How to Get to Luxor from Cairo

Luxor is home to some of the country's most popular sites such as 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.

is 504 kilometres away and 614.4 kilometres by road. Options for getting to Luxor from Cairo include excursion, plane, bus, night train or day train, sleeper train. A Nile cruise is also an option. However, more than a means of transport, it is a way to enjoy the ride along the Nile.

The most complete option

Luxor Day Trip from Cairo by Plane

Marvel at 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. You will also enjoy a typical lunch and get to know the most important monuments of this destination.

From £94 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 meet with an expert guide 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 or Deir el Bahari.

In addition, you will immerse yourself in the gastronomy, with a delicious lunch of local Egyptian food in one of the city's restaurants.Recommended if... You want to get to know one of the most important tourist destinations in Egypt.

Booking an excursion to Luxor from Cairo is a recommended option if you're looking for an unforgettable, relaxing, comfortable and fully-covered trip.

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 from 8am to 11pm. If you're staying in a hotel in Giza, you can also take advantage of the proximity and catch a train from there. There are two types of trains:

• The "Special" class trains (five daily services), which are more modern and comfortable.
• The "Standard" class trains (four daily services), which are cheaper and older. A total of nine trains run daily.

Travel time between Cairo and Luxor is around 10.5 hours, although it may take up to 12 hours. I recommend you take a window seat, as one of the great joys of taking this route is watching the lush Nile countryside of green fields and date palms pass by. Take one of the two morning trains to make the most of the view, but if you're travelling at night, be aware that there are no sleeper cars.

All trains offer a food and drink trolley service intermittently during the journey, but it's a good idea to bring snacks. First class carriages in both cases come with more spacious seats and better toilet facilities, so it's worth paying for. 1st class tickets range from 114 EGP (€6.56) to 202 EGP (€11.63).

Disadvantage of taking the train to Luxor

The main disadvantage of taking this route by train 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 is an official travel restriction in order to give locals more options to travel on cheap trains. However, this law is no longer in force. And 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 second class and almost €15 for first class. Of the nine departing in 24 hours, three depart at night. The first departs from 7.45pm onwards.

The most luxurious way to travel from Cairo to Luxor is to book a Nile cruise along this route. More than just 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). The price to pay includes all meals and sightseeing, as well as a variety of evening events on board, the price starts from €650.

This is a hassle-free, all-in-one sightseeing and transport tour 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.

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 in high 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 or in the evening) a taxi to the airport from the central city takes 30 minutes. Be sure to book a transfer time between the airport and downtown Cairo. Luxor airport is seven kilometres from the centre of Luxor. There is no public transport, so use one of the airport taxis or book a private transfer.

Several bus companies offer bus services between Cairo and Luxor. Most of them operate at night. The main companies operating this route are:

• Go Bus: departs from Cairo from their office conveniently located just off Tahrir Square in the city centre.
• Super Jet: departs from Cairo Gateway Bus Station, also in the city centre.
• Upper Egypt Travel: departs 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, near the train station. Travel time is around 11 hours and tickets cost between 220EGP**(€12.67**) and 385EGP**(€22.17**). The advantage is that there are 12 bus trips available each day.

Buses stop every three hours or so at motorway service stations, which have toilets and restaurants. However, it's a good idea to bring snacks or other food to save money, as the gastronomic 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.