One-week itinerary for Luxor and Aswan

Hello, We’d like to spend a week in Luxor and Aswan in February. I’d asked a tour operator to organize the trip for us, but I think it’s way too expensive for what’s included. So I’m going to try to plan it myself, and with your help if you don’t mind. We’re 76 and 77 years old and in good shape, but I doubt we’ll be getting up at 6 a.m. every day. I bought a paper guidebook, but I haven’t read it all yet. We arrive on a Saturday at 5 p.m. and leave the following Saturday at 6 p.m. Here’s what I’d like to do: The first three days in Luxor: - Valley of the Kings: 3 tombs + Seti I and Ramses VI, and Hatshepsut; see the Colossi of Memnon along the way. Ramesseum??? First question: How much time do we need for this? I can’t figure it out. Can we see anything else the same day without feeling overwhelmed or too tired?

- Karnak Temple: Should we start with it or with Luxor Temple? How much time for both? Sound and light show in the evening? Or just Luxor Temple illuminated? Can the Avenue of Sphinxes be seen separately?

- Valley of the Nobles (2 combined tickets), Artisans’ Village, and Medinet Habu: Same question—how much time? Can we see anything else?

No one ever talks about lunch or going back to visit in the afternoon. Is it too hot? I saw there are one or two small restaurants near the temples—do you know any? Or is it better to go back to Luxor?

What’s a fair price for a taxi for a day like this? We’ll probably stay on the East Bank.

- Day 4: Then we’d like to go to Aswan, stopping at Edfu and Kom Ombo along the way. I’ve seen prices around 140 € for a private car with a driver.

- Day 5: Unfortunately, no matter how I rearrange the days, we’ll only have one day for Abu Simbel. I’ve seen prices around 140–150 €. I don’t plan on getting up at 3 a.m.—what time should we leave so it’s not too bad? We won’t have much time to explore Aswan after two days on the road plus a third to return to Luxor.

- Day 6: Philae Temple—I’ve read a lot of comments saying it’s a madhouse to get the boat. How much should we pay to avoid haggling for hours??? How much time for the visit? Return to Luxor—I was tempted to take the train, but so far I’ve only seen options very early in the morning. The price is also around 150 €. - Day 7: In Luxor, since our flight leaves at 6 p.m., I thought we’d visit the Luxor Museum. Does this itinerary seem reasonable? Is there another way to organize it? Of course, if you know drivers who offer good rates, I’m interested—but I want a good driver who doesn’t drive too fast, a car with AC and in good condition for the long trips (we’re not 20 anymore). Thanks for reading this far, and all your advice is welcome! Annaïck

Hi everyone, Sure, it's really easy to organize your trip on your own without a tour operator or agency. I’ll get back to you this weekend if possible—I’m swamped right now, but you’ve got plenty of time to figure things out. For starters, here’s a little tip if you don’t want to rely on a guide: do some research online about what you want to see. That way, you’ll at least know a bit and won’t just stand there clueless in front of such beauty. Do you need help with accommodation or anything else in Luxor and Aswan? Talk soon, Thoutmosis

Hello,

To answer generally, the pace of visits is quite personal. My suggestions below are for a relaxed pace, though not too leisurely.

For your 3 days in Luxor, here’s a possible organization: - Take the boat to the Luxor Museum. At the dock, negotiate a car: Expect around 10 € for a driver for the day. - Day 1: Valley of the Kings according to the program you mentioned. Indeed, Seti I is wonderful, and Ramses V/VI is well worth the extra cost. Among the 3 basic tombs, I’d choose Ramses I (right next to his son Seti I’s tomb), Ramses III, and Tausert/Sethnakht. If you want a completely different experience, a tomb that’s rarely visited and where you’ll be absolutely alone is Ay’s, in a neighboring valley to the Valley of the Kings. You’ll need your driver to take you there. The extra cost is low. For the typical duration, count 4-5 hours, a little more if you visit Ay. I’d then recommend visiting the Temple of Medinet Habu (get your ticket at the ticket office on the way) and stopping at the Colossi of Memnon on your way back. - Day 2: If you start with Karnak, you’ll have the chance to return to the Luxor Temple in the late afternoon via the Avenue of Sphinxes and enjoy the temple’s lighting, which is magnificent. - Day 3: Buy your tickets at the ticket office for everything except Hatshepsut. Start with Hatshepsut while it’s not too crowded, then the Ramesseum and the Valley of the Nobles in Sheikh Abd el-Qurna (in this order: Ramose, Userhat (TT56), Rekhmire, Sennefer, then head north toward the stunning tombs of Nakht and Menna). To finish the day, visit the artisans' village and, if you have time, the Valley of the Queens. If Nefertari’s tomb has reopened, it’s truly extraordinary—at least on par with Seti I. In that case, the Valley of the Queens is a must.

