Luxor’s Valley of the Kings – Egypt’s Best Attraction
What is the Best Attraction in Egypt?
What is the best attraction in Egypt? Obviously, this is a very subjective question that is going to depend on a variety of factors. In December of 2022, I visited Luxor’s Valley of the Kings, which in my opinion, is the best attraction in all of Egypt.
The Valley of the Kings is on the West Bank of the Nile River and served as the final resting place for many Egyptian Pharaohs from the New Kingdom Period. The Ancient Egyptians chose to bury their dead on the West Bank of the Nile because they believed the sun died, or entered the underworld, each night when it set in the western sky. The next morning, when it rose in the eastern sky, they believed the sun was being reborn.
One of the reasons I feel that Luxor’s Valley of the Kings is Egypt’s best attraction is because the tombs are in such great condition. Dating back to the year 1550 BC, the tombs of the Valley of the Kings are over 3,500 years old. Despite their age, the burial art inside the tombs does not look their age as they were sealed shut for thousands of years.
The Valley of the Kings became well-known when Howard Carter discovered the tomb of King Tutankhamun in 1922.
Although I had done some research on the Valley of the Kings, I was overwhelmed by the amazing writings and carvings inside each tomb. The tombs are supposed to resemble the Underworld, and construction typically began on each pharaoh’s tomb when they received their crown. The longer the pharaoh was alive, the longer and deeper the tomb’s corridor.
According to Nermeen, my guide, each corridor was decorated with hieroglyphic scripture from the Egyptian Holy Books. At the end of the corridor was a tomb, or a false tomb, to fight against tomb raiding, where the sarcophagus of the deceased pharaoh was located. The purpose of these tombs was to ensure that the deceased pharaoh was able to pass to the Underworld, where they would live for eternity.
The photo below shows the Tomb of Rameses IV. Inside Rameses IV’s tomb, there are multiple areas where the corridor widens. The wider areas have some of the most impressive examples of Egyptian burial art.
The tomb of Rameses V and Rameses VI is the most spectacular at Luxor’s Valley of the Kings. Below is the ceiling of the burial chamber of the tomb of Rameses V and VI. The ceiling features black and gold artwork depicting the Goddess Nut and passages from the Book of the Night and the Book of the Day.
The amount of hieroglyphic scripture written in the tombs is one of the most impressive parts of Egypt’s top tourist attraction. Most of the tombs located inside Luxor’s Valley of the Kings feature hundreds of hieroglyphic passages. These passages were carved by hand over 3,500 years ago without the use of any modern technology or lighting. Below is an example of some of the writing inside the Tomb of Rameses V and VI.
In addition to the awe-inspiring burial art, Luxor’s Valley of the Kings also provides an opportunity to see the mummified body of King Tutankhamun, also known as King Tut. King Tutankhamun’s tomb was famously discovered by Howard Carter in 1922. Below is King Tut’s mummified body on display near the entrance to his burial chamber.
There is so much to learn during a visit to Luxor’s Valley of the Kings, which is Egypt’s top attraction. Each example of Egyptian burial artwork tells a story. In the photo below, Egyptian Gods and Goddesses Hapy, Qebehsenuef, Anubis, Thoth, Nephthys, and Serqet are depicted on the walls of the Tomb of Merenptah.
A visit to the Valley of the Kings is a life-changing experience. As of December 2022, I have been to 40+ countries. Luxor’s Valley of the Kings is one of my favorite places I have ever visited.
Luxor's Valley of the Kings - Egypt's Best Attraction - Table of Contents
- Why Luxor’s Valley of the Kings is Egypt’s Top Attraction
- What is the Best Way to See Luxor’s Valley of the Kings
- Visiting the Tomb of Rameses IV- KV 2
- Visiting the Tomb of Tutankhamun – KV 62
- Visiting the Tomb of Merenptah – KV 8
- Visiting the Tomb of Rameses I – KV 16
- Visiting the Tombs of Rameses V and Rameses VI – KV 9
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What is the Best Way to See Luxor's Valley of the Kings
The best way to see Luxor’s Valley of the Kings is to take a tour. For tourists staying in Luxor, many tours begin and end in Luxor city. During my visit, I stayed in Cairo but still wanted to visit Egypt’s top attraction. I decided to book a day tour from Cairo to the Valley of Kings. My tour included roundtrip air travel from Cairo International Airport to Luxor. I found that a day tour was plenty of time to experience Luxor’s Valley of the Kings.
When I arrived in Luxor, I was greeted by a wonderful guide named Nermeen. To read an entire summary of my day tour to Luxor, click HERE. The Valley of the Kings was just one of the locations that I toured with Nermeen. Other attractions during my tour of Luxor are posted at the bottom of the page.
The entrance fees to Luxor’s Valley of the Kings are confusing. A standard entrance ticket (E£ 260) grants visitors access to any three of the tombs. There is one set of exceptions as the tombs of King Tutankhamun (E£ 300), Seti I (E£ 1000), and Rameses V and VI (E£ 100) require an extra ticket. If you only want to visit the tombs of King Tut, Seti I, and Rameses V and VI, you still need to purchase the main entrance ticket.
Nermeen recommended visiting the tombs of Rameses IV, Merenptah, and Rameses I. These tombs were the three that were included with the entrance ticket. In addition to those tombs, I paid for two extra tombs, Tutankhamun and Rameses V/VI. With limited time and limited funds, I chose not to pay the E£ 1,000 to visit the tomb of Seti I.
Linked below are multiple packages and tours that feature the Valley of the Kings. Please note that I am an affiliate of Viator. If you purchase a package using one of my links, I will receive a small commission. This commission is at no additional cost to you.
Prices are accurate as of November 2023.
 Luxor Private Tour : West Bank - Valley of Kings, Hatshepsut, Colossi of Memnon - $45.00 Take a step back into the ancient history of Egypt by exploring the famous sites in Luxor West Bank. Visit the Valley of the Kings, the world famous tomb of King Tutankhamen, the Colossi of Menmon and Hatshepsut Temple. All in a full day private guided tour. |
 Private Tour To Luxor Kings Valley, Hatshbsut, Karnak, Luxor From Cairo By Plane - $408.00 In one day you’ll see the highlights of the city |
 Full Day Tour: Valley of Kings,Hatshepsut,Colossi of Memnon,Karnak/Luxor Temples - $95.00 Take a private day trip to discover the highlights of the east and west banks of Luxor (Thebes), This sightseeing tour is with a qualified Egyptologist tour guide. So visit the valley of Kings, Luxor temple, and karnak temples and much more for you to enjoy. |
Visiting the Tomb of Rameses IV - KV 2
Nermeen, my guide, recommended that the first tomb I should visit was KV 2, which is the tomb of Rameses IV. This tomb would count as one of the three tombs that were included with my standard entrance ticket. Nermeen explained that guides are not supposed to go inside the tombs with their guests and told me a little about the tomb before I entered. To gain entrance to the tomb of Rameses IV, I had to show my ticket, which was hole-punched to show that I had visited one tomb.
The information I share below is a mix of what I learned from my guide Nermeen and information from the Internet. There is a lot of inaccurate information on the tombs of the Valley of the Kings, as the interiors of the tombs look similar. Despite my best efforts, I do not claim that all of the information below is 100 percent accurate, as I found that different sources sometimes had