What are the opening hours of the valley of the kings?

The site opens daily from 06:00 to 17:00, with the last tickets sold around 16:00 at the visitor centre booth.

How much do valley of the kings tickets cost in 2026?

The general admission is 600 EGP and grants entry to three rotating tombs; special tombs such as KV62, KV17, and KV9 carry separate supplementary fees.

Which tombs are included in the general ticket?

The base ticket covers any three open tombs from the rotation, usually including Ramesses IV (KV2), Ramesses IX (KV6), and Merenptah (KV8). Check the board at the gate on arrival.

Is Tutankhamun's tomb included in a standard valley of the kings tour?

No — Tutankhamun's tomb (KV62) is a special tomb and requires an extra ticket of 360 EGP on top of your general admission. Most guided valley of the kings tours add it as an option.

When is the best time of day to visit the Theban Necropolis?

Arrive between 06:00 and 08:00 to beat both the desert heat and the coach groups that arrive from Luxor cruise boats and Red Sea resorts around 09:00.

Is the valley of the kings accessible for wheelchair users?

The main pathway and tram are step-free, but every royal tomb descends into the bedrock via ramps and stairs. KV62 and KV11 have the shortest descents and are the most feasible options.

Can I take photos inside the tombs?

Yes, with a separate 300 EGP photo pass; flash is banned everywhere and photography is completely prohibited inside Tutankhamun's tomb. Mobile phones without flash are tolerated in most tombs on a standard ticket.

What should I wear for a valley of the kings visit?

Modest clothing covering shoulders and knees, closed-toe shoes for uneven ground, and a wide-brim hat. Light cotton or linen handles the Luxor heat better than synthetics.

How do I get to the valley of the kings from Luxor?

It is a 15-minute drive from central Luxor across Luxor Bridge, or a 30-minute local ferry-plus-microbus route via Qurna village. Most visitors book a half-day West Bank taxi or a guided valley of the kings tour that includes Hatshepsut and the Colossi of Memnon.

Are children allowed and is there a family discount?

Yes — under-6s enter free and students with ID pay half price. The exposed paths and deep stair descents suit children aged 7 and up better than toddlers.

Can I combine the valley of the kings with Hatshepsut in one morning?

Yes, and it's the recommended pairing. Finish the tombs by 09:30, then drive 10 minutes to Deir el-Bahari to see the Temple of Hatshepsut before the late-morning crowd builds.

Valley of the Kings in Valley of the Kings

Choose your ticket

Valley of the Kings tickets at a glance

Compare fares, pick the fit — all bookings are mobile-voucher and eligible for free cancellation where shown.

Luxor Small-Group Day Tour from Hurghada with Tutankhamun Tomb Option

14 hr

Guided Experience

Luxor Small-Group Day Tour from Hurghada with Tutankhamun Tomb Option

4.8 (8174)

€73

Expert local guide
Small group
Skip-the-line access
Free cancellation

Book this ticket

Luxor East & West Banks: Full-Day Guided Group Tour

8 hr

Guided Experience

Luxor East & West Banks: Full-Day Guided Group Tour

4.6 (2091)

€78

Expert local guide
Small group
Skip-the-line access
Free cancellation

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Luxor West Bank Guided Day Tour: Valley of the Kings & Hatshepsut Temple

5 hr

Guided Experience

Luxor West Bank Guided Day Tour: Valley of the Kings & Hatshepsut Temple

4.5 (1891)

€43

Expert local guide
Small group
Skip-the-line access
Free cancellation

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Compare options

Compare Valley of the Kings ticket options

Experience	Duration	Rating	Lunch	Skip-the-line	Guide	Small group	Price
Guided Experience Most popular Luxor Small-Group Day Tour from Hurghada with Tutankhamun Tomb Option	14 hr	★ 4.8	✓	✓	✓	✓	€73	Book →
Guided Experience Luxor East & West Banks: Full-Day Guided Group Tour	8 hr	★ 4.6	✓	✓	✓	✓	€78	Book →
Guided Experience Luxor West Bank Guided Day Tour: Valley of the Kings & Hatshepsut Temple	5 hr	★ 4.5	✓	✓	✓	✓	€43	Book →

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Luxor & Valley of the Kings Day Tour from Hurghada

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Luxor & Valley of the Kings Day Trip from Hurghada with Tutankhamun Tomb

Discover Luxor's ancient wonders, including Karnak Temple, the Valley of the Kings, and Tutankhamun’s tomb.

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Hurghada to Luxor Day Trip with Valley of the Kings & Karnak Temple

Journey from Hurghada to explore ancient Egypt's finest treasures in Luxor alongside an Egyptologist guide.

