West Bank

The West Bank sits south of the city on the opposite side of the Nile, a strip of fields, villages and desert edge that holds the tombs and temples of ancient Thebes. Arriving means a ferry or a private boat from the east side, and the landing places put you within reach of the road that runs down to the monuments. The area is not one settlement but a scatter of hamlets and hotel clusters, with the Theban hills rising behind and the cultivated land in front.

Daily life here runs to the rhythm of the monuments. Balloon flights lift off over the fields before first light, and the first coaches reach the Valley of the Kings not long after. By mid morning the main sites are busy, and the middle of the day is hot and quiet. Afternoon brings the Colossi of Memnon and the Ramesseum, and then the light goes and the west side settles early. Evenings are limited to what is near where you are sleeping, and the river is dark.

The trade is straightforward: you gain dawn access to the tombs and temples without a river crossing first, and you give up the easy evenings, the restaurants and the station on the east side. The ferry or a private boat becomes part of any day that needs the other bank, and after dark that crossing is less simple. If your trip is built around early starts and balloon flights, the balance works; if it is built around walking to dinner, it does not.

What you came for

All things to do →

Valley of the Kings Valley of the Queens Hatshepsut Temple at Deir el-Bahari Colossi of Memnon Ramesseum Balloon over the West Bank

Kemet Hotel and Apartment ★5.0 West Bank · 2-star · 20 reviews Garden Check dates Malkata House Boutique Hotel And Restaurant ★4.9 Medinat Habu · 4-star · 196 reviews Check dates Nile View Hotel ★4.9 West Bank · 3-star · 182 reviews Swimming pool Check dates

Neighbouring areas

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4 km Al-Qurna 8 km Medinat Habu 6 km New Qurna

Can I walk from the East Bank to the West Bank?+

No, the river is the boundary and there is no foot crossing on the bridge. You take the public ferry, a private boat, or a vehicle over the road bridge south of the city.

Getting Around Luxor →

Where do I stay if I want the Valley of the Kings at opening?+

Base on the West Bank itself, where the Valley of the Kings, the Valley of the Queens and Hatshepsut Temple are all on the same side. That removes the river crossing from the start of the morning.

Where to Stay in Luxor →

What is there to do on the West Bank in the evening?+

Evenings here are quiet, and what is open near where you are sleeping is limited. Most people either stay close to their base or take the ferry across to the East Bank, where the restaurants and the Corniche al-Nil walk are.

Luxor after dark →

Which West Bank sites are close enough to combine in one day?+

The Valley of the Kings, Hatshepsut Temple at Deir el-Bahari, the Colossi of Memnon and the Ramesseum sit along the same road and can be taken in sequence. Al-Qurna and Medinat Habu are close enough to be part of the same base.

48 hours in Luxor →

Do I need a guide or a driver on the West Bank?+

The sites are spread over several kilometres of road rather than a walkable grid, so most people move by vehicle or on foot along the fields. Whether you take a guide depends on how much you want explained at each tomb and temple.

One Week in Luxor →