Mid-range · 6-hour walk · Luxor
The West Bank in six hours
The Valley of the Kings, Hatshepsut's terraced temple, the workers' village and Medinet Habu, ending at the Colossi of Memnon.
The Egyptians buried their dead on the west bank of the Nile, where the sun sets, and three thousand years of tombs and mortuary temples lie along the edge of the desert there. Cross on the public ferry, take a taxi to the Valley of the Kings at opening time and on to Hatshepsut's temple, then walk the rest, south past the villages to Medinet Habu. In summer the heat is dangerous by noon.
The route, stop by stop
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Valley of the Kings
More than sixty tombs cut into the valley for the pharaohs of the New Kingdom. The standard ticket opens three of them; Tutankhamun's and Seti I's cost extra.
100 min here Walk here → -
Temple of Hatshepsut
Arrive by taxi from the previous stop
The terraced temple of the queen who ruled as pharaoh, set against the cliffs of Deir el-Bahari.
50 min here Walk here → -
Deir el-Medina
The village of the craftsmen who cut and painted the royal tombs, with their own small tombs, still bright with colour.
40 min here Walk here → -
Medinet Habu
The mortuary temple of Ramesses III, its walls carved with his battles against the Sea Peoples and its colours better kept than almost anywhere.
50 min here Walk here → -
Colossi of Memnon
Two seated statues of Amenhotep III, eighteen metres high, all that is left above ground of his temple. The Greeks heard one of them sing at dawn.
15 min here Walk here →
More walks in Luxor
More in Luxor
Every walking route in Luxor, the full Luxor guide for where to stay and what a day costs, or walks in other cities.