Hidden behind the limestone cliffs on the West Bank of Luxor, the Valley of the Kings holds the secrets of Egypt’s most powerful pharaohs. For nearly 500 years, from around 1550 to 1069 BC, the rulers of the New Kingdom cut their tombs deep into this desert valley, filling them with spectacular painted texts to guide their journey through the afterlife. Sixty-three tombs. Centuries of history. And one of the most breathtaking archaeological sites on Earth.
This guide tells you everything you need to know before you visit — which tombs to prioritise, how much it costs, the best time to go, and why a private Egyptologist guide transforms the experience from interesting to unforgettable.
| Location | West Bank of the Nile, Luxor. 10 km from central Luxor. |
| Opening hours | 6:00am – 5:00pm (summer); 6:00am – 4:00pm (winter). Last entry 1 hour before closing. |
| Standard entry fee | 450 EGP (~$9-10) — includes 3 tombs of your choice |
| Tutankhamun extra ticket | 400 EGP (~$8-10) — purchased separately at site |
| Seti I extra ticket | 1,000 EGP (~$20-22) — when open |
| Number of tombs | 63 numbered tombs; approximately 18-20 open at any one time |
| Best time to visit | 6am-9am (before group tours arrive and before midday heat) |
| Time needed | 2-3 hours for the valley alone; 5-6 hours for full West Bank day |
| Photography | Generally banned inside tombs (no flash); phone photos usually permitted without flash |
Your standard ticket gives you entry to 3 tombs. Here is how to choose. The ranking below is based on historical significance, artistic quality, and the depth of experience a good guide can provide in each tomb.
The most famous tomb in Egypt, and in many ways the world. Howard Carter discovered it largely intact in 1922 — the only royal tomb in the valley to survive looters with most of its treasures still in place. The mummy of Tutankhamun still rests in its original stone sarcophagus. The tomb itself is modest in size — Tutankhamun died young (around 18-19) and his burial was hastily prepared. But the atmosphere is electric. The wall paintings show vivid scenes of the king’s journey to the afterlife in extraordinary colour. The golden coffin is at the Grand Egyptian Museum in Cairo, but the tomb, the mummy, and the experience are unlike anything else in the valley. Absolutely worth the extra ticket.
One of the largest and most spectacular tombs in the valley. The corridors stretch 104 metres deep into the cliff, every surface covered with texts from the Book of the Gates, the Book of Caverns, and the Book of the Heavens. The astronomical ceiling in the burial chamber — a map of the night sky painted 3,200 years ago — is among the most astonishing things you will see in Egypt. Ramesses VI’s tomb was built over Tutankhamun’s, which is partly why Tutankhamun’s tomb survived — the rubble from KV9’s excavation buried the entrance to KV62 for centuries.
The longest tomb in the valley at 185 metres, with some of the best-preserved colour anywhere in the necropolis. Side chambers off the main corridor are decorated with detailed scenes of daily life — bakers, butchers, musicians, and workshops — unusual for a royal tomb and historically fascinating. One chamber shows foreign captives bound with ropes, representing the peoples Ramesses III defeated in battle. The diversity of subjects makes this the most visually varied tomb in the valley.
The tomb of Horemheb, the last pharaoh of the 18th Dynasty and a former military general, is one of the most intellectually fascinating tombs in the valley. It was unfinished when Horemheb died, and you can see the tomb-making process frozen in time: some walls are fully painted in vivid colour, others are mid-carving with only the preliminary sketches in red ink, and others are still bare limestone. It is the best place in Egypt to understand how a royal tomb was actually made.
Large, well-lit, and relatively uncrowded. The burial chamber contains Ramesses IV’s pink granite sarcophagus, still in its original position. The ceiling is painted with the goddess Nut stretching her star-studded body across the sky — the ancient Egyptian vision of the cosmos. This is a good choice for first-time visitors as it is accessible, spacious, and the paintings are in excellent condition.
Widely considered the finest tomb in the valley. Seti I was the father of Ramesses the Great and one of Egypt’s most powerful pharaohs. His tomb runs 137 metres into the cliff, every surface painted with extraordinary artistry and depth of colour. The ceiling of the burial chamber shows the complete Book of the Gates in miniature — a visual encyclopedia of ancient Egyptian afterlife cosmology. When KV17 is open (it periodically closes for conservation), the extra entry fee is unquestionably worth it.
