The Valley of the Kings in Luxor, Egypt

Located in the rocks on the west bank of the Nile in Luxor, the Valley of the Kings isolated houses the tombs of the great pharaohs of the New Kingdom (1550 - 1070 BC). They are hidden in the wadi (or valley) formed over millennia by rain and runoff. The first known pharaoh certin known to have built a tomb in the Valley was Hatshepsut, though many believe Egptologists Thutmose I was the first to find his tomb here.

Valley of the Kings is divided into two main branches: the most famous of East Valley and West Valley. Steep cliffs define the topography of the latter, in which three tombs have been discovered, including the tomb of Ay (KV 23). The Middle Valley, covering two acres, resembles a hand with fingers spread. South, overlooking the valley, is a pyramid-shaped summit, called el-Qurn (horn). Archaeologists believe that this natural feature influenced the choice of this site for the royal tombs.

There are 63 known tombs in the Valley, 26 carved by kings and others granted to members of the royal family or the highest of the elite. Of these, fifteen are currently open to the public: Ramses I, Ramses III, Ramses IV, Ramses V / VI, VII Ramses, Ramses IX, Seti II, Siptah, Merenptah, Tuthmosis III, Tuthmosis IV, Mentuherkhepshef, Tausret / Sethnakht Ay and Tutankhamun. They were carved into the cliffs of features such as trees, heading deep into the earth and ends in burial chambers developed. The tombs are decorated from top to bottom with religious images and texts Netherworld books designed to help the king to travel further.

Many famous adventurers and archaeologists have explored the valley, including strong circus engineer Giovanni Belzoni, and artist / Egyptologist Howard Carter, who is famous for finding the tomb of Tutankhamen in 1922 Recent discoveries in the valley includes KV 5, which was excavated by Dr. Kent Weeks in 1995, which is much larger than previously thought, identified as the tomb of the son of Ramses II; KV 63, a cache of material end of the 18th Dynasty, discovered by Dr. Otto Schaden. Dr. Zahi Hawass is currently top of the first Egyptian team to dig into the valley; explores the tunnel in the tomb of Seti I and try to locate the tomb of Ramesses VIII missing.

Hours:
Open daily.
May 1 - Ramadan 06h00-19h00
(Last ticket sold at 18:00)
Ramadan - 30 April: 06h00-17h00
(Last ticket sold at 16:00)

Ticket cost:
General Admission (Includes admission to the area and the three graves, which are open to the public.)
Ramses I
Ramses III
Ramses IV
Ramesses VII
Ramses IX
Seti II
Siptah
Merenptah
Thutmose III
Tuthmosis IV
Mentuherkhepshef
Tausret / Sethnakht

Egypt 4 LA
Student Egyptian: 2 LE
Foreign Affairs: 70 LE
International students: 35 LE
Subway: 2 LE

Tickets for the tombs of Ramses VI, Tutankhamun and Ay must be purchased separately (see details below).
Tomb of Ramses VI: Egyptian: 2 LE
Egyptian student: 1 LE
Foreign Affairs: 50 LE
International Students: 25 LE
Tomb of Tutankhamun: Egypt: 10 LE
Egyptian student: 5 LA
Foreign Affairs: 80 LE
International students: 40 LE
Tomb of Ay: Egyptian: 2 LE
Egyptian student: 1 LE
Foreign Affairs: 20 LE
International Students: 10 LE

Student rates are available for holders of valid student card from an Egyptian university or international student card

LOCATION:
West Bank, Luxor

INSTRUCTIONS:
TAXI: ask "Wadi al-maluk" for the Valle Oriente (KV) and "al-Gurub promenade" for West Valley (WV), also known as the "Valley of the Apes."

FACILITIES:
The visitor center, gift shop.

No photos are allowed inside the tombs. Cameras must be left out.

This site is not wheelchair accessible.