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Valley of the Kings Tour from Luxor: Tombs and Tickets
Theban West Bank · Luxor

Valley of the Kings Tour from Luxor: Tombs and Tickets

A Valley of the Kings tour with Travel Joy Egypt is a private day on Luxor's West Bank with a certified Egyptologist, hotel or Nile cruise pickup and entrance fees included, apart from tombs that need an extra ticket. This guide covers the ticket, the best tombs, opening hours and our private Luxor tours with Egyptologist guides.

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Visitor Guide & Planning

Last updated: 4 November 2026

Key takeaways

Before you book, these 4 points matter most:

  • Tickets: a standard ticket gives entry to 3 tombs, and special tombs such as Tutankhamun's need an extra ticket.
  • Timing: the valley opens at 6:00am, and an early start avoids the heat and the tour groups.
  • Time needed: allow 2 to 3 hours in the valley itself, not counting travel.
  • Tours: 3 private day tours from Luxor visit the valley, and the West Bank tour makes it the first stop.

Aerial view of the Valley of the Kings valley floor and the visitor area among the desert cliffs

Valley of the Kings Opening Hours and How Long to Stay

The Valley of the Kings lies on Luxor's Theban West Bank, across the Nile from the city. The table below sets out the planning basics.

Detail Answer
Location Luxor's Theban West Bank
Opening hours Daily, 6:00am to 5:00pm
Time in the valley 2 to 3 hours
Best arrival Early morning

Add time if you plan to enter several tombs with an extra ticket. You can reach the valley by taxi, by ferry and then taxi, or on an organised tour that picks you up.

For the story of the tombs and their art, read our guide to the history of the Valley of the Kings.

What Does the Valley of the Kings Ticket Cover?

A standard ticket gives entry to 3 of the tombs that are open to visitors. Special tombs, Tutankhamun's among them, need a separate extra ticket.

On our private Luxor West Bank tour, entrance fees to every stop are included in the price, along with service charges and taxes. Tell us which extra-ticket tombs you want when you enquire.

Painted burial chamber ceiling in a royal tomb of the Valley of the Kings, with solar barques and rows of figures in yellow, blue and red

Best Tombs in the Valley of the Kings

These 4 tombs stand out for story, art and scale. Only some tombs are open to visitors, so treat the table as a shortlist.

Tomb Known for Best for
Tutankhamun (KV62) Intact discovery in 1922 Visitors drawn to the discovery story
Ramesses VI (KV9) Astronomical ceiling Art and astronomy lovers
Seti I (KV17) Deep tomb with fine reliefs Travellers who like fine detail
Ramesses III (KV11) Harpist reliefs, daily-life scenes Fans of daily-life and myth scenes

Howard Carter found KV62 intact, and the tomb still holds the king's mummy and its painted walls. In KV9 the goddess Nut swallows the sun and gives birth to it again across the ceiling. KV17 is one of the longest and deepest tombs in the valley, and its reliefs are among the finest carved and best preserved in colour. KV11 shows harpists alongside scenes of daily life and myth.

Archival print of a long entrance corridor leading into a royal tomb in the Valley of the Kings

How a Valley of the Kings Tour Runs From Luxor

Our Luxor West Bank tour starts at the Valley of the Kings, and a certified private Egyptologist leads you through every stop. We pick you up from a Luxor hotel or a Nile cruise ship. Read how our private Egyptologist guides in Egypt work.

The day runs in this order:

  1. Start at the Valley of the Kings and enter the open tombs with your guide.
  2. Continue to Hatshepsut's Temple on the West Bank.
  3. Break for lunch.
  4. Finish at the Colossi of Memnon.
  5. Return to your hotel or Nile cruise.

Tips for your guide and driver are not included.

Limestone flake with an ink sketch of a pharaoh's profile and a double crown, from the Theban tombs

Which Luxor Day Tour Visits the Valley of the Kings?

We offer 3 private day tours from Luxor that include the valley. The table shows what else each one visits.

Tour Also visits Best for
West Bank tour Hatshepsut's Temple, Colossi of Memnon Travellers focused on the tombs
East and West Banks tour West Bank sites plus Karnak, Luxor Temple Tombs and Karnak in 1 day
Full day Luxor tour Karnak, Luxor Temple, Hatshepsut's Temple Travellers who like to linger

The West Bank tour stays on the West Bank, while the East and West Banks tour and the full day tour both add the East Bank.

