Luxor for Families: A Slow Day by Day Plan
Families do best in Luxor with one outing a day and a long pause in the middle. This plan spreads three easy days across both banks, with the harder sights kept short and early.
Day one: the river
Begin with a felucca. A one hour sail costs about EGP 400 to 600 for the entire boat, which takes up to four people. Settle the price and the duration on the dock, and ask for life jackets. Later, ride the public ferry across the Nile: it costs EGP 5 to 10 each and leaves every 10 to 15 minutes. The ride itself is half the fun for small children.
Day two: museums and a replica tomb
Spend the morning at the Mummification Museum, about EGP 220 for adults and about EGP 110 for students. Mummified cats, crocodiles and baboons hold older children’s attention. Over lunch, rest in the air-conditioned Luxor Museum, which is about EGP 400 for adults. Cross to the west bank for Carter’s House and its replica of Tutankhamun’s tomb, a gentle way to see painted walls without the stairs or the heat of the real valley.
Day three: Karnak and a bike ride
Arrive at Karnak at opening. The avenue of ram-headed sphinxes and the forest of 134 columns suit children if you finish by mid-morning. Adult entry is EGP 600, paid by card at the main gate, and small EGP cash is useful for tips. In winter you can then rent bicycles near the west bank ferry landing, for a few dozen EGP up to about EGP 100 a day, and ride the quiet lanes through the cane fields.
About the tombs
The Valley of the Kings is hard on small children. It has steep stairs, almost no shade, and a general ticket of EGP 750 that covers just three tombs. Older teenagers who like history may enjoy it. For everyone else, the replica at Carter’s House is a better fit. Flash photography is banned.
Balloons and heat
Balloon flights set their own minimum ages, which vary by operator, so ask before booking, and use only licensed, certified operators. You can look at balloon flights on GetYourGuide . In June to August the heat reaches 42 to 46C, so finish sights before 09:30 and keep the afternoons indoors. The FCDO travel advice is a useful check before you travel.
For a longer stay, see the five-day Luxor itinerary and the Luxor sightseeing page .
Tip: pack a refillable bottle for each child, since tap water is not drinkable and kiosk water costs about EGP 10 to 15.