Valley of the Kings

Ancient tombs in Egypt's desert

Luxor stands as a major archaeological site along Egypt’s southern Nile River. The Valley of the Kings holds tombs built for pharaohs and powerful leaders from ancient times. Many structures remain intact, revealing detailed carvings and paintings that tell stories about life, death and beliefs in the afterlife. On the east bank, temples such as Karnak and Luxor showcase massive columns and stone reliefs. Visitors can explore ruins that have survived for thousands of years while learning about Egypt’s history through its surviving artifacts and inscriptions.

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Region in Egypt

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Safety: 5.8

General Safety:	6
Health & medical:	6
Accessibility:	4
Tap water:	5

Read details

3/5

English is moderately spoken in tourist areas, with guides and hotel staff typically fluent. However, in rural areas, English proficiency may be limited.

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Last update: 12 Oct 2026

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Valley of the Kings Summary

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World-famous for ancient tombs. Explore pharaoh burial chambers, view colorful hieroglyphs, visit archaeological sites and learn about ancient Egyptian history.

Place score

7.6

Best at:

Historic sites

Guided tours

Ruins

Art

Museums

Personal score

Suited for

👶 7

Families

🧓 5

Seniors

🛡️ 8

Travel Beginners

💻 8

Digital Nomads

Egypt – Quick facts

Guide Etiquette Holidays Other

Power Grid:	220 V, 50 Hz Plug: Type C , Type F Type C: Type F: Read about power adapters
Currency:	Egyptian Pound (EGP) £1 ≈ EGP 74.69
Cashless info:	Rating 4/5 Cashless payments are becoming more common in Egypt, especially in tourist areas. Credit cards are accepted in larger hotels and businesses, but cash is still preferred in many places. Save with a travel credit card
eSIM providers:	Best value: Saily Flexibility: Airalo Read our in-depth comparison

Tipping:	Tipping is common in Egypt, with a 10-15% tip in restaurants being standard. Taxi drivers, hotel staff, and tour guides also appreciate small tips.
Public drinking:	Public drinking is generally not allowed in Egypt, and alcohol consumption is limited to licensed establishments like hotels, restaurants, and bars.
Public smoking:	Smoking is permitted in outdoor public spaces and licensed indoor venues such as cafes and bars, but it is prohibited in public transport and closed areas.

Revolution Day (25 January)	National holiday celebrating the 2011 revolution
Eid al-Fitr (dates vary)	Islamic festival marking the end of Ramadan

Emergency contact:	Emergency Numbers: 122 (Police), 123 (Ambulance), 180 (Fire)
Taxi apps:	Uber
Other:	Egypt is known for its ancient history, including the Pyramids of Giza, the Sphinx, and numerous archaeological sites. It offers a rich cultural experience combined with desert landscapes and the Nile River.

Best times to travel

The best times to travel section shows how the months compare for a visit, so you can find the time of year that fits what you want to do.

Background colours of the months:
The colour shows the typical temperature: yellow (hot), green (mild) and blue (cold). How strong the colour is shows the travel season: full colour means high season, soft colour means shoulder season and soft-striped means off season.

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The people icon shows how busy the place usually is. The more people, the more crowded it gets.

Additional notes:
The grey info boxes point out special things worth knowing, like recurring weather issues or seasonal events.

for Valley of the Kings, Egypt

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High season:	Jan. - March, Nov. - Dec.
Shoulder season:	April, Oct.
Crowdedness:	8 (Very crowded)

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Climate details

Opening hours roughly 6:00 to 17:00 (winter) or 18:00 (summer); arrive at opening, tour groups fill the tombs by 9:00

Midday temperatures from May to September often exceed 40°C, so visit right at opening

Only a rotating selection of tombs is open at a time, and some, such as Tutankhamun's and Seti I's, need separate tickets

Don't miss

⚱️ Explore the intricately decorated tomb of Tutankhamun
🖼️ Visit Ramses II tomb with detailed hieroglyphic art
🏛️ Marvel at Queen Hatshepsut’s Mortuary Temple nearby
📜 Discover the tombs labeled KV1 through KV65
🎈 Take a hot air balloon ride over royal burial grounds

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Why travel to Valley of the Kings?

Visiting the Valley of the Kings offers a unique glimpse into the opulence and spiritual beliefs of ancient Egyptian civilization. The intricately decorated tombs, with their vibrant hieroglyphs and elaborate carvings, provide invaluable insights into the lives and afterlives of the pharaohs. It's an unparalleled experience for history enthusiasts and curious travelers alike.

