The West Bank of Luxor contains one of the largest collections of archaeological treasures in the world. This is where you will find the famous Valley of the Kings, the breathtaking tomb of Queen Nefertari, the mortuary temples of ancient Egyptian pharaohs, and an astounding number of tombs.
In this article, learn about the best things to do on the West Bank of Luxor, with updated pricing for 2023, tips on how and where to buy your tickets, and advice on how to plan your time.
Interesting Facts About the West Bank of Luxor
The Nile River splits Luxor into two parts, the East Bank and the West Bank.
The East Bank is the location of Luxor town. This is where you will find Karnak Temple and Luxor Temple. It is where most Egyptians live and work and it is also where you will find the majority of hotels and restaurants.
The West Bank of Luxor is where the ancient Egyptians buried the dead. Each night, the sun sets on the West Bank, so this became the necropolis, the area that is filled with the tombs and mortuary temples.
Best Things to do on the West Bank of Luxor
Here are our top ten things to do on the West Bank of Luxor, starting with the must-have experiences.
Important Note: For each site, I list where you can purchase your entrance ticket. Some sites have their own ticket booth, but there are a number of sites where you can only purchase your ticket at the Antiquities Inspectorate Ticket Office (more about this later in this article).
Valley of the Kings
The Valley of the Kings is a royal burial ground for pharaohs from the 18th, 19th, and 20th dynasties (the New Kingdom of Egypt). Famous kings from this time period include Tutankhamun, Ramesses II, Tuthmosis III, and Seti I, as well as powerful nobles and the wives and children of the pharaohs.
These tombs were constructed between 1539 and 1075 BC.
There are over 60 tombs in this small area, although only a handful are open to public.
Currently, eight tombs are included on the main ticket into the Valley of the Kings. Your entrance ticket will allow you to visit three of these tombs. If you want to see more than three tombs, you will have to purchase an additional ticket.
There are three additional tombs that you can visit with an extra ticket. Here is the list with the additional price for each tomb.
- KV9 – Ramesses V & VI 100 EGP per person
- KV17 – Seti I 1,000 EGP per person
- KV62 – Tutankhamun 300 EGP per person
To help you plan your visit to the Valley of the Kings, we have two articles that you should read:
Tomb of Ramesses V and VI
Tomb of Seti I
Tomb of King Tutankhamun
Tomb of Ramsesses III
Entrance Ticket: 260 EGP
Tram Ticket: 5 EGP
Total Cost with the 3 additional tombs: 1665 EGP
Photo Pass: 300 EGP (this covers all of the tombs in the Valley of the Kings with the exception of Seti I and Tutankhamun)
Where to Purchase Your Ticket: At the ticket office for the Valley of the Kings
Photography in the Valley of the Kings: Photography is allowed for free in all of the tombs in the Valley of the Kings, including the extra tombs. This rule only applies to cellphones. If you want to take photos with anything other than a cellphone, or if you want to shoot video with your cellphone, you must purchase a photography pass.
Mortuary Temple of Queen Hatshepsut
Along with Cleopatra, Queen Elizabeth I, and Catherine the Great of Russia, Hatshepsut joins the ranks of the world’s most powerful female rulers. For about 20 years she reigned over Egypt. She brought great wealth to Egypt, which allowed her to have numerous building projects.
In the cliffs of Deir el-Bahri sits Hatshepsut’s Mortuary Temple, her most famous architectural achievement. This colonnaded structure has a much different appearance than many other temples in Egypt, but that is what also makes it so memorable.
There are three terraces connected with long ramps. This temple complex contains the Birth Colonnade, which tells the story of Hatshepsut’s divine creation with Amun as her father. The Punt Colonnade tells about her expedition to Punt and the luxury goods brought back to Egypt. You can also see the Temple of Hathor and the Temple of Anubis.
This is one of the most popular sites to visit on the West Bank of Luxor, so except big crowds midday.
Cost: 140 EGP
Where to Purchase Your Ticket: At the ticket office for the Temple of Queen Hatshepsut
Valley of the Queens
The Valley of the Queens was the burial site of the wives of the pharaohs. The tombs that you will see here are smaller and lack some of the grandeur of the tombs in the Valley of the Kings, with one big exception.
