Valley of the Kings
Sixty-three tombs cut into the cliff, Tutankhamun's among them.
Duration
3 hrs – 4 hrs
Best time
At opening, around 6am
Open
Every day
Entry price
750 EGP
The valley was chosen in the New Kingdom precisely because it is hidden: after centuries of plundered pyramids, the pharaohs had their tombs cut into an isolated gorge, overlooked by a mountain shaped like a natural pyramid, el-Qurn.
It was not enough: all were robbed in antiquity, save one. Tutankhamun's, found by Carter in 1922, was intact because construction debris had buried it. It is small and modest — he was a minor king dead at nineteen, which is what makes the others' treasure unimaginable.
Getting there
West bank, opposite Luxor. Public ferry then taxi, or the road bridge to the south. An electric tram links the ticket office to the tombs.
What the price covers
a general ticket covering three tombs; Tutankhamun, Seti I and Nefertari are separate supplements
What to bring
- Dry bag
Rules on site
The standard ticket admits you to three tombs of your choice; Tutankhamun, Seti I and Ramesses V-VI cost extra. Photography needs its own ticket, and guards enforce it. The tombs are stifling and unventilated.
Checked on 29 August 2026 at Egyptian Ministry of Tourism and Antiquities — Valley of the Kings