(Last Updated On: December 29, 2021)At the height of Egypt’s power more than 3,000 years ago, the pharaohs built ornate burial chambers in a desolate valley across the Nile from Luxor. Today a few of their elaborately decorated tombs are open to visitors.
What is the Valley of the Kings?
Ancient Egyptians believed that the physical body was essential for eternal life. Thus, preservation of the body was vital. And, once preserved, both the body and all other things required for daily life (or representations of them) needed to be securely stored for eternity.
For about 500 years between 1540 to 1075 BC, the desolate hills near the ancient capital of Thebes (modern Luxor) served as the (not always so safe) storage area for Egypt’s pharaohs and other elites.
Ancient Egyptians called this site “The Great and Majestic Necropolis of the Millions of Years of the Pharaoh, Life, Strength, Health in The West of Thebes.” We know it as the Valley of the Kings.
The area was likely selected for reasons both practical and symbolic.
- Although near the capital in Thebes, the dry valleys (wadis) between the hills were unsettled and access could be limited.
- The area offered plenty of flat land between the river and the desert hills for building temples, palaces, and administrative centers.
- The afterworld was located in the west where the sun set, making the site rich in symbolism and a king buried there that much closer to the afterlife.
The west side of the Nile here has many, many tombs besides those in the Valley of the Kings. They were created to preserve the remains of royal families, priests, and other elite members of society, as well as the workers who built them. A variety of other burials were also located here, many of them well after Egypt’s center of power moved north.
Who built the tombs?
The workers who built tombs for the pharaohs were as skilled as any craftsmen in Egypt.
Like a modern construction site, each tomb was built by a crew that included manual laborers, engineers, stonemasons, carpenters, artists, and a few supervisors. The work crews, in turn, were supported by those who produced necessary supplies and the teams that brought those supplies to the work site.
Workers cut tombs directly into the limestone hillside. Despite limited technology, they used the tools they had available to build elaborate tombs deep in the earth.
Finishing work and decorating often occurred while basic construction was still underway. For example, lower layers of stone functioned as scaffolding: Workers cut and decorated the ceiling and upper walls before cutting away the last of the stone to create lower walls and floors.
Records indicate that work was undertaken in two four-hour shifts with a break between. (Shifts were four hours long because the lamps that lit the tombs burned for about four hours before going out.)
The workers who built tombs in the Valley of the Kings probably also built tombs in the Valley of the Queens. And, when not working for the royal family, they created their own highly decorated tombs in the hills above their village.
Tomb layout and decoration
Royal tombs were constructed in the Valley of the Kings during the New Kingdom Period, from about 1540 – 1075 BC. The first royal tomb here is probably that of Thutmose I and the last is that of Ramses X or maybe Ramses XI. This includes most rulers of the 18th, 19th, and 20th dynasties.
While the very earliest tombs didn’t follow a specific plan, over time royal tombs came to share some basic features:
- A descending corridor – while early tombs have stairs, later tombs have a simple downward sloping corridor
- A deep shaft (or two), usually described as a well room that may have been used to trap rainwater or foil thieves – its purpose is not clear
- At least one hall with pillars
- A burial chamber
Although the number and placement of rooms varied, these features remained consistent.
Likewise, the decoration within the tombs changed very little over time, although there are variations in both style and substance. Early tombs had little decoration, but those that followed are often heavily decorated.
Religious texts in tomb art
Along with artwork that identified the ruler, the interiors of royal tombs were decorated with religious texts and art. These decorations seem to have had the dual purpose of documenting why this pharaoh should be rewarded in the afterlife and guiding him there.
While the earliest royal tombs had little decoration (and non-royal tombs had none), elaborate texts and artwork cover every surface in many later tombs.
The very earliest tombs are decorated with scenes from the Amduat, “The Book of What Is in the Underworld.” It tells the story of the sun god Ra as he travels through the underworld between sunset and sunrise. Because the pharaoh will also make this journey after death, the Amduat provides a useful guide to the gods and monsters he will encounter along the way.
The Litany of Ra, a funerary text invoking Ra in all his forms and praising the pharaoh’s union with the god, shows up next.
The Book of Gates is one of the next texts to appear. It marks the journey through the underworld in the form of gates that mark each hour of the night.
