Book these before you arrive
Three things are worth sorting in advance. Everything else in Luxor can be arranged the night before, or on the day.
The two days, hour by hour
West Bank at dawn, indoors through the heat, Karnak in low sun and the temple lit after dark.
If your two days look different
What we would drop first
Two days is enough only if you are willing to leave things out. In the order we would cut them:
- The Mummification Museum: It is the smallest site on the plan, so dropping it costs the least time and the least content.
- The Colossi stop: You lose two statues seen from a car park, which is the least of what the West Bank offers.
- Medinet Habu: You lose the calmest late afternoon on the West Bank and one of its best-preserved temples.
- The second evening in the city centre: You lose the souq at night, which is more atmosphere than sightseeing.
Questions
Do I need a car for the West Bank?+
No, but you need to decide how you will move between sites once you are across. The sites are spread along a road with long gaps between them, and the ferry only gets you to the bank, not to the tombs. Many visitors arrange a driver for the morning or use the local taxis and tuk-tuks that wait near the ferry landing.
Which bank should I sleep on for a three day trip?+
The East Bank is the stronger base for a short trip because the station, most of the restaurants and both city temples are there. The West Bank suits a slower stay, but every crossing costs time. With only three days, the East Bank keeps more of the day available for sites.
Is the public ferry the cheapest way across the Nile?+
It is the crossing most people use and the one that runs most often through the day. Private boats wait at the landing and leave on demand, which is faster but involves agreeing a price before you board. The road bridge south of the city is the third option and only makes sense if you already have a vehicle.
How much time should I give Karnak?+
Karnak is a complex rather than a single temple, and the walk from the entrance through the hypostyle hall to the far end takes well over an hour at an ordinary pace. Allow two hours if you want to reach the obelisks and the sacred lake without hurrying. Arriving at opening is the single biggest factor in how much of it you actually see.
Is a balloon flight worth fitting into three days?+
It runs at dawn, so it takes the slot you would otherwise give to the Valley of the Kings on the same morning. The flights are weather dependent and cancelled at short notice, so building one into a three day plan risks losing a morning. Treat it as an addition to a longer stay rather than a fixture of a short one.