The tomb of Queen Nefertari is one of the most spectacular tombs that you can visit in Egypt. The level of detail is amazing and the colors are more vibrant that what we saw in many tombs, temples, and pyramids in Egypt. If you want to get an idea of what the tombs looked like 3,000 years ago, put the tomb of Queen Nefertari on your list.
This tomb has a big price tag, costing 1400 EGP. Worth it? We think so.
Take a look for yourself in the photos below, and take a look at our Photo Tour of the Tomb of Queen Nefertari.
Inside the tomb of Nefertari
Inside the tomb of Nefertari
These are tombs that are included on the Valley of the Queens entrance ticket.
QV55 – Amen Khopshef
QV44 – Khaemwaset
Main Entrance Ticket: 100 EGP
Ticket for Tomb of Queen Nefertari: 1400 EGP
Photo Pass: 300 EGP (this does not include photography inside of the tomb of Queen Nefertari)
Where to Purchase Your Ticket: At the ticket office for the Valley of the Queens
Mortuary Temple of Ramesses III at Medinet Habu
This huge temple complex is dedicated to Ramesses III. There are several courtyards, pylons, and peristyle halls, with inscribed reliefs depicting the defeat of the Sea People during the rule of Ramesses III.
Cost: 100 EGP
Where to Purchase Your Ticket: At the Antiquities Inspectorate Ticket Office
PRO TRAVEL TIP: Since our visit, you can now get around the Valley of the Queens and the Mortuary Temple of Hatshepsut by electric buggy. Tickets cost 5 EGP per person.
Colossi of Memnon
The twin statues of Amenhotep III gaze east towards the Nile River. These two statues greet visitors as they arrive on the West Bank of Luxor. From the parking lot, you can hop out and take a photo, or walk down to the statues for a closer view.
Cost: Free
Ramesseum
This is a temple that usually does not make it on the must-visit list of the West Bank of Luxor, but maybe that is why we liked it so much. We shared this visit with just a few other people, which was wonderful.
The Ramesseum is mortuary temple dedicated to the great Ramesses II. At one time, an enormous statue of Ramesses II stood here, with a height of approximately 20 meters. However, it has fallen over and now lays on the ground, in several large pieces.
Cost: 80 EGP
Where to Purchase the Ticket: At the Antiquities Inspectorate Ticket Office
Deir el-Medina (Valley of the Artisans)
The artisans who worked on the tombs in the Valley of the Kings lived here, in an ancient village in Deir el-Medina. Tombs were built here for some of the most prominent workers.
Similar to the Valley of the Queens, these tombs are much smaller and less ornate that those in the Valley of the Kings, but if you have two days on the West Bank, this is still well worth your time.
Tomb of Nakht Amun
Tomb of Pashedu
Temple of Deir el-Medina
The entrance ticket includes three tombs and the Temple of Deir el-Medina. For an additional 30 EGP, you can also visit the tomb of Pashedu.
Cost: 100 EGP
Additional Ticket for Pashedu Tomb: 30 EGP
Photo Pass: 300 EGP
Where to Purchase the Ticket: At the Antiquities Inspectorate Ticket Office
Tombs of the Nobles
In the Valley of the Nobles, there are numerous tombs to visit. Our guide recommended the tombs of Sennofer and Rekhmire, since these are two of the best tombs in the Valley of the Nobles.
The tomb of Sennofer is also called the “Tomb of the Vineyards,” getting its name from the paintings of grape vines on the ceiling.
Rekhmire was an Egyptian noble and mayor of Thebes in the 18th dynasty. His tomb features depictions of the tasks of the workers and a chapel.
Cost: 40 EGP for the tombs of Sennefer and Rekhmire
Photo Pass: 300 EGP
Where to Purchase the Ticket: At the Antiquities Inspectorate Ticket Office
Temple of Seti I
This temple was begun by Seti I and it is dedicated to Amun-Re. After Seti I’s death, the temple was completed by Ramesses II.
Note: This temple is different from the tomb of Seti I that you can visit in the Valley of the Kings.