The Book of Caverns describes the journey of the sun god Ra through the underworld. It depicts the rewards and punishments that follow judgement.
Various funerary texts within the Book of Heavens (Sky) appear at the end of the New Kingdom. These address the sun’s journey through the body of the goddess Nut each evening and its rebirth each morning.
With few exceptions, Egyptian artwork was extremely stylized and standardized for millennia, so the main figures are usually identifiable from tomb to tomb. The biggest difference in the artwork from one tomb to the next lies in featured texts, the quality of the workmanship, and the level of preservation.
After the last royal burial
The New Kingdom came to an end as Egypt’s economy, political power, and social order collapsed in 11th century BCE. As Egypt descended into chaos, Thebes lost its role as the political center of Egypt. However, it remained an important religious center controlled by priests for years as Egypt’s pharaohs ruled from the north.
Egypt’s pharaohs never completely kept thieves from their tombs, but the situation reached a crisis point at the end of the 20th dynasty. Tomb robbery became common as civil wars tore the country apart during the reign of Ramses XI.
In response, the priests in Thebes opened (plundered?) most of the royal tombs themselves. They collected the mummies and moved all of them into three tombs so they could more easily be protected. The priests also apparently collected and kept for themselves the valuable grave goods intended to accompany the pharaohs in the next world. (Later the royal mummies were moved again and stashed in another part of the West Bank.)
Still later, the tombs were used as shelter by living people, including ancient Egyptians, Greeks, early Christians, and even European explorers.
Tourism and exploration
Although European tourism to Egyptian only began in the 19th century, the Valley of the Kings was a popular tourist stop in antiquity. That was particularly true for Romans, who seem to have been crazy about all things Egyptian. But after the fall of Rome, it seems Europeans forgot about Egypt.
Indeed, prior to the arrival of the French Jesuit priest Claude Sicard in 1708, Europeans weren’t even sure where Thebes was located!
But it t took another thirty years for Europeans to actually begin exploring Egypt. Danish naval captain and adventurer Frederic Louis Norden and English prelate and avid traveler Richard Pococke were among the very first. Both men documented their discoveries, bringing the wonders of ancient Egypt to the attention of modern Europeans.
Still, the first thorough documentation of the Valley of the Kings wasn’t conducted until Napoleon’s Egyptian expedition in 1799.
Egypt mania begins
Although Napoleon’s military adventure in Egypt was a failure, it resulted in many important archaeological discoveries. In doing so, it brought public attention to the treasures of ancient Egypt.
By the 19th century exploration and artifact collecting (looting) was booming in Egypt.
- Hieroglyphs were first translated early in the century — thanks to the Rosetta Stone Napoleon’s forces brought back to Europe.
- The KV numbering system came into being in 1827. Already-identified tombs were documented and new tombs were discovered and explored.
- Adventurous tourists began to accompany the explorers, scientists, and archaeologists scouring Egypt.
In 1869 British cabinet maker Thomas Cook escorted a group to Egypt and Palestine. One year later he secured the right to use Egyptian steamers to ferry his tourist groups along the Nile.
It was the birth of packaged tourism in Egypt.
Egypt mania reaches a fevered pitch
Even as flocks of tourists began to travel to Egypt on Cook’s tours, exploration continued in the Valley of the Kings.
As the 20th century began, the looting that characterized much of the early “scientific” exploration and research was under control. But it seemed there was little left to discover. After discovering a few previously looted tombs and a cache of mummies, the American archaeologist excavating the area ended the 1912 publication of his findings, closing with the lament:
I fear that the Valley of the Kings is now exhausted.
Ten years later and running short of funds, British archaeologist Howard Carter and the sponsor who had funded a decade of fruitless work in the Valley of the Kings stood outside a sealed door excavated from a pile of rubble. Cater carved a hole in the door, poked his flashlight through, and peeked inside.
Standing behind him, his sponsor asked: “Can you see anything?”
Peering into the antechamber of the tomb of Tutankhamun (KV 62), Carter responded:
Yes. Wonderful things.
Illustration from The Tomb of Tut-Ankh-Amen, Plate XIX, Interior of the Antechamber, Southern End Showing the Thoueris Couch and Chariots (Harry Burton, photographer) / public domain
With his incredible find, fascination with ancient Egypt exploded.
