Top things to know about Luxor Excursions :

Luxor is a town in Upper Egypt, about 700 km from Cairo. The most comfortable means of transport to get there is a train with sleeping cars or a plane. In Luxor, you can visit some of the main archaeological sites dating back to the Pharaonic era. Divided essentially between the East and West Banks.

The Monuments of the East Bank are the Temple of Luxor and the Temple of Karnak both open only during daylight hours. The visit to the Temple of Karnak and Temple Luxor lasts between four and five hours.

The Monuments of the West Bank are the Temple of Queen Hatshepsut, the Valley of the Kings, and the Colossi of Memnon, whose visit takes about 4 hours. During the visit to the West Bank, you can spend 2 hours at the Temple of Hatshepsut. 2 hours at the Valley of the Kings, and 15 minutes at the Colossi of Memnon.

This list of the best places to see in Luxor will help you get to know one of the most interesting cities in Egypt, making the most of your time.

Keep in mind that the best time to travel to Luxor is from December to March, during which time you will avoid the hottest months and temperatures that can exceed 40 degrees.

If you want to enjoy a memorable trip in Egypt, check out our Egypt Excursions with our certified Egyptologist and Egypt travel guide.

The excursions that can be made from Luxor:

1) Sounds and Lights show at Karnak Temple

You can visit the Temple of Karnak also in the evening on the occasion of the sound and light show.

Don’t miss to check the Sound and Light Show in Karnak

2) Discover the Karnak Temple

In time, the Egyptians made the Karnak Temple their holiest place of worship. It grew over many years under the rule of several pharaohs, who each made their changes and added new buildings and small temples to different gods. As a result, it became the biggest temple in the area.

Check out our Day Tour to Karnak and Luxor Temples

3) Explore Valley of the Kings

The Valley of the Kings is the one thing you can’t miss if you’re looking for something to do in Luxor. You can’t miss this attraction if you ever go to Luxor or Egypt. There was a valley between two mountains that were filled with tombs that had been carved out of the rock. During the New Kingdom period in Egyptian history, when Thebes was the capital, pharaohs were buried in this area (now Luxor).

4) Mortuary Temple of Hatshepsut

Even compared to Egypt’s other temples, which are all very beautiful, the Hatshepsut temple is stunning. It is often considered one of the best things to do in Luxor because it is close to the Valley of the Kings and is on the schedule for some Nile cruises.

This temple is different from others because it was built on three levels. It is dedicated to Hatshepsut, the only female pharaoh in ancient Egypt who ruled for 21 years.

5) Valley of the Queens is a must-see

The Valley of the Queens is on the western side of the Nile, not far from where the Valley of the Kings is.
This valley is set where the rocks aren’t as good as those nearby Valley of the Kings. It is where simpler tombs for wives and princes of different pharaohs were built. This area is also known as the Valley of the Queens. These tombs had a small antechamber at the entrance, a hallway that led to various rooms on both sides of the building, and the actual burial chamber.

Don’t pass up our Day Tour to the Valley of Kings, Queens, and Hatshepsut

6) The Mummification Museum

If you went to the Egyptian Museum in Cairo and saw the exhibit about the Mummification Museum, you probably don’t need to go to the one in Luxor because it’s probably the same thing. Even so, I think it is a must-see attraction because it is a museum that not only explains the process of mummification but also has several preserved corpses. Inside the museum, there is not a lot of space.

Make sure you have a look at the Tour to Valley of the Queens and Mummification Museum

7) Discover the Colossi of Memnon

The Colossi of Memnon are two giant statues of the Egyptian king Amenhotep III sitting down. People think they are one of the most important places in Egypt, and they are about five kilometers away from the central part of Luxor, on the other side of the Nile.

In the lower part, next to the throne, you can still see the carved images of the pharaoh’s wife, Tiy, and mother, Mutemuia, even though they are a bit broken. The left side of the building is where these pictures are. Each of these statues, and four others currently being fixed up, were made from a single block of stone more than 3,000 years ago. They were put in charge of Amenhotep III’s complex of cemeteries.

8) Go into the Ramesseum

The Ramesseum, also known as the mausoleum of Ramses III, is one of the most popular places in Luxor.
This Amon temple is part of the larger Theban necropolis, and Warrior King Ramses II built it in the 13th century BC. It is in the village of Medinet Habu, which is on the other side of the Nile from Luxor.

9) Temple of Abydos and dendera

Ancient Egyptian tombs like the Temple of Seti I, dedicated to Osiris, and the Temple of Abydos, which was close by, are both well-known. The Temple of Seti I has a chapel called the Tomb of Osiris, and this chapel is dedicated to the Egyptian god of the dead and is near the end of the balcony.

Don’t forget to look at our Tour to Temples of Dendera and Abydos from Luxor

10) Experience the marvels of Habu Temple and Valley of Nobles

The place where Ramses III was laid to rest was called Medinet Habu. City builders, please take some time to enjoy the beauty and peace of your new home. Inscriptions and drawings tell about the “Sea Peoples” military attack and how Ramses III defended the kingdom. Ramses III fought off an army attack on the domain. A Coptic church that used to be there was destroyed at a later date. Because of the Coptic texts, many of the original wall reliefs had to be changed.

The next place to go after leaving Medinet Habu is the Valley of the Nobles in Thebes. People think the site’s 415 tombs were built to honor essential people in Pharaonic Egypt. Some of the tombs from the New Kingdom have writing and prayers on them.

Don’t forget to look at our Day Trip to Habu Temple and Tombs of Nobles 

11) Explore Edfu and Kom Ombo Temples

From Luxor, you can visit the temple of Edfu and Kom Ombo. The first one was built for the cult of the god Hours. Upon arrival at the temple area, you will board a carriage that will take you to the entrance. Kom Ombo Temple was built for the worship of two gods, the crocodile god Sobek and Horus.

Don’t forget to have a look at our trip to the Temples of Edfu and Kom Ombo from Luxor

12) Hot air balloon Excursion

The hot air balloon,  One of the best things to do in Luxor is to book a morning balloon ride to see temples like Hatshepsut and the Valleys of the Kings and Queens from above. This is a popular thing to do nowadays, and it’s also one of the best things in Luxor.

Check out our Hot Air Balloon Tour in Luxor

13) Aswan from Luxor Excursion

The High Dam, the unfinished obelisk, and the impressive Temple of the Philae were all built to honor the goddess Isis, and they are all on the same island on the Nile.

When you go to Abu Simbel, you should take some time to look at the temples that the great pharaoh Ramses II built there. The “main temple” and the “small temple,” carved into the rock, are significant and beautiful examples.

Don’t fail to have a gander at our 2 Days Aswan and Abu Simbel Tour from Luxor

14) Cairo Excursion from Luxor by flight

It is possible to make the one-day excursion to Cairo from Luxor by flight, which leaves every day from Luxor at 6 am and arrives in Cairo at 7 am. Upon arrival, you will visit the Giza plain and the Pyramids of Cheops, Chephren, Mycerinus, and the Sphinx, and have lunch in a typical restaurant.

In the afternoon you will visit the Egyptian Museum and its precious collections, among them the room dedicated to the legendary child pharaoh, Tutankhamon. At the end of the visit to the Egyptian Museum, you will explore Khan El Khalili, one of the most famous bazaars in the Middle East.

Do not forget to see our Day Tour from Luxor to Cairo by Plane

Note: If you plan your trip to Egypt, don’t miss checking our Egypt vacation packages to choose your favorite travel package and you can enjoy the Luxor Nile river with Egypt Nile cruise