Cost: 60 EGP
Where to Purchase the Ticket: At the Antiquities Inspectorate Ticket Office
Howard Carter House
Howard Carter is the British archaeologist who discovered the tomb of Tutankhamun in November 1922. He lived in a house on the West Bank of Luxor, just outside of the Valley of the Kings.
Visiting this house is like stepping back in time to 100 years ago. All of Howard Carter’s furnishings are intact, as well as his camera, personal items, and photographs. Behind the house is a replica of the tomb of Tutankhamun.
Cost: 80 EGP
Where to Purchase the Ticket: At the Antiquities Inspectorate Ticket Office
With More Time
If you have more than two days, or just want a few more suggestions for more things to do on the West Bank of Luxor, here are a few more ideas.
Hot Air Balloon Flight
For unforgettable sunrise views of the West Bank of Luxor, you can take a hot air balloon flight. Expect a very early start to the day (pick up times from your hotel can range from 3 am to 4:30 am) but it might be worth it for unique views of the tombs and temples.
Ancient Village of Qurna
Just across the street from the Antiquities Inspectorate ticket office is the abandoned village of Qurna. With its colorful buildings and location against the sandy mountains, it is an interesting photo spot.
Temple of Merenptah
This temple is mostly in ruins, so it’s not all that interesting to visit, but you can get a nice view of it, and two statues of Amenhotep III, on the drive to the Valley of the Kings.
Imhotep Alabaster
If you want to go shopping for souvenirs, there are numerous places on the West Bank of Luxor that sell items made from alabaster.
We visited Imhotep Alabaster. After a short but entertaining lesson on how alabaster items are made, we perused the shop. It is like being inside of an art museum. The vases, carvings, and statues are beautiful and this is well worth your time if you want to bring home a piece of artwork from Egypt.
West Bank of Luxor: On a Map
How to Use This Map: Click the icons on the map to get more information about each point of interest. Click the star next to the title of the map to add this map to your Google Maps account. To view it on your phone or computer, open Google Maps, click the menu button, go to “Your Places,” click Maps, and you will see this map on your list.
West Bank of Luxor: Price List for 2023
Some sites do not have their own ticket booth. For these sites, you must purchase your tickets at the Antiquities Inspectorate Ticket Office on the West Bank of Luxor.
Here are the GPS coordinates for the ticket office: 25°43’21.947″ N 32°36’16.86″ E. It is also labeled “Antiquities Inspectorate Ticket Office” on Google Maps (and we have it labeled on our map). This is what it looks like.
Here is the price list in December 2019.
On this list, 3, 4, 5, 7, 9, 10 and 15 are all tombs in the Valley of the Nobles. Our guide recommended that we visit #4, Rekhmire and Sennofer.
Here is a list of the sites (and prices for 2023, based on the Ministry of Antiquities website) that sell their tickets from this ticket office:
- Medinet Habu – 100 EGP
- Deir el-Medina – 100 EGP + 30 EGP for Pashedu Tomb
- Ramesseum – 80 EGP
- Seti I Temple – 60 EGP
- Valley of the Nobles – 40 EGP (Sennofer & Rekhmire)
- Carter House Museum – 80 EGP
Note: You must purchase your tickets at this ticket office for the above sites. For example, if you arrive at Medinet Habu without a ticket, you cannot buy one directly from site. You also need to purchase your camera tickets for the Valley of the Nobles and the Valley of the Queens at this booth.
The sites below have their own ticket window, so you will not purchase these tickets at the Antiquities Inspectorate Ticket Office:
- Valley of the Kings – 260 EGP (+ extra fees for additional tombs)
- Valley of the Queens – 100 EGP (+1400 EGP for the tomb of Nefertari)
- Mortuary Temple of Queen Hatshepsut – 140 EGP
Is the Luxor Pass Worth It?
The Luxor Pass is a single ticket that includes all of the archaeological sites on the West Bank and East Bank of Luxor. There are two versions of this pass.
The standard Luxor Pass includes all of the sites on the East and West Bank, with the exception of the tombs of Seti I and Nefertari. The Luxor Pass costs $100 USD for adults, $50 USD for people under 30 years with a valid student ID card. In euros, the fee is €90 for adults and €45 for students.
