Karnak and Luxor Temple — How to See Luxor's East Bank in One Day

Luxor is split by the Nile. The West Bank is the land of the dead, with the royal tombs and mortuary temples. The East Bank, where the modern city stands, is the land of the living, and it holds two of Egypt's greatest temples: Karnak and Luxor Temple. They are only about three kilometres apart and fit comfortably into one day.

Karnak: a city of temples

Karnak is not one temple but a vast complex built and rebuilt over some two thousand years, as pharaoh after pharaoh added halls, pylons and obelisks for the god Amun. You could spend a whole day here. If your time is short, do not miss:

• The Great Hypostyle Hall — a forest of 134 giant columns, many still carrying their painted carvings. Standing among them is the moment most visitors remember.
• The obelisks of Hatshepsut and her father Thutmose I, soaring above the ruins.
• The Sacred Lake, where priests purified themselves, and the giant stone scarab beside it.
• The avenue of ram-headed sphinxes at the main entrance.

Allow at least two to three hours, more if you like to wander.

Luxor Temple: best in the evening

Right in the centre of town, Luxor Temple is smaller and easier to take in. Its entrance is guarded by colossal statues of Ramses II and a single obelisk; its twin stands in the Place de la Concorde in Paris. Inside are graceful colonnades, carved courtyards and even a mosque built into the ancient walls.

The temple stays open into the evening and is lit after dark, which makes it one of the most atmospheric visits in Egypt. An hour to an hour and a half is enough.

The Avenue of Sphinxes

The two temples were once linked by a processional road almost three kilometres long, lined with sphinxes on both sides. It has been excavated and reopened, and walking part of it is a lovely way to connect the two visits.

The best plan for the day

1. Karnak first thing in the morning, before the heat and the tour buses.
2. A long lunch and a rest in the middle of the day.
3. Luxor Temple from late afternoon into the evening, to see it in daylight and then lit up.

Tips

• Go with a guide. The carvings tell stories that are easy to walk straight past on your own.
• Wear comfortable shoes and a hat, and carry water; there is little shade at Karnak.
• Check opening hours and ticket prices before you go, as they can change.
• Combine with the West Bank on another day: the Valley of the Kings, Hatshepsut's temple and the Colossi of Memnon.

Plan your Luxor days

Compare the best-rated tours and day trips in Luxor, with real traveller reviews. Coming from the Red Sea? See our guide to Luxor in a day from Hurghada.

Photos: Jerome Bon from Paris, France (CC BY 2.0); Sandy Gamal (CC BY-SA 4.0), via Wikimedia Commons.