Guided Valley of the Kings Tour

The famous archaeological site of the Valley of the Kings is located on the west bank of the Nile River, near the city of Luxor in southern Egypt. It is situated across the river from the modern city of Luxor and is part of the larger ancient city of Thebes, which was the capital of ancient Egypt during the New Kingdom period (1550-1070 BCE). The Valley of the Kings is a renowned burial ground for many pharaohs and high-ranking nobles of the New Kingdom, including the famous Tutankhamun.

There are 63 known tombs in the Valley of the Kings near Luxor, Egypt. However, please note that the number may change over time as new discoveries are made.

The Valley of the Kings, located on the west bank of the Nile River near the city of Luxor, is a renowned archaeological site in Egypt. It is a necropolis that served as the burial place for many pharaohs, as well as other powerful nobles and high-ranking officials, during the New Kingdom period of ancient Egypt, spanning approximately from the 16th to the 11th century BCE.

The valley was chosen as a burial site due to its secluded and hidden location, which was believed to offer better protection for the tombs from grave robbers. The pharaohs and elite individuals of ancient Egypt constructed elaborate and well-designed tombs within the valley to ensure the afterlife and to preserve their bodies for eternity.

Some of the most famous pharaohs buried in the Valley of the Kings include Tutankhamun, Ramses II, Seti I, and Hatshepsut. The tomb of Tutankhamun, discovered by Howard Carter in 1922, garnered particular attention due to its remarkable state of preservation and the wealth of treasures it contained.

Although the valley was once concealed and its tombs guarded, over the centuries, many of the tombs were looted and damaged. However, even with the plundering, the Valley of the Kings remains a significant archaeological site and an important place for understanding the funerary practices and beliefs of ancient Egypt. Excavations and studies continue to take place there, shedding light on the history and culture of this ancient civilization.

The Valley of the Kings, located near Luxor, Egypt, covers an area of approximately 62 square kilometers (24 square miles). It is a UNESCO World Heritage Site and a renowned archaeological site that served as a burial ground for pharaohs and powerful nobles of the New Kingdom period in ancient Egypt. Within this area, there are numerous tombs, although not all of them have been excavated or are accessible to the public. The valley is characterized by its rocky terrain and the presence of intricate tombs decorated with elaborate artwork and hieroglyphic inscriptions.

The Valley of the Kings, located near Luxor in Egypt, is of significant historical and cultural importance for several reasons:

Royal Burial Site
The Valley of the Kings served as the final resting place for many pharaohs and powerful nobles of the New Kingdom period (approximately 1550-1070 BCE). It was chosen as a burial site due to its hidden location, which was intended to protect the tombs from theft and desecration.
 
Pharaonic Tombs
The valley contains numerous elaborate tombs constructed for pharaohs, including famous rulers such as Tutankhamun, Ramses II, and Hatshepsut. These tombs were designed to house the bodies of the deceased pharaohs and provide them with the necessary provisions and treasures for the afterlife.
 
Artistic and Architectural Significance
The tombs in the Valley of the Kings are renowned for their intricate and well-preserved wall paintings, reliefs, and hieroglyphic inscriptions. These artistic representations offer valuable insights into ancient Egyptian religious beliefs, rituals, and daily life during the New Kingdom.
 
Discovery of Tutankhamun's Tomb
One of the most significant discoveries in the history of Egyptology occurred in the Valley of the Kings when British archaeologist Howard Carter unearthed the intact tomb of Tutankhamun in 1922. The discovery provided an unprecedented wealth of information about the life, burial practices, and material culture of an Egyptian pharaoh.
 
Preservation and Restoration Efforts
The Valley of the Kings has been a subject of ongoing archaeological research, preservation, and restoration projects. These efforts have aimed to protect and conserve the tombs and their precious artworks, ensuring their survival for future generations and enhancing our understanding of ancient Egyptian civilization.
 