The Premium Luxor Pass includes all of the archaeological sites on the East and West Banks, as well as the tombs of Seti I and Nefertari. The Luxor Premium Pass costs $200 USD for adults, $100 USD for people under 30 years with a valid student ID card. In euros, the fee is €180 for adults and €90 for students.
If you plan to visit Luxor for two days, with visits to everything we list here for the West Bank, as well the main sites on the East Bank, then the Luxor Pass might worth it. As of the current currency exchange rate, it may not be worth it to purchase a Luxor Pass.
For a grand total of 1990 EGP, you will visit the East Bank sites as well as everything we list for the West Bank, excluding the tombs of Nefertari and Seti I. The price of 1990 EGP includes the additional tombs of Tutankhamun, Ramesses V and VI, and Pashedu. 1990 EGP = $72 USD as of January 2023.
If you also plan to visit both of the tombs of Seti I and Nefertari, then the Premium Pass might be worth it, but again, check the currency exchange rate.
Even if you don’t plan to visit everything on this list, I recommend adding up the cost that you expect to spend. If your total comes close to $100 (for example, if you think you will spend $90 USD) then it still could be worth it to purchase the Luxor Pass. In my opinion, it is worth a little extra money to purchase the Luxor Pass, in order to save yourself the time and hassle of visiting multiple ticket booths (and ATM’s).
The passes are valid for 5 days.
Where Can You Buy the Luxor Pass?
The Luxor Pass can be purchased at the ticket booths at Karnak Temple and the Valley of the Kings.
You will need your passport, a photocopy of your main passport page, as well as a passport photo. Students will need a valid student identification card. To purchase the Luxor Pass, you will pay with US dollars or euros and these need to be crisp, new bills.
Luxor Pass + Cairo Pass
The Cairo Pass works the same way as the Luxor Pass. The pass costs $100 USD and gives you free entry into all of the sites in Cairo, Giza, Dahshur, and Saqqara. It is valid for five days.
If you purchase both passes, you get a discount. If you purchase the Cairo Pass at full price you get 50% off of the Luxor Pass.
Cairo Pass + Standard Luxor Pass: $100 USD + $50 USD = $150 USD
Cairo Pass + Premium Luxor Pass: $100 USD + $100 USD = $200 USD
If you plan to purchase both passes together, your best bet is to do this at the Cultural Affairs Department (I have also seen it written as the Egyptian Ministry of Antiquities office) in Cairo.
LEARN MORE: Luxor Pass and Cairo Pass: Are They Worth It?
Hours of Operation
For the sites on the West Bank of Luxor, these are the hours of operation:
Winter: 6 am to 4 pm
Summer: 6 am to 5 pm
Sample West Bank of Luxor Itinerary
With one day, you can visit the main sites on the West Bank of Luxor. Two days gives you just enough time to visit everything that we have listed in this article.
One Day on the West Bank of Luxor Itinerary:
7:00 am: Valley of the Kings
9:30 am: Temple of Queen Hatshepsut
11:00 pm: Medinet Habu
12:30 pm: Lunch
1:30 pm: Valley of the Queens
3:00 pm: Ramesseum
4:00 pm: Colossi of Memnon
Two Days on the West Bank of Luxor Itinerary:
Day 1
8:00 am: Valley of the Kings
10:30 am: Temple of Queen Hatshepsut
Noon: Lunch
1:30 pm: Tombs of the Nobles
3:00 pm: Deir el-Medina
4:30 pm: Colossi of Memnon
Day 2
8:00 am: Medinet Habu
10:00 am: Valley of the Queens
Noon: Lunch
1:00 pm: Temple of Seti I
2:00 pm: Howard Carter House
3:00 pm: Ramesseum
View of the Ramesseum from the Tombs of the Nobles
Getting Around the West Bank of Luxor
You can get around the East Bank of Luxor by taxi, by hiring a guide and driver, or by bicycle.
By Guide and Driver
We recommend getting around by private guide and driver. All of your transportation is taken care of and you get to tour all of the archaeological sites with a knowledgeable Egyptologist. We hired Egypt Tailor Made.
By Taxi
The average cost of a taxi is 400 EGP to take you around the sites on the West Bank of Luxor. However, this price depends on your negotiating skills. Make sure you have agreed on the price and the places you plan to visit before getting in the taxi.