🏯Places worth seeing

1 KV57 Tomb of Horemheb

🎡Places for activities

1 Luxor Museum
2 Medinet Habu
3 Colossi of Memnon
4 Valley of the Queens
5 Dayr al-Madīnah
6 Ramesseum
7 Mummification Museum

🏞️Natural landmarks

1 Banana Island
2 Valley of the nobles Asasif

🛍️Shopping

1 Al Souq Street
2 Habiba Gallery
3 Nūn Art Gallery

🎈Events

Luxor African Film Festival (March)
Pharaonic Marathon (January)
Abu Simbel Sun Festival (February and October)
Luxor National Day (November 4)
Moulid of Abu el-Haggag (Two weeks before Ramadan)
International Nile Festival for Tourism and Shopping (August)
Wafaa Al Nil Festival (August)
Coptic Christmas (January 7)
Eid al-Fitr (Date varies)
Eid al-Adha (Date varies)

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Knowledge before you go

Buy tickets at visitor center. Includes three tombs, extras cost more.
Take tram from entrance to tombs; wear sturdy shoes for steep climbs inside.
No flash photography allowed; visit early morning to avoid intense midday heat.
Prioritize Tutankhamun's tomb with golden sarcophagus, but save it for last after crowds.

How to travel to Valley of the Kings

Most visitors reach the Valley of the Kings via Luxor, which is accessible by air, train or road. Luxor International Airport receives flights from major cities. From Luxor, the valley is about a 30-minute drive across the Nile's west bank. Taxis, buses and organized tours are available for this journey.

Access summary

From Luxor Airport (LXR): Taxi via Luxor West Bank, usually 30–45 minutes.
From Luxor city: Taxi over the Nile bridges, about 25–40 minutes.
From Cairo: Many visitors fly to Luxor first, roughly 1‑hour flight.

Check your route from anywhere

Where to stay in Valley of the Kings

Luxor offers a range of accommodations, from luxury hotels to budget-friendly guesthouses. Staying on the east bank provides easy access to restaurants and markets, while the west bank offers a quieter, more rural experience closer to the archaeological sites.

Hotel recommendations

*by rating and popularity. Commissions have no influence on the rankings.

Aracan Eatabe Luxor Hotel

Leyla Eco Resort Queen Suites

Saray ElOmda Wellness - Retreat Village

7.9

Astralis Hotel - Luxor

8.7

Villa pure luxor

10.0

Explore more accommodations

How to get around Valley of the Kings

Getting around the Valley of the Kings and the surrounding areas is relatively straightforward. Many tourists opt for guided tours that include transportation. For independent travelers, taxis and bicycles are available. Within the valley, electric trams transport visitors from the entrance to the tombs. It's advisable to wear comfortable walking shoes and carry water, as the terrain can be uneven and temperatures high.

Budget snapshot

Costs compared to home

We calculate the average costs when travelling to destinations and compare those with the living costs at your home. With this you can get an estimate of how expensive or cheap the destination is for you.

To customise this, you can set up which location and price level are used for the calculations in your account settings.

-71 %

Daily expenses in the region are around 71% lower than the average across United States. That means you'll spend a lot less on meals and getting around.

Exchange rate trend

The exchange rate price factor shows how expensive or cheap a currency currently is compared to its historical average. It's a quick way to see if a country is currently more or less affordable due to exchange rate changes.

-55 %

Your exchange rate (GBP to EGP) is 55% better than in recent years. That means travelling now is a lot cheaper compared to the past.

Travel costs

To help you plan your trip, we provide estimated daily costs per person (when travelling as a pair) for different travel styles. These numbers give you an idea of what you might spend each day at this destination, including accommodation, food, transport and activities.

Additionally, we also provide average hotel costs for different travel styles to give you an estimate for the accommodation only.

Please note that these are only estimates. The real costs depend on booking times, season and other factors.

Daily cost summary

Travel style categories explained:

Backpacker:
Staying in hostels or budget hotels, cooking your own meals or eating cheap and choosing low-cost activities.

Mid-range:
Staying in mid-range hotels, eating at a mix of restaurants and casual spots and enjoying a variety of activities.

Luxury:
Staying in luxury hotels, dining out at high-end restaurants and enjoying premium experiences without worrying about the price.

	Backpacker	Mid-range	Luxury
💵 Total costs per day, including accommodation	£12	£44	£149
🏨 Accommodation per night, per person	£3	£21	£77
🍝 Food per day	£8	£23	£69
🚕 Transportation per day	£0	£1	£4

Food & Drink

🍽️ Restaurant Dinner, per person	£11.50
🍛 Lunch Set, per person	£2.30
🍟 Fast food combo	£2.30
🍝 Preparing your own food, per day	£3.10
☕ Cappuccino	£1
🍺 Beer in a restaurant, 0.5 l	£1.50