Although nothing so dramatic has been found since, research and excavation continue. There’s still much to learn from what has already been discovered. But it’s also possible that more secrets remain hidden in the valley’s seemingly barren hills.
Visiting the Valley of the Kings
The Valley of the Kings is actually two interconnected wadis (dry valleys) hidden in the rocky hills at the edge of the Western Desert. Most royal tombs, along with a variety of tombs for family members and other elites, are located in the East Valley. (Most tours only visit the East Valley.)
The West Valley has very few tombs, although two of those were for pharaohs. Only one is usually open.
Inside the tombs
To date, at least 64 separate “tombs” have been discovered in the Valley of the Kings. Of these, 26 seem to have been carved for kings. The others were created for a variety of royal family members and important advisors and officials. Some are very basic and may have been built for storage or other uses.
All tombs are identified by number, with the prefix KV (“Kings Valley”) for tombs found in the East Valley. Tombs in the West Valley are identified by the prefix WKV, but included in the KV numbering sequence. That sequence begins with the 25 open tombs known to explorers early in the 19th century. Since that time, tombs are assigned a number as they are discovered.
All tombs were once hidden from view, but today signs direct visitors to the fully-exposed tomb entrances.
The following is a sample of the tombs open in 2019.
Tomb of Ramses III (KV 11)
Ramses III (also spelled Ramesses or Rameses) ruled when Egypt was still powerful, but while political and economic troubles were taking root. The last strong leader of Egypt, he defeated various invaders and completed the temple of Medinet Habu and other monuments. But his reign ended with his murder in a plot to put the son of a secondary wife on the throne.
(The king’s designated heir, Ramses IV, took his place on the throne. And the plotters, including the intended beneficiary of the plot, were found guilty and killed.)
The tomb of Ramses III was begun for his father, Setnakhte, but abandoned when workers broke into another tomb. A shift in the main corridor and a patch in the wall allowed the tomb to expand. At over 400 feet long, it became one of the largest tombs in the Valley of the Kings. It is also vividly decorated.
The sarcophagus and lid are in Europe.
Tomb of Ramses IV (KV 2)
Ramses IV was probably in his 40s when he ended up on the throne after the failure of the plot to murder his father and make another son king. Given this, it seems a bit surprising that he waited a few years to begin his tomb, investing instead in monuments and expeditions to distant parts of the kingdom to obtain valuable materials to use in those monuments.
Since he only lived 6 ½ years after taking the throne, he died before the tomb was complete. To provide for his burial, the unfinished tomb was modified to create a burial chamber.
While this tomb is smaller and simpler in design than many, it retains brilliant colors and the huge sarcophagus that once protected the pharaoh’s mummy.
Tomb of Ramses V-VI (KV 9)
This is one of the largest tombs in the valley and one of the most beautifully decorated. It was built for Ramses V, who only ruled for four years and who may or may not have been entombed here. What’s certain is that his uncle, Ramses VI, expanded the tomb, modified the decoration, and had his body placed here after his own short rule.
(This tomb has only recently been opened to the public and is not included in the regular Valley of the Kings ticket. However, it’s absolutely worth the small extra cost to see it.)
The tomb of Tutankhamun (KV62)
Of course, of all the tombs in the Valley of the Kings, the most famous is that of the boy king Tutankhamun (KV62).
Not discovered until 1922, the tomb yielded treasures of almost unimaginable value and beauty. Those are now in the Egyptian Museum, but visitors to the Valley of the Kings can still see Tut’s gilded sarcophagus and the tomb’s painted walls.
This is a very simple tomb, with painting only in the burial chamber, but there is an additional charge to see it and photos are prohibited.
Plan your visit of the Valley of the Kings
Technically, the Valley of the Kings only refers to two valleys in one section of the ancient West Bank necropolis. However, the name is often used to refer to a much larger portion of the West Bank, including the Valley of the Queens, Hatshepsut’s mortuary temple, and more. (The UNESCO World Heritage site includes ancient Thebes and the entire ancient West Bank necropolis.) Most tours, including Nile Cruise tours, will include most of the West Bank highlights. However, it’s always good to check and see exactly what a particular tour includes.