The Valley of the Kings near Luxor is important due to its status as a royal burial ground, the presence of elaborate pharaonic tombs, the artistic and architectural significance of the tomb decorations, the discovery of Tutankhamun's tomb, and ongoing efforts to preserve and study this remarkable archaeological site.

The Valley of the Kings, located near Luxor, Egypt, is estimated to be over 3,000 years old. It served as the burial site for pharaohs and powerful nobles of the New Kingdom period in ancient Egypt, specifically from the 16th to the 11th centuries BCE. The valley was chosen for its secluded and hidden location, aimed at protecting the tombs from grave robbers. The earliest tombs in the Valley of the Kings date back to around 1539 BCE, while the last known burial took place around 1075 BCE.

The Valley of the Kings near Luxor, Egypt, was built as a burial site for the pharaohs of the New Kingdom period, specifically from the 16th to the 11th centuries BCE. It served as a royal necropolis, where the pharaohs and powerful nobles were interred. The construction of the tombs in the Valley of the Kings involved meticulous planning and engineering. Here are the general steps involved in building these tombs:

Site Selection
The location of the Valley of the Kings was chosen due to its remote and hidden nature, which was intended to deter tomb robbers.

Excavation
The tombs were created by cutting deep into the limestone hills of the valley. The natural rock formations provided stability and security for the tombs.

Architectural Design
Skilled craftsmen and architects designed the tombs, incorporating various chambers and corridors. Each tomb was unique in its layout and features, reflecting the specific requirements and preferences of the pharaoh it was built for.

Tunneling
Workers dug long, sloping corridors into the bedrock, leading to the burial chamber. These corridors often featured elaborate decorations, including religious texts and detailed paintings depicting scenes from the pharaoh's life and the afterlife.

Burial Chamber
The burial chamber was the innermost part of the tomb and contained the sarcophagus or burial equipment. It was typically large and decorated with religious images and texts.

Decoration
The walls of the corridors and chambers were covered with intricate murals and reliefs depicting religious rituals, deities, and scenes from the pharaoh's life. These decorations were meant to ensure the pharaoh's successful journey into the afterlife.

Sealing
Once the tomb was completed, it was sealed to protect it from intruders. The entrance was often concealed or blocked using large stone slabs. It's worth noting that despite the efforts to keep the tombs hidden and secure, many of them were eventually discovered and looted over the centuries. However, some tombs, such as the famous tomb of Tutankhamun (KV62), remained relatively intact, providing valuable insights into ancient Egyptian burial practices and art.

The tomb of Tutankhamun (KV 62) is the most famous tomb in the Valley of the Kings. It was found in 1922 by the English archaeologist Howard Carter. It was the only royal tomb in the Valley of the Kings, that hadn’t been robbed.

The only room with decorated walls in Tutankhamun's tomb is the burial chamber. The paintings show scenes from the preparation of the deceased for a journey to the afterlife. In the middle there are four large boxes made of gilded wood, one inside the other. Inside was a stone sarcophagus with three anthropomorphic gilded coffins tucked into one another. 

In the last, a golden coffin, was the body of the pharaoh, which has remained there to this day. Other burial rooms: the vestibule, the annex and the treasury were filled with numerous items. Most of them can be seen at the Egyptian Museum in Cairo.

An interesting tomb is the hypogeum of Tuthmosis III (KV 34). To get to it, you have to climb the wooden steps as the tomb was carved high in the rock and then climb the steep path down. Narrow ladders lead to a chamber with a secret shaft. In the past, it had a practical application, it was used to supply water that fell into the tomb during heavy storms, and to stop robbers from looting the tomb. Stairs carved in the rock, through the porch with pillars, lead to the burial chamber, the only decorated room in the entire tomb.

The deepest and longest grave in the Valley of the Kings is the tomb of Seti I (KV 17). Its characteristic feature is also the fact that each room has been covered with decorations - reliefs and polychrome. They depict the king in front of many deities and scenes from various tomb books. When we look at the ceiling, we see beautiful frescoes on an astronomical theme - personifications of stars and constellations and star diagrams.

