Luxor Multi-Day: Five Days on Land or Boat
There are two ways to spend several days around Luxor. You can stay put and work through the sights at a measured pace, or you can board a boat and let the Nile do the moving. Both work, and they suit different budgets.
Option one: five days in Luxor
The Luxor Pass is valid for five days, which makes it a natural fit for a long stay. Standard costs USD 130 for adults (USD 70 for students under 30) and Premium USD 250 (USD 130 for students). Premium adds Seti I and Nefertari. Add up the single tickets before you buy: Karnak EGP 600, Luxor Temple EGP 500, Hatshepsut EGP 440, and the Valley of the Kings EGP 750 for three tombs. Many visitors find separate tickets cheaper, and the pass pays off mainly for a packed five days that includes the costly tombs.
Buy the pass at the Karnak or Valley of the Kings booths with your passport and photos, and confirm the accepted payment method at the booth. The five-day Luxor itinerary shows how the days can run.
Option two: the Nile cruise
A cruise from Luxor to Aswan lasts either 3 nights and 4 days or 4 nights and 5 days, with calls at the Esna lock, Edfu and Kom Ombo. The 2026-27 season opens around 1 October, and tour operator listings run from roughly USD 670 to 1,750 per person depending on the boat. Entrance fees are often extra. Ask whether meals are full board and which temples are included. You can compare Nile cruises on GetYourGuide .
Choosing between them
If you want depth, with time for dawn at Karnak and a slow west bank day, stay on land. If you want a rolling journey with minimal packing, take the boat. Many travellers combine them: three days in Luxor, then a cruise. The shorter version of that plan is on the day trips page .
Money and heat
At the main ticket gates, plan on paying by card, and carry small EGP cash for ferries, taxis and tips. For visas, the fee is USD 30 by e-visa or on arrival; the official Egypt e-visa portal has the application. From June to August the temperature reaches 42 to 46C, so the cooler months from October to April suit a multi-day plan far better. The FCDO travel advice is worth reading in advance.
Tip: price your five days ticket by ticket before you decide on the pass, and book cruise cabins well ahead for the peak winter weeks.