From Luxor, it’s easy to get to the Valley of the Kings by taxi or boat and taxi. The West Bank is also a relaxing place to spend a night, although lodging options are a more limited than in Luxor city.
Once you get to the Valley of the Kings, you can walk to the tombs from the visitor center. However, a tram ticket is inexpensive and makes the trip quick. It’s worth it at any time and it’s definitely worth it when it’s hot.
The exit is through a market area with souvenirs and fairly assertive vendors.
When to visit
While the tombs are open year-round, summer is said to be a miserable time to visit.
The weather here is blistering hot from late May into September. And, while early European explorers found a desperately needed retreat from the sun inside the tombs, they get hot inside at any time of year, and are said to be almost unbearable in summer.
Time of day
The site usually opens at 6 a.m. It stays open until 4 or 5 p.m., depending on the season (winter/summer).
Early morning or the later half of the afternoon are the least crowded times to visit. The busiest time is between mid-morning and early afternoon.
- The first buses from Luxor start arriving around 8 a.m.
- The first buses from the beach resorts of Hurghada arrive about 10 a.m.
- Cruise passengers generally won’t arrive before 8 a.m. or after mid-afternoon.
In February 2109 we got there about 7 a.m. and ran into one large tour group. Otherwise the only people we saw inside the tombs were independent tourists and a couple of small privately guided groups. Most of the time I had the tombs to myself. Of course, my guide also directed me to the most popular ones first, which also helped avoid crowds. The site was mobbed by mid-morning when I left.
Getting there from the East Bank
The Valley of the Kings is located across the Nile from the modern city of Luxor. It’s directly across from Karnak temple, but set back in the hills at the edge of the Western Desert.
If you are visiting on a group tour, they’ll take care of transportation. That’s also true if you are traveling with a guide.
If traveling independently, you have several options to get to the Valley of the Kings.
By taxi
It’s easy enough to take a taxi from the town center. However, there isn’t a bridge right in the heart of town, so driving involves a rather lengthy and often slow-moving detour to get to a bridge and then back to the archaeological sites on the other side of the river. This considerably increases both the travel time and the cost.
By boat (and taxi)
A cheaper and more direct option involves taking a boat across the Nile. It’s also a lot more fun.
Local residents use baladi ferries to cross between the city and the West Bank, and that’s what we did when I toured Egypt in 2007.
You can find them near Luxor temple. There’s no schedule – they’ll leave when they are full or when they are tired of waiting for more passengers or when you tip them enough. But they are inexpensive and faster than driving.
Besides these small ferries, a variety of other motor launches can also be found along the river. These are only slightly more expensive and will depart immediately, but there isn’t a set location to find one. (The old tourist ferry no longer exists.)
Once you get across, it’s a short distance to the West Bank ticket office and many of the sites. (Take a taxi or walk.) However, the Valley of the Kings ticket office and visitor center is farther. From the ferry landing you can easily get a taxi to either ticket office or to take you from one ticket office to another.
If you want to hire a taxi for the day, do this from the West Bank, instead of Luxor city. It can cut your cost in half.
(Although widely available in Cairo, in 2019, Uber was not yet available in Luxor.)
Tours from Hurghada
I’d never recommend visiting Luxor as a day trip from Hurghada or one of the neighboring Red Sea resorts. However, if you’re on a diving trip and really don’t have more time, it can be done. It’s a very long day (some tours are 16 hours) and includes a four-hour drive each direction.
Many companies offer these tours and all will include a mix of sites – Karnak and the West Bank highlights will be included in every tour. Some will include Luxor temple and more.
Visiting the tombs
Of the 64 tombs discovered here, fewer than 20 are ever opened to tourists, and only about ten are open at the same time.
Neither a schedule for which tombs are open when or an official list of currently open tombs seem to be available. Some tombs seem to be open almost all the time, while others are far less predictable. And some that were once open regularly were closed in recent years.
Tombs are given a “rest” on occasion, as the moisture from visitors breathing inside them is damaging. However, many of the closed tombs are either not very interesting for tourists, extremely fragile, too difficult to access, have ongoing excavation, are undergoing restoration, or being prepared for tourist visits.