Well-preserved reliefs and frescoes await visitors to the tomb of Ramesses IX (KV 6). Ancient Egyptian artists depicted fragments of many tomb books on its walls and ceilings: the Book of the Dead, which contains scenes of judgment on the dead, the book called Amduat, depicting the solar barge's journey through the worlds, and the Book of the Day and the Book of Night. The last two symbolically show the sun's journey across the day and night sky and the birth of the sun in the morning - this shows the significance of the scene in which the beetle is swallowed by the goddess of heaven, Nut. An additional decoration of the ceilings is a polychrome depicting stars and collections. As part of our customizable Egypt Tomb Tours we can take you on an incredible journey through Ancient Egypt, where you'll explore the intricate symbolism of tombs like these. 

During the New Kingdom (16th-11th centuries BC), for the first time in the history of Egypt, the pharaohs gave up pyramids in favor of rock tombs called hypogea. That is why in the Valley of the Kings, pyramids were not used for burial. Hypogea were carved in the valley slope on the west bank of the Nile. Work on the construction of a tomb for the new ruler began with his ascension to the throne. The first step was choosing a location. The administration had plans for the valley with the specific location of the hypogea. Then, the corridors and chambers were carved and decorated. This important task belonged to the specialized workers and artists living in the nearby village of Deir el-Medina.

Narrow wadi, that is, the dry valley of the periodic river, with a pyramid-shaped apex, the Horn of Qurna dominating - this inaccessible and solemn place was chosen by the rulers of the 18th, 19th and 20th dynasties as their eternal rest. It’s also one of the highlights of our 14-day Egypt Tour. The Wadi has two branches: the western one, with only four tombs, and the eastern one, known as the Valley of the Kings. The following abbreviations are associated with this division: WV (West Valley) and KV (Kings' Valley). There are 63 graves in the area of the latter. Some of them belonged to high-ranking officials or members of the royal family, and the rest to the rulers of Egypt.

Each of the tombs in the Valley of the Kings in Luxor is unique. Some are distinguished by architecture, some by decoration, and others by an interesting history.

One of the joys of vacationing in a country as fascinating as Egypt, is the variety of souvenirs you can buy to take home as a reminder of your stay. In many tourist places and archaeological sites in Egypt, including the Valley of the Kings in Luxor, you can buy a wide choice of Egyptian souvenirs. This can be done at a small shop in the Valley of the Kings, or from street vendors. In the shop you will find books and photo albums related to the Valley of Kings tombs and the individual tombs of the pharaohs. Vendors may offer postcards or figurines depicting Egyptian gods in the parking lot in front of the entrance to the Valley of Pharaohs in Luxor and the Luxor tombs. Sellers can be pushy, so if you do not intend to buy anything, politely refuse and keep walking to your destination.

We do advise you not to rush to buy your Egyptian souvenirs when in Egypt, including at the Valley of the Kings in Luxor. There will be plenty of time to buy Egyptian souvenirs in other, better places. For example in shops on the ship during your cruise on the Nile, in a shop at an alabaster factory in Luxor or in Aswan, where you can buy original papyri or gold products. A fantastic place to buy all kinds of Egyptian souvenirs is the Khan El Khalili bazaar in Cairo. There you will find original Egyptian souvenirs that are of better quality. There will be more choice and time to look at everything carefully, making the right decision.

So, make the most of the Valley of the Kings tour to explore the Valley of the Pharaohs in Luxor - the UNESCO world heritage site, and visit as many pharaoh tombs as possible. Enjoy your Valley of the Kings tour to the max! If you want to know more about the best souvenirs to bring from Egypt, read our interesting blog article.

Each of our all-inclusive Egypt vacation packages: our 14 days in Egypt tour (Around Egypt in 14 days), 10-day tour of Egypt (Exploring Egypt), and our 8-day Egypt tour (Golden Highlights of Egypt) include the Valley of the Kings tour in Luxor - UNESCO World Heritage Site. Our clients will visit the tombs of the pharaohs in the Valley of the Kings in Luxor as part of a cruise on the Nile.

