Valley of the Kings

The “Valley of the Kings” is where the pharaohs of the 16th through 11th century BC buried themselves. The location of the site was kept secret passed down from pharaoh to pharaoh with the workers blindfolded before brought to the site. It is located on the west bank of the Nile river opposite Luxor, Egypt, symbolically on the west bank where the sun sets.

The valley is known to contain 63 tombs but archaeologists are still searching as there are likely more to be found. Most tombs have been found already robbed of their riches with the exception of King Tutankhamun's which was found largely intact though it is probably the smallest tomb on the site.

Here are the tombs I have visited:

• Ramses IV (KV2) - The most colourful tomb visited with amazing colour in the decorations throughout the tomb. Located near the valley entrance.

• King Tutankhamun or “Tut Ankh Amun” (KV62) - A small tomb located in the middle of the valley near the café, this is the only tomb that actually contains the remains of the child king as well as the sarcophagus. Only the burial chamber itself is decorated and this is quite simple but has vivid colour.

• Merenbtah (KV8) - An extremely deep tomb but with wonderful paintings all the way down to the huge burial chamber at the bottom.

• Ramses IX (KV6) - A small temple but with more colourful paintings located beside the café.

Tickets for the site provide access to any three tombs that are open with typically nine open on any one day. The tombs open regularly rotate. Access to King Tutankhamun's tomb is available only via a separate ticket with visitor numbers kept to a minimum in the small tomb.

Note that in many tombs you may find local people offering to take your picture or take pictures of areas not accessible to the public - This should not be encouraged as it potentially damages the site.

As the site is relatively close to Luxor public transport, taxi or bus should be possible to the site. In recent years the road into the valley has been hugely improved and is now paved very nicely.

The main entrance to the valley is 200 meters or so from the actual site.

Attached to the large car park is a ticket and security building with a small museum containing a diorama of the site – Both above and below which is great as you can see the huge extent of the tombs – Some are absolutely massive and descend quite deep into the rock. Toilets are also located here. On exiting here there are a series of souvenir stalls, as expected.

Golf carts take visitors to the main site where tickets are examined again before access is granted. As you access a tomb your ticket is punched so you do not exceed your allowed three visits. There are maps throughout the site and each tomb, helpfully, has an information plaque outside and often a covered seating area for respite from the sun. Inside each tomb there are no labels or other information.

Each tomb is numbered (“KV” followed by a number) and is generally the same with a sloped entrance leading down to a burial chamber with side storage chambers that would have held the supplies necessary for the pharaoh in the afterlife including food, clothing, and furniture.

There is a café and gift shop in the middle of the complex opposite King Tutankhamun's tomb.

For further information, please see:

• Encyclopedia Britannica - Valley of the Kings
• Lonely Planet - Valley of the Kings
• Wikipedia - Valley of the Kings