10 Self-Guided Tours & Rentals in Luxor That You Shouldn't Miss

October 16, 2021 Matilde Konrad

The Luxor in Las Vegas is to the actual CITY of Luxor, Egypt, as marshmallow fluff is to fois gras. (We’re sure you knew that. We just enjoy analogies.) Sure, the hotel/casino in Vegas might have a beam of light visible from space, but we bet you'll find a hot-air balloon ride over the Valley of Kings much more illuminating. (Editor's note: Our list was compiled before political unrest prompted many countries to issue travel warnings for Egypt. If you're currently planning a trip to Egypt, please consider the risks and monitor your government's travel alerts.)
Restaurants in Luxor

1. Karnak Sound & Light Show in Luxor

Reflections Travel

Enjoy an evening of Egyptian entertainment and discover the beauty of the Temples of Karnak in all its glory. Experience the magic of Ramses11 and Queen Hatshepsut illuminated against the night sky.

Inclusions: Transfer by A/C Vehicle, You Will Be Received Headset Translator , Entry/Admission of Karnak Sound & Light Show in Luxor

Exclusions: Any Other Options , Tipping

Reviewed By atemkeng

Roshdy was amazing and made my trip from America to Egypt totally worth it and hes an amazing photographer. Definitely ask for him when you book????

2. Private Tour to Luxor West Bank : Kings Valley and Hatshepsut Temple

Egypt Sunshine

Tour the most famous sites in West Bank of Luxor with an expert private guide. You'll step back into Egypt's ancient history at the Valley of the Kings, Colossi of Memnon and Hatshepsut Temple.

Inclusions: Hotel pickup and drop-off., Qualified Egyptologist guide., Transport by air-conditioned vehicle.

Exclusions: Food and drinks, unless specified, Gratuities (recommended)

Reviewed By Swelch89

My boyfriend and I did a 4 day Nile cruise. Khaled was our personal tour guide all 4 days. He went above and beyond to make sure we were comfortable. He speaks English very well. We felt completely safe the entire time. He even organized a tour guide for the two days we spent in Cairo to end our trip. I highly recommend Khaled.

3. Pick Up and transfer (Luxor to Hurgada)

Fayruz Egypt Travel

pickup and drop-off from any place in Luxor to any place in Hurgada in comfort and very fast with a qualified driver

Inclusions: qualified licensed driver., water bottles., pickup and drop-off from any place in luxor and to any place in Hurgada, snacks., All taxes, fees.

Exclusions: tipping., Gratuities.

4. Pick Up and transfer (Luxor to Marsa Alam)

Fayruz Egypt Travel

pickup and drop-off from any place in Luxor to any place in Marsa Alam in comfort and very fast with a qualified driver

Inclusions: qualified licensed driver., water bottles, pickup and drop-off from any place in luxor and to any place in marsa alam, snacks., All taxes, fees.

Exclusions: tipping, Gratuities.

5. Sound and Light Show in Karnak temple, Luxor

Yasso Travel

Touring Luxor’s Karnak Temple by day is one thing: exploring it while floodlit at night quite another. Attend an evening Sound and Light show and explore the complex as multi-colored lights and laser projections illuminate the pillars, statues, and chambers, and pharaoh’s voices tell the temple’s story. Finish by watching a panoramic light show cast on the walls. A romantic occasion for couples, and ideal for families keen to bring history alive for the kids.

Inclusions: Private, qualified, English speaking representative will pick you up from..., Private transportation by air-conditioned minivans; pick up from..., Bottled mineral water during the tour., Entrance fees

