Luxor Holidays

Temples, tombs and timeless Nile views – Luxor is like walking through an open-air time machine. If ancient wonders are your vibe, Luxor’s got ‘em in spades (and maybe a sarcophagus or two).

Highlights of your Holidays to Luxor 2026 and 2027

• The Valley of the Kings - Royal tombs cut deep into the desert hills, Tutankhamun's among them, and his mummy still lies inside.

• Karnak Temple Complex - A forest of giant stone columns, and Luxor's best-reviewed sight.

• Luxor Temple and the Avenue of Sphinxes - Walk the restored 2.7km avenue of sphinxes from Karnak to Luxor Temple, then see the temple lit up after dark.

• The Temple of Hatshepsut - A huge terraced temple built for one of Egypt's few female pharaohs, set against sheer cliffs on the West Bank.

• Sunrise balloon rides - Drift over the Nile and the West Bank temples as the desert lights up. Flights run from September to May.

• Felucca cruises on the Nile - Classic Egypt vibes on a traditional sailing boat, ideally at sunset.

Good to Know for your Luxor holiday

• ☀️ Winter is the season - Days in December and January are a lovely 23-25°C, but nights drop to 7-9°C, so pack a jumper. Summer is serious heat, with highs over 40°C from June to August.

• 💷 Brilliant value - The Egyptian pound goes a long way for visitors from the UK & Ireland. A beer in a bar is around £1.50-£3 / €1.75-€3.50, a felucca ride costs very little, and small notes are handy for tips (baksheesh).

• 🏛 Tutankhamun never left - His gold mask and treasures moved to the new Grand Egyptian Museum near Cairo, but the boy king himself still lies in his tomb in the Valley of the Kings.

A holiday in Luxor is perfect for you if...

• You've wanted to stand in the Valley of the Kings since you first saw a picture of Tutankhamun's mask.

• You'd rather your winter sun came with temples than sunbeds.

• You like the idea of watching the sun rise over the desert from a hot air balloon.

• You want a holiday in Luxor where you can walk from your hotel to a 3,000-year-old temple.

• You're happy to swap the beach for a pool with a view of the Nile.

Where to Stay in Luxor

Luxor sits on both banks of the Nile: the temples and tombs of the dead on the West Bank, and the city, the souq and most of the hotels on the East Bank. On our Luxor holidays you stay on the East Bank or on an island just south of town, and cross the river for the big sights.

💑 Where should couples stay in Luxor?

The Corniche near Luxor Temple - Riverfront hotels within walking distance of the temple, the souq and the restaurants, with sunsets over the West Bank from the terrace.

👨‍👩‍👧‍👦 Where's the best area for a family holiday in Luxor?

Kings Island - A quiet green island about 4km south of the centre, with big pools and space to run around, and a free shuttle into town.

🏛 Where should first-timers stay in Luxor?

North of the centre, towards Karnak - Close to Luxor's biggest temple, which you can visit early before the coaches arrive, and a short taxi ride from everything else.

🏨 Top hotels to stay at on your Luxor holidays

All our Luxor package holidays come with direct flights from London Gatwick, and every hotel below sits on the banks of the Nile, so you get a river view to go with the temples. These are our favourite package holidays to Luxor, by who you're travelling with.

💑 What are the best hotels for a couples' holiday in Luxor?

• Hilton Luxor Resort & Spa - Two infinity pools looking straight across the Nile, a spa, and Karnak Temple about a kilometre up the road.

• Steigenberger Resort Achti - Heated pools with waterfalls and a private marina where you can hop on a felucca, two minutes' drive from Luxor Temple.

👨‍👩‍👧‍👦 Which hotels are best for a family holiday in Luxor?

• Steigenberger Nile Palace - A five-star on the river with indoor and outdoor pools, a kids' club and a splash zone, near the bazaars.

• Jolie Ville Resort & Spa Kings Island - On its own island just south of town, with three pools including one for kids, a kids' club for 4 to 12s and a free shuttle into Luxor.

💰 Which hotels are best for cheap Luxor holidays?

• Iberotel Luxor - A four-star on the Corniche with a pool that floats on the Nile itself, heated in winter, and a ten-minute walk to Luxor Temple.

• Steigenberger Resort Achti - Often one of our cheapest Luxor holidays, with all the riverside perks above.

⛵ What's the best Nile cruise from Luxor?

MS Royal Viking Nile Cruise - A week on the river between Luxor and Aswan, stopping at the temples of Edfu and Kom Ombo, with full board and a pool on the sun deck.

👉 All hotels in Luxor

Fun facts and ancient hacks: A locals handbook

Want to know where the pharaohs actually hung out? From snazzy ancient shortcuts to the Nile's best-kept secrets, here is the lowdown on the world's largest open-air museum.