- Day 4: Yes, that’s about the price you should expect (no more).

For Aswan, my advice for visiting Abu Simbel in the best conditions is to spend a night there. The transport will be more expensive (2 days, expect around 200 €). You’ll be less tired (otherwise, it’s 7-8 hours of driving in one day) and you’ll be there at the best times (magical sunrise), with the sound and light show as a bonus.

- Day 5: Visit Philae in the morning (around 300-400 LE for the boat, not per person), then head to Abu Simbel. You can optionally visit the temples a first time without crowds and especially attend the sound and light show.

- Day 6: The next morning, you’ll still need to wake up a bit early to see the sunrise over the temples: an extraordinary spectacle with truly magical light. Around 10 AM, return to Aswan, then Luxor (there are afternoon trains).

Best regards, Sennedjem

Thanks a lot, Thoutmosis! I’ve got it all planned with documentation for the whole winter. I’d love your great tips if you’re willing to share them.

Thanks Emmanuel for taking the time to write such a long message. I really like the plan for Abu Simbel—I’ll look into it. On the way back on Friday, that’ll be a lot of driving too. Is it better to take the train from Aswan? I checked the Abela Trains website, but it might be a bit early. For Ay’s tomb, do we get the ticket at the same place as the other tomb tickets?

Hello,

Yes, inevitably, from Abu Simbel to Luxor is a long journey. The ideal would have been (or would be?) to return to France from Aswan rather than Luxor. For the Aswan - Luxor train, I’m convinced because last year I drove a friend from Abu Simbel to Aswan, and she took the train from Aswan around 12-1 PM to Luxor.

For the train, you’ll find the information here: https://www.seat61.com/Egypt.htm

Best regards

hi @Balata, I don’t know if your choice for February was calculated, but from what I remember, the locals told me it’s the least hot month. I was there last year in September–October, and we really struggled with the heat, which has gotten worse with climate change (words from Egyptians). So, great choice for February!

Hi there,

Having been there in January, February, and March, I can tell you that: - January is generally a bit colder (you’ll pretty much keep your sweater on all the time) - February is a bit milder, but much more crowded—even overcrowded - March is, in my opinion, the ideal time; it’s not too hot yet, and there are far fewer people.

Best regards

Hi there, Just a heads-up that in 2026, Ramadan is expected to take place between mid-February and mid-March.

I’ve traveled during Ramadan in Egypt and Jordan before—it’s not impossible to visit, but it *is* a unique time. There are upsides (nighttime festivities, strong spiritual energy in places of worship, etc.) and downsides (delays, closures, tension in the air...).

Hello Balata, Sorry, I’ve been super busy so I couldn’t reply in more detail. You’ve already gotten some info from other contributors. First, a small clarification: it’s impossible to give you a time estimate for each site—it really depends on everyone’s interests (for example, I can spend more than half a day at temples like Karnak or Medinet Habu, and the same goes for the tombs—I stay quite a while, but not long enough to get mummified 😉😉. So it’s up to you—what do you usually do?

For the tombs in the Valley of the Kings, you’ll see which ones are open once you’re there. So you can make your choice, and I completely agree with Sennedjem about the tomb selections. Ay and Horemheb are also beautiful, and they’re in the Valley of the Monkeys. You can go there with your taxi since it’s very far.

