National park · Egypt
Valley of the KingsWadi el-Muluk
Go at opening (6:00) with a card, not cash: LE750 covers three tombs of your choice, Tutankhamun is LE700 extra and Seti I LE2000; the quietest walk is the 2 km (1.2 mi) dirt road into the Western Valley for Ay's tomb (LE200).Go at opening (6:00 AM) with a card, not cash: LE750 covers three tombs of your choice, Tutankhamun is LE700 extra and Seti I LE2000; the quietest walk is the 2 km (1.2 mi) dirt road into the Western Valley for Ay's tomb (LE200).Go at opening (6:00) with a card, not cash: LE750 covers three tombs of your choice, Tutankhamun is LE700 extra and Seti I LE2000; the quietest walk is the 1.2 mi (2 km) dirt road into the Western Valley for Ay's tomb (LE200).Go at opening (6:00 AM) with a card, not cash: LE750 covers three tombs of your choice, Tutankhamun is LE700 extra and Seti I LE2000; the quietest walk is the 1.2 mi (2 km) dirt road into the Western Valley for Ay's tomb (LE200).
- Source checked
- A source and a date are on record: we read it from an official or published page. Not yet confirmed on the ground.
- Field checked
- Someone checked it on the ground, with the date shown.
- Plan calculated
- Worked out by Voykit from its own data (times, distances, budgets). A calculation, not a measurement.
Unknown times stay unknown. How we verify
Map to the park
Add your hotel to get directions from it. · stays in this browser; shared with the pocket card.
Area
2 km² (1 sq mi)1 sq mi (2 km²)
approximate
Established
1979
Best months
Oct–Mar
UNESCO
None
Rules in force · 8Nine African countries on this site have no trip line bec…
- Africa ↗When a route touches a yellow-fever country — even a transit of 12 hours or more — keep the original yellow card (ICVP) in your hand luggage; health desks and airlines can refuse boarding or entry without it.
- Africa ↗Nine African countries on this site have no trip line because governments advise against travel; several others have no-go regions. Read your government's advice for every country on the route before paying deposits.
- North Africa ↗Plan links between North African countries by air or by ferry via Europe; the only regularly usable land borders for visitors are Tunisia–Algeria and Morocco–Mauritania via Western Sahara.
- North Africa ↗Book Saharan nights (dunes, desert camps, oasis tours) between October and April; from May to September desert day temperatures regularly exceed 40 °C and many tours stop.
- Egypt ↗Check visa rules for your passport on the official Egypt e-visa portal before flying; visa on arrival availability depends on nationality and can change.
- Egypt ↗Drones need prior permission and are routinely confiscated on arrival; leave them at home.
- Egypt ↗Do not photograph military sites, police, bridges or government buildings; some museums and tombs charge for or ban photography.
- Egypt ↗During Ramadan, avoid eating, drinking or smoking in public in daylight; hotels and tourist restaurants still serve.
At a glance
- Country
- Egypt
- Area
- 2 km² (1 sq mi)1 sq mi (2 km²)
- The mapped tomb area of the main and Western valleys; the Theban Necropolis as a whole is far larger (check).
- Established
- 1979
- Best months
- Oct–Mar
- Permits
- For some areas
- Base
- Luxor
The Valley of the Kings is the New Kingdom royal cemetery in the limestone hills behind Luxor's West Bank, with 60-plus numbered tombs (KV) cut for pharaohs from Thutmose I to Ramesses XI. One ticket admits you to three tombs of your choosing; a handful of star tombs cost extra. The main valley is hot, shadeless and busy by mid-morning, while the Western Valley, 2 km up a dirt road from the same car park, holds Ay's tomb and almost no one else. It is an archaeological site rather than a park: no trails, no facilities, no shade.
Decide
Why go, which months, and what lives here when
At a glance
Status
- No UNESCO listing; national park since 1979.
Size and age
2 km² (1 sq mi)1 sq mi (2 km²) · national park since 1979
The mapped tomb area of the main and Western valleys; the Theban Necropolis as a whole is far larger (check).
This page covers the park itself. Nearest base: Luxor.
Why go
- The finest royal tomb painting in Egypt, in tombs cut for kings of the 18th to 20th dynasties.
- One ticket, three tombs: you choose, so you can match the early curved tombs against the later straight ones.
- The Western Valley walk is 2 km (1.2 mi) of empty cliff and boulder road with Ay's tomb at the end.The Western Valley walk is 1.2 mi (2 km) of empty cliff and boulder road with Ay's tomb at the end.
