Getting around
Cairo to Luxor: flight, sleeper train, day train or car
In short: Cairo to Luxor takes about one hour by plane, and that makes the flight the fastest option by far. By train, the rail reference site Seat61 lists about ten and a half hours on the overnight sleeper and ten to eleven hours on the day trains, so a train journey costs you either a night or a whole day. Buses are listed at roughly nine hours, and the UK Foreign, Commonwealth and Development Office warns about road safety. On our own private tours you fly this stretch: the domestic flight from Cairo to Aswan is included, followed by a three-night Nile cruise north to Luxor. Below you will find the times, fares and practical details for each way of getting from Cairo to Luxor, with the sources named and the date they were checked, 14 November 2026.
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The flight is by far the fastest option, about one hour in the air.
The sleeper train saves a hotel night: you board in the evening and arrive the next morning.
On our four Nile tours the domestic flight from Cairo to Aswan is included, followed by a three-night Nile cruise north to Luxor.
Cairo to Luxor by air: the flight takes about an hour
The flight is the fastest way to get from Cairo to Luxor: about one hour nonstop. Flight booking sites agree on one hour to one hour 15 minutes in the air. Flights leave from Cairo International Airport, and EgyptAir and Air Cairo are the airlines that several flight booking sites name on this route. We do not quote a fare here, so check current fares and times with the airline or a booking site when you book. Allow time for the airport at both ends: door to door the journey takes longer than the hour in the air, but it still takes far less time than any train.
Cairo to Luxor by sleeper train
The sleeper train runs overnight, so you sleep on the train instead of in a hotel. According to the rail reference site Seat61, it is operated by Abela Trains and leaves from Cairo Upper Egypt station (Bashtil) and from Giza; it no longer leaves from Ramses station in central Cairo. Seat61 lists two sleepers a night going south. The first leaves Bashtil at 19:45 (Giza 20:15) and arrives in Luxor at 06:10 and in Aswan at 09:25. The second leaves Bashtil at 21:10 (Giza 21:40) and arrives in Luxor at 07:50 and in Aswan at 11:10. The journey to Luxor takes about ten and a half hours, and delays of up to about two hours are reported. Timetables change, so check the current times with Abela or on Seat61 before you book.
The sleeper train: fares and booking
According to Seat61, the fares for foreigners listed in autumn 2026 were, in US dollars, one way and per person, and the same to Luxor or Aswan: Elite class $125 sharing a two-berth compartment or $170 for sole use, Standard class $110 sharing or $150 for sole use, and $70 for children aged 4 to 9. Dinner and breakfast in the compartment are included. You book on Abela’s website or app, or through agencies, and booking opens roughly four to five months ahead. Fares can change, so check them before you book.
Cairo to Luxor by day train
The day trains have lower fares than the sleeper, but they take a whole day. According to Seat61 (Egypt page, updated 14 September 2026), several air-conditioned VIP and express trains leave Cairo’s Ramses station every day, for example at 08:00 (arriving 18:55), 10:00 (arriving 19:30) and 12:00 (arriving 23:10). The journey takes ten to eleven hours over a rail distance of 671 km. For foreigners Seat61 lists one-way fares from Cairo to Luxor of $75 in first class and $55 in second class on the VIP and express trains. Times and fares change, so check them before you book.
Buying train tickets as a foreigner
Foreigners have paid train fares in US dollars since December 2022. According to Seat61, the website and app of the Egyptian National Railways sell tickets at Egyptian prices to Egyptians only. Foreigners buy day train tickets through booking agencies such as 12Go or Bookaway (sales open about 17 days ahead), at the Arab and Foreign Reservation Office in Cairo’s Ramses station, or at the tourist ticket windows in Luxor and Aswan. Sleeper tickets are booked through Abela, as described above. Rules and booking windows change, so check before you book.
