Valley of the Kings: The Complete Visitor's Guide

Overview

Hidden in a dry desert valley on the West Bank of Luxor, the Valley of the Kings was the royal burial ground of Egypt's New Kingdom pharaohs for nearly 500 years. Sixty-four tombs have been discovered here so far, from modest chambers to the vast, painted corridors of Seti I and Ramses VI.

For travelers today, it remains one of the most emotional places in Egypt. You walk down the same sloping ramps that priests walked at the funerals of Tutankhamun, Ramses the Great and Amenhotep II, into rooms where the paint on the walls still looks freshly finished after 3,300 years.

History

Around 1539 BC, pharaoh Thutmose I broke with a thousand-year tradition and abandoned the pyramid in favour of a hidden rock-cut tomb. He chose a remote valley behind the Theban cliffs, watched over by a natural pyramid-shaped peak — al-Qurn — which he believed sacred to the goddess Meretseger.

For the next twenty dynasties, pharaohs of the New Kingdom — including Tutankhamun, Hatshepsut, Seti I, Ramses II and Ramses VI — were buried here in ever more elaborate tombs. Despite the secrecy, most tombs were looted in antiquity; only Tutankhamun's tomb, discovered by Howard Carter in 1922, was found nearly intact.

Excavation continues to this day. New tombs, mummy caches and workers' villages are still being found by international missions working across the valley floor.

Highlights

• Tomb of Ramses VI (KV9) — The most spectacular tomb usually open — a long corridor covered floor to ceiling in astronomical scenes and the Book of Gates.
• Tomb of Seti I (KV17) — The longest and deepest tomb in the valley, with the finest painted reliefs of the New Kingdom (separate premium ticket).
• Tomb of Tutankhamun (KV62) — Small but iconic — you stand beside the golden sarcophagus and the boy king's mummy, still resting inside.
• Tomb of Merenptah (KV8) — A cavernous, slightly cooler tomb of Ramses II's successor, with a beautifully carved granite sarcophagus.
• Tomb of Ramses III (KV11) — Wide, well-lit and packed with vivid scenes of Egyptian daily life, harpists and food offerings.
• The Valley Landscape — The silent, sun-bleached amphitheatre of cliffs — one of the most atmospheric places in Egypt at first light.

Visitor Experience

You enter through a modern visitor centre with a scale model of the valley, then take a short shuttle ('taftaf') up to the tomb area. The standard ticket includes any three tombs from the rotation currently open — usually eight to ten tombs — and a handful of star tombs require a supplementary ticket.

Inside, you descend on wooden walkways past reliefs of the Book of the Dead, the Book of Gates and the Amduat — the pharaoh's guidebook to the afterlife. The air is dry, warm and utterly silent apart from the low voices of visitors. A Remoza Egyptologist stays outside to explain each tomb before you enter, in line with the site's no-guide rule inside the burial chambers.

Best Time to Visit

October through April is by far the most comfortable window, with daytime temperatures in the mid-20s to low-30s °C. Between June and August the valley regularly climbs above 42 °C by midday — visits are still possible, but must start at sunrise.

Whatever season you choose, the first two hours after opening are magical: cool air, soft light on the cliffs and far fewer visitors inside each tomb.

Opening Hours

The Valley of the Kings is open daily from 06:00 to 17:00 in winter and 06:00 to 18:00 in summer. Ticket sales close one hour before the site closes.

Ramadan and major holidays may shorten hours by 60–90 minutes; Remoza always confirms current timings the day before your visit.

Ticket Information

Current Official Entrance Fees

Entrance fees are determined by the Egyptian Ministry of Tourism and Antiquities and may change without prior notice.

Visitors are advised to verify the latest official ticket prices before their visit or contact Remoza Tours for the most up-to-date information.

How to Get There

The valley sits on the West Bank of the Nile, about a 30–40 minute drive from most Luxor hotels and Nile cruise moorings. Remoza guests are collected directly from their hotel or ship by a private air-conditioned vehicle with a licensed Egyptologist.

If you're arriving by hot air balloon, the flight lands within sight of the valley and your driver meets you at the balloon field for onward transfer — a very popular Remoza combination.

Practical Tips

• Start early — Aim to be at the gate by 06:15 in summer, 07:00 in winter — you'll practically have the tombs to yourself.
• Wear closed shoes — The ramps are steep, dusty and sometimes slippery from centuries of foot traffic.
• Carry water — Bring at least 1.5 litres per person; there is no shade inside the valley bowl.
• Skip the crowds inside KV62 — Tutankhamun's tomb is small — visit last, when tour buses have moved on.
• Pair with Hatshepsut & Medinet Habu — The three sites work beautifully as one West Bank private day tour.