minimum for both banks without rushing, if you have a fourth day, add it to the West Bank rather than the East

Confirm your West Bank driver and felucca captain the night before, and check the Valley of the Queens board same-day if Nefertari’s tomb factors into your plans. egymonuments.com posts official schedule changes if any day falls on a public holiday.