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Luxor Guided East & West Bank Tour with Lunch

Discover the tombs of the Valley of the Kings and magnificent Nile temples with an expert Egyptologist guide.

4.7 (690)

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4 hours Free Cancellation

Luxor Private Tour: Valley of the Kings & Hatshepsut Temple

Explore ancient pharaonic tombs and the spectacular cliffside temple of Queen Hatshepsut with a private guide.

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Your journey

Your Valley of the Kings day, step by step

1

Arrive at West Bank visitor centre

Collect printed tickets, watch the scale-model orientation of the valley of the kings, and board the electric tram up the wadi.

2

Enter first included tomb

Begin with a shorter 18th Dynasty tomb such as Ramesses IV (KV2) to acclimatise to the humid, low-light corridors.

3

Descend a deep royal tomb

Use a supplementary ticket for Seti I (KV17), the longest royal burial at 137 metres, to see the astronomical ceiling.

4

View Tutankhamun

Queue for KV62 where the gilded outer coffin and the mummy remain in situ — the only royal mummy still in his tomb.

5

Walk to Tomb of Ramesses VI

End at KV9 for the Book of Gates ceiling; the site's best-preserved blue pigments.

6

Cool-down at café

Return to the visitor centre for karkadeh tea before continuing to Hatshepsut or the Colossi of Memnon.

What you'll see

What you'll see at Valley of the Kings

Tomb of Tutankhamun (KV62)

Discovered intact by Howard Carter in 1922, this compact four-chamber tomb still holds the young pharaoh's mummy in a climate-controlled case and the gilded outermost coffin. It is the only royal tomb on the West Bank where the original occupant remains in situ.

Tomb of Seti I (KV17)

The longest and deepest tomb in the necropolis extends 137 metres into the bedrock and preserves a complete astronomical ceiling mapping the decans of the night sky. It reopened to ticketed visitors in 2017 after a decade of conservation.

Tomb of Ramesses VI (KV9)

Famous for the double Book of the Day and Book of the Night stretched across a vaulted ceiling, KV9 shelters the sarcophagus lid of Ramesses VI and retains unusually vivid blue and yellow pigments. Its rubble overflow sealed and protected KV62 next door for three millennia.

Tomb of Ramesses III (KV11)

Known as the Harpers' Tomb for two reliefs of blind musicians, this 125-metre corridor branches into ten side chambers depicting daily life, foreign tributes, and sacred cattle. It is one of the most accessible deep tombs with a gentler slope than KV17.

Tomb of Merenptah (KV8)

The second-longest tomb houses a massive pink granite outer sarcophagus carved with the goddess Nut, weighing an estimated 80 tonnes. Merenptah's mummy now lies in Cairo, but fragments of four nested coffins remain on display inside.

The experience

What visiting Valley of the Kings is really like

You leave Luxor before sunrise, cross the Nile, and reach the gate by 06:30 — the desert air still cool, tour-bus queues not yet forming. A guide hands over your valley of the kings tickets for three tombs; a tuk-tuk shuttles you from the visitor centre to the first wadi.

Your complete Valley of the Kings guide

All the details about your upcoming adventure in one place

Exploring the Valley of the Kings

Carved into the limestone cliffs of Luxor's West Bank, this Theban royal necropolis sheltered the rock-cut tombs of New Kingdom pharaohs from Thutmose I through Ramses XI. Standard valley of the kings tickets cover entry to three rotating chambers, while Tutankhamun's KV62, Seti I, and Ramses VI require separate passes sold at the visitor centre. Painted hieroglyphics and astronomical ceilings survive in sharp detail thanks to the dry desert air of Upper Egypt.

Of the 63 tombs cut into the Theban cliffs, Howard Carter reached only one that thieves had missed: KV62, still sealed, in November 1922.

For five centuries before him, New Kingdom pharaohs chose this limestone wadi for their final passage, walls inscribed with the Book of Gates and the Amduat that map the sun god's night-journey through the underworld.

Curated valley of the kings tours thread Thutmose I to Ramesses XI across a rotating handful of open chambers. Torchlight keeps pigment vivid after three millennia. A private egyptologist valley of the kings guide can still point out tool marks inside KV11's side corridors. Scholars come for the painted Amduat, not the photo-ops. Specialist formats — a valley of the kings vip tour, a private valley of the kings tour, a quieter valley of the kings tour past KV9 — trade volume for access once morning coaches depart.

Of 63 tombs cut into the Theban cliffs, Howard Carter reached only one that thieves had missed.