By Bicycle
I have read online that you can rent bicycles from some hotels on the West Bank. However, the sites are located far apart, the area is hilly, and it can be very hot, depending on the time of year that you visit.
Where to Eat
Marsam Restaurant is a highly-rated restaurant on the West Bank of Luxor. Dine on Egyptian and Mediterranean food in their lovely courtyard.
Where to Stay
Sofitel Winter Palace Luxor. This hotel is one of the top luxury hotels in Luxor. It is centrally located in Luxor city, with views of the Nile River and within walking distance of the Luxor Temple.
Hilton Luxor Resort and Spa. This is where we stayed and it was our favorite hotel in Egypt. The views of the Nile River and the balloons that drift over the West Bank are magical. The rooms are large, clean, and quiet. There are several onsite restaurants, a pool, and a fitness room. We loved this place and I wouldn’t hesitate to stay here again.
Nile Castle. This budget hotel gets great reviews. It is located on the West Bank of the Nile River, so you will have easy access to the West Bank sites, but expect more travel time when visiting the East Bank sites and when traveling to and from the airport or train station.
Nefertiti Hotel Luxor. This hotel is located in Luxor city and overlooks the Luxor Temple. Rooms can accommodate up to four people. Breakfast is served on the rooftop terrace.
If you have any questions about how to visit the West Bank of Luxor, or if you would like to share your experience, let us know in the comment section below.
More Information about Egypt
LUXOR: In our guide Best Things to Do in Luxor, get an overview of places to go on the East Bank and West Bank. We also have a photo tour of the Tomb of Queen Neferatari, a guide to the Valley of the Kings, and how to day trip to Dendera and Abydos.
TRAVEL ADVICE: Here is list of important things to know before visit Egypt. The Luxor Pass and Cairo Pass can save you a lot of money…learn more in our guide. And we also have information on how much it costs to visit Egypt.
EGYPT ITINERARY: With 10 days in Egypt, visit Cairo, Luxor, Aswan and Abu Simbel.
ASWAN: For a list of the top experiences, read our article Best Things to Do in Aswan. We also have a guide on how to visit Kom Ombo, Edfu, and Esna while driving between Aswan and Luxor.
CAIRO: Start with our article Best Things to do in Cairo. We also have a 2 day Cairo Itinerary, information on how to visit the Pyramids of Giza, and how to day trip to Dahshur, Memphis, and Saqqara.
Read all of our articles about Egypt in our Egypt Travel Guide.
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Comments 14
Hey guys, I found your website really helpful when planning our Luxor trip. I just wanted to let you know the price changes.
Valley of the Kings 260
Valley of the Queens is still 100
Mortuary Temple of Hatshepsut is 160
The “taftaf” trams are now 10
We didn’t visit anything else on the West Bank.
I’m not sure what prices you have listed on your East Bank guide but Karnak is 220 and Luxor Temple is 180.
Photography fees have been done away with all together.
Author
Hello Claire. Thank you so much for this info!! Cheers, Julie
This site is fabulous, I’ve been to Egypt twice, 1986, 2002 and going back in March 2023, so much information is covered !
How much is a photography pass ?
Pictures with a cellphone are nice but with a very good camera even better !!
Thank you.
Author
The cost of the photo pass depends on the temple or site your are visiting (they all don’t require one). For each site on the West Bank that requires a photo pass, I list the price along with the ticket price in this article. Cheers, Julie
Hi there. Just curious, is there a method of transport you recommend from Cairo to Luxor? Did you guys rent a car or take a train/plane? Or did your hired driver take you to Luxor?
Author
We flew from Cairo to Luxor. That’s the fastest, most convenient mode of transportation. You can also take a train, bus, or hire a driver, but these can take most of a day. Cheers, Julie
Hi, thank you so much for your excellent trip reports, photos and tips. Your website has become my main source of information to plan my trip to Egypt.
I have read all your pages carefully and initially thought I should get the Luxor pass, but I am still unsure and was wondering if you could clarify a few points and answer a few questions, please.
First of all, if buying the pass I guess one has to give up on the idea of getting a guide that travels with you in the car as I can’t find any tour agency that offers just car, driver and a guide (they all include entrance tickets).