(Considerable effort goes into both making tombs safe for visitors and protecting the tombs from visitors. This includes installing lights, stairs, wooden walkways, railings, and clear coverings over vulnerable walls. It takes time.)
During 2019 and early 2020 the following tombs were open at some point. That’s no guarantee they will be open when you visit, but the list doesn’t seem to change that often. It’s likely at least a few of them will be open when you visit.
- KV 1 Ramses VII
- KV 2 Ramses IV
- KV 6 Ramses IX
- KV 8 Merenptah
- KV 11 Ramses III
- KV 14 Tausert-Setnakht
- KV 15 Seti II
- KV 16 Ramses I
- KV47 Siptah
- KV 9 Ramses V-VI (additional small fee)
- KV 62 – Tutankhamun (additional $20 fee, no photos allowed)
- KV 17 Seti I (additional $60 fee, generally open, but closed the day I visited)
Which tombs should you visit?
Having a guide who can advise you on which to prioritize is helpful.
In two trips to Egypt I’ve still only seen four tombs. Although a decade separated my visits, the “best” open tombs to visit remained largely the same (KV 2, KV 11, and KV IX). 2019 was the first time I’d visited since KV 9 was open, and, even with a small extra fee, it should be on everyone’s must-see list.
The Earth Trekkers website offers similar recommendations based on visiting almost all of the tombs open during their 2020 visit.
Tickets and fees
Tickets are needed to ride the tram into the site (you can walk), enter tombs, and take pictures using a camera.
All tickets are available at the Valley of the Kings visitor center. The regular ticket may also be available at the Luxor temple ticket office. Photography tickets are usually not available at Luxor temple.
Plan to pay in Egyptian pounds. Bring all the money you need for the day, as there doesn’t seem to be a cash machine on site and they can be hard to find in general.
Luxor Pass
If you are traveling independently and plan to visit almost all the major sites in Luxor, a Luxor Pass might be a good option. However, it will be easiest to get this is you plan ahead a bit.
The pass comes in two versions: A regular pass ($100) and a premium pass ($200). Both are good for five days and include no-wait entry to all of the city’s archaeological sites, including the wonderful Luxor Museum. The only difference between them is that the regular pass includes the tombs of Tutankhamun and Ramses V-VI, but NOT the tombs of Seti I and Nefertari. If you plan to visit the tombs of Seti I and Nefertari, get the premium pass.
(Earth Trekkers has a cost comparison, but not with enough detail to use to use as a real planning tool. Both times I visited I had a guide and they’ve arranged all the tickets. However, it appears the Luxor Pass would not have saved me money in 2020. On the other hand, if I decide to visit the tombs of Seti I and Nefertari on my next trip, I will get the Premium pass to cover those. And, since I have the pass, I’d also pick up a few things I’ve missed, like the Carter House and Tombs of the Nobles.)
Luxor Passes are usually sold (paid for with new, crisp US dollars or Euros only) at both the West Bank and Valley of the Kings ticket offices. They are also available at the Karnak ticket office and, maybe, at Luxor temple. I say “usually” because there are reports that the pass occasionally isn’t available at one office or another because they have run out and are awaiting a new supply. .
Besides crisp and clean bills ($20 bills are the safest choice, avoid $100 bills), you will also need two passport photos, and two black and white photocopies of your passport ID page. You will also need to present your passport. If you don’t have extra passport photos, there are lots of shops in Luxor that will do one for you for a minimal fee.
Tram tickets
During the decade between my visits, the Egyptian government put in a modern visitor center and a tram system to bring visitors from that visitor center to the archaeological site. It’s a bit of a walk from the new visitor center to the tombs (farther than it was from the old parking area), so the tram is a nice addition – especially on a hot day.
Tram tickets cost 4 EGP (about 25 cents), so it’s a good deal. (Don’t worry, you’ll have plenty of chances to walk as you tour here and the rest of the West Bank.)
Tickets to enter tombs
A visit to the Valley of the Kings requires a ticket that allows entry to any three tombs from a list of eight or nine options. If you want to visit more than three tombs, buy an additional ticket before you leave the visitor center to save yourself a return trip. (Tickets aren’t available once you get out to the tombs.)