The son of Ramesses the Great and possibly the pharaoh of the Exodus (a subject of genuine scholarly debate your guide will enjoy exploring). Merenptah’s tomb is large and contains multiple nested sarcophagi still visible in the burial chamber. The mummy of Merenptah is now in the Cairo Museum, but the scale of the tomb and the quality of the astronomical ceiling make it an excellent choice.
| Ticket | Price (EGP) | Approx USD | Notes |
|---|---|---|---|
| Standard entry (3 tombs) | 450 EGP | ~$9 | Choose any 3 from the open tomb list |
| Tutankhamun tomb (KV62) | 400 EGP | ~$8 | In addition to standard ticket. Buy at site entrance. |
| Seti I tomb (KV17) | 1,000 EGP | ~$20 | In addition to standard ticket. Not always open. |
| Ramesses VI tomb (KV9) | Included | – | Counts as one of your 3 tombs |
| Tram from entrance to valley | Optional | ~$1 | Short walk (~5 min) to the tombs. Tram is not necessary. |
Note: Fees are set in EGP and change periodically. USD equivalents are approximate at mid-2026 exchange rates. Egypt Day Tours West Bank tours include the standard entry fees in the tour price. The Tutankhamun and Seti I extra tickets are payable on site.
The Valley of the Kings is on the West Bank of the Nile, roughly 10 km from central Luxor. From East Bank hotels you cross the Nile by ferry (5 minutes, a few EGP) or via the south Luxor bridge, then continue by road to the valley. If you book a private West Bank tour with Egypt Day Tours, your driver picks you up from your hotel and handles all transport.
Tickets are sold at the main visitor centre at the valley entrance. A small electric tram runs from the entrance to the first tombs — it is a very short walk so most visitors skip it. Bag check is required at the entrance; water bottles are allowed inside the valley (not inside individual tombs). There are toilets and a small cafe at the visitor centre.
The tombs are carved into the rock and descend steeply via sloped corridors. Some have steps. The interiors are cool compared to the desert heat outside — a relief in summer. Lighting is installed in all open tombs, but it is often dim. Many visitors use phone torches to illuminate inscriptions closely.
The painted walls are extraordinarily well-preserved in many tombs — the dry desert climate has protected the pigments for over 3,000 years. Touching the walls is strictly prohibited; oils from fingers accelerate deterioration. Guards enforce this actively.
A licensed Egyptologist transforms the Valley of the Kings from a series of decorated corridors into a coherent story. Your guide will explain:
Without a guide, the Valley of the Kings is visually impressive. With a great Egyptologist, it is one of the most profound experiences in the world.
The Valley of the Kings sits within the broader Theban Necropolis, and most visitors combine it with other West Bank sites in a full day. Here is the ideal combination.
One of Egypt’s most visually spectacular monuments. The mortuary temple of Queen Hatshepsut — the most powerful female pharaoh in Egyptian history — rises in three colonnaded terraces against the sheer limestone cliffs behind it. Built around 1473 BC, it is in a class of its own architecturally. The painted reliefs inside tell the story of Hatshepsut’s divine birth, her expedition to the land of Punt (modern Somalia/Eritrea), and her coronation. Do not skip this. It is 15 minutes from the Valley of the Kings by road.
Two enormous seated statues of Amenhotep III, 18 metres tall, standing alone in a field near the road. They mark the entrance to what was once the largest mortuary temple in Egypt — now almost completely vanished. Free to visit and unmissable. Your driver passes them on the way to and from the valley.
The mortuary temple of Ramesses III, and one of the best-preserved temple complexes in Egypt. Less crowded than Karnak, with some of the most vivid and detailed relief carvings anywhere in the country — scenes of naval battles, hunting, and religious festivals in extraordinary colour. Our West Bank tours include Medinet Habu on request.
Contains over 90 tombs of queens, princes, and royal family members. The tomb of Nefertari (QV66), wife of Ramesses the Great, is widely regarded as the most beautifully painted tomb in all of Egypt. Entry to Nefertari’s tomb requires a separate ticket (1,500 EGP/$30) and visitor numbers are strictly limited each day.