- It is 20 minutes from the West Bank ferry, so it fits a half-day with Hatshepsut and the Colossi.
When to go
- JanBest
- FebBest
- MarBest
- AprGo
- MayCaution
- JunAvoid
- JulAvoid
- AugAvoid
- SepCaution
- OctBest
- NovBest
- DecBest
- JanCool, clear; busiest month
- FebMild; go at 6:00Mild; go at 6:00 AM
- MarWarming; still comfortable early
- AprHot by 10:00; khamsin dust possibleHot by 10:00 AM; khamsin dust possible
- May35°C (95°F)+; tombs are stuffy95°F (35°C)+; tombs are stuffy
- JunExtreme heat; midday is punishing
- JulHottest; open 6:00–17:00 onlyHottest; open 6:00 AM–5:00 PM only
- AugHottest; humidity in tombs
- SepStill very hot; fewer crowds
- OctCooling; good light
- NovDry and mild; busy
- DecCool; peak season
Wildlife and nature calendar
| What | Jan | Feb | Mar | Apr | May | Jun | Jul | Aug | Sep | Oct | Nov | Dec |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Desert birds and lizards on the cliff pathsMar–Apr, Oct–Nov · Nothing to plan around; the valleys are archaeological rather than natural sites. | no | no | yes | yes | no | no | no | no | no | yes | yes | no |
Arrive & move
Getting in, how the park is divided, and where things are
Show 3 sectionsHideHow to get there, Zones and sectors, Sketch map
How to get there
From Luxor East Bank
Public ferry or taxi to the West Bank, then taxi to the valley car park.
40–60 min
Open the page →
From West Bank hotels
Taxi or bike; a taxi from the ferry is about 150 EGP one way, or 600 EGP return with waiting.
20–30 min
Open the page →
From Hatshepsut and the Colossi
Same taxi loop; the three West Bank sites sit within 10 km (6.2 mi) of each other.Same taxi loop; the three West Bank sites sit within 6.2 mi (10 km) of each other.
10–15 min
Open the page →
Zones and sectors
| Zone | What is there | Access |
|---|---|---|
| Main valley (East Valley) | Most open tombs, the ticket office, car park, cart track and gift shop. | Open with a ticket, 6:00–17:00 summer, 6:00–16:00 winter.Open with a ticket, 6:00 AM–5:00 PM summer, 6:00 AM–4:00 PM winter. |
| Western Valley (Wadi al-Gurud) | Ay's tomb and the closed tomb of Amenhotep III, up a dirt road from the main car park. | Ay's tomb open on the same hours with a separate ticket; the road is not suitable for cycling. |
| Cliff paths | Old walking routes over the ridge towards Deir el-Bahari and the Valley of the Queens. | Closed; police stop walkers. |
Sketch map
- 1Valley of the Kings ticket office and car park · Gate≈25.740, 32.602Map ↗
- 2Tomb of Tutankhamun (KV62) · Cave≈25.740, 32.601Map ↗
- 3Tomb of Ramesses VI (KV9) · Cave≈25.740, 32.601Map ↗
- 4Tomb of Thutmose III (KV34) · Cave≈25.750, 32.614Map ↗
- 5Western Valley road start · Trail≈25.743, 32.599Approximate; the dirt road leaves the main car park.Map ↗
- 6Tomb of Ay (WV23) · Cave≈25.746, 32.588Approximate position at the end of the Western Valley road.Map ↗
Take the points offline
6 points as a GPX waypoint file, plus a plain-text list of coordinates. Save it while you have signal: maps apps show the points without a connection.
Coordinates are approximate, taken from the ticket office and published tomb positions, for orientation only.
See & do
Caves, trails and wildlife, with how hard each is and whether it needs booking
Show Top experiencesHide
Top experiences
Practical
Fees, permits, rules, where to sleep and what can go wrong
Show 8 sectionsHideEntry fees and permits, Park rules, Where to stay, Safety, Accessibility, Visiting lightly, Questions people ask, Related
Entry fees and permits
| Item | Range | Per | Note |
|---|---|---|---|
| Valley of the Kings entry (three tombs of your choice) | EGP 750 | person | Card payment only at the ticket office or online; 2026 price. |
| Tomb of Tutankhamun (KV62) | EGP 700 | person | Extra ticket on top of entry; small tomb, limited decoration. |
| Tomb of Seti I (KV17) | EGP 2,000 | person | Extra ticket; no student discount. |
| Tomb of Ramesses VI (KV9) | EGP 220 | person | Extra ticket; about 110 EGP for students. |
| Tomb of Ay, Western Valley (WV23) | EGP 200 | person | Bought at the main valley ticket office. |
| Cart from ticket office to the first tomb | EGP 20 | person | Not included in entry; the walk takes about 10 minutes. |
Ranges, not quotes: fees change without notice. Check with the park or your operator · checked Jan 2026.