For Karnak, if you want to visit Luxor Temple right after, the best option—if you’re staying on the west bank—is to take the ferry (ask which one) that goes to the hospital past the museum. That way, you’ve already covered half the distance. Once you’ve visited Karnak, do as Sennedjem suggests and return via the Dromos. But if you want to continue (about halfway along the Dromos), you’ll need to pay for a ticket to Luxor Temple. Otherwise, you’ll have to leave the Dromos. Ask Sennedjem if it’s still like that—if nothing’s changed.

You mentioned, "Valley of the Nobles: 2 combined tickets, artisans’ village, and Medinet Habu." What do you mean? There are no combined tickets. Maybe you meant visiting them one after the other?

At the artisans’ village, you’re allowed to visit three tombs. And don’t forget to go to the back of the village, taking a right (following the village) until you reach the small Temple of Hathor. It’s from a later period, but the colored frescoes are magnificent. Among other things, you’ll find a representation of the Weighing of the Soul with the Great Devourer.

In the Valley of the Nobles, visit Ramose’s tomb. On the right side of the back door (closed to the public), you’ll find a depiction of Akhenaten and Nefertiti with their family worshipping Aten (the figures have been chiseled out, but it’s one of the few almost-intact frescoes of this kind). To see it well and avoid the sun’s glare, the best time is in the afternoon or very early in the morning. Also, it’s best to stay on the west bank—you’ll only need the ferry for the two temples on the east side.

For Aswan, it’s perfectly possible to visit the temples and tombs along the road, like when leaving Luxor: Esna, the tombs of El Kab (tickets available on-site along the road), just after the Temple of Edfu, then Kom Ombo (be sure to specify what you want to see, and leave no later than 6 AM).

Since you’re arriving late in Aswan, it’s impossible to go there the same day.

If you don’t have much time in Aswan, you won’t be able to pick up your tickets at the bus station. You can leave either at 7 AM or 8 AM (depending on the day) and return with the last bus, which—if nothing’s changed—leaves around 5 PM. Ask when you buy your tickets and get a return ticket. Otherwise, hire a taxi for the day or a minibus.

For the train back to Luxor, there are afternoon trains—I always take those.

Also, the best time to visit Egypt is from late October to late March. Otherwise, we always go from mid-January to mid-March. But depending on the year, you can have daytime temperatures of 30 to 40 °C in February, or even fog for several days with a heavy, oppressive feeling. As Sennedjem mentioned, January can be very cold, even in February—especially in the evenings. So bring a light sweater (or a thick one). In 2014, it was so cold in the evenings that we had to eat in our room. Even the braziers in the garden weren’t enough to warm anyone up (we recorded 4 °C). And to continue with temperatures: in 2018 and 2020, it was 57 °C in Aswan and 60 °C at Abu Simbel 😎. I don’t mind the heat, but my wife does.

I’ll send you more info privately that could help with your travels. I’ll do that tomorrow, I promise. Thoutmosis

Hi Christine, Yes, my choice was calculated based on the flight ticket too, but unfortunately, it's also school holidays in France. I didn’t want to go too early because of the cold or too late because of the heat😐. I just saw that the last two days will also be during Ramadan. We’ll see how it goes.

Hi Sebastien, From what I’ve read, it’ll only affect two days. We’ll see how it goes.

Hi Balata, You won’t have any issues with the Ramadan period—all the sites stay open. Just keep in mind that some shops might close on certain days, like Fridays, which is the main prayer day for Muslims (the equivalent of our Sunday). Plus, even outside of Ramadan, Friday is a holy day for Muslims, so it’s a day to avoid for sightseeing since it gets really crowded (though it doesn’t bother us). And if you make some friends, you might even get invited to share their meal at the end of the day. Thoutmosis

Don’t miss Abu Simbel no matter the cost, and make sure to visit the Luxor Museum—it’d be a real shame to skip it.

Hi Balata, Can you let me know if my private message was sent successfully? I can’t find any trace of it. Thanks, Thoutmosis