When you leave the Nile cruise ship, which is moored on Luxor's east bank, you will board a motor boat to travel across to the west bank, where the Valley of Kings is located. The tour guide will brief you on how you will be transferred to the Valley of Pharaohs once you arrive at the west bank to complete your Valley of the Kings tour. Once you reach the west bank you will board a luxury air-conditioned bus to the main center of the Valley of the Kings, where a full layout of the Valley of Kings tombs will be presented, including the location of each pharaoh tomb. The tour guide will then give you a rundown of everything you will get to do during this tour, including the pharaoh tombs that you will enter, as well as information about the tickets and how to buy extra tickets before the tour begins. From there, a golf cart will take you to the top of the mountain where the tour leader will buy your tickets. You will then receive your tickets for the tour, which you should keep with you at all times, and the tour will begin. Your tour will then lead you on a historical journey while explaining how the Valley of Kings came to be the new kingdom's Royal Necropolis and home to 63 burial tombs for pharaohs. With an extra ticket you can have the once-in-a-lifetime experience of entering the tomb of the young pharaoh Tutankhamun.

You will get access to three pharaoh tombs that are included in your tickets. The tour guide will immerse you in the history behind each of these three pharaoh tombs as you stand outside the tombs. You will then have free time to enter these tombs. If you choose not to explore the burial tombs of pharaohs at this time, you can enjoy refreshments at the cafeteria on the mountain. You are welcome to take pictures of the stunning tombs free of charge with your mobile phone when you enter them, but using a flash is forbidden. You can also take this time to enter additional tombs if you have purchased extra tickets. If you didn't purchase them before the tour began, you can ask the tour leader for assistance in obtaining the additional tickets.

The tour guide will be waiting for you when the free time is over, as you will be transferred back to the main center of the Valley of Kings tombs in golf carts. From there, a luxury bus will transport you back to the motor boat, which will take you back to the east bank of Luxor to board the Nile cruise ship.

If you visit the Valley of the Kings on the West Bank of the Nile river with us during our tour you don't need to buy a ticket for the Valley of the Kings in Luxor. The ticket for the UNESCO world heritage site, Valley of the Kings tour (600 EGP per person) is included in our all-inclusive Egypt vacation packages and this allows you to enter three tombs of the pharaohs. However, if you want to visit three additional tombs of the pharaohs that are not included in your ticket to the Valley of the Kings, you should do so before entering the Valley of the Kings. You have three tombs of the pharaohs to choose from, which are certainly worth the extra price. They are:

Ramesses V and VI (KV9) pharaoh tomb - 180 EGP per person
The tomb of kings Ramses V and Ramses VI in the Valley of the Kings is the unfinished burial place of these brothers. It was cleaned and examined in 1881 by Georges Daressy. There are rich paintings on the walls, colorfully describing the solar cycle. They also depict scenes from the Book of Gates, Caves, Heaven, and Amduat. The mummies of the rulers had previously been moved, for security reasons, to a cache in the tomb of Amenhotep II, which was discovered by Victor Loret.

Seti I (KV17) pharaoh tomb - 1800 EGP per person
Seti I, the second pharaoh of the 19th Dynasty of Ancient Egypt, was buried in the longest tomb in the Valley of the Kings. The tomb of the pharaoh was discovered in 1817 by the Italian traveler Giovanni Battista Belzoni. Bad weather contributed to the finding as heavy rains washed the ground, simultaneously revealing the stairs. Upon entering the tomb, Belzoni discovered that the sarcophagus had been damaged and robbed. Seti I's tomb is large and stately, and it is 137 meters in length. The underground section of the Pharaoh's tomb is full of long corridors, gates and numerous halls and rooms.

On the walls there are beautiful paintings, depicting scenes from the life of the deceased pharaoh, the soul's journey through the world of the dead, and countless figures of deities. The pharaoh's sarcophagus is in a large hall with the constellations of crocodile, hippopotamus, lion and sacred bull on the ceiling. In the center of the room there is an alabaster sarcophagus, almost 3 meters long. Its walls are covered with reliefs depicting funeral scenes. The interior of the tomb, filled with paintings and religious and astronomical symbols, makes a great impression.

