Luxor itinerary: temples, tombs and a Nile sunrise
Luxor holds a huge share of ancient Egypt's monuments, split across two banks of the Nile. The heat decides the schedule: tombs at opening time, temples late in the day. This prompt asks your todo.is agent for a Luxor itinerary that pairs sites on each bank, says which tombs are worth extra tickets and leaves the midday hours for rest.
The prompt
- Make a Luxor itinerary for [NUMBER OF DAYS] days, [TRAVEL DATES], for [WHO IS TRAVELLING], staying on the [WHICH BANK]. On the West Bank include the Valley of the Kings (which tombs to pick and which need extra tickets), Hatshepsut's temple, Medinet Habu and the Colossi of Memnon. On the East Bank include Karnak and Luxor Temple at night. Add [EXTRAS]. Plan visits at opening time and late afternoon, with a rest at midday. Tell me how to cross the Nile, how to find a licensed guide and fair taxi prices. Our interests: [INTERESTS]. Send a PDF day by day with links. Don't book anything.
What to change
- [NUMBER OF DAYS]: E.g. "3". Two days covers the main sites; three or four is relaxed.
- [TRAVEL DATES]: E.g. "4 to 7 November". October to April is cooler; summer is extremely hot.
- [WHO IS TRAVELLING]: E.g. "couple", "family with teens", "history-loving friends".
- [WHICH BANK]: "East Bank" (town, hotels, nightlife) or "West Bank" (quiet, near the tombs).
- [EXTRAS]: E.g. "a sunrise hot-air balloon", "a felucca at sunset", "Dendera and Abydos", "Nefertari's tomb".
- [INTERESTS]: E.g. "ancient history, photography, local food".
Example result
- Luxor in 3 days, couple, East Bank
- Ancient history, photography · early November
- Day 1: East Bank
- • Morning: Karnak Temple at opening. Walk the avenue of ram-headed sphinxes and the Great Hypostyle Hall with its 134 columns. Allow 3 hours.
- • Midday: rest at the hotel or the pool.
- • Late afternoon: Luxor Museum, small and well displayed.
- • Evening: Luxor Temple after dark, when it's lit and cooler. Walk the corniche after.
- Day 2: West Bank tombs
- • Very early: sunrise hot-air balloon over the West Bank (pick a licensed operator with a good safety record).
- • Morning: Valley of the Kings. The standard ticket covers three tombs; good choices change as tombs rotate, and Tutankhamun and Seti I need extra tickets.
- • Late morning: Hatshepsut's terraced temple at Deir el-Bahari.
- • Lunch: a simple West Bank restaurant: koshari, ta'ameya, grilled chicken.
- • Afternoon: Colossi of Memnon on the way back.
- Day 3: Quieter West Bank and the Nile
- • Morning: Medinet Habu, with some of the best-kept colours and carvings in Luxor. Then Deir el-Medina, the workers' village and tombs.
- • Optional: Valley of the Queens, with Nefertari's tomb on a separate, pricier ticket.
- • Sunset: a felucca sail on the Nile, agreed price and time before you board.
- Optional day 4
- • Day trip to the Temple of Hathor at Dendera (about 1.5 hours by car), and Abydos if you start early.
- Getting around
- • The public ferry crosses the Nile in minutes. Taxis or a car with driver for the West Bank sites.
- • Agree taxi and carriage prices before you set off.
- Good to know
- • Carry water, a hat and sun cream; there's little shade.
- • Photo rules inside tombs change. Check at the ticket office.
- • Opening hours and ticket types change. Links are in the PDF; check the official sites.
How to do it with todo.is
- Copy the prompt and add your days, dates, group, bank and extras.
- Paste it on the Today screen in todo.is, or send it to your agent on WhatsApp or Telegram.
- Your agent plans each bank, times the visits for the heat and emails you a PDF with links.
- Reply to tweak it, like "add Edfu and Aswan" or "skip the balloon". You book guides and tours yourself.
Tips for a better result
- Be at the Valley of the Kings gate at opening. It's cooler and the tombs are calmer before the tour coaches.
- Stay on the West Bank for quiet nights near the tombs, or the East Bank for restaurants and evening walks.
- Hire a licensed Egyptologist guide for at least one day. The carvings make much more sense with context.
- Ask your agent to save each day's plan to your Google Calendar with the opening times.
Luxor itinerary: FAQ
- How many days do you need in Luxor? Two full days covers Karnak, Luxor Temple, the Valley of the Kings and Hatshepsut's temple. Three or four days lets you add Medinet Habu, Dendera and a slower pace.
- Which tombs should I see in the Valley of the Kings? The standard ticket includes three open tombs, which change over time. Ask at the gate or a guide which are open; Tutankhamun and Seti I need extra tickets.
- When is the best time to visit Luxor? October to April. Summer days are very hot, so visits must be early morning and late afternoon.
- Can I combine Luxor with a Nile cruise? Yes. Many cruises run between Luxor and Aswan in 3 to 5 nights, stopping at Edfu and Kom Ombo. Your agent can compare options with links.
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