Family-Friendly 4-Days in Egypt Itinerary in Luxor

Luxor is without question the outside Egyptian Open Air Museum. Located along the fertile banks of the Nile River in Upper Egypt, Luxor has many amazing temples, tombs and massive statues. A 4 day trip allows families the opportunity to explore plenty of the ancient sights but also enjoy a relaxed holiday. Families can visit both sides of the Nile, the East Bank was where the Ancient Egyptians would celebrate life and enjoy the sunny temples of the state, whilst the West Bank was where the sun set and the Pharaohs were buried. There are plenty of opportunities for families to enjoy some downtime in the pool, relax on the boat and visit the local market. Here's our detailed breakdown:

Day 1

Upon arrival into Luxor by domestic flight, sleeper train or Nile Cruiser, guests check into their family friendly resort or riverside hotel.

Relax

Once you have settled into your accommodation, spend the afternoon relaxing in the pool, getting used to the warm weather and enjoying a drink. Children can enjoy watching the traditional wooden boats (feluccas) gliding along the Nile.

Evening

Visit Luxor Temple. As it gets towards the late afternoon, temperatures will drop a bit and your family can visit Luxor Temple. This is an amazing place to visit in the evening. The large pylon walls, huge statues of Ramses II and the tall papyrus columns are lit up by warm lights. Children will love exploring the remaining part of the Avenue of Sphinxes. This was a huge avenue made out of stone with hundreds of human headed and ram headed Sphinxes. It formed a path between Luxor Temple and Karnak. You can enjoy a relaxed evening meal at a riverside restaurant with fresh baked Egyptian breads, skewers and mild Egyptian dips.

Day 2

Today your family will cross over the Nile to explore the West Bank.

Valley of the Kings

Your morning begins with a visit to the famous Valley of the Kings. The New Kingdom Pharaohs were buried in these deep rock cut tombs. The children will enjoy the small open top electric train ride from the visitor centre to the entrance of the tombs. Inside the tombs, such as Ramesses III, Ramesses IV and Merenptah, your family can walk down the brightly coloured corridors and see the huge stone sarcophagi. Children will love seeing how well preserved these tombs are, with beautiful blue, yellow and red colours showing off the stars, protective deities and old magic from the Book of the Dead.

Mortuary Temple of Hatshepsut and Colossi of Memnon

Next your family can visit the stunning Mortuary Temple of Queen Hatshepsut. This was carved into the limestone cliff and consists of three levels. Hatshepsut is one of the most famous females to rule Ancient Egypt. Children will love learning how she was a King, this can be seen on the walls with her wearing her regal clothing. On your way back to the river you can stop to see the amazing Colossi of Memnon. This consists of two 18m statues of Amenhotep III and they sit quietly in the fields. They make a wonderful picture.

Evening

Enjoy a relaxed afternoon back at the hotel. Head down to the riverbanks as the sun begins to set. Board a traditional wooden boat (felucca). This will gently glide along the Nile as your family enjoys relaxing, listening to traditional music and watching the skyline light up.

Day 3

Today your family can learn about how the Ancient Egyptians lived their daily lives. You can visit Medinet Habu and Banana Island.

Deir el-Medina

Start your morning by visiting Deir el-Medina. This is where the builders of the tombs lived. The artisans, stone masons and painters. This is a very personal place to visit as it is not as grand as the state buildings. Children will love visiting the tombs of the workers underground. Such as Tomb of Sennedjem. These tombs have cheerful bright colours showing off the fields, gardens and pets of the workers. Often children find these more enjoyable than visiting tombs of the Royal Family.

Medinet Habu

Your next stop is Medinet Habu. This was the huge Mortuary Temple of Ramesses III. This is famous for having amazing carvings on the walls with the original colours. The temple has strong tower walls giving you a feeling of being in a castle from medieval times. In the late afternoon you can take a boat across to Banana Island (Geziret el-Moz). Children can walk around the shady banana trees, taste some sweet bananas and enjoy a relaxing evening meal watching the sunset.

Day 4

Today you can visit some of the biggest state temples, museums and local markets.

Karnak Temple Complex

Start your day early by visiting the huge Karnak Temple Complex. This was the biggest religious site ever built. It was mainly dedicated to Amun-Ra. Children will love walking around the Great Hypostyle Hall. This contains 134 huge sandstone columns with amazing deep carvings. You can visit the sacred scarab beetle statue. Local people say if you go around the statue 3 times it will bring you luck. This can be found near the Sacred Lake.

Luxor Museum and Mummification Museum

In the afternoon visit the Luxor Museum. This is air conditioned and is widely regarded as one of the best and most well thought out museums in Egypt. The museum contains beautifully lit statues, ancient weapons and golden items. Next you can visit the nearby Mummification Museum. This is a short visit but children will love learning about the tools and natural resins used by the embalmers. They can also see the animal mummies and sacred rituals used to give them a physical immortality.

Souvenir Shopping

Finally your family can visit the market (souk) in Luxor. Children can practise their polite haggling skills and buy bespoke souvenirs. This could include stone scarab beetles, hand carved alabaster jars, small papyrus paintings and silver cartouche necklaces with their name carved into hieroglyphics. End your 4 day visit with a celebratory meal overlooking the Nile. Your family will be taken back to the airport/train station by private transport.