Day 1: the West Bank
Arrange the evening before: a driver or taxi for the morning, meeting you at the West Bank landing (or collecting you from your hotel if you prefer to cross by the bridge). Agree the stops, the route and the waiting time.
- Early: cross the river. Take the public ferry or a motorboat from the Corniche to the West Bank, or be collected and cross by the bridge, about 20 to 30 minutes by road to the monuments before traffic.
- Valley of the Kings, at opening time. Your driver takes you to the visitor centre. Allow two to three hours. Buy tickets for any separately ticketed tombs at the ticket office or check the official ticket site in advance (see What tickets to buy in advance).
- Temple of Hatshepsut, Deir el-Bahari. About 6 km by road from the Valley of the Kings. Allow around an hour. There is little shade on the approach.
- Medinet Habu. About 5 km by road from Deir el-Bahari. Allow an hour. Its painted reliefs are one of the highlights of the West Bank and it is usually calmer than the Valley.
- Colossi of Memnon. A short stop beside the road, about 1.3 km from Medinet Habu.
- Midday: back to the hotel. Return by car and boat or bridge. Rest through the hottest part of the day.
- Late afternoon: Luxor Museum. About 1.2 km on foot north of Luxor Temple along the Corniche, or a short taxi ride. Allow one to two hours.
- Evening: the Corniche and dinner in the city centre, on foot.
Day 2: the East Bank
- Early: Karnak, at opening time. A short taxi ride north (about 3.6 km by road from the station area). Allow three hours or more: the complex is large. Start with the Great Hypostyle Hall before the groups arrive.
- Late morning: back to the hotel by taxi. Rest through the middle of the day.
- Afternoon: Mummification Museum on the Corniche near Luxor Temple, if you have time and energy. Allow about an hour.
- Late afternoon into evening: Luxor Temple. Arrive before sunset and stay as the lights come on; the temple stays open into the evening (check the current closing time). It is in the city centre, walkable from most central hotels.
- Evening: the souq and dinner, both on foot from Luxor Temple.
What to arrange in advance
- The Day 1 driver, booked through your hotel or a licensed operator the evening before.
- Water, sun protection and a hat for both mornings. See What to actually pack.
- Cash in small notes for boats, taxis and tips, and a card where ticket offices require one.
- Opening hours for your dates, which change with the season and on holidays.
Walking in this plan
The longest walks are between the Luxor Museum and Luxor Temple (about 1.2 km) and around the sites themselves, which are large and uneven. Everything else uses a vehicle. If walking distances are a concern, take taxis between every stop on Day 2 as well.
Sources
- Route distances: OpenStreetMap / OSRM (routing.openstreetmap.de), calculated 22 October 2026 (Valley of the Kings to Hatshepsut about 6 km; Hatshepsut to Medinet Habu about 4.7 km; Medinet Habu to the Colossi about 1.3 km on foot; Luxor Temple to Luxor Museum about 1.2 km on foot).
- Opening hours: the Ministry of Tourism and Antiquities (egymonuments.gov.eg, checked 22 October 2026) lists Karnak and the Valley of the Kings as open daily from 06:00 to 17:00, with no last admission time stated. Hours for the other sites in this plan are not stated here; check them on the day.
Questions
Can I do the West Bank without a driver?+
Partly: taxis can be hired stop by stop, and cycling is possible in cool months. A driver for the morning is simpler, because the monuments are several kilometres apart and you avoid finding a new taxi at each one.
Should I switch the days?+
If your train or flight arrives late, do the East Bank first: Luxor Temple in the evening works on an arrival day.
Where should I stay for this plan?+
The city centre or the Corniche on the East Bank. See Where to stay in Luxor.
