After Cairo, Luxor will likely top your list to visit during your time in Egypt, as it is home to some of the most impressive temples in the entire country (the world-famous Karnak complex as well as the Luxor Temple), but it is also where you likely will start your exploration into the Valley of the Kings and the Valley of the Queens.
From Cairo, Luxor is approximately 671 km (419 miles) away, and is also on the Nile river making it possible to do the trip either by train, by boat, or by airplane.
Content Preview
Traveling from Cairo to Luxor by Airplane (the recommended and easiest way)
Ancient ruins of historical Karnak temple in Luxor, Egypt- Price: 75–100 US dollars
- Duration: 1 hour flight, but 4–5 hours total (with transfer to airport, waiting at airport, etc)
Your easiest way to get from Cairo to Luxor would be a domestic flight. These cost around 70 to 100 US dollars for one way, depending on the time of year that you are booking for and how long in advance you book. The flight takes a total of about an hour, with most flights run by Egypt's national carrier, Egyptair.
Even taking into consideration that you would have to get to the airport, be there about 2 hours in advance, check-in your suitcases, and collect your luggage at the end, a domestic flight is still the most time-effective way to get from Cairo to Luxor, taking around 4–5 hours in total, and on top of that, it is the easiest way to travel, hence our recommendation. Booking a few months in advance can also take the price down to the lower end of the range, matching the price for a train ticket as listed below.
There are multiple flights a day (running as early as 6am and as late as 11pm), so you can pick a time that works best for you. If you're on a tight schedule, an early or late flight will mean that your flight time avoids eating too much into your sightseeing time.
See our handpicked itineraries including Cairo for various durations: 5 days, 7 days, 10 days, 12 days, 14 days and 21 days...
Traveling by Overnight Train from Cairo to Luxor (the cheapest way)
The Colossi of Memnon are two giant stones status, Luxor- Price: 80–120 US dollars for a sleeper, 8–10 US dollars for a seat
- Duration: around 10 hours
The overnight train from Cairo to Luxor from the Wataniya Sleeping Trains company is a good option if you are looking to save money, since it saves you a night in a hotel, making it overall the most cost-effective way to get from Cairo to Luxor. We recommend booking these tickets a few days in advance at least to secure a spot, and you can buy tickets online or at Ramses Train Station in Cairo, where the train departs from.
There are also some extremely cheap tickets for seats on trains between the two cities (8–10 US dollars), but we do not recommend these as the journey is a bit too long to sit. However, the option is there if you're traveling on a tight budget, or if you're unable to get a sleeper train ticket.
Most visitors opt to book in advance and pay around 80–120 US dollars (80 US dollars for a cabin containing two beds, and 120 US dollars for a private cabin) to be more comfortable and get some sleep in a sleeper berth so that they have the energy to explore Luxor the next morning.
There are a couple of sleeper trains depending on the day that you're looking to travel. One usually departs at 7.45pm and arrives at Luxor around 6am the next morning, and the second sleeper train departs at 9.10pm from Cairo and arrives in Luxor at around 8am. If you're happy to have a seat rather than a bed, there are many more departure times for trains leaving Cairo throughout the day.
Suggested reading: Top Places to Visit in Cairo
Traveling from Cairo to Luxor by Boat (the most picturesque way)
Nile River off the coast of Luxor- Price: 2,000–5,000 US dollars
- Duration: 11–12 days
If you've got the time, you could travel from Cairo to Luxor by boat and see a lot of incredible things along the way. There are a huge variety of trips out there, so the prices do vary a lot depending on how luxurious you would like your boat to be, how many activities you'd like to do on the way, and what your preferences for food are. Do also keep in mind that these prices include accommodation, food, and entrance tickets to sights for the duration of the journey, hence they are a lot higher than other modes of transport.
The cruises generally take approximately 11 to 12 days, which usually includes a few days in Cairo to explore, a trip to Tuna el Gebel, Beni Hassan, Asyut (home to the Tomb of Meryre and Pentu as well as Akhenaten), Abydos Temple, and a tour through Luxor for a few days at the end too.
For more information about the Nile Cruise, read on: How to Plan a Nile Cruise in Egypt?
Not Recommended: Driving from Cairo to Luxor by Car or Taking a Bus
The temple of Luxor at nightThe journey from Cairo to Luxor by car would take approximately 8 hours, so this is also technically an option if you like driving and would prefer to rent a car to do so. We don't recommend this as your best option, because the roads are long, dark, often lacking in signs, and there is little to see on the way, nor much in the way of facilities such as gas stations or other road services should something go wrong with the car.
Driving in Egypt is also not going to be same as driving in Europe or in North America, with little adherence to traffic rules throughout the country but especially on empty highways and at night. Other cars often do not have their headlights on. While this method is not recommended, we did want to list the option in case anybody was thinking about it.
There are also buses driving the route between Cairo and Luxor overnight. While the drivers of these buses are likely more used to the conditions of driving in Egypt than a tourist would be, we still do not recommend taking these buses if it can be avoided. Taking the train is a safer, more comfortable, and quicker option, and is much less prone to traffic jams too! Those on a budget can opt for a seat instead of a bed on the train for an affordable journey.
Suggested reading: How Much Does It Cost to Travel in Egypt?
A Pre-Arranged Travel Itinerary from Global Highlights Can Help
If you'd rather not think about how to get from one stop on your trip to the next, Global Highlights can help you book your entire trip and take care of everything, including how to get from Luxor to Cairo on your transport method of choice.
Get in touch and let us know how long you're thinking of visiting, what you'd like to see, as well as your preferred method of transport, and we can take away the hassle of planning a trip for you so that you can sit back and enjoy your visit to both Cairo and Luxor.
Get Inspired with Some Popular Itineraries
|
|
|
|
|