Although it is not yet complete, the government’s new tourism website seems to have current ticket prices for the Valley of the Kings. But it doesn’t say which tombs are or will be open.
Currently a ticket to enter three tombs costs 240 EGP (about $15) for adults.
That’s an increase from my visit early in 2019. At that time the three-tomb entrance ticket was 200 EGP (about $12). And that was itself a relatively recent price increase from 160 EGP.
Additional tickets are required for some tombs.
- The best value is the ticket to see the tomb of Ramses V-VI (KV 9), which costs 100 EGP ($6).
- Looking inside the tomb of Tutankhamun (KV62) will cost 300 EGP (just under $20).
- The tomb of Seti I (KV17) is not open regularly, but looks amazing. That’s reflected in the ticket price, which has gone up to 1,000 EGP (just over $60) since I visited in 2019.
Note that these tickets are in addition to the regular admission ticket. You can’t buy a ticket to see one of these tombs without buying the regular three-tomb ticket as well.
Tourism is very important to the Egyptian economy, but the tombs are fragile. Thus, ticket prices are highly correlated with demand – when tourists are pouring into Egypt, ticket prices rise; if tourists are scarce, prices fall. And they can change at absolutely any time.
Photography passes
For years photography was completely prohibited inside the tombs. When I visited in 2019 it was allowed, but maybe only with the purchase of a photography pass that could be used in up to three tombs. Now, in 2020, it appears cell phone photography is allowed without an extra ticket. That means a photography pass is only required to use any other type of camera.
(You aren’t required to check your camera before entering the site anymore either. But, if you aren’t buying a photo pass, put your camera out of sight or ask your guide to hold it before you enter a tomb.)
Verify the current policy. (It can change at any time.) But if you can still use your cell phone without buying a photography pass, that should be adequate for most people. And you will save a lot of money.
If you need a photography pass, it cost 300 EGP (just under $20) in 2019/early 2020.
And, once you buy it, keep it handy.
Guards will punch it at the tomb entrance, but once inside you’ll have to show it every time you encounter a new guard.
Like the regular tick to the Valley of the Kings, a photo pass allows the holder to take photos in a TOTAL of three tombs. If, like me, you pay extra to visit KV 9, you have to choose which three of the four tombs you want to photograph. (You will definitely want to photograph KV 9.)
- Photography is never allowed inside the tomb of King Tut. Even if you have a photo pass, you cannot take pictures inside the tomb.
- The latest information indicates that photos (with a camera) are now only allowed in the tomb of Seti I with an expensive commercial photo permit. But, apparently, cell phone photography is ok. At least for now.
Tripods and selfie-sticks are strictly prohibited in all tombs. Guards will confiscate them if you have them out, so leave them in your bag.
Tours
Every package tour that includes Luxor will include a ticket to see the tombs in the Valley of the Kings. If you are satisfied with seeing a few recommended tombs and don’t feel the need to take pictures, let your guide worry about the details.
However, if you are interested in seeing as many tombs as possible, seeing a specific tomb, seeing a tomb that requires an additional ticket, or using a camera inside a tomb, there are a few things to consider.
Visiting specific tombs
How guides handle group tours once they get to the tombs varies. Guides aren’t allowed to talk inside the tombs. I thought they weren’t even supposed to enter (our guide didn’t), but in 2019 there were a few guides herding large groups through tombs.
Some guides will provide recommendations, direct folks to various tombs, and let everyone go off to visit whatever tombs interest them. Others will pick the tombs the group will visit and keep the group together at all times. If there is a particular tomb you really want to see, make sure your guide knows that before you get out to the site. They may not accommodate you, but the odds are better.
Some tours will include a ticket to see Tut’s tomb, some will make those tickets available for purchase, and some won’t allow it as an option. Because it is so inexpensive, tours might include a ticket to the tomb of Ramses V-VI. However, only a very high-end tour might include a ticket to the tomb of Seti I.
If you are on a group tour and want to see one of these additional tombs, check with your tour company well in advance to see if a ticket to a tomb you are interested in is included. If it isn’t, ask if you can buy it ticket yourself when you get to the visitor center or if the guide can buy it for you. If the answer is no, you’ll need to make arrangements to get your ticket at another time or make a separate visit to the site on your own.