Cairo to Luxor by bus or private car
Buses, for example Go Bus, are listed at roughly nine hours; we cannot confirm an official timetable, so check with the operator. The UK Foreign, Commonwealth and Development Office (FCDO) has clear words about the roads. In its Egypt travel advice, last updated on 27 October 2026, it says: “Serious bus crashes in recent years have caused many deaths, including tourists.” On driving it says: “Accidents are common because of variable road conditions, dangerous driving and poor traffic law enforcement.” and “Do not drive outside main cities and resorts at night.” It also says: “Police check ID regularly and will ask to see your passport.” We do not give a road distance or driving time because we could not confirm them; since the train needs ten to eleven hours for 671 km of track, plan on a full day. The FCDO does not advise against travel to Luxor, Aswan or the Nile Valley, so the destination is not the concern, the road is. More on the wider picture in is Egypt safe.
What about a Nile cruise from Cairo?
The classic Nile cruise runs between Luxor and Aswan, in three or four nights, with stops at Edfu and Kom Ombo. The cruises on our tours sail that stretch. If you want to cruise, you therefore first travel from Cairo to Luxor or Aswan, and a domestic flight is the quickest way to do it. Our guide to a Nile cruise in Egypt explains the route, the boats and the prices.
Which option should you choose?
That depends on how many days you have and what you enjoy. If you have ten days or less, take the flight: the day train takes ten to eleven hours, so flying gives you back most of a day. How a trip fits into your time is the subject of how many days to spend in Egypt and of our 10-day Egypt itinerary. The sleeper train suits travellers who enjoy the journey and want to save a hotel night: you board in the evening, have dinner and breakfast in your compartment and arrive the next morning, with delays of up to about two hours reported. The day train has the lowest fares of the rail options, but it uses a whole day, which is a lot to give up on a short trip. Bus and car are the options we do not plan for this stretch, given the FCDO warnings above.
How we do it on our tours
On our four Nile tours, Egypt Highlights, Classic Egypt, Adventurous Egypt and Complete Egypt, the domestic flight from Cairo to Aswan is included, followed by a three-night Nile cruise from Aswan to Luxor (full board, drinks excluded). You travel with a private, English-speaking Egyptologist and your own driver, so there is no train to book and no road to drive. Aswan to Luxor is also the direction that sails with the current, which often makes the cruise a night shorter than the other way round. Egypt Highlights shows how this fits into ten days. If your plans differ, for example because you would like to start in Luxor, say so when you contact us and we will look at what is possible.
Luxor to Cairo, and on to Aswan
The return from Luxor to Cairo works the same way, with the same options. We do not list northbound times here, so check them with Abela or on Seat61 before you book. Going on to Aswan, the Abela sleepers that serve Luxor continue south: Seat61 lists the arrival in Aswan at 09:25 or 11:10 on the two southbound trains, at the same fare as to Luxor.
Comparison
Cairo to Luxor: the options side by side
Train times and fares are those listed by the rail reference site Seat61; flight information comes from flight booking sites. Check everything before you book.
| Option | Journey time | Cost for foreigners | Good to know |
|---|---|---|---|
| Flight | About 1 hour in the air | Varies, check when you book | From Cairo International Airport. EgyptAir and Air Cairo are named by flight booking sites on this route. |
| Sleeper train | About ten and a half hours, overnight; delays of up to about two hours are reported | $110 to $170 one way depending on class and whether you share; children aged 4 to 9 $70; dinner and breakfast included (Seat61) | Abela Trains, from Cairo Upper Egypt station (Bashtil) and Giza. Book on Abela’s website or app, or through agencies, four to five months ahead. |
| Day train | About 10 to 11 hours | First class $75, second class $55 one way (Seat61) | Air-conditioned VIP and express trains from Ramses station. Foreigners buy through booking agencies or at the reservation office in Ramses station. |
| Bus | About 9 hours | Not confirmed | Buses such as Go Bus are listed at roughly nine hours; no official timetable confirmed. The UK FCDO warns of serious bus crashes in recent years. |
| Private car | About a full day, not confirmed | Varies, check when you book | The UK FCDO says: “Do not drive outside main cities and resorts at night.” Our tours use the flight. |
Fares in US dollars, one way, per person. Train fares as listed by Seat61 in autumn 2026 (day trains: Seat61’s Egypt page, updated 14 September 2026). They can change, so check before you book.
