Egypt's Valley of the Kings

Officially known as The Great and Majestic Necropolis of the Millions of Years of the Pharaoh, Life, Strength, Health in the West of Thebes, the Valley of the Kings is home to the royal tombs of the New Kingdom pharaohs (1550 to 1069 BCE). 

Chosen for its remote location in a valley opposite the ancient city of Thebes, now Luxor, the necropolis is known to consist of 63 tombs of varying grandeur: from simple pits to complex multi-chambered tombs decorated with exquisite reliefs and paintings. 

The tombs are opened to the public on rotation to protect them from the damage caused by the presence of visitors, so access depends on when you visit. If they're open, our favorites are the tombs of Thutmose III, Ramesses VI, Ramesses IX, Siptah, and Ramesses IV.

Tutankhamun's tomb is also located here in the Valley of the Kings. While it still contains the mummified body of one of the most well-known pharaohs, the huge number of objects that were buried with the ancient king are now exhibited in the Egyptian Museum in Cairo.

We recommend arriving at the Valley of the Kings as early as you can to avoid queues and the stifling heat of the day as much as possible.

Visiting the Valley of the Kings

The Valley of the Kings is an incredible place loaded with a fascinating history and the best way to make the most of your visit is with an expert guide to explain the details of each tomb and pharaoh. A popular way to experience the site is to combine the tour with a visit to the other nearby monuments of the Valley of the Queens, the Colossi of Memnon, and the Temple of Hatshepsut:

• Valley of the Kings and Queens, Colossus and Hatshepsut Tour

If you prefer to visit the Valley of the Kings at your own pace, the best way to do so is to hire a taxi from Luxor, making sure to agree on a set price to visit the monuments you want to visit - this usually costs between 100 LE (US$ 1.96) - 200 LE (US$ 3.93) depending where you want to visit and how long for. In this case, we strongly recommend reading up on the tombs before visiting so you know what you're looking at! 

With the basic ticket, you'll have access to the 3 tombs of your choice, with the exception of the tomb of Tutankhamun, which requires a special ticket, and the tomb of Seti I, which cannot be visited at present.