Giza, Luxor temples and Aswan by felucca
This is leg 1 of 2, the opening leg.
Travel leg · Egypt: Pyramids & the Nile
Cairo & Giza to Luxor
Cairo & Giza and Luxor sit about 504 km (313 mi) apart in a straight line, with Luxor to the south. It is leg 1 of 2 on our Egypt: Pyramids & the Nile itinerary, a 10-day trip. Here is how long it takes by train, what to see on the way and where it fits in a real itinerary.
- Straight-line distance
- 504 km · 313 mi
- Est. road distance
- 605–705 km
- Est. drive time
- 6 h 15 min – 10 h 45 min
- Direction
- Heading south
- Curated routes
- 1 itinerary
Road distance is estimated as 1.2–1.4× the straight line; drive time assumes average speeds of 65–95 km/h with no stops or traffic. These are rough estimates — check a maps app for the actual route.
Ways to get there
We don't have live routing data, so the figures below are labelled estimates built from the straight-line distance. Use them to plan the day, then confirm in a maps app.
By train
Our Egypt: Pyramids & the Nile itinerary is planned around rail, so a train is the likely way to cover this leg. Timetables and direct connections vary — check the operator before you book.
By car
Driving is an estimated 605–705 km (376–438 mi) and 6 h 15 min – 10 h 45 min at typical average speeds, not a routed time.
Fly Cairo to Luxor or Aswan in about an hour, or take the overnight sleeper train. Between Luxor and Aswan, a three- or four-night Nile cruise or a dahabiya stops at Edfu and Kom Ombo. Use Uber or Careem in Cairo.
Worth stopping for
Picks from our curated guides at both ends.
When you arrive in Luxor
Ancient Thebes, with temples on the east bank and royal tombs on the west. Stay 3 nights.
Karnak Temple
Vast temple complex of Amun with the 134-column Great Hypostyle Hall.
Hot-air balloon over the West Bank
Sunrise flights over temples, fields and the Nile.
Sofra Restaurant & Café
Egyptian home cooking in an old house, with a rooftop terrace.
Luxor Temple
Riverside temple linked to Karnak by the Avenue of Sphinxes, lit up after dark.
Valley of the Kings
Royal tombs cut into the desert hills, with painted corridors; extra tickets for Tutankhamun and Seti I.
Temple of Hatshepsut
Terraced mortuary temple of Egypt's female pharaoh beneath the cliffs of Deir el-Bahari.
Before you leave Cairo & Giza
Pyramids, a new grand museum and medieval Islamic Cairo. Stay 3 nights.
On this curated route
Where Cairo → Luxor sits in the full itinerary. Highlighted stops are this leg.
Going the other way? Luxor to Cairo & Giza is the same 504 km in a straight line, heading north. Reverse directions in Google Maps ↗
Weather at each end
The biggest gap comes in April, when Luxor averages highs 5°C warmer than Cairo & Giza.
| Measure | Jan | Feb | Mar | Apr | May | Jun | Jul | Aug | Sep | Oct | Nov | Dec |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Cairo high | 19° | 21° | 26° | 30° | 35° | 38° | 39° | 39° | 36° | 31° | 26° | 21° |
| Luxor high | 22° | 25° | 30° | 35° | 39° | 42° | 42° | 42° | 40° | 35° | 29° | 24° |
| Cairo rain | 8 | 7 | 7 | 9 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 5 | 17 | 7 |
| Luxor rain | 1 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 |
Temperatures in °C, rain in mm per month. Long-term monthly averages from NASA POWER satellite climatology — a guide to typical conditions, not a forecast. Month headings link to Luxor month guides.
Cairo to Luxor: questions travelers ask
How far is Cairo & Giza from Luxor?
Cairo & Giza is about 504 km (313 mi) from Luxor in a straight line, with Luxor to the south. By road, we estimate 605–705 km (376–438 mi), or 1.2–1.4 times the straight line. Check a maps app for the exact route.
How long does it take to drive from Cairo & Giza to Luxor?
An estimated 6 h 15 min – 10 h 45 min, assuming 605–705 km of road at average speeds of 65–95 km/h with no stops or traffic. It is not a routed time, so check a maps app on the day. Our itinerary leans on rail, so check train times too.
Which itineraries include the trip from Cairo & Giza to Luxor?
Our Egypt: Pyramids & the Nile itinerary includes this leg. Egypt: Pyramids & the Nile runs about 10 days across 3 stops, best in Oct – Apr.
Onward from Luxor
- Luxor to Aswan 180 km
Guides for both ends
- Cairo & Giza travel guide
- Cairo & Giza weather best time to visit
- Luxor travel guide
- Luxor weather best time to visit
Luxor by month
Plan Cairo → Luxor with your crew
Add this leg to a shared itinerary, poll the group on where to stop, split fuel and tickets, and keep everyone's packing list in one place in TripsCircle.