Also, if buying the Luxor pass I guess one would generally go by themselves? This is what you did? Why did you choose not to have guides?
Hiring a car and driver by leaving things at the last minute (agreeing a price with someone locally) worries me as we could get a random unsafe driver, a bad car without air con or both and we wouldn’t be provided water or feel like we are taken care of.
Have been reading scary reports of how tourists are aggressively targeted at the Pyramids to sell you services, but I guess thos wouldn’t happen if we had our own guide walking with us?
Equally, booking individual excursions with guide and car/driver for each leg (including Cairo) will add up rapidly in terms of costs, so.
We are in Cairo for 3 days, in Aswan for 2 days and in Luxor for 4 days.
In Luxor we want half day excursions, maybe one in the moring till lunctime and spend a couple of hours sightseeing in the afternoon so that we can relax by the pool between say 1-3 pm and avoid the hottest part of the day – we are going at the end of August (brave I know).
Would you suggest trying to contact the agency you used to source just a car/ driver and a guide and buy the Luxor pass so that we cover our entrance fees?
We could easly do Luxor and Karnak temples by ourselves, but there again it would be nice to have a guide for the Karnak temple.
Would a guide be avaible at the actual Karnak temple to hire them when we get there?.Are they much more expensive if hired on site?
Can guides come with us inside the tombs/ pyramid? Wouldn’t bother otherwise.
Fonally, do you have any suggestions for safe and realiable company for the hot air ballon ride in Luxor, please?
Apologies for the long message, please feel free to comment and respond to what I written above as I would appreciate your expert advice.
Thank you
Author
Hello Vic. We used Egypt Tailor Made and paid for entrance tickets separately, so in our case, the Luxor and Cairo passes would have offered savings. We had a guide for our entire visit to Luxor and Cairo. Having had a guide and driver, I wouldn’t do it any differently. It took the hassle out of transportation and we had a knowledgeable guide while visiting the sights. Guides can’t come into some sights, but in this situation, they explained what we would see outside and then we visited the sight on our own. If you tried to hire a guide on the spot, you would have to negotiate and price and you wouldn’t really know their qualifications. I think that Egypt Tailor Made is very reasonably priced and it’s worth contacting them to get a price quote for your visit. Your guide could assist you in purchasing the Cairo and Luxor Passes once you are in Luxor and Cairo. Cheers, Julie
Hi,
Thanks for all these information, very interesting and helpful!
The price listed for taxi, is it for a car that can accomodate 6 people ? We will be 4 adults and 2 kikds travelling and I wonder if it is cheaper to ask for 2 taxi or 1 big taxi?
Thanks!
Author
That price is for a standard taxi. With 6 people, you will need two taxis. Cheers, Julie
Hi, your posts about Luxor are very helpful and interesting, but I have a question, only if you know of course,: if I’ll buy Luxor Pass do I need to buy also TRAM PASS at the sites, or maybe it’s included in the LUXOR pass ?
Author
I don’t know if the Valley of the Kings tram pass is included, but it is so cheap that it shouldn’t be a big deal paying extra for it (it’s about 25 US cents). The Valley of the Kings is the only place that has a tram. Cheers, Julie
Super helpful, especially as there is so little current information out there on Egypt. If I purchase the premium Luxor pass do I still have to go to the Antiquities Inspectorate Ticket Office for anything? Photography tickets for instance? I’d only be using a cellphone (except at the main sites when an extra ticket is not necessary). Also, does the pass include entrance to all the sites I would purchase tickets for at this location? Or, even with the pass, would I need to stop by the office to pick up actual tickets? Thank you.
Author
If you purchase the Luxor Pass, you do not have to visit the Antiquities Inspectorate Ticket Office. Camera tickets are purchased at each site (for example, you will purchase a camera ticket at the Valley of the Kings entrance if you plan to use a camera in Valley of the Kings). But if you only plan to use a cellphone, you will not need to purchase a camera ticket. The Luxor Pass will cover all of your entrance fees on the east and west bank of Luxor. If you haven’t seen it yet, here is a link to our guide on the Luxor Pass. Cheers, Julie