Luxor Day Trip from Aswan by Train

About this trip

Luxor in a day from Aswan: an early first-class train north, then the Valley of the Kings, Hatshepsut's temple, the Colossi of Memnon, lunch, and Karnak in the afternoon, before the evening train back. Train tickets, guide, lunch and entrance fees are included.

The day

1. Early morning

   Pickup from your hotel and the train to Luxor

   We collect you from your hotel in Aswan and take you to the railway station for the first-class train to Luxor. Your seats are booked in advance, and the line follows the Nile north for most of the way, so keep a window seat if you can. In Luxor, your private Egyptologist guide meets you on arrival.

2. Morning

   The Valley of the Kings

   On the West Bank, the rulers of the 18th, 19th and 20th Dynasties cut their tombs deep into a desert valley below a pyramid-shaped peak. More than 60 tombs have been found here. Inside, corridors and burial chambers are covered with painted texts and scenes meant to guide the king through the underworld to rebirth with the sun.

3. Morning

   The Temple of Hatshepsut

   Close by, at Deir el-Bahari, the mortuary temple of Queen Hatshepsut climbs the cliff face in three wide terraces. Designed by her official Senenmut, it records her trading expedition to the land of Punt and the story of her divine birth. Your guide explains how a woman came to rule as pharaoh and why her successors tried to erase her name.

4. Late morning

   The Colossi of Memnon

   On the way back toward the river you stop at the two huge seated statues of Amenhotep III, which once stood at the gate of his temple. Greek and Roman visitors believed one of them sang at dawn and left inscriptions on its legs to say they had heard it. It is a short stop, good for photos.

5. Midday

   Lunch at a local restaurant in Luxor

   A sit-down lunch at a local restaurant in Luxor, included in the price. After a morning of tombs and temples it is a welcome rest out of the sun, and a chance to talk over what you have seen with your guide before crossing to the East Bank.

6. Afternoon

   Karnak Temple on the East Bank

   Karnak was the great temple of Amun, added to by pharaohs for some 2,000 years. You walk through the pylons into the Great Hypostyle Hall, pass the obelisk of Hatshepsut and reach the Sacred Lake. Your guide shows you how each king left his mark on the complex and how the temple served the city of Thebes.

7. Evening

   Train back to Aswan and hotel drop-off

   After Karnak you are taken to Luxor station for the first-class train back to Aswan, where we meet you and drive you to your hotel. Train tickets, your guide, entrance fees, lunch and water are all covered, so the only money you need on the day is for tips and personal extras.

Questions about this trip