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Description:
Situated in a desert valley near the Thebes river, the Valley of the Kings marks the resting spot for a number of ancient Pharaohs and powerful nobles from 16th to the 11th century B.C. This is the home of famous tombs, such as the tomb of Tutankhamun, one of the few intact tombs left. The valley is dvided into East and West valley.
A total of 62 tombs can be found in the area, with the last king to have a tomb being Ramesses XI, the last king of the New Kingdom. The tombs are all accessed by a single entrance, down where the pharaohs' mummies were designed with the intent to preserve them into eternity. The passageways descend into an antechamber located deep underground.
The tombs also feature floor to ceiling images from the Book of the Dead, amaduat, and the Litany of Re. Tombs that have not been looted contain jewelery, papyrus scrolls, furniture, ritual objects, and offerings.
Only about 16 of the 62 tombs are open to public, and they are open on rotation as pyramids will be closed for restoration work. Only one of the 16 open tombs are contained in the West valley. Separate tickets are required to visit each tomb. Photography is not allowed within the tombs, and visitors are encouraged to file through quickly to minimize damage to the sites.
A total of 62 tombs can be found in the area, with the last king to have a tomb being Ramesses XI, the last king of the New Kingdom. The tombs are all accessed by a single entrance, down where the pharaohs' mummies were designed with the intent to preserve them into eternity. The passageways descend into an antechamber located deep underground.
The tombs also feature floor to ceiling images from the Book of the Dead, amaduat, and the Litany of Re. Tombs that have not been looted contain jewelery, papyrus scrolls, furniture, ritual objects, and offerings.
Only about 16 of the 62 tombs are open to public, and they are open on rotation as pyramids will be closed for restoration work. Only one of the 16 open tombs are contained in the West valley. Separate tickets are required to visit each tomb. Photography is not allowed within the tombs, and visitors are encouraged to file through quickly to minimize damage to the sites.
Getting there:
Take a taxi over the bruidge from Luxor (approximately 6km), cross the river by public ferry or take a private motorboat.
First To Review: 
Added Oct 21, 2008
Plan to spend plenty of time here, and plan your visit ahead of time - you have to purchase tickets to enter the tombs at the entrance to the site, and your ticket allows entry to only certain tombs. If you want to enter Tutankhamen's tomb that requires a seperate ticket. Not all the tombs are the same - some are larger, some are better preserved, etc. They all have different features and attractions. Ask somebody to point out which are the better ones for you to visit. My recommendations are Ramses IV (# 9), Tuthmosis III (#34), and Siptah (#47). I thought Tutankhamun's tomb was worth the extra money, although not everybody agrees. If you're going to visit the Egyptia museum, you should definitely check out the tomb, as you won;t believe what they fit inside it!!! Also, Tutankhamen's body is still inside, in his sarcophagus.
Added Apr 17, 2009
Eighteen kings are buried in The Valley of the Kings. A tram took us to the tombs. Each tomb consists of corridors that lead to many chambers. The Sarcophagus is usually in the inner room. The walls are decorated with the gods that were supposed to protect the deceased Pharaohs and paintings that depicted the journey to the afterward. Tutankhamen’s tomb is the most famous because it’s the most preserved one. Therefore, you should buy an extra ticket to visit it. In order to preserve the tombs photos are not allowed even the guide won’t be allowed to explain inside. The heat, the vast desert, the paintings of the gods, the hieroglyphic writing , and the sarcophagus take you back to the World of the Pharaohs.
Added Jan 9, 2009
The visitor's center has a great plan of the valley showing all of the tombs. When you bend down to look under the table you see the shape, length and size of the tomb. One of the best tombs is Ramses VI. It is not always open, but if it is go see it. King Tut's tomb is closed for restoration for an unknown time. Few people ever visit the Western Valley or the Valley of the Apes. Go there because it looks the way the Valley Of the Kings did long ago. One tomb is open there, the tomb of Ay who took over after Tut died. Well worth the side trip and not as touristy.
Added Feb 11, 2010
truly fascinated with this place because the tombs were caved in the mountains. it amazes me how such things are done. the hieroglyphs seem almost fresh like it was juz done because of all the colours. advisable to go to this place wen you are still young or rather healthy because it is very tiring to go into some of the tombs. especially the tomb of tuthmosis III, u have to climb up like a REALLY long flight of stairs then go thru from one room to another with flight of stairs gg down.
Added Jul 11, 2008
The Valley of the Kings is a valley in Egypt where for a period of nearly 500 years tombs were constructed for the kings of the New Kingdom. The valley stands on the west bank of the Nile in the heart of the Theban Necropolis. The biggest tomb is the tomb of Ramses II which features many smaller tombs (burial chambers) intended for his children.
Added Sep 12, 2008
well i really like egypt... it s such a fantastic country and all their monuments... a deep impression was the whole valley where the kings were kept all those thousands of years. moreover, the chambers are so wonderful painted! it s a real art! the fact that you still can find sme kings in this valley makes the whole more interesting!
Added May 31, 2009
Try to get as much information as you can before you visit each tomb, guide, books, internet,... Every tomb has his own story to tell but if you don't know what you're looking at they all look the same. It's one of those places nearly everybody visiting Egypt goes to see but rightly so.
Added Mar 9, 2009
Amazing place...........Mind boggling............just cant imagine how nature has preserved the history so as to enable the future generations to know the glorious past of Eygptian pharoahs........
Added Oct 29, 2008
Don't miss the workers tombs. After all they were the ones who painted the tombs for the Pharoahs/Kings and they left some of their best work for their own tombs.
Added Feb 26, 2009
It costs extra, but it's definitely worth it to see King Tut's tomb. The other tombs I saw were cool, but this was the only one that really impressed me.
Added Sep 30, 2008
Amazing tombs are a must see here. It's hot and dry though so bring a lot of water.
Added Aug 20, 2008
Beautiful graves, realy exciting to see, a bit of adventure, beautiful scenery
Added Aug 23, 2009
Well worth a trip absolutely amazing but very hot, go in january
Added Oct 25, 2008
SO hot all the time! So many tombs...
Added Sep 14, 2009
Луксор является номером один в Египет
Added Jun 2, 2008
A must see before you die... :)
Added Sep 14, 2009
Grandiose!!!