Entry ticket permit or guide
Extra-tomb tickets no permit
Photography no permit
What would our group pay?
People
Nights or days
- EGP 750
- EGP 700
- EGP 2,000
- EGP 220
- EGP 200
- EGP 20
Tick the fees that apply to your trip to see a total.
A guide, not a quote: the ranges are estimates (checked 2026-01) and each fee may have rules on who pays it. Confirm on Theban Mapping Project — tomb catalogue (KV and WV numbers) before you go.
Park rules
- No flash or photography inside tombs
- Guards enforce it; a flash can mean leaving the site or paying a second admission.
- Card payment only
- The ticket office does not take cash; bring a working card or buy online in advance.
- No walking over the mountain
- The old ridge routes to the Valley of the Queens and Deir el-Bahari are closed and policed.
- No entry after closing
- The valley is cleared in the evening; there is no accommodation inside.
- Guards offering photos
- Refuse; handing over a camera can lead to a report and a fine.
Where to stay
Near the park
Luxor West Bank
Guesthouses and small hotels closest to the ferry and the valley, 20–30 min away.
Near the park
Luxor East Bank
The full range of hotels and the train station, 40–60 min including the ferry.
Safety
Heat and dehydration high
Flash floods in the Western Valley medium
Crowds and queues medium
Tomb interiors low
How much daylight do you have?
Time out
Finding the local time zone…
Times are local to the spot (zone loading). The half-hour margin is our rule of thumb, not an official figure; light fades earlier in forest or under cloud. Carry a headlamp on any route that could run late.
Accessibility
- The car park, ticket office and cart track are step-free; the cart covers the first stretch to the tombs.
- Tomb interiors involve stairs, ramps and narrow passages; most are not wheelchair accessible.
Visiting lightly
- Tomb closures for rest and renovation are conservation measures; check which tombs are open on the day rather than planning around one.
- Keep humidity down: no food, drink or touching painted surfaces inside tombs.
- Hire a West Bank guide and buy from West Bank shops so the site's neighbours benefit.
Questions people ask
How much does it cost to enter the Valley of the Kings?
LE750 per person for three tombs of your choice, paid by card only at the ticket office or online. Tutankhamun is LE700 extra, Seti I LE2000, Ramesses VI LE220 and Ay in the Western Valley LE200. The cart from the ticket office is a further LE20 and is optional.
What are the best hikes in the Valley of the Kings?
There are no marked hiking trails. The one real walk is the 2 km dirt and stone road from the main car park into the Western Valley to Ay's tomb, with no shade or water. Inside the main valley, the climbs to Thutmose III and Thutmose IV are short but steep, up several flights of steps. The old ridge paths over the mountain are closed.
When is the best time to visit the Valley of the Kings?
November to March, and the earlier the better: gates open at 6:00 and the first hour is the coolest and quietest. April and October are workable if you finish by 10:00. June to August is extreme heat and the tombs are stuffy; if you go then, treat it as a dawn visit.
Can I pay in cash at the Valley of the Kings?
No. The ticket office takes card payment only, and you can also buy online in advance. Bring a card that works in Egypt and a backup.
How long do I need at the Valley of the Kings?
Two to three hours for three tombs at a normal pace, plus 15–30 minutes of queuing per tomb in peak season. Add two to three hours if you walk into the Western Valley for Ay's tomb.
Is the tomb of Tutankhamun worth the extra ticket?
Usually not. It is small, lightly decorated and the burial goods are in Cairo; only the head and shoulders of the mummy are visible. Spend the money on Seti I or Ramesses VI instead unless Tutankhamun is the reason for your trip.
Can I walk from the Valley of the Kings to the Valley of the Queens?
No. The ridge paths are closed and police stop walkers. Go back to the car park and take a taxi around.
Deep dive
Every source; fees and rules change, so check before you go
Show the detailsHide
Sources
- officialTheban Mapping Project — tomb catalogue (KV and WV numbers)
- officialUNESCO World Heritage Centre — Ancient Thebes with its Necropolis
- officialEgyptian Ministry of Tourism and Antiquities — ticket portal
- secondaryWikipedia — Valley of the Kings
- secondaryWikivoyage: Valley of the Kings, revision 5312004 (CC BY-SA 4.0)