Getting to the Valley of the Kings from Luxor

The two ways across

The ferry. Roughly EGP 10 to EGP 20 per person each way. That band reflects the most reliable published figures. There is no timetable at all — the boat goes when it is full, typically within ten to fifteen minutes. Carry small notes, and expect to be quoted more than a local pays; that is normal here and is not the same thing as being cheated.

The bridge. There is a road bridge south of the city, and crossing by car means a substantial detour.

Taxi fares: what to check on the day

Taxis here are never metered. The price is agreed before you get in, and that is the whole of the useful advice. Reported 2026 prices for a full day’s hire vary by a factor of five.

For tuk-tuks on the West Bank, ask locally for the going rate.

What to do instead: agree the fare in advance, out loud, before the vehicle moves, and agree whether it covers waiting time. Ask at your hotel that morning for what the current going rate is — local staff will know the latest rates.

Where the ferry lands, and how to check on the day

One forum thread from 2025 says the East Bank landing moved.Ask at your hotel, or ask anyone walking towards the water at that hour; this is a crossing thousands of people make daily and it is not hard to find in person.

Once you are on the West Bank

You reach the visitor centre, buy the ticket there, and then get up to the tombs themselves. The tram does that in about three minutes and costs EGP 20 per person, round trip. It is officially optional, and some visitors report site staff pressing them to buy a ticket anyway — if that happens, you are not being scammed, you are being sold something you may decline.

The three-minute figure is the time the tram ride takes.

Bring the right money for each leg

The ticket window has not taken cash since June 2023 — Visa and Mastercard only. The ferry and the tram want cash, in small notes. So the correct answer to “card or cash?” for this trip is both, in that order of importance. The card-only page has the announcement it rests on, and the cost page assembles the whole day’s spend.

The tour option, and what it does not solve

A private half-day of the West Bank — Valley of the Kings, Hatshepsut and the Colossi of Memnon, about five hours — is listed from US$20 per person with “Admission Ticket Not Included” and the guide as a paid option. That solves the crossing and the driving. It does not solve the EGP 750 at the window, and it does not include Tutankhamun. Read the inclusions on any product before you assume otherwise: what the ticket admits you to.

One more piece of geography with a cost attached: the West Valley, where the tomb of Ay (WV23, EGP 200 adult) sits, is a separate drive from the main valley. Plan it as an addition, not a detour. And whichever way you arrive, arrive early — the heat page explains what you are racing.

Frequently asked questions