How to Get to Luxor from Cairo

Luxor is home to some of the country's most famous sites, including the colourful tombs of the Valley of the Kings, the Temple of Hatshepsut and the colossal Karnak Temples. It's no wonder that trips to this world-famous historic site are one of the most popular excursions from Cairo.

Cairo is 504 km (314 miles) from Luxor. The road distance is 614.4 km (614.4 miles). Options for getting to Luxor from Cairo include plane, bus, night train or day train, sleeper train. A Nile cruise is also an option, as both cities overlook the river; however, this is more of a way to enjoy the Nile cruise than a means of transport.

The most complete option

Luxor Day Trip from Cairo by Plane

Be amazed by one of Egypt's most beautiful destinations

You will travel in comfort with an expert guide who will explain all the history and architecture of this city. In addition, you will enjoy a typical lunch and get to know the most important monuments of the place.

From £108 at Hellotickets

On this excursion to Luxor from Cairo you will have the opportunity to travel by plane to one of the most visited destinations in Egypt and learn from an expert guide about some of the most important archaeological finds in history, such as the Valley of the Kings, the Colossi of Memnon, the Temple of Luxor, the Temple of Karnak and Deir el Bahari.

In addition, you will immerse yourself in the gastronomy, with a delicious lunch of local Egyptian food in one of the restaurants of the city.

Recommended if... You want to get to know one of Egypt's most important tourist destinations.

Opting for an excursion to Luxor from Cairo is a recommendable option if you are looking for an unforgettable trip, quiet, comfortable and with everything covered. Imagine what it is like to focus solely on the experience of getting to know the city of Luxor and all its attractions, forgetting all the worries about how to get there, where to eat, how to get around and what to consider when visiting each specific place.

The organised excursions include:

• Round triptransfer by plane.
• Accompaniment by an expert guide.
• Visit to some of the tourist attractions such as the Valley of the Kings, the Colossi of Memnon, the Temple of Luxor, the Temple of Karnak or Deir el Bahari.
• Exquisite lunch at a local restaurant.

Several trains run daily between Cairo's Ramses Train Station and Luxor Train Station from 8am to 11pm. If you are staying in a hotel in Giza, you can also take advantage of the proximity and take a train from Giza train station. There are two types of trains: "Special" class trains (five daily services) are more modern and comfortable. The "Standard" class trains (four daily services) are cheaper and older. A total of 9 trains run daily.

Travel time between Cairo and Luxor is around 10.5 hours, although it may take up to 12 hours. You'll definitely want to try a window seat, as one of the great joys of travelling by train along this route is watching the lush Nile-side countryside of green fields and date palms pass by. Take one of the two morning trains to make the most of the view. If you plan to travel on one of the evening services, be aware that both types of trains only have regular seats, there are no sleeper cars.

All trains offer a food and beverage trolley service intermittently throughout the journey, but it's a good idea to bring snacks or a picnic lunch. First class carriages in both cases come with more spacious seats and better toilet facilities, so it's worth paying for. First class tickets range from 114 EGP (€6.56) to 202 EGP (€11.63) depending on the train.

Disadvantage of travelling by train to Luxor

The main disadvantage of travelling by train along this route is that, unfortunately, some staff at both Ramses Train Station and Luxor Train Station will try to convince you that you are only allowed to use the (much more expensive) sleeper service. This dates back to a previous official travel restriction in order to give locals more options for cheap train travel. However, this law is no longer in force, so try to book early to avoid anything unexpected.

If you have trouble booking a train ticket, be aware that most hotels can send someone to the station to do it for you for a small fee.

Night trains to Luxor

The night train costs about €8 for 2nd class and almost €15 for 1st class. Of the 9 departing in 24 hours, 3 depart at night. The first one departs from 7:45pm. For more information visit the company's official website.

The Watania Sleeper Train is a comfortable option for those who don't like to spend 12 hours in a seat. It departs every night from Ramses Train Station in Cairo at 7:45pm (and 20 minutes later from Giza Station) and travels through the night to arrive in Luxor at 6.15am.

Tickets can be purchased at the Watania Sleeper Train office at Ramses Train Station, or online. It costs around €80 for a bed in a twin cabin or, if you're travelling alone and don't want to share a compartment, you can opt to pay €120 for a single cabin. There is also room for good sized seats that can recline, the latter ticket costs 40 euros. Either ticket includes both dinner (with a choice of chicken, beef, fish or vegetarian) and breakfast.

Sleeping compartments are tidy with a small sink and bunks that fold out from the wall. Bed linen is provided and the included meals are brought to the room. For children there is a 15% discount and if you book online you can enjoy a 5% discount.

The most luxurious way to travel from Cairo to Luxor is a Nile cruise. More than a mode of transport, it's a way of harking back to the early days of tourism in Egypt, when European travellers explored the country by boat. This Nile cruise takes 12 days (including sightseeing days in both Cairo and Luxor).

This is a hassle-free, all-in-one sightseeing tour and transport with an elegant touch, stopping at all the important historical sites, such as Tell El Amarna and Abydos. Only a few larger Nile cruise operators, such as Mövenpick, operate this route, departing from Cairo once a month from February to June and September to November, so you can enjoy this option whether you're travelling to Cairo in spring or autumn.

The price to be paid includes all meals and sightseeing, as well as a variety of evening events on board, starting from 650 euros.

Egypt Air flies four times daily direct to Luxor International Airport from Cairo International Airport. Flights last one hour, and ticket prices start at around 120 Euros in the peak season from December to February.

As Egypt is not a popular summer destination, if you travel in the months of June or November(just before summer and winter respectively), flight prices will be more affordable.

Flights to Luxor depart from Cairo Airport Terminal Three. In minimal traffic conditions (before 7am and late at night) a taxi to Cairo Airport from the central city only takes about 30 minutes. In any case, be sure to add an hour to the time allotted for transfers between the airport and downtown Cairo. Luxor Airport is seven kilometres from the centre of Luxor. There is no public transport immediately in that area, so use one of the airport taxis or book a private transfer.

Several bus companies offer bus services between Cairo and Luxor. Most services are overnight. Go Bus, Super Jet and Upper Egypt Travel are the main companies operating this route. Go Bus departs from Cairo from its conveniently located office just off Tahrir Square in the city centre. Super Jet and Upper Egypt Travel buses depart from Cairo Gateway Bus Station, also in the city centre.

All bus companies arrive in Luxor and stop at their respective individual offices, which are conveniently located in the centre of Luxor, close to the train station. Travel time is around 11 hours, and tickets cost between 220EGP**(12.67 euros**) and 385EGP**(22.17 euros**). The advantage is that there are 12 bus trips available each day.

Buses stop every three hours or so at motorway service stations, which include toilets and restaurants. However, it is a good idea to bring snacks or other food to save money, as the food services offered at these stations are expensive. Note that even if you go during the day, you won't get much of a view on this route, as the buses take the desert road rather than following the Nile.