Is it possible?
Yes. Cairo and Luxor are about 500 km apart in a straight line, and direct flights between the two cities take about an hour. With an early flight out and an evening flight back, you have most of the day on the ground in Luxor. It is a long day, starting before dawn and ending late at night, but it is the only way to see the temples and royal tombs of ancient Thebes if your trip is based in Cairo.
What fits in one day
Luxor has two halves, divided by the Nile:
- The West Bank, the city of the dead: the Valley of the Kings, where the pharaohs of the New Kingdom were buried in tombs cut into the rock; the terraced Temple of Hatshepsut at Deir el-Bahari; and the Colossi of Memnon.
- The East Bank, the city of the living: the vast Karnak temple complex and Luxor Temple.
In one day you can see the Valley of the Kings, Hatshepsut, the Colossi of Memnon and Karnak at a comfortable pace. Luxor Temple, which is lit up after dark, sometimes fits in before the evening flight.
Plane or train?
For a same-day trip, only the plane works. Trains run between Cairo and Luxor, including overnight sleeper trains, but the journey takes most of a night each way. The train makes sense if you plan to spend at least one night in Luxor.
When to stay longer
If you have the time, one or two nights in Luxor let you add the Valley of the Queens, Medinat Habu, the Luxor Museum or a sunrise hot air balloon ride. A Nile cruise between Luxor and Aswan is the classic way to see the south.
Tips for the day
- Bring your passport for the domestic flights.
- The Valley of the Kings is hot and bright even in winter: hat, water, sunscreen.
- Your area ticket includes a set number of tombs; some tombs, such as Tutankhamun’s, need an extra ticket.
Book it
- Luxor day trip from Cairo by plane
- Already in Luxor? East and West Bank day tour, Valley of the Kings tour, Karnak and Luxor Temple
See all day tours in Luxor.