Practical
Fastest: the flight
About one hour nonstop from Cairo International Airport. EgyptAir and Air Cairo are the airlines that flight booking sites name on the route. Fares vary, so check them when you book.
Most atmospheric: the sleeper train
According to Seat61, Abela Trains runs two sleepers a night from Cairo, with dinner and breakfast included. The fares listed in autumn 2026 were $110 to $170 one way for foreigners. Check times and fares before you book.
What we do: fly, then sail
On our four Nile tours the domestic flight from Cairo to Aswan is included, followed by a three-night Nile cruise from Aswan to Luxor, with a private, English-speaking Egyptologist.
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Frequently asked questions
How do you get from Cairo to Luxor?
You can fly, take the overnight sleeper train or a day train, or go by bus or car. The flight is the fastest at about one hour; according to Seat61 the sleeper takes about ten and a half hours and the day trains ten to eleven. On our tours we fly from Cairo to Aswan and sail north to Luxor on a Nile cruise.
How long is the flight from Cairo to Luxor?
The flight from Cairo to Luxor takes about one hour nonstop; flight booking sites list between one hour and one hour 15 minutes. Allow extra time for the airport at both ends.
How long is the train from Cairo to Luxor?
According to Seat61, the sleeper train takes about ten and a half hours and the day trains ten to eleven hours. On the sleeper, delays of up to about two hours are reported. Check the times before you book.
Is there a sleeper train from Cairo to Luxor?
Yes. According to Seat61, Abela Trains runs two sleepers a night going south: one leaves Cairo Upper Egypt station (Bashtil) at 19:45 and reaches Luxor at 06:10, the other leaves at 21:10 and reaches Luxor at 07:50. The same trains continue to Aswan. Timetables change, so check before you book.
How much is the sleeper train from Cairo to Luxor?
According to Seat61, the fares for foreigners listed in autumn 2026 were $110 to $170 one way per person. Standard class costs $110 sharing a two-berth compartment or $150 for sole use, Elite class $125 sharing or $170 for sole use, and children aged 4 to 9 pay $70. Dinner and breakfast in the compartment are included, and the fare is the same to Luxor or Aswan. Fares can change, so check before you book.
Where does the sleeper train leave from in Cairo?
The sleeper leaves from Cairo Upper Egypt station (Bashtil) and from Giza. According to Seat61 the sleepers no longer leave from Ramses station in central Cairo; the day trains do. Check the station when you book.
Can foreigners buy train tickets online in Egypt?
Yes, but not on the official Egyptian National Railways website or app: according to Seat61 these sell tickets at Egyptian prices to Egyptians only, and foreigners pay fares in US dollars. For day trains foreigners buy through booking agencies such as 12Go or Bookaway (sales open about 17 days ahead), at the Arab and Foreign Reservation Office in Ramses station, or at the tourist ticket windows in Luxor and Aswan. The sleeper is booked on Abela’s website or app, or through agencies, roughly four to five months ahead.
Is it safe to drive from Cairo to Luxor?
The UK FCDO warns about the roads in its Egypt advice, last updated on 27 October 2026: “Accidents are common because of variable road conditions, dangerous driving and poor traffic law enforcement.” and “Do not drive outside main cities and resorts at night.” The FCDO does not advise against travel to Luxor, Aswan or the Nile Valley, so the concern is the road, not the destination. On our tours we use the flight from Cairo to Aswan.
Can you take a Nile cruise from Cairo to Luxor?
The classic Nile cruise runs between Luxor and Aswan, and that is the stretch our tours sail. To join it you first travel from Cairo to Luxor or Aswan, usually by domestic flight. On our four Nile tours the flight from Cairo to Aswan is included, followed by a three-night cruise from Aswan to Luxor.
How far is Luxor from Cairo?
The rail distance from Cairo to Luxor is 671 km, according to Seat61. That is the distance along the track, not a road distance, which we do not quote. By air the journey takes about one hour.
Read on
Nile cruise in Egypt
Classic ship or dahabiya between Luxor and Aswan: nights, route, prices and how to fit a cruise into your trip.
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