Of course you could use taxis to visit various sites, Jazz, but unless you are reasonably "seasoned" as a visitor to Luxor, I wouldn't recommend it.
As nice as it is just to visit these places of historical significance, you do really want someone who can explain, in good english, exactly what you are seeing.
I think your idea of using Jolleys or one of the other recommended agents on this site, is the best way to go. If you have an air-conditioned vehicle, driver and egyptologist for your sole use, for say, a whole day., you will be amazed at how many of the different local sites you can visit. I would warn you, however, that if the weather is hot as it tends to be most of the time in Luxor, you will find it very tiring to do too much in one day.

But it's much more exciting to do it under your own steam.

You can do the Luxor Temple and Karnak Temple quite easily by taking a taxi or caleche to the temples. The guide books are easy to follow and to be honest, if it's hot and you are going round the temples in the daytime - it can get very hard work. At least if you do it on your own, you can choose how long you want to stay and just how many pillars you want to look at

For a trip to the West Bank - you can take the public ferry across the river and hire a taxi and driver for as long as you like, once you reach the other side. Tell him what places you want to see first (agree the price of the taxi and his time before you get in), then he will know which ticket office to take you to. You have to purchase your tickets to visit the Valley of the Kings and Valley of the Queens before you get to the entrance.

Also, if you want to visit No 62 in Valley of the Kings (Tut's), you have to pay extra for that one. One ticket allows you to visit 3 tombs. It's hard work climbing down and back up again - so 3 plus Tut's is probably plenty on a first visit unless you are very fit, of course!

There is so much to see in Luxor that you will surely want to go back again - so don't rush about trying to do everything at once! Take a nice relaxing cruise up the Nile to see the temple at Denderah and enjoy the trip along the river. Don't miss a trip below ground to visit the crypt and see the bats flying around. A full buffet lunch is included on the cruise and you can have a swim in the pool on the way back. It's not the cheapest of trips but well worth the visit.

If you're feeling adventurous - take a camel caravan before sunset along the West Bank through the local villages and see real life.

Best of all - take the balloon trip (book locally - with Jolleys) for a magnificent trip and at half the price than it will cost through your tour operator. Be warned though, it's an early start...

To me Luxor, Aswan & Cairo are the "real" Egypt and it's now our No 1 favourite destination. We've been to Hurghada previously and the Red Sea is superb but it will never hold a candle to the history of the real deal.

No 1 destination was always Cyprus, but now we live in Cyprus - so Egypt moves up to the top spot

Have a great time. Be brave and you will enjoy it all the more!

CwB

Thank you both very much - brilliant replies.

I know this is going to be the first of many trips to Egypt. Do all the sites open very early? We would like to go everywhere early in the morning before it gets too hot and be back at the hotel by 2-3pm to recover!!

Thank you, Jazz

Most excursions over to the West Bank start at around 7am in order to be back before the heat of the day arrives. You will probably have had enough by lunchtime.

Best time to go back to the cool of your room and chill for a little while before going to relax by the pool. Slap on the F30 or higher and chuck yourself in the pool about every 20 mins and you will be fine

The tarmac on the roads in Luxor tends to melt at around 3pm

You will have a fab time, I'm sure

CwB

Thank you so much - just can't wait!

Jazz

if theres one trip you must do through the reps its got to be ABU SIMBEL....
cost around £70 each but well worth it...
you cross the desert by coach over the border into sudan its excellent trip.

I hope i win the lottery next weekend just so that we can afford all the trips!! I think we might eat in Mcdonalds all week for cheapness!!

i hasten to add somewhere we don't go to at home!!

Thanks again

Jazz

hey jazz well if you want to cut corners and eat in mccdonalds i have some good news for you there is ONE smack bang in the middle of luxor lol.
looks strange to see it there with all the old and worn shops and houses around this sparkling restuarant lol.
must say its definetly the coolest place in luxor even if you dont eat just go in to chill yourself a little

I was only joking when i said about Mcdonalds!!

Is there anywhere where they haven't infiltrated!!

Never mind the setting must be worth it.

LOL

Take a trip to the top floor of the Luxor Macdonalds and you can sit eating probably the cheapest burger you have ever bought, overlooking the Luxor Temple

And in Cairo, Pizza Hut & KFC are situated opposite the Sphinx


CwB