Tutankhamun (KV62) pharaoh tomb - 500 EGP per person
Tutankhamun's tomb is one of the most famous tombs in the Valley of the Kings because, despite several burglary attempts, it survived intact, with all the riches still inside. Tutankhamun was a young pharaoh who ruled Egypt in 1332 BC. - 1323 BC. His tomb was discovered by Howard Carter and George Carnarvon in 1922. The entire tomb consisted of long stairs leading deep into the ground, a long corridor and four chambers: a vestibule, a side chamber, a burial chamber and a treasury. All the rooms were well secured against robbers as there were real treasures inside when the pharaoh's tomb was discovered. Archaeologists found, among others: golden beds, a golden throne, golden chests, beautiful paintings, four gilded chariots, numerous statues, and a quartzite sarcophagus of Tutankhamun. The golden mask of Tutankhamun is also a famous find. The golden death mask of Tutankhamun, covering the face of the mummy, weighed about 10 kg and was richly decorated with colored glass, faience, quartz and obsidian. The entire findings from the tomb were brought to the surface and transported to Cairo, where you can admire them in the Egyptian Museum to this day. The mummy of Tutankhamun has been thoroughly examined to understand more about the pharaoh and how he died.

Visit Valley of the Kings on one of our tours to see the burial tombs of pharaohs up close!

Our Valley of the Kings tour takes place as part of a cruise on the Nile River in Luxor. To reach the Valley of Kings tombs, we will disembark the ship on the east bank of the Nile River and take a motorboat across the river to the west bank of the Nile River. On the shore of the west bank, a clean and air-conditioned coach or coaster (depending on the size of our group) with an experienced driver will be waiting for us. The driver will take us directly to the Valley of the Pharaohs and drop us off in the parking area, which is located just in front of the entrance to the Valley of the Kings. We will then walk a short distance to the Valley of Kings tomb entrance. After crossing the gate to the Valley of the Kings in Luxor, we will get into golf carts, which will take us to the very center of the Valley of the Kings. From here, your tour with a professional Egyptian guide will begin, and you will be able to visit Valley of the Kings and experience the magnificent UNESCO World Heritage site for yourself.

After the Valley of the Kings Egypt tour is over, we will travel in golf carts to the entrance where we will join our transport with our driver. The coach or coaster will take us to the marina on the west bank of the Nile River from which motor boats depart, taking us back to the east bank of the Nile River. After crossing the Nile River, we will reach our cruise ship and begin our trip along the Nile River.

Getting to the Valley of the Kings for our tour does not take much time and is not tiring, but Inside Egypt still makes sure that this route is as short and comfortable as possible for our clients with a touch of adventure by using different kinds of transportation.

Book one of our luxury Egypt tours and enjoy the Valley of the Kings Egypt tour in the company of a knowledgeable and passionate Egyptologist guide.

Our licensed Egyptian guides leading our Valley of the Kings tour are experts in the history of ancient and modern Egypt, and they are also fluent in English, so are easy to understand. They are passionate enthusiasts whose attention is focused on Egypt and everything related to the country and its history. They have enormous knowledge and can extract a collection of suitable information to interest and educate our customers on the site that they are visiting. The three-hour Valley of the Kings tour, which offers entrance to a selection of attractive Luxor tombs of the pharaohs, is a favorite with both our guides, and our customers.

Our knowledgeable guides lead tourists around the Valley of the Kings in Luxor, providing professional information about the tombs of the pharaohs and taking care of our customers during the tour. They also often add interesting tidbits about the pharaohs themselves and the valley of pharaohs, to arouse the interest of our guests, giving them some great facts to wow friends at the dinner table, when back home.

