Ancient site · Luxor
Valley of the Kings
A desert valley on the Nile's west bank at Luxor, where New Kingdom pharaohs were laid to rest in tombs cut deep into the rock.
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The story
For nearly five centuries, roughly from the 16th to the 11th century BC, the pharaohs of the Eighteenth to Twentieth Dynasties chose this secluded wadi opposite ancient Thebes for their burials, hoping to keep their tombs safe from robbers. Thutmose I is the first king confirmed to have been buried here. More than sixty tombs are known today, from simple shafts to vast complexes, with walls painted with scenes of the afterlife. Most were plundered in antiquity, yet the discovery of Tutankhamun's nearly intact tomb in 1922 made the valley world famous. It forms part of Ancient Thebes with its Necropolis, a UNESCO World Heritage Site since 1979.
Good to know
- Thutmose I (c. 1504-1492 BC) is the first king confirmed as buried in the valley; the official who supervised his tomb recorded that the work was done in complete secrecy.
- Howard Carter found Tutankhamun's tomb (KV62) on 4 November 1922, the first royal tomb discovered largely intact, even though thieves had entered it in antiquity.
- KV5, the tomb of Ramesses II's sons, is the largest in the valley; its true extent was rediscovered in 1995 and well over 100 chambers are now known.
- Despite the valley's fame, only about twenty of its tombs actually held royal burials.
- Not every tomb is open to visitors at once, as some are rotated closed for rest and conservation.
Visiting tips
Please check before visiting. The Ministry of Tourism and Antiquities lists daily opening from 06:00 to 17:00 and a foreigner adult ticket of EGP 750 (student 375) at the time of review. Prices, hours and the tombs open to visitors can change.