The Nile splits Luxor into two different cities. On the West Bank, the pharaohs built for the dead — tombs cut into cliffs, temples facing the sunset. On the East Bank, they built for the living — temples still standing at the center of a working city. Two days is enough to see both properly, one bank per day, without the sprint a single day forces on you.
This itinerary covers the essentials comfortably, but it leaves out a hot air balloon ride, any day trip, and Luxor’s quieter corners like Deir el-Medina. If two days is more than you have, our 1-day itinerary covers the same ground at a faster pace.
Before You Go
Hire a private driver for your West Bank day (roughly 900–1,200 EGP — confirm current rates locally) to save time crossing between sites; the East Bank day is largely walkable or a short taxi ride between stops. For visa fees and whether the Luxor Pass is worth it on a two-day trip, see our Luxor Pass and Entrance Fees guides — on a schedule this short, it’s worth doing the math before buying, since you likely won’t visit enough sites to break even.
Missing the balloon? If a sunrise flight matters to you, add it by waking an hour earlier on Day 1 and flying before heading to the Valley of the Kings — see our Hot Air Balloon guide for how the timing works.
Day 1: The West Bank
Morning — Valley of the Kings. Cross the Nile by ferry (or with your driver) just after sunrise. The standard ticket covers three tombs from the open rotation; Ramesses VI (KV9), Ramesses IX (KV6), and Ramesses III (KV11) are strong, accessible choices for first-timers. See our Valley of the Kings guide for the full tomb breakdown and premium-tomb options.
Late morning — Temple of Hatshepsut. Three colonnaded terraces built into the limestone cliffs at Deir el-Bahari, including the Birth and Punt Colonnade reliefs on the second terrace — worth slowing down for, even on a tight two-day schedule.
Afternoon — Medinet Habu and Colossi of Memnon. Medinet Habu, the mortuary temple of Ramesses III, has some of the best-preserved military reliefs in Egypt and a fraction of the morning’s crowds — one of the West Bank’s most underrated stops. On the way back to the ferry, the Colossi of Memnon are a free five-minute photo stop.
Evening — Felucca on the Nile. Back on the East Bank, board a traditional felucca for a one-hour sunset sail. Negotiate directly with Corniche captains.
Day 2: The East Bank
Morning — Karnak. Start here — 200 acres of temple, sanctuary, and ceremonial lake, built over nearly 2,000 years by roughly 30 successive pharaohs. Give it at least two hours: the Great Hypostyle Hall is the headline, but the Sacred Lake and the quieter Khonsu Temple in the southwest corner are worth the extra time. See our Karnak Temple guide for the complete breakdown.
Afternoon — Luxor Museum. A well-curated, air-conditioned counterpoint to a hot Karnak morning, with a fraction of the crowds of Cairo’s Egyptian Museum. Note that the Luxor Museum closes for a midday break and reopens in the afternoon — check current hours before planning around it.
Evening — Luxor Temple. Unlike Karnak, Luxor Temple is built for this slot: the floodlights come on at dusk and the sandstone glows. Walk the Great Colonnade slowly before finishing with an hour in the Luxor Souk and dinner at a local restaurant serving the Egyptian rather than the tourist menu — see our Where to Eat in Luxor guide for specific recommendations.