Egypt Day Tours offers private West Bank tours that include the Valley of the Kings as the centrepiece, combined with Hatshepsut Temple and the Colossi of Memnon. All tours include a licensed Egyptologist guide, private air-conditioned transport, hotel pick-up and drop-off, and standard entrance fees.
| Tour | Duration | Price (from) | Sites Covered |
|---|---|---|---|
| West Bank Half Day | 4-5 hours | $40/person | Valley of the Kings (3 tombs), Hatshepsut Temple, Colossi of Memnon |
| Full Day Luxor (Both Banks) | 8-9 hours | $65/person | West Bank (Valley + Hatshepsut + Colossi) + East Bank (Karnak + Luxor Temple) |
| 2-Day Luxor Package | 2 days | $110/person | Full West Bank + Full East Bank + Valley of Queens or Medinet Habu |
Prices above are per person for a group of 2. Solo travellers and larger groups have different rates. See all Luxor tour options and current pricing.
For the first 1,500 years of Egyptian civilisation, pharaohs were buried beneath pyramids — first at Saqqara, then at Giza, then at Dahshur and Abydos. By the New Kingdom (1550-1069 BC), the pyramid model had been abandoned. The tombs were too visible, too obviously full of treasure, and too easily robbed.
The solution was radical: hide the tombs entirely. Cut them into an uninhabited desert valley on the West Bank of Luxor, on the same side of the Nile where the sun sets — the Egyptian realm of the dead. Make the entrances small. Seal them with rubble. Tell as few people as possible where they were.
It almost worked. Most of the 63 tombs were robbed in antiquity, sometimes within decades of sealing. But the valley itself was forgotten after the fall of the New Kingdom, buried under centuries of flood debris and desert sand. When European explorers began arriving in the 18th and 19th centuries, they found a handful of open tombs that ancient tourists had already visited — but most of the valley remained buried. Howard Carter’s discovery of Tutankhamun’s tomb in November 1922, after five seasons of failed searching, was the most spectacular archaeological find in history. And Egyptologists are still working in the valley today — new tombs and chambers continue to be discovered.
The Valley of the Kings contains 63 numbered tombs, but only around 18-20 are open to visitors at any time. Your standard entry ticket includes access to 3 tombs of your choice. Tutankhamun’s tomb (KV62) and Seti I (KV17) require additional tickets. Your Egyptologist guide will recommend the best combination based on what is open during your visit.
The standard entry ticket costs approximately 450 EGP ($9-10) and includes access to 3 tombs. Tutankhamun’s tomb costs an extra 400 EGP ($8-10). Seti I’s tomb costs an additional 1,000 EGP ($20-22) when open. Most Egypt Day Tours West Bank tours include the standard entry fees — the extra tickets are payable on site.
The top tombs are: KV62 (Tutankhamun) for the original sarcophagus and historic significance; KV9 (Ramesses VI) for the spectacular astronomical ceiling; KV11 (Ramesses III) for its size and variety of painted subjects; KV57 (Horemheb) for the fascinating unfinished sections; and KV17 (Seti I) when open. Your Egyptologist guide will tailor the choice to what is open on your visit day.
Photography rules change regularly. As of 2025-2026, cameras and flash photography are generally banned inside most tombs to protect the ancient pigments. Mobile phones without flash are usually permitted. Your guide will tell you exactly what is allowed in each tomb before you enter.
Visit as early as possible — ideally when it opens at 6am. By 9-10am, group tour buses have arrived and the most popular tombs get crowded. In summer, the valley reaches 40-45°C (104-113°F) by midday with almost no shade. Most Egypt Day Tours West Bank tours depart hotels at 6-6:30am for this reason.
Allow 2-3 hours at the valley to properly visit your 3 included tombs plus any extras. A private guided tour typically spends more time than a group tour. Many visitors combine the valley with Hatshepsut Temple and the Colossi of Memnon in a full West Bank day (5-6 hours total).
You can visit independently, but you will miss most of what makes it extraordinary. The tombs contain thousands of hieroglyphic texts and religious scenes that are meaningless without context. A licensed Egyptologist transforms the experience completely — you go from looking at painted walls to understanding a 3,000-year-old cosmology. The difference is enormous.
The Valley of the Kings is on the West Bank of the Nile at Luxor, approximately 10 km from central Luxor. From East Bank hotels, the journey takes 20-30 minutes including the Nile crossing. All Egypt Day Tours West Bank tours include private transport from your hotel.
Our licensed Egyptologist guides bring 3,000 years of history to life — not a script, but a genuine deep expertise built over years of study at these very sites. Private transport, hotel pick-up, and no group tour crowds.
