How to spend 48 hours in Luxor
Hot Air Balloons, Ancient Tombs, and Temples
There are places in the world that make you feel small—in the best way possible. Luxor, Egypt, is one of them.
A city where time folds in on itself, where gods were worshipped and kings were buried, and where every corner seems to whisper a 3,000-year-old secret. I only had two days in Luxor, but I wish I could’ve stayed longer. If you’re wondering whether it’s worth squeezing Luxor into a packed Egypt itinerary—the answer is an enthusiastic yes. Here’s how I made the most of 48 hours in one of the most historic cities on earth.
Getting to Luxor
Luxor can be reached by plane, train, bus, or Nile cruise. Since I only had two days and wanted to make the most of every minute, I opted for a short flight from Cairo. My roundtrip flights were included in the tour I booked. Although I had to wake up at 3:30 that morning, it was definitely worth it.
What I was able to see in 2 days:
- Valley of the kings
- Temple of queen Hatshepsut
- Karnak Temple Light Show
- Hot Air Balloon Ride
- Felucca ride along the Nile
- Karnak Temple
- Luxor temple
Day 1:
Tombs, Temples, and a Show Under the Stars
Valley of the Kings
From the airport, we drove straight to the Valley of the Kings—one of the most iconic archaeological sites in the world. Nestled on the west bank of the Nile, this ancient necropolis was the final resting place of Egypt’s most powerful pharaohs from the New Kingdom period. It is impressive to say the least, with its elaborately painted corridors and chambers. Crazy to believe they had been there for thousands of years.
As of 2025, the standard ticket (about 750 EGP or $15 USD) includes access to three tombs, but over 60 have been discovered, and their availability rotates to help preserve them. I chose to visit KV1 (Rameses IV), KV11 (Rameses III), KV9 (Rameses VI), and the world-famous KV62—Tutankhamun’s tomb, which required an extra ticket (around $18 USD).
We spent around 2 hours there, before it was time to keep moving.
Temple of Queen Hatshepsut
Next stop: The Mortuary Temple of Queen Hatshepsut, which was nearby the Valley of the Kings, built into the base of dramatic limestone cliffs. Hatshepsut was one of ancient Egypt’s most powerful rulers—and one of the few female pharaohs. Her temple was not only a grand tribute to Amun, the sun god, but also a bold declaration of her legitimacy in a male-dominated world.
The structure itself is incredible—elegant colonnades and intricate reliefs, and although it is not really covered, it is very well maintained, with a lot of the colors still present on the walls. We spent around an hour and a half wandering its terraces before continuing on.
Colossi of Memnon
On our way back to the east bank, we stopped at the Colossi of Memnon—two massive stone statues of Pharaoh Amenhotep III that once guarded the entrance to his mortuary temple. Though the temple is long gone, these towering figures have stood watch for over 3,400 years. They’re a quick stop, since they are just on the side of the road, but they add to the wonder of the Theban necropolis.
Lunch + Break
Lunch was a delicious Egyptian spread—grilled chicken, soup, salad, pita, hummus, and rice—simple yet flavorful, one of my favorite meals in Egypt. Afterward, I finally got a short break to rest at the hotel before heading out again.
Karnak Temple Sound & Light Show
That evening, the tour picked me up from the hotel and we went to the Karnak Temple complex for the Sound & Light Show.
The show narrates Karnak’s rich history through lights, music, and narration, all set against the temple’s towering columns and obelisks. It’s a little dramatic and slightly kitschy—but amazing nonetheless.
The show lasted around 1-2 hours, ending around 10 pm. After that, it was time to go back to the hotel and prepare for the next day, which started very early too.
Day 2:
Sunrises, Skylines, and Sacred Sites
Waking up at 4 a.m. wasn’t easy, but it seems to be a norm when I’m traveling. I was picked up from the hotel and brought to the Nile riverside, where we were ferried across on a felucca to reach the hot air balloon launch site on the West Bank.
Luxor is one of the top hot air balloon destinations in the world—on par with Cappadocia, Turkey, and Bagan, Myanmar, so if I was going to have a chance to do this, it was there.
Floating over Luxor at sunrise is on my top of the most surreal experiences. From 1,000 feet up, I saw the Temple of Hatshepsut, the Colossi of Memnon, Medinet Habu, and the outlines of the Valley of the Kings. The views were unmatchable. You hear the loud roar of the flame as the balloon inflates, but once the fire stops, it’s nothing but silence, calm, and pure peace (sometimes people do talk in the background, still nice).
My group had about 20 people, and we all fit into one giant balloon basket. The flight lasted around 45 minutes. I never felt unsafe, but I probably wouldn’t recommend it if you’re afraid of heights.
A Little Mysticism & Shopping
After landing, we visited an alabaster shop where a charming local insisted we’d met in a past life. Whether or not you believe in reincarnation, the interaction was fun. He recommended me a book about egyptian meditations. I also got some very cute handmade vases made of alabaster (a natural product with a translucent finish, found in egypt and used by pharaohs and locals)
Next up was a peaceful felucca ride—a traditional Egyptian sailboat—back across the Nile. Peaceful, and beautiful. The Felucca took me to and from a restaurant where we were having lunch.
I was able to see glimpses of daily life along the river, like kids playing or women washing clothes, besides the typical houses and beautiful scenery.
Karnak Temple (Day Visit)
Seeing Karnak Temple by daylight is an entirely different experience. Karnak served as the religious epicenter of the Egyptian New Kingdom, and what makes it extraordinary is not just its scale, but the fact that it evolved over more than 2,000 years, shaped by over 30 different pharaohs.
Massive sandstone columns, Obelisks, Courtyards, Sanctuary, Mosque, it is definitely one of the most impresive sites I have ever been to.
Luxor Temple
Lastly, we visited Luxor Temple, located in the heart of the modern city. Unlike other temples, it wasn’t dedicated to a god but to the concept of kingship itself. This was where pharaohs were crowned in rituals meant to renew their divine right to rule.
What makes Luxor Temple even more fascinating is its layered history—it has been a spiritual site for over 3,000 years. You’ll find ancient Egyptian carvings, Christian elements from when it was converted into a church, and even a mosque that still functions today.
Final Thoughts
After that, it was time to head back to the airport to go back to Cairo. Luxor exceeded every expectation I had. Have I known better before I had visited egypt, I would have stayed longer, giving each site the time and reverence it deserves.
The ancient capital of Thebes is filled with ancient monuments and interesting sites. And although I tried to maximize my time as much as I could, there was still much more to see.
The accommodation, tours, attractions, breakfast and lunch were incldued in the tour. And although it wasn’t cheap, it was very well worth its price.
Are you ready to start discovering Luxor?
This is the tour I did during my time in the Luxor and personally recommend—leaving the link below so you can check it out for yourself.
Are you ready to start discovering Luxor?
This is the tour I did during my time in the Luxor and personally recommend—leaving the link below so you can check it out for yourself.