— PROMODO editors

Dress code

Dress modestly for the Theban Necropolis: shoulders and knees covered, closed-toe shoes for loose limestone gravel. Linen or cotton in light colours handles the Luxor heat far better than synthetics, and a scarf doubles as sun cover on the exposed ridge paths.

Bags & security

All visitors pass an X-ray scan at the visitor centre before boarding the tram. Large backpacks over 30L and tripods are refused at tomb entrances; a small day bag with water is fine.

Photography

A separate 300 EGP photo pass is required to use any camera inside the tombs, and flash is banned to protect the pigments. Mobile phone photos without flash are included in general valley of the kings tickets, but filming inside KV62 (Tutankhamun) is prohibited regardless of pass.

Families & strollers

Children under 6 enter free and school-age kids pay half price with ID. The walk between tombs is exposed with no shade, so plan 2.5 hours maximum with young visitors and save the deepest tombs like Seti I for older children.

Accessibility

The main pathway from the visitor centre is level and the electric tram accepts folding wheelchairs, but every tomb descends via steep wooden ramps or stairs with no lift alternative. KV62 and KV11 have the shortest internal descents and are the most feasible for limited mobility.

Food & drink

Only sealed water bottles are permitted past the ticket gate; all food, juice, and hot drinks must stay at the visitor centre cafeteria. A shaded café near the car park sells karkadeh, sandwiches, and fresh dates before or after your circuit.

Not allowed

× Tripods × Selfie sticks × Drones × Flash photography × Large backpacks over 30L × Food and snacks inside tombs × Chewing gum × Outside alcohol × Sharp objects × Laser pointers × Professional video rigs × Pets (except service animals) × Smoking materials

What to bring

✓ Sealed water (at least 2L) ✓ Wide-brim hat ✓ High-SPF sunscreen ✓ Sunglasses ✓ Small torch for dim tombs ✓ Cash in EGP for photo pass ✓ Tissues or handkerchief ✓ Comfortable closed shoes

Opening hours

Mon 06:00 – 17:00 Quietest weekday morning

Quietest weekday morning

Tue 06:00 – 17:00

Wed 06:00 – 17:00 Cruise-boat arrivals peak 09:00

Cruise-boat arrivals peak 09:00

Thu 06:00 – 17:00

Fri 06:00 – 17:00 Locals visit after prayers

Locals visit after prayers

Sat 06:00 – 17:00 Busiest day of the week

Busiest day of the week

Sun 06:00 – 17:00 Last tickets sold 16:00

Last tickets sold 16:00

How to get there

At a glance

Hours

Daily 06:00 – 17:00

Address

Valley of the Kings, West Bank of the Nile, Luxor

Access

Uneven sand, ramps at entrance, stairs inside tombs

Best arrival

06:00 – 08:00 before tour coaches

Storage

Small lockers at the visitor centre

Shuttle

Tuk-tuk tram from car park to tomb cluster

Getting there

Car · 15 min · Taxi ~250 EGP one way

15-minute drive from central Luxor across Luxor Bridge, then signed road to the Theban Hills.

Taxi · Half-day · 800–1,200 EGP

Hotel taxis in Luxor offer half-day West Bank circuits covering the necropolis, Hatshepsut, and Memnon.

Public transport · 45 min · 30–60 EGP

Local microbus from Luxor to Qurna village, then tuk-tuk 5 km up to the gate.

Bike · 1 hr · 100 EGP rental

Rent at East Bank shops, cross by ferry, ride 8 km through Qurna farmland to the entrance.

Cancellation policy

General admission to the valley of the kings costs 600 EGP and covers entry to three tombs, with special tombs such as KV62 and KV17 ticketed separately. Paper tickets purchased at the on-site booth are non-refundable once scanned; pre-booked operator tours typically refund in full up to 24 hours before the scheduled pickup.

Plan ahead

Best time to visit Valley of the Kings

Weather · crowds · average price — dots go green to amber to red as each metric rises.

Spring (Mar–Apr)

Comfortable 24–32°C and full tomb roster open; book a valley of the kings tour two days ahead as cruise season peaks.

Summer (Jun–Aug)

Temperatures climb past 42°C by 10:00; arrive at 06:00 opening or skip to autumn.

Autumn (Oct–Nov)

Shoulder-season warmth around 28°C with thinner tour-bus queues and clearer afternoon light.

Winter (Dec–Feb)

Peak tourist season with 18–24°C days; Christmas and New Year's week see two-hour waits at KV62.

Ramadan

Visitor centre may close 30 min earlier; local guides break fast at sunset so afternoon slots are quietest.