Using your camera
Unless you are on a photography tour, group tours don’t include a photography pass and seldom provide an opportunity to purchase one.
Generally, guides handle this by saying photography is prohibited. (It’s simplest to lie. Besides, most visitors will never know the truth.)
(This is why, if you have a photography pass, people on group tours will continually tell you photography is prohibited. They’ll even alert guards to your nefarious activity. If the guard has already checked your ticket, they’ll usually just nod at you. If it’s a guard that hasn’t checked your ticket yet or is so busy that they don’t remember, you’ll have to show them the ticket again – sometimes repeatedly.)
If you really want to take photos inside the tombs, group tours generally aren’t a good option. Instead, travel independently (with or without a guide) or in a very small group with an accommodating guide. That’s true even if you are just trying to get great pictures with your phone.
On your own or with a guide?
Guides are not allowed inside tombs, so this is one time when taking time in advance to understand what you will be seeing will really enhance your visit. Do a little reading before your trip to get an idea of what you will likely see. And don’t worry about being disappointed by the real thing after looking at beautiful photos online – you’ll be amazed by the vibrant colors once you enter.
While I’m generally a big believer in having a guide in Egypt, the Valley of the Kings should be easy to visit on your own. Hire a driver to take you to the visitor center.
From there the only thing you have to figure out is which tombs you want to visit. There is only one way into the site and there are signs. To make it even easier, get a map or take a photo of a visitor center map showing where everything is before you head out to the tombs.
However, having a guide does add value.
Besides directing you to the “best” of the tombs that are open, guides often have a pretty good sense of where the crowds will be when so you can avoid them. Having a guide is also helpful because they can give you a run-down of what to look for in each tomb just before you enter. This ensures you won’t miss highlights (surprisingly easy to do amid an overwhelming amount of images to take in once you enter) or spend your time thumbing through a guidebook instead of looking around you.
Resources
Practical information for visitors
The Egyptian government seems to be creating an attractive, modern tourism website with great information on Egypt’s cultural sites and ticket prices and rules for visitors. Unfortunately, at the moment, that website is a beta version and still missing a lot of information. It does, however, have what seems to be current ticket prices for the Valley of the Kings. As of now, there is no information on hours, photo passes, or rules, but that’s likely coming. It does include a lot of images in the gallery.
This seems to replace the old Egypt Travel website, which was not particularly informative to begin with, is now mostly nonfunctional, and hasn’t been updated since 2017.
The other place to look for current information is the TripAdvisor forum. There will be wrong and out-of-date information, but recent visitors are usually extremely generous with their knowledge and experience. This is an especially useful forum if you are looking for up-to-the-minute how-to information.
The EarthTrekkers blog has 2020 information on visiting the Valley of the Kings, including recommendations on which ones to visit. Just bear in mind that pricing, photography rules, and which tombs are open can change at any given time.
Rough Guides has a page on the Theban Necropolis that includes information on all of the tombs that are open.
This is a really awesome place. I have not been there yet, but I definitely plan to be. Amazing photos! Thank!
You do need to get there. It’s amazing.
Wow. These tombs would be quite something to see. It’s quite awe-inspiring to thing of the art work and decorations lasting all these years.
On my first visit I couldn’t believe how vibrant they were after thousands of years. It’s really amazing.
Thanks for all this info! I am going to Luxor soon- who was your guide or what company did you use when you toured Valley of the Kings? There’s so many to choose from- would love to know who you went with, thanks!
Kenz – All arrangements for both of my trips to Egypt have been handled by Romani Romani Gaballa who runs Egyptian Educational Travel http://egyptianedutravel.com/
Romani is an Egyptologist, tour guide, and businessman who has specialized in educational travel for school groups for years, while also doing a few other groups and private tours. These days he has a full line of tours for both general tourists and those with more specialized interests. While he still guides tours himself, he also has a few really excellent guides that work with him.
I’ve known Romani for more than a decade now and am still really impressed with him and everyone he has working with him. On our last trip we had different guides for Cairo/Alexandria and Luxor/Aswan. Both were excellent.
Right now his website is a bit of mess – but the tour info seems to still be up to date. Contact him directly. He can handle as little or much of your arrangements as you need.