The main task of our licensed guides during the Valley of the Kings tour is to provide knowledge, not only historical, about Luxor and the Valley of the Kings. They need to capture the interest of all guests, not only those who, like them, are passionate about history.
That is why our guides adapt the way of their presentation to the group of tourists to be guided, to the perception and interests of the audience.

Our Egyptian guides are also very good organizers. This helps when organizing a multi-stage sightseeing itinerary, such as the Luxor Valley of the Kings tour.

The professionalism of our guides manifests itself in interpersonal skills, group management skills, and also in exceptional situations, when their knowledge of a given area, contacts, and versatility may protect the group they lead, keeping them safe and secure.

As part of our Egypt historical tours, visit the Valley of the Kings and you will learn everything you've ever wanted to know, and more, about the history of this famous UNESCO World Heritage site located on the west bank of the Nile River.

You can take advantage of the Luxor Valley of the Kings tour and many more tours along the Nile River, by taking part in one of our luxurious Egypt tours. We offer the following tours in Egypt:
- 14-day Egypt tour (Around Egypt in 14 days)
- 10-day tour of Egypt (Exploring Egypt)
- 8-day Egypt tour (Golden Highlights of Egypt)

Each of the above luxury Egypt tours allow you to visit the Valley of the Kings and is available on several dates throughout the year. However, to get the best experience, we recommend choosing fall dates due to the great weather conditions in Egypt at this time of year. For the comfort of our clients, we limit the number of participants in our groups to 20 people.

Our tour booking process is simple. All you will need is your passport and a method of payment. Your trip can be booked through our booking form available on the trip website and then the deposit payment or the entire amount, depending on the booking requirement, can be paid by bank transfer or credit card. If you have any questions about the tour or your booking, our travel consultants are available from Sunday to Thursday from 7 am to 3 pm EST and are always happy to help. Our friendly travel consultants will be happy to give you all the information you need to plan your trip. You can contact us by email: contact@inside-egypt.com, telephone, at: + 1 929-224-5100, or via live chat.

You can also visit the Valley of the Kings in Luxor on a private guided tour at any time and for a group of any number of people. To book a private trip to Egypt with a visit to Luxor and the Valley of the Kings you should contact us via the private tour form, or by email, telephone or live chat.

We are looking forward to hearing from you and to planning your trip of a lifetime. Our Valley of the Kings tour is just one of the highlights of our Egypt tours. Visiting the UNESCO World Heritage site, the Valley of the Kings is a magnificent sight, and your cruise along the Nile river will allow you to experience the history of Egypt for yourself, making memories to last forever.

Inside Egypt is one of the most well-known travel agencies in Egypt, working in the travel industry for over 12 years. We created our travel agency thanks to our love for our homeland, Egypt, a country that delights all with its diversity. We wanted to share our amazing country with others. We believe that Egypt is a beautiful and unique country that needs to be seen with your own eyes. It's not enough to get to know it through hundreds of photos and thousands of words from others. Egypt is a place that you must go to to get to know, feel, experience, taste, and remember for yourself. Our task is to organize a truly luxurious adventure and to create the most precious memories for you to take home. Tailored luxury Egypt tours are what we do best!

Thanks to our passion, knowledge, experience, and the fact that we live in this beautiful country, Inside Egypt is the answer to all the needs of the client; traveler, and lover of luxury holidays.

You can be sure that we will never take you to places that we haven't visited before. Each element of our luxury Egypt tours is very well known to us. We have visited every proposed hotel, restaurant, and archeological site in person, making sure that all places are checked and the trails are cleared. You can go ahead and start the adventure of your life with us, without any worries.

Over the last several years, we have organized many unforgettable luxury Egypt trips. We have received lots of positive Egypt travel reviews from customers who have participated in our luxury Egypt tours, with the Valley of the Kings tour rating highly with everyone.

We can also boast of excellent expert opinions left by well-known Egyptians and Egyptologists with whom we have cooperated, both in the past and today.

So, what are you waiting for? Come and join us, and learn about the history of Egypt, seeing the magnificent monuments and temples up close!