Insider tips

Helpful tips for visiting Valley of the Kings

Carry small EGP notes

The photo pass booth and tram tips require 20–50 EGP change; ATMs at the visitor centre are unreliable.

Skip the general-ticket gamble

Add supplementary valley of the kings tickets for Seti I or Tutankhamun at the booth rather than relying on whichever three tombs are rotated into the base ticket that day.

Ride the tram uphill, walk down

The 800 m path from the tomb cluster back to the car park is gentle and gives the best photos of the Theban pyramid-shaped peak El-Qurn.

Pack a proper torch

Tomb lighting is dim and uneven; a small handheld torch (not phone flash) reveals pigment detail that guides rarely linger on.

Book a licensed Egyptologist

Guides are not permitted to narrate inside the tombs, so hire one for 30 minutes outside each entrance — they will brief you before you descend.

Combine with Hatshepsut early

Finish the necropolis by 09:30 and drive 10 minutes to Deir el-Bahari before the 10:00 coach wave arrives.

Where to meet

Valley of the Kings meeting points

Valley of the Kings Visitor Centre

Valley of the Kings, West Bank of the Nile, Luxor, Egypt

Tram boarding point for all guided valley of the kings tours; ticket booth opens 05:45.

Get directions

Colossi of Memnon pickup

Kom el-Hettan, West Bank, Luxor

Common coach pickup for combined West Bank itineraries before the ridge drive.

Get directions

Gallery

Moments from Valley of the Kings

Customer Reviews

What travelers say about Valley of the Kings

Real experiences from real travelers

4.4

Based on 2,400 reviews

1 ★ 1100

2 ★ 732

3 ★ 1300

4 ★ 3900

5 ★ 14300

S

Sarah M.

United States · 2026-04-18

Worth the early start

Our guide timed the valley of the kings tour perfectly for opening, and we had Ramesses VI almost to ourselves for twenty minutes. The hieroglyphs still hold pigment that looks painted yesterday. Bring water and a small flashlight for the deeper corridors.

J

Julien B.

France · 2026-03-22

KV9 stole the show

The painted ceilings inside Ramesses VI's tomb go deeper than any photo suggests, with astronomical figures running the full length. We paid the extra fee for KV62 to see Tutankhamun's sarcophagus in situ. Worth every pound.

H

Hanna K.

Germany · 2026-02-11

Crowded but historic

Arrived at opening and still queued thirty minutes at Seti I. The Theban necropolis really deserves a full morning rather than a rushed stop between Karnak and Hatshepsut. Skip Tausert if your time is tight.

R

Rafael S.

Brazil · 2025-12-05

Cliffs at dawn

Walking into the valley of the kings as the sun cleared the cliffs felt almost sacred, cool air still held in the wadi. Our Egyptologist pointed out cartouches I would never have spotted alone. The tram from the visitor centre saves energy for the tombs themselves.

Y

Yuki T.

Japan · 2026-01-14

Astronomical ceiling

Booked our valley of the kings tickets through the hotel and the entry line moved fast even in peak week. KV11 had the clearest painted ceiling I saw all trip. Pair the visit with Hatshepsut's temple across the wadi for one efficient west bank morning.

A

Amelia R.

Australia · 2025-10-02

Quiet afternoon

Went back after 2pm when most buses had left and the temperature dropped slightly. The Wadi el-Muluk tombs stay cooler than you expect once you descend. Ramesses IV's blue ceiling is remarkable up close.

M

Marco P.

Italy · 2025-08-19

Bring small bills

Guards inside Ramesses III expected tips for letting us linger past the rope. A proper valley of the kings tour with a licensed guide avoids the awkward baksheesh dance at every doorway. The photo permit was worth it for KV9 alone.

L

Lena O.

Netherlands · 2025-06-27

Tutankhamun in context

Seeing Tutankhamun's mummy inside KV62 after visiting the new Grand Egyptian Museum made the story click for the kids. The painted walls of his burial chamber are small but densely packed with scenes from the Book of the Dead. Our Luxor royal tombs tour combined it with Deir el-Bahari in one half day.

D

David C.

United Kingdom · 2025-04-10

Plan your three

Standard valley of the kings tickets cover three tombs, and we chose Ramesses IV, Merenptah, and Ramesses IX. Merenptah's descending passage is steep, but the sarcophagus chamber repays the climb down. Go early, the limestone absorbs heat quickly.

E

Elena V.

Spain · 2025-11-08

Ridge overlook

Our guide led us up the short path to the overlook above the wadi before descending. Valley of the kings tours that include this small hike feel more complete than a straight tomb-hop. Sunrise light on the cliffs is the photo you came to Luxor for.

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