My video walks you through the tomb of Ramses V and VI in the Valley of the Kings. The ancient burial ground of elites is near Luxor, Egypt. Click the icon in the lower righthand corner of the player to expand the video.
The Valley of the Kings contains the tombs of some of ancient Egypt’s most famous pharaohs. Here’s how I toured the singular site near Luxor by myself.
Located near Luxor above and away from the west bank of the Nile River, the Valley of the Kings was the primary burial ground for the pharaohs of ancient Egypt’s New Kingdom (1539-1075 BCE). Over 60 tombs have been identified thus far, and they include some of the most famous rulers of the 18th, 19th, and 20th dynasties like Tutankhamen, Ramses II, and Seti I.
The Valley of the Kings is one of the most popular attractions in the Nile River Valley, so it’s swamped with visitors soon after opening. The best way to beat the crowds is to arrive early and take your own tour. Here’s how I did it:
1. Reserve an early morning ride
If you want the top tombs at the Valley of the Kings mostly to yourself, you must arrive when the site opens at 6 a.m. I worked with the front desk staff at Rezeiky Camp & Hotel to schedule a driver to pick me up at 5:30 a.m. and take me to the Valley of the Kings, followed by the mortuary temple of Queen Hatshepsut and the Colossus of Mnemnon. You should be able to make similar advance arrangements with your accommodation in Luxor.
Your departure time will vary depending on where you decide to stay. Rezeiky is on the east bank of the Nile near the ruins of the Karnak Temple. If seeing the Valley of the Kings is your priority in Luxor, I suggest staying on the Nile’s west bank near its entrance.
2. Walk through the bazaar to the ticket office
After you arrive at the Valley of the Kings, locate the entrance to the bazaar on the east side of the parking area: You must walk through the shopping area to reach the ticket office. The bazaar should be mostly quiet in the early morning. The shopkeepers were just beginning to open their stalls when I visited the site.
3. Purchase your tickets
The ticket office for the Valley of the Kings has both in-person and self-service kiosks. I recommend using the latter. The agent that I spoke to at the window immediately tried to upsell me on a guided tour. When I refused, he ignored me and moved over to help other early arrivals.
The self-service kiosks are to the right of the ticket windows; it only takes a few minutes to complete your purchase. The Valley of the Kings has a general admission ticket, which allows you to see up to three of what I will call the “standard” tombs. A few of the more elaborate tombs require separate tickets to tour. Here’s a price breakdown:
- General admission ticket: $750 EGP (~$15 USD)
- Tomb of Ay: $200 EGP (~$4 USD)
- Tomb of Seti I: $2,000 EGP (~$41 USD)
- Tomb of Tutankhamen: $700 EGP (~$14 USD)
- Tomb of Rameses V/VI: $220 EGP (~$4.50 USD)
Another option for entering the Valley of the Kings is purchasing a Luxor Pass. While I didn’t buy one, I did briefly look at its benefits. A pass is apparently good for five days, and there are two different kinds: standard (~$130 USD) and premium (~$250 USD). The former provides general admission to the Valley of the Kings, while the latter includes access to separately ticketed tombs like Seti I.
4. Walk or ride up to the tombs
After exiting the ticket office, it’s an approximately five-minute walk uphill before you reach the gate for the Valley of the Kings. Once there, an attendant will confirm the validity of your tickets and then allow you to enter.
You can also ride to the gate via electric car. The rental stand is located to the right once you exit the ticket office; the cost is $20 EGP (~$0.50 USD).
5. Start with the separately ticketed tombs
While you don’t want to move too quickly and ruin the experience, time is of the essence when you begin your early morning exploration of the Valley of the Kings. On the day that I was there, the area was inundated with tour groups by 8 a.m. That means you should expect to have the place mostly to yourself for under two hours, provided you arrive when the site opens.
I recommend starting with whichever separately ticketed tombs that you chose to tour. I bought tickets for Seti I, Ramses V/VI, and Tutankhamen, and I would explore them in that order. Seti I is the most elaborate of the three, while the tomb for Ramses V/VI (shown in the video at the beginning of the article) is comparably lavish. Tutankhamen’s tomb is significantly smaller than the other two but has the advantages of being in the most immaculate condition and containing the young pharoah’s mummy.
As the above map shows, all the tombs at the Valley of the Kings are within close proximity of one another. You should, however, be prepared to navigate steep flights of stairs that descend into the earth. Heat will also quickly become a factor as the morning sun rises into the sky. There’s a refreshment stand directly across from King Tut’s tomb that offers food, drinks, and tables with shade.
6. Tour three other tombs with your general admission ticket
If you decide to do the same separately ticketed tombs as me and move at a similar pace, it will likely be after 7 a.m. by the time you finish touring them. That leaves three of the several other tombs that you can walk through with your general admission ticket. I chose to visit Ramses I, Merenptah, and Thutmose IV.
While I don’t recommend Merenptah (the interior was dark and unremarkable), Ramses I and Thutmose IV are worth considering. As the map above indicates, the tomb of Thutmose IV is located away from most of the others; it’s also an uphill walk to reach it. I would save it for last if you decide to include it amongst your final three tombs.
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