Full or Half-Day East and West Bank Tours in Luxor

Luxor is often referred to as “the world’s greatest open air museum’ and it’s clear to see why – the city is packed with historical monuments and ancient relics. Whether you want to take in the pharaohs’ tombs and temples, or explore the living markets and bazaar, a tour of Luxor’s East & West Banks will give you an unforgettable experience.

But when planning a trip to Luxor, you may be asking yourself: should I go for a full-day or a half-day tour of the East and West Banks? Which option is right for me?

In this guide, we’re going to answer that question, by taking you through both full and half-day itineraries. We’ll share what you can expect to see on each tour, so you can decide which one is the best fit for your vacation – or, if you’ve got enough time, why not take in both!

Full-Day Tour of the East and West Banks

If you’ve got the time, a full-day tour of Luxor’s East & West Banks is without a doubt one of the best ways to explore the city. While some itineraries have slight variations in terms of what attractions they include, most tours will take in some key sites, such as:

• Karnak Temple – On the east side of Luxor, this large-scale temple complex was dedicated to Amun, a god of the ancient Egyptian pantheon.
• Valley of the Kings – This UNESCO-listed site is an ancient necropolis, filled with tombs from the New Kingdom pharaohs.
• Valley of the Queens – Situated on the west bank, this is a funerary site where many of the tombs were decorated with hieroglyphs, paintings and carvings.
• Hatshepsut Temple – Located in Deir el Bahari, on Luxor’s west bank, this is an incredibly well-preserved mortuary temple that was constructed for Pharaoh Hatshepsut during the 18th dynasty.
• Colossi of Memnon – Two huge stone statues, which were built to guard a temple from around 1400 BC.

In addition to these sites mentioned above, full-day tours often include more time for activities such as camel riding, and also provide more time for shopping in some of Luxor’s souks (markets). You will usually have a driver and guide with you throughout the day, so you can ask any questions you might have or gain insight into the culture & history.

Full-day tours may sound like they could be quite tiring – but don’t worry! Your tour operator will usually include stops for lunch and coffee breaks for refreshments, so you never feel overwhelmed by the touring schedule. Plus, a full-day tour means there’s no rush to get from place to place – which is great as you can really take in all the sites you cover!

Half-Day Tour of the East and West Banks

A half-day tour of Luxor’s East & West Banks is the ideal option if you’re short of time. Your itinerary may vary slightly from tour to tour, but some of the highlights you can expect include:

• Karnak Temple
• Valley of the Kings
• Luxor Temple

Your driver and guide will usually focus on these main three sites as they are some of the best-known landmarks in Luxor and close to one another – so it makes sense to use shorter tours to visit them! Of course, there will still be time at each site for you to explore and learn more about them, too. You may even get the chance to visit a bazaar or take part in an activity such as camel riding if included in your package.

It’s worth noting that some half-day tours may include visits to other sites too. For example, you may get to visit Queen Hatshepsut’s columned temple, or The Colossi of Memnon – two huge stone statues which once guarded a temple from around 1400 BC.

My Personal Opinion?

From my own experience, I believe that if you really want to get a taste of what Luxor has to offer, then a full-day tour is always best. You’ll get to see more places as well as getting some free time to explore independently – something you may not get with shorter tours. Plus, with an experienced guide on hand throughout the day, you’ll get a real insight into how life is lived in Luxor – rather than just scratching the surface with a half-day tour.

Whichever option you go for – full-day or half-day – one thing is for sure: a trip to Luxor is an unforgettable experience! To make your plans become reality, why not check out GetYourGuide – who have plenty of options for both half-day and full-day tours. You can book an unforgettable tour today!.