Egyptian Luxor Marathon on Friday 8 January 2027

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EGYPT · RUNNING

The Egyptian Luxor Marathon returns on Friday 8 January 2027, with every race starting at dawn beside the Temple of Hatshepsut. For a US runner, it is a rare chance to run a marathon past ancient temples on the Nile.

International entry costs EUR 80 (about US$90) for the 5K and EUR 100 (about US$112) for the longer races. The organiser, Egyptian Marathon Events, says the 34th Egyptian Luxor Marathon is open to every ability level, with no qualifying time.

What the Egyptian Luxor Marathon Is and Why It Matters

The Egyptian Luxor Marathon starts and finishes at Deir el-Bahari, at the Temple of Hatshepsut, built for a female pharaoh. Runners follow the Nile’s west bank, past Medinet Habu, the Temple of Amenophis III and the Colossi of Memnon, the organiser says.

The organiser calls the Egyptian Luxor Marathon the oldest continuously held marathon in Africa and the Middle East. That claim is the organiser’s own description and is not independently confirmed.

Four races run on the same morning: a 5K, a 12K, a half marathon and a full marathon. Minimum ages are 8 for the 5K, 10 for the 12K, 16 for the half and 21 for the full marathon.

The organiser says the Egyptian Luxor Marathon course is AIMS-measured, an international road-race standard, and Abbott World Marathon Majors accredited. The organiser says participants can earn Abbott World Marathon Majors ranking points.

The Egyptian Luxor Marathon is not new to international runners. Egypt Today reported on Friday 17 January 2020 that about 270 runners from 20 countries started the 27th edition there.

The 33rd edition was held on Friday 9 January 2026, according to the Hopasports registration page. The 34th edition therefore returns to the same Friday slot in the second week of January.

Race Day Schedule, Distances and Entry Fees

The Egyptian Luxor Marathon opens on Thursday 7 January 2027 with a race expo from 4:00 to 8:00 in the evening. Runners collect their race pack at the Hilton Luxor Resort & Spa, the official hotel.

On race day, Friday 8 January, runners should reach the Temple of Hatshepsut between 6:00 and 6:30 in the morning. The warm-up and final announcements begin at 6:45, and all races start together at 7:00.

For a US reader, that start is midnight at the start of Friday on the East Coast. The awards ceremony takes place at 11:30 in the morning in front of the temple.

The full marathon has a cut-off of six hours, and the 5K, 12K and half marathon have four hours. The organiser measures both limits from the official race start.

International runners pay in euros on the organiser’s registration page, and the general phase ends on Monday 30 November 2026. That phase costs EUR 80 (about US$90) for the 5K and EUR 100 (about US$112) for each longer race.

The late phase runs from Tuesday 1 December 2026 to Friday 1 January 2027, with the same euro prices. The organiser adds that taxes, fees and other charges are added at checkout.

Egyptians and residents of Egypt pay in pounds, which matters for expats in Cairo or on the Red Sea. In the general phase that is EGP 900 (about US$17) for the 5K and EGP 1,800 (about US$33) for the marathon.

From Tuesday 1 December, residents pay EGP 1,000 (about US$19) for the 5K and EGP 2,000 (about US$37) for the marathon. The organiser’s page does not say what proof of residence it asks for.

Every finisher gets a medal, a digital certificate and race photos, and the organiser says races are timed with MyLaps chips. Results are published overall and by age group, and the top three men and women in each race win special awards.

The Venue and How to Get There

Luxor sits on the Nile in Upper Egypt, south of Cairo. The Temple of Hatshepsut lies on the west bank, in the Deir el-Bahari bay, below the cliffs of the Theban hills.

Luxor has its own airport, and a flight-listing site shows EgyptAir, Air Cairo and Nile Air on the Cairo to Luxor route. Check current times with the airlines before you book.

The organiser’s Luxor packages use the official Hilton hotel and include entry, a pasta party and transfers. Two nights cost EUR 370 (about US$415), three cost EUR 509 (about US$571) and four cost EUR 650 (about US$729).

Runners with their own hotel should arrange a ride to the west bank, because the organiser wants everyone there by 6:30. Ask your hotel to book a driver the day before.

The same organiser also runs the 15th Sharm El Sheikh Half Marathon on Saturday 28 November 2026. International entry for that Red Sea race starts at EUR 55 (about US$62), according to the organiser’s event list.