Exclusions: Gratuities

Reviewed By Penhalley

What a horrible experience! Be aware, as we were not, the following points: If you book a Nile cruise, the boat ownership operates separate from the tour companies. The boat provides transportation, food and lodging. That’s it. They can not answer any touring questions. Our SIM card package on our phones did not work in this part of Egypt. I have a Skype account. It also did not work. All passengers on the boat have multiple tour companies, so it’s crazy confusion when we dock and group for tour time. When the boat docks, ya just kind of wander around the boat lobby hoping the guide comes to find you.... each tour has different guides... English speakers as promised.. eh The tour companies claim a list of what’s included if you book with them.... but unfortunately, the boat company does not honor any promises made by the tour company. “What’s included” is not accurate, so be aware. I booked our cruises through Viator. I had a ticket and proof of payment. Egyptian. Boat companies do not know what, or who Viator even is. So getting on the boat, you won’t see your tour company to help you. IF you choose to do a Nile cruise, and God help you if you do, make sure you know the name of the boat your tour company is booking for you, BEFORE you get to the dock.... there are hundreds of cruise boats around.....we were told where to go, but our boat was not there.. it had moved. English is rarely spoken. Arabic is the language... In our case, by the time the tour company emailed me the name of the boat, I noticed they had also “sold” our booking to another operator, which were not informed about. Once I had THAT tour company name, we could find our boat Bring lots of money, because unless entrance fees are included in your package, you can spend about $300 for two people, visiting the ancient grounds along the Nile in five days. We did get picked up by the tour company from our hotel in Luxor and taken to our boat. The M/S Grand Palm Was a simp. We were so disappointed. It was 20 years old and worn.... it would get worse, though, because halfway through the trip the boat docked at Kom Ombo Temple, giving passengers a small window of time at sunrise to tour the grounds. We got up and out and back to the ship in time for departure... only we didn’t leave. We waited and waiting, thinking we had all morning to tour that site. When we asked when we would be heaving, we learned the boat was broke down, and it would be a VERY long 12 hours before we could move. On this day, we could not make it the outskirts of Aswan for the High Dam and Philae Temple visit, so the tour would require a long round trip bus trip, plus tour time. Unfortunately, the tour left, before passengers even knew the boat was broken, so when the tour was done and guests super tired, we had to be taken to another boat docked in Aswan, where at least food was offered. (No rooms) It would be 1:30AM before we could get back on our boat, just in time to lay dune fur two hours, before the wane up call to get going for the Abu Simbel Temple Tour... which we got up for, but didn’t get. We would finally get underway, trying to reach Aswan dicks fir end of tour, but the boat broke again in a remote area along the Nile... a roadway, but no buildings, ships, or people. Since our tour company had agreed to take us to our next boat, after this one (for our pre-paid cruise trip back to Luxor on another boat and tour) ...we hoped the manager on the boat could help us call to alert of the breakdown. We had to reach our return boat by a certain time, or we would be turned away! This is when we learned the tour consent lied about taking us to our next boat. Like I said, tour companies will promise anything to get your booking. Getting it in writing did not help us at all. Out of the goodness of the heart of the boat manager, who felt bad fur us all the way through with being so ripped off and getting broke down, arranged a driver to come get us and take us to our next boat, free of charge for us. The rest of the passengers were getting on a bus at a later time it sounded like. Anyway, I did, finally, get ahold of the tour company I booked with by phone, after getting back to Luxor, and this is REAL hoot....He said he would be happy to refund us $40 for our failed tour to Abu Simbel, to which I replied.... “I beg your pardon, sir, we are out a couple thousand dollars for all it took for us to get into Egypt and all the way down south to Aswan to get our Abu Simbel tour, that we did not get. We CAME to Egypt to see the magnificent Abu Simbel Temple, choosing your Cruise tour TITLED: “Five Days of Egyptian Treasures from Luxor to Aswan ~including Abu Simbel,” and may I remind you; YOUR guide, at 4:15AM in the morning of February 7th told us ON THE FIFTH AND FINAL TOUR DAY “I don’t feel like taking you on your tour.” I continued to express my grievances to this owner of the tour company......”Well, we didn’t need your lazy guide, but we sure needed a vehicle, and at 4:30AM, our window of opportunity to make it to Abu Simbel and back in time for our boat departure of our second cruise; Aswan to Luxor was closing.....there were exactly five people awake at that hour; two boat security guards, a deck-hand manning reception on the boat, and us. We felt defeated.... our cell phones did not have service while on the Nile for seven days. The kind deck hand used his phone to call your number to speak to your guide.....who, by the way, confirmed our tour the night before, with the general manager of the cruise boat (on his personal phone)” No, a $40 refund isn’t going to make any of this feel better. We paid $703 for your tour, plus entrance fees of another $300, plus drinking water (water was suppose to be included but it wasn’t- we had to pay $45 just for water)! One can not live without H2O.... you failed us, though you were paid in advance to ensure we got our tour.” We have been on MANY tours in our travels; all over the world and while some do not go completely smooth, every effort had been made to ensure the end result was us getting our tour we paid for. We have been broken down in the middle of Mongolia, we’ve had flat tires in India, and Ethiopia, we have had plugged fuel lines, broken drive lines, and failed brakes before. I was even sent to a boat in Canada once, for my trip to Victoria, that wasn’t even running... it was in dry-dock! BUT, the company put us in a prop plane and got us there!....no matter what, we always got our trip! This is the first time, ever, a tour company failed to complete their promise to us... sad ???? Not Good, Egypt ???????? and we can’t recommend anybody make a trip to Luxor and Aswan at this time. It wasn’t just the Nike Cruises, the whole time in Egypt was a struggle this time. The people were rude and we did not feel welcomed at all. Don’t believe anything you are told, ether, becatse taxi drivers, and tour companies just want your business, so they lie about costs, travel times, and distances....Bunch of crooks at every turn. We self-toured around West Bank, Luxor before we left on the cruise, and there are locals who follow you, try to grab your belonging to carry them for you, so they can get paid. Telling them nicely to go away, get out of our face, and don’t touch my stuff didn’t work. My husband is a big guy, and he had to raise his voice to get them to leave. Go into a temple to tour? Here they come, trying to tell you where to take a picture and expect to be paid. It was so annoying! Two years ago we went to Cairo and Giza and had the most wonderful time. We experienced professional people and friendliness. This trip, in Luxor and Aswan was so disappointing. VERY overpriced entrance fees and demanding people wanting tips, overpriced crap car taxis.... pushy vendors and beggars... air quality was the worst. Mean horse and donkey owners who whip their precious animists that we’re trying so hard! Had we gone on this trip, first, we would not have returned to Egypt, so we are so glad we went to Cairo and Giza, first! We stayed for three weeks and it felt like two months! We ended our time in Hurghada at a resort by the Red Sea.... customer service wasn’t great, but the area was beautiful. Finally we got to leave Egypt....what a relief. I’ve been in the phone with Viator and shared my review. They said no refunds of any kind, even though we did not get our tour as promised. The photo is of a man beating his horse.. I have nothing good to show that time on the Nile Cruises