The West Bank tour with Hatshepsut's Temple suits travellers whose priority is the tombs and the West Bank temples.

To add Karnak and Luxor Temple, choose the East and West Banks tour of Luxor. It starts on the West Bank, crosses the Nile and includes lunch. Prices start from $95 per person.

The full day Luxor tour with Karnak usually takes 8 to 10 hours, depending on how long you linger at each site, and lunch at a local restaurant is normally included. It is priced from $75 per person.

The hot-air balloon ride over the West Bank launches at dawn for a 45-minute flight over the necropolis, with hotel or cruise pickup.

If you want a different route or a slower pace, ask for a tailor-made Luxor day.

Plan Your Private Luxor Day

Travel Joy Egypt is a licensed local tour operator, rated 5.0 on TripAdvisor. To book a Valley of the Kings tour with pickup and a certified Egyptologist, message us on WhatsApp +20 106 023 3393 with your dates and where you are staying, and we will suggest the Luxor day that fits.

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Valley of the Kings FAQ

How much does a Valley of the Kings tour cost?+
Prices for the Luxor West Bank tour, which starts at the Valley of the Kings, begin at $75 per person. The price covers the entrance fees to every stop. Extra tickets for tombs that need their own, such as Tutankhamun's, and tips for your guide and driver are paid on top. The tour's price table shows the full range.
Is Tutankhamun's tomb worth the extra ticket?+
Yes, if the king himself is why you came. Howard Carter found KV62 intact in 1922, and the tomb still holds the king's mummy and painted walls. It needs its own ticket on top of the standard one, so decide before the day. Tell us if you want Tutankhamun's tomb added to your day.
Can you take photos inside the Valley of the Kings tombs?+
Generally not. Photography is restricted inside the tombs to protect the paintings from flash damage, and the rules can change. Your Egyptologist confirms what applies on the day, so ask before you raise a camera or phone.
When is the best time to visit the Valley of the Kings?+
The best months to visit the Valley of the Kings are October to April, when Egypt's cooler weather keeps temperatures comfortable, roughly 20 to 30°C (68 to 86°F). Whatever the month, going when the valley opens is the best way to beat the heat and the crowds.
What should I wear to the Valley of the Kings?+
Wear modest, comfortable clothes and walking shoes. No strict dress code applies at the Valley of the Kings, but covering shoulders and knees is respectful anywhere in Egypt. The ground is uneven, so leave smart shoes at the hotel.
Is the Valley of the Kings suitable for visitors with limited mobility?+
It can be challenging for visitors with limited mobility. Many tombs are reached by ramps or stairs that lead down into underground chambers, and the ground around the valley is uneven. Tell us about any mobility needs when you book, so we can plan the day with you.
Is there a tram inside the Valley of the Kings?+
Yes. A small tram runs from the visitor centre to the tomb area, a short ride that is often welcome in the desert heat. Your Egyptologist will point you to it on the day.
Can I visit the Valley of the Kings from my Nile cruise?+
Yes. The Luxor West Bank tour includes pickup from your Nile cruise ship and the return afterwards, with a certified private Egyptologist leading every stop. Tell us your cruise departure time when you enquire, so we can plan the day around it.
Can I visit the Valley of the Kings as a day trip from Cairo?+
Yes. A same-day Luxor tour by plane flies you from Cairo to Luxor and back, covers the major sites including the valley and needs no overnight stay. Prices start from $685 per person.
Can I visit the Valley of the Kings as a day trip from Aswan?+
Yes. The private Luxor day tour from Aswan travels by first-class train, and a certified Egyptologist guides the visit to the valley. The tour is priced from $215 per person.
How many tombs are in the Valley of the Kings, and who was buried there?+
The valley has yielded 63 known tombs and chambers, from simple pits to elaborate royal tombs. Pharaohs from Thutmose I to Ramesses XI had tombs cut here over about 500 years, in a secluded valley chosen partly for security from tomb raiders. Our history of the Valley of the Kings tells the full story.

Want the full history and background? Read our in-depth guide.