Valley of the Kings
The secret royal burial ground of Egypt's pharaohs
- 64+tombs discovered so far
- 130 m+length of Seti I’s tomb
- 1922Tutankhamun’s tomb found intact
- 3tombs on the standard ticket
Why it matters
The valley contains more than sixty-four discovered tombs carved into the rock, chosen by New Kingdom pharaohs as a hidden, secure alternative to the pyramids, which had become easy targets for tomb robbers. The tomb walls are covered with religious texts such as the Book of the Dead and the Book of Gates, guiding the king through the afterlife. Among the most significant is the tomb of Seti I, the deepest and longest in the valley at over 130 meters, and KV5, the tomb of Ramesses II, which turned out to be the largest tomb in the valley, built to bury dozens of his sons. The workers who carved these tombs lived in the nearby village of Deir el-Medina, leaving behind documents detailing their daily lives and even a labor strike — the first documented workers' strike in recorded history.
The most famous tomb by far is that of Tutankhamun, discovered intact in 1922 by Howard Carter with all its golden treasures — the most celebrated archaeological find in modern history. Excavation work continues in the valley today, in search of tombs still undiscovered.
Plan your visit
| Hours | Daily 06:00 – 17:00 |
|---|---|
| Ticket | Foreign adult EGP 750 (3 tombs) Student EGP 375 |
| Extra | Tutankhamun EGP 700 · Seti I EGP 2,000 · Ramesses VI EGP 220 Little train to the tombs: EGP 20 |
| Photos | Phone photography free, no flash |
| Time | 2–3 hours |
| Best time | At opening, before the valley heats up |
| Where | West Bank, about 25 minutes by car from the Nile |
Prices and hours checked October 2026. Always confirm at the ticket office. Card payment only at most ticket offices.
Your route through the Valley
- 1
Visitor centre
See the model of the valley first, to understand how the tombs run deep into the rock.
- 2
The little train
A short electric train takes you from the visitor centre up to the tombs.
- 3
Your three tombs
Open tombs rotate. Ask which are open today and choose three with different decoration.
- 4
Tutankhamun (KV62)
Small but famous: the boy king’s mummy still lies here, in his own tomb.
- 5
Ramesses VI (KV9)
Ceilings covered with the sky goddess Nut swallowing and giving birth to the sun.
- 6
Seti I (KV17)
The longest and finest-painted tomb in the valley — the top ticket, worth it for keen visitors.
Good to know
- Bring water and a hat: there is almost no shade between tombs.
- Wear comfortable shoes — tombs have long, sloping corridors.
Hear the full story on the free audio guide
Free app, 11 languages, works offline — no signal needed inside the tombs and temples.
