The Valley of the Kings and the Valley of the Queens form the heart of the Theban necropolis, on the west bank of the Nile opposite Luxor. For nearly five centuries, the pharaohs of the New Kingdom and their families had underground tombs carved here, adorned with frescoes and funerary texts. Today, these two neighboring archaeological sites rank among the major highlights of a journey through Upper Egypt.

Why visit the Valley of the Kings and Valley of the Queens

• See in situ the tombs of the New Kingdom, including the tomb of Tutankhamun (KV62) and that of Nefertari (QV66), renowned for the quality of its paintings.
• Understand the evolution of Egyptian funerary practices, from the great pyramids to the underground chambers carved into the cliff face.
• Read the hieroglyphics of the Book of the Dead and scenes of the afterlife on walls still vibrant with color.
• Combine the visit with other west bank sites (Deir el-Bahari, Colossi of Memnon) in a single day from Luxor.

History of the two necropolises

The Valley of the Kings

The New Kingdom was founded around 1539 BCE, and Thebes became the kingdom's capital. The pharaohs sought to distinguish themselves from the great pyramids of their predecessors, which had become vulnerable to plundering. Legend has it that Ineni, advisor to Thutmose I, had a vision of a naturally pyramid-shaped mountain: Ta Dehent, "The Peak", which overlooks the site. Successive rulers had their tombs carved into the rock face, with the notable exception of Akhenaten, who was buried at Amarna.

The tombs are identified by the abbreviation KV (King's Valley) followed by a discovery number. The site continues to yield new burials to archaeologists, two centuries after the start of modern excavations.

The Valley of the Queens

Around the end of the 17th Dynasty (~1500 BCE), Pharaoh Seqenenre Taa waged war against the Hyksos and founded the workers' village of Deir el-Medina. His daughter Ahmose was, according to tradition, the first to be buried in the valley adjacent to the Valley of the Kings. The site initially housed nobles and royal children, then became from the 19th Dynasty onwards (~1200 BCE) a necropolis exclusively reserved for queens and their family members. The workers of Deir el-Medina, already mobilized for the Valley of the Kings, reproduced funerary architecture of comparable complexity there.

What to see on site

The main tombs of the Valley of the Kings

• Tomb of Tutankhamun (KV62): one of the smallest in the valley, but the most famous since the discovery of its intact furnishings in 1922. It fueled the myth of the "curse of the pharaoh," popularized by Hergé, Agatha Christie, and Sally Beauman, but largely debunked by historians.
• Tomb of Ay (WV23), in the western branch: remarkable for its canopic jar chamber and hunting scenes, rare in the royal repertoire.
• Tomb of Seti I: the longest tomb in the valley, whose burial chamber preserves a blue and gold astronomical ceiling.
• Tomb of Ramesses VI (KV9): famous for its hypostyle hall and texts from the Book of Caverns.
• Tomb of Horemheb (KV57): unfinished reliefs that reveal the stages of wall decoration.
• Tomb of Ramesses IV (KV2): corridors with clearly legible motifs, accessible to the general public.

The standard entrance ticket generally provides access to three tombs selected from those open on the day of your visit. The tombs of Tutankhamun, Seti I, and Nefertari require an additional ticket.

The main tombs of the Valley of the Queens

• Tomb of Nefertari (QV66), wife of Ramesses II: papyrus-shaped entrance, wall paintings of exceptional refinement, long passages from the Book of the Dead. This is the crowning jewel of the site.
• Tomb of Prince Khâemouaset: corridor and chambers decorated with hieroglyphics painted in red, green, blue, and black on a light background.
• Tomb of Queen Tyti: recognizable by its ceiling studded with white stars.
• Tomb of Prince Amenherkhepshef: characteristic layout of New Kingdom royal burials, on a smaller scale.

Four tombs are typically open to the public, the rest being closed for preservation. Nearby, you can see the sanctuary of Ptah and Meretseger, the remains of the "pharaohs' dam," the ruins of Roman and Coptic sanctuaries at Deir er-Rumi, as well as a sacred grotto to the west bearing carvings of the goddess Hathor, protector of resurrection.

Practical information

• Ticketing: one general ticket for the Valley of the Kings (3 tombs of your choice, excluding special tombs), a separate ticket for the Valley of the Queens, and supplements for Nefertari, Seti I, and Tutankhamun.
• Duration of visit: allow 2 to 3 hours for the Valley of the Kings, approximately 1.5 hours for the Valley of the Queens. A full half-day for both.
• Photography: chargeable in certain tombs, sometimes prohibited (notably Nefertari). Check at the entrance.
• On site: a shuttle system connects the reception center to the main tombs of the Valley of the Kings.
• Attire: closed-toe shoes, hat, plenty of water, flashlight useful for details in dimly lit tombs.

When to visit

The best period extends from October to April, when temperatures remain manageable. From May to September, heat on the west bank regularly exceeds 40°C at midday: if you travel in summer, plan to arrive at opening, early morning, and leave before noon. The raking morning light also better highlights the reliefs of the cliff faces.

How to get there

Both valleys are located on the west bank of the Nile, approximately 7 km apart, about twenty minutes from Luxor.

• By taxi for a half-day or full day from Luxor, negotiating a circuit that includes Deir el-Bahari and the Colossi of Memnon.
• By organized excursion, the simplest option for combining both valleys and neighboring temples with an English-speaking guide.
• By bicycle from the west bank ferry, for independent travelers who can handle the heat and elevation.

What to see nearby

The west bank of Luxor concentrates several major sites to combine with your visit: Hatshepsut's mortuary temple at Deir el-Bahari, the Ramesseum, Medinet Habu, the Colossi of Memnon, and the artisans' village of Deir el-Medina. As for tombs, the tomb of Horemheb deserves a specific stop. Traveling upriver along the Nile, you can extend your journey with the temple of Kom Ombo, the temples of Aswan, and the temples of Abu Simbel. To compare funerary practices, the pyramids of Giza near Cairo form the chronological counterpart of the Old Kingdom.

Frequently asked questions

Prepare your trip to Égypte

Both valleys fit naturally into an itinerary combining Cairo, a Nile cruise, and Upper Egypt. To plan your program and obtain a custom quote, consult our Égypte trips.