Tips for US and Foreign Visitors

US citizens need a visa to enter Egypt, according to the US State Department’s Egypt page. A single-entry tourist e-visa on arrival at Cairo airport costs US$36 by credit card, and a multiple-entry visa costs about US$65.

At other entry points, the State Department says a single-entry visa costs US$30 in exact US cash. It urges travellers to use visa2egypt.gov.eg, because other sites charge more, and to hold a passport valid for six months.

Egypt will charge a unified US$15 fee on entry and transit visas from Friday 1 January 2027, Ahram Online reported on Sunday 30 August 2026. The race falls a week later, and the effect on the price at the counter is not yet clear.

The State Department rates Egypt Level 2, exercise increased caution, in an advisory issued on Tuesday 15 July 2025. Check for a newer version before you book.

The same page says not to travel to northern and middle Sinai and the border areas, and to avoid the Western Desert. It mentions Luxor only to say its hospitals are good, and the city lies far from those areas.

Pack for an early start and a long morning in the sun. Bring a copy of your race confirmation, sunscreen and a hat.

Cash helps for tips, taxis and small shops. We use 53.9 Egyptian pounds to the dollar, the rate on Tuesday 20 October 2026, for EGP 1,000 (about US$19).

Many visitors add the Valley of the Kings, Karnak and Luxor Temple to an Egyptian Luxor Marathon trip. Plan those visits for the days around the race, not the morning itself, because the course roads are closed.

The organiser says medical support is provided during the event, and it reserves the right to run random doping controls. Entry is for individual athletes, according to the Hopasports listing.

Another Egyptian race is on the calendar, the Pyramids Half Marathon in Giza on Friday 11 and Saturday 12 December. For a Cairo stopover, see our guide to what to do in Cairo in October 2026.

What Is Not Confirmed Yet

Prices differ between sources, and the organiser lists EUR 100 (about US$112) for the longer races. The Hopasports page shows EUR 91.20 (about US$102) plus a 5% service fee.

The organiser’s checkout adds taxes and fees, so the final euro total for foreign runners is not confirmed. Check the amount on the official registration page before you pay.

The organiser shows its course map only as an image, so we cannot describe the exact route beyond the landmarks it names. It also has not said how many runners it expects in January 2027.

No finisher cap or entry limit is stated beyond the organiser’s note that registration may close early if the event fills up. Refund rules are listed only on the Hopasports page, which says entry fees are generally not refundable.

The claim that the Egyptian Luxor Marathon is the oldest continuous marathon in Africa and the Middle East is not independently confirmed. Its Abbott World Marathon Majors accreditation is also stated on its own page only.

Visa prices can change, and Egypt adds a US$15 fee from 1 January 2027, so the final price is not confirmed. The portal visa2egypt.gov.eg is the place to confirm the price on the day you apply.

More: Egypt news in English, every day from The Rio Times.

Frequently Asked Questions

When is the Egyptian Luxor Marathon 2027?

The 34th Egyptian Luxor Marathon is on Friday 8 January 2027, at the Temple of Hatshepsut in Luxor. All races start at 7:00 in the morning, after an expo on Thursday evening.

How much does it cost to enter, and where do I register?

International runners pay EUR 80 (about US$90) for the 5K and EUR 100 (about US$112) for the 12K, half marathon and marathon. Register on the organiser’s website, egyptianmarathon.com, where taxes and fees are added at checkout.

Do US citizens need a visa to run the Egyptian Luxor Marathon?

Yes, US citizens need an Egyptian visa. The State Department lists US$30 in cash at most entry points or US$36 by card at Cairo airport.

Sources: Egyptian Marathon Events, 34th Egyptian Luxor Marathon (organiser and official registration), accessed 20 October 2026; Egyptian Marathon Events, upcoming events, accessed 20 October 2026; Egyptian Marathon Events, travel packages, accessed 20 October 2026; Hopasports, 34th Egyptian Marathon Luxor registration listing, accessed 20 October 2026; Hopasports, 33rd Egyptian Marathon Luxor, accessed 20 October 2026; Egypt Today, 270 runners in International Egyptian Marathon in Luxor, 17 January 2020; Ahram Online, Egypt sets US$15 fee for entry, transit visas and consular services from 2027, 30 August 2026; US State Department, Egypt travel advisory, issued 15 July 2025, updated 11 August 2025, accessed 20 October 2026; Egypt e-Visa portal, accessed 20 October 2026.

This article was produced by The Rio Times’ automated newsroom system. How we use AI · Report an error · Editorial responsibility: Matthias Camenzind, Editor-in-Chief