The Queen Hatshepsut Temple is one of the most spectacular ancient Egyptian monuments in Luxor.
This desert tomb near the Valley of the Queens was one of my favorite places in Egypt. The backdrop of the steep rock canyon just makes it such an epic sight to behold, and everything here has been so wonderfully excavated and preserved.
Definitely add this one to your Egypt bucket list! This travel guide will explain how to get there, and everything you need to know before you go!
Where To Stay
History Of Hatshepsut Temple
The mortuary temple of Hatshepsut was commissioned by Queen Hatshepsut, one of the first female pharaohs in the history of ancient Egypt.
Construction started in 1473 BC, and it took 15 years to complete. The original temple had a garden with trees and vines, and reflecting pools, but nothing like that remains today.
Strangely, when the queen died she wasnโt buried here at the mortuary, but instead sheโs at the Valley of the Kings.
Many of the pictures and statues of queen Hatshepsut were later destroyed and erased by her stepson Thutmose III, apparently because of jealousy or embarrassment, and the temple was damaged over the years by earthquakes and rock slides from the cliffs above it.
It wasnโt uncovered until the 1890s AD, and then major excavation and restoration works brought the temple back to life, the way it is today.
Visiting Hatshepsut Temple
Queen Hatshepsut Temple is a 3-story building with a lot of interesting statues, columns, and hieroglyphic writings.
Set at the back of an impressive 300 meter (1,000 foot) tall canyon, this temple has to be one of the most photogenic places in Egypt.
Itโs a work of beauty and symmetry, with inscriptions and hieroglyphs that are amazing, like usual. Some of these show scarab beetles and insects, and others tell the story of the queenโs birth and reign.
You could probably walk through the whole temple in about 60 minutes or less, depending on your pace and how much time you spend soaking up the details. It is very worthwhile.
A good time to visit is early in the morning before the heat and crowds, because most people seem to go to Valley of the Kings first.
Hours & Entrance Fees
- Hours: 6 AM โ 5 PM
- Entrance Fee:* 140 EGP
- Students: 70 EGP with ID
- Bus: 2 EGP**
- Photos: Free**
*If you buy the Luxor Pass, the Hapshepsut Temple is one of the temples included in the pass.
**Thereโs a small shuttle you can take at the entrance to bring you closer to the temple. Itโs not a long walk, but the ride comes in handy on a hot day.
**Thereโs no extra charge for taking photos with a phone/DSLR at the Hapshepsut Temple, but flash isnโt allowed.
How To Get There
Hatshepsut Temple is located on the west bank of the Nile River, on the outskirts of Luxor, Egypt.
The Cairo International Airport (CAI) has 1 hour direct flights to the Luxor airport (LXR) for around $90 USD or less, or you can take a 9 hour day train for around $10 or so. You can shop for flights to Luxor at Skyscanner.
Once youโre in Luxor, itโs easy to find a driver to take you to Hatshepsut Temple and other sites on the west bank, or your hotel can usually arrange this as well.
Otherwise, a good place to ask is on the west bank of the Nile River ferry, where drivers usually hang out all day waiting for tourists to walk by. The touts in Luxor can be extremely clingy though, so youโve been warned!
Best Hatshepsut Temple Tours
If you would rather go with a vetted tour company and skip the hassle of arranging everything yourself, there are several companies that offer tours to Hatshepsut and other temples in Luxor.
Here is a Luxor day tour package of either the West Bank or East Bank, including popular sights like the Colossi of Memnon, Luxor Temple, Valley of the Kings/Queens, Karnak Temple, and more.
Weโve used this company for lots of tours and activities around the world, and theyโre great. Highly recommended!
More Egypt Travel Tips
Thanks for looking! I hope you enjoyed these travel tips for visiting the Queen Hatshepsut Temple in Luxor, Egypt.
Donโt forget to check out my Egypt Travel Guide and complete list of the best things to do in Egypt!