Arrive, unpack, relax, and explore on this splendidly flexible week in Luxor. Designed to suit your style and tempo, the tour includes guided visits to the west bank tombs of the Valley of the Kings and the astonishing eastern enclave of the Karnak and Luxor temples, along with views of the riverbanks from the deck of a traditional felucca. Remarkable optional experiences range from seeing the city by hot-air balloon to a close-up insight of ancient artisans’ life at the humble Tombs of the Workers, or stepping into legends of Cleopatra at the Greco-Roman Temple of Denderah. You could opt for an extra touch of luxury by upgrading your stay to the iconic Old Winter Palace hotel, where Howard Carter announced his discovery of Tutankhamun’s tomb. Bags of free time is built-in to the tour for you to decide on a relaxing day or lively exploration; and rather than restricting you to hotel fare, most days leave you free to choose your venue and menu, from rustic simplicity to riverside tables and elegant restaurants in ‘modern’ Luxor, its souks, shops, and houses hemming three sides of the ancient city of Thebes, where just crossing the road is time-travelling through the millennia.
Fly directly from London Heathrow to Luxor and transfer to your chosen hotel for seven nights.
Enjoy a half-day tour of discovery in Luxor’s west-bank Theban necropolis, the Valley of the Kings, where iconic landmarks include the monumental Colossi of Memnon, the statues soaring 60-feet high; the tiered tomb of Queen Hatshepsut; and over sixty tombs of the pharaohs, those of Seti I and Tutankhamun the most famous among them. Enjoy our unique experience of a sunset sail on a traditional felucca on the River Nile and soak in the views as dusk approaches. Dinner at the Pavillon Hotel.
(B, D)
Explore Luxor at your own pace on a day at leisure in the city. Perhaps spend the day at exploring Luxor Museum with fascinating antiquities on display or simply take a leisurely walk along the corniche where many monuments and museums lay on the east bank.
(B)
Day at leisure or enjoy an optional full-day boat tour discovering the Temple of Hathor at Denderah. Located north of Luxor, the current structure was built during the Greek period and is one of the best-preserved in Egypt. Leaving your hotel in the morning, a relaxing morning cruise takes you towards Denderah. Here you’ll explore the complex and later enjoy lunch on board, before sailing back to Luxor (pre-bookable £150 per person).
(B)
A half-day tour today reveals the glorious monuments of Luxor’s east bank, where the splendid Temple of Karnak sits, the second largest ancient religious site in the world, with its great hypostyle hall, courts, colonnades, and obelisks. Explore the connecting Avenue of Sphinxes from Luxor Temple. Laid out parallel to the riverbank, Luxor Temple has been in almost continuous use as a place of worship right up to present day and played an essential role in the annual Opet Festival which celebrated the Nile River floods.
(B)
An enthralling optional experience this morning is a hot-air balloon ride over Luxor, for a bird’s eye view of “the greatest living museum”, as the Nile glistens in the morning sunlight, see the land of the Pharaohs as they never could (early morning start before sunrise, pre-bookable £160 per person). Later, we offer an optional tour to the Valley of the Queens and the Deir el-Medina Tombs of Nobles and Workers, the artisans who created the Valley of the Kings (pre-bookable £115 per person).
(B)
A final free day to relax at the hotel, stroll to the street shops and El Souk’s stalls for silver and spices, leather goods, Egyptian cotton, and alabaster carvings, or pick a rustic restaurant for a mezze meal. Farewell dinner at the Pavillon this evening.
(B, D)
Transfer to the airport for the return flight to London Heathrow.
(B)
Temple and tomb visits are on foot with steps and uneven surfaces.
Sail on a traditional felucca; while the sun gently sets over this ancient and mystical land, become captivated by the vibrant colours and beauty of the
timeless River Nile. As the felucca glides gracefully, passing lush riverbanks and glorious landscapes, watch life unwind and experience pure serenity.
18 Sep 25, 16 Oct 25 and 5 more
A superb short-break in Cairo takes you to Egypt’s most iconic monuments, the Pyramids of Giza, a tour to ancient Memphis and Saqqara, and visits the hallowed halls of the Egyptian Museum
From £1695 pp
incl Flight
19 Sep 25, 10 Oct 25 and 9 more
The pyramids of Giza are the country’s most photographed monuments, the timeless Nile is its most vital asset. These two icons of Egypt come together on a tour of tombs, temples, and treasures
From £2795 pp
incl Flight
26 Apr 25, 27 Sep 25 and 9 more
Exploring Egypt’s ancient past, the ‘full Nile cruise’ crosses four thousand years of regal and rural life, revealing the tales and tombs of pharaohs, and the temples of the Gods
From £4995 pp
incl Flight
15 Sep 25, 24 Nov 25 and 8 more
A wonderful week on a unique vessel, this cruise is aboard ‘the most luxurious steamship on the Nile’, the SS Misr, the former floating palace of King Farouk; sailing upstream and down again between Luxor and Aswan, to visit major sites and highlights
From £3995 pp
incl FlightThe below departures are available - please click into the booking process for a quote and to book.
Air travel and taxes, transfers, 7 nights’ accommodation, breakfast daily, 2 dinners, itinerary as described, excursions, services of guides and local representatives. If our specially negotiated airfares are unavailable at the time of booking, a supplement may apply.
Travel insurance, visa procurement, optional excursions, tipping, any government taxes or compulsory charges introduced after publication.
The following extensions are available to book with this tour. Please click through to the booking process to check your preferred departure date and to make a reservation.
Extra nights are priced per person, per night.
Please contact us to check availability and book alongside your tour.