• The Avenue of Sphinxes - This stonking stone-lined path connects Luxor and Karnak temples and is nearly 3km long. It was buried under sand for centuries until someone realised, "Oh wait, there's a few hundred stone lions under here." It has recently been fully restored, so you can walk the whole thing and feel exactly like a pharaoh.

• The Nile's "Secret" Island - Everyone heads to the Valley of the Kings, but locals know that Banana Island (Gezira el-Mozh) is where the real cool vibe is at. You hop on a felucca, eat your body weight in the sweetest mini-bananas you've ever tasted, and watch the sunset. There's no better way to escape the crowds for a day.

• Tutankhamun's "Cursed" House - Over on the West Bank you can visit Howard Carter's house (the bloke who found King Tut), which now has a full-size replica of the tomb inside. Locals love to tell you the legend of Carter's pet canary being eaten by a cobra the day the tomb was opened. A great story, even if the canary was probably living somewhere else at the time.

• The "Tiniest" Global Landmark - You know the Obelisk in the middle of the Place de la Concorde in Paris? Yeah, that's actually a gift from Luxor. There should be a matching pair at the entrance of Luxor Temple, but now there's just one lonely stone pillar wondering where its mate went. The ultimate "long-distance relationship" flex.

Things to do for everyone - Luxor holidays travel guide:

👨‍👩‍👧‍👦 What are the best things to do on a Luxor family holiday?

• Hide-and-seek at Karnak - The Hypostyle Hall's forest of giant columns is a ready-made playground for ancient hide-and-seek.

• The Mummification Museum - Mummified cats, crocodiles and fish on the Corniche, for kids who like their history a bit gruesome.

• The Luxor Museum - A manageable size for little legs, with real royal mummies and statues found buried under Luxor Temple.

• A felucca to Banana Island - Sail across the Nile at sunset and taste bananas straight off the trees.

💑 What are the best things to do in Luxor for couples?

• A sunrise balloon flight - Float over the West Bank temples as the sun comes up. Flights run from September to May, weather permitting.

• Luxor Temple after dark - Floodlit columns and statues, and much cooler than the daytime heat.

• The Temple of Hatshepsut - Go early to see the terraces glow against the cliffs before the coaches arrive.

• Medinet Habu - Ramesses III's vast temple on the West Bank, well worth adding to a day of tombs.

🎉 What are the best things to do in Luxor with a group?

• The Valley of the Kings with a guide - Book a private guide who'll bring the pharaohs' gossip to life, with none of the homework.

• The Colossi of Memnon - Two 18-metre statues that make even the tallest of your group look tiny. Greek and Roman tourists carved graffiti on them nearly 2,000 years ago.

• The Karnak Sound and Light show - An hour-long evening walk through the temple with the story told in lights and narration.

• The Egyptian Marathon - On 8 January 2027, with 5km, 12km, half and full marathon routes past the West Bank temples, starting at the Temple of Hatshepsut.

• A galabeya night on a Nile cruise - Everyone dresses up in traditional robes for a night of music and dancing on deck.

🍴 What's the food like on a Luxor holiday?

• Koshary - Rice, pasta and lentils under a spicy tomato sauce: carbs on carbs on carbs, and Egypt's national comfort food.

• Ful medames - Slow-cooked fava beans with fresh baladi bread, the classic Egyptian breakfast.

• Sofra - Egyptian home cooking and mezze in a 1930s house with a roof terrace.

• Al Sahaby Lane - A rooftop restaurant in the souq where you can try a camel burger.

• El Kababgy - Grilled meats by the Nile, perfect for a sunset dinner.

Local Lingo

Arabic is the language here, and English is spoken in the hotels and around the big sights. A few words go a long way, especially in the souq.

• Salam alaykum (sa-LAAM a-LAY-kum) - hello

• Shukran (SHOOK-ran) - thank you

• Min fadlak (min FAD-lak) - please (to a man; min fadlik to a woman)

• La, shukran (laa, SHOOK-ran) - no, thank you (you'll use this a lot in the souq)

• Bikam? (bee-KAM) - how much?

• Da ghali awi (da GHA-lee A-wee) - that's too expensive

• Ma'a salama (ma-a sa-LAA-ma) - goodbye

Ramadan 2027

Please be aware that the Islamic holy month of Ramadan is expected to take place from around 8 February to 8 March 2027. During this time, many cafes and restaurants close during the day, restrictions on alcohol sales may be in place, and hotel dining for non-Muslim guests may take place in private rooms. Playing music, dancing, and eating in public areas may also be restricted during this time.

More Destinations

• Aswan - Nubian villages, granite islands and the Temple of Philae, on the most beautiful stretch of the Nile.

• Hurghada - A big Red Sea resort town, with long beaches and all-inclusive hotels.

• Marsa Alam - Quiet reefs, turtle bays and some of the best diving in the Red Sea.

• Sharm El Sheikh - Sinai's headline resort, with Ras Mohammed's reefs on the doorstep.

• Cairo - The pyramids of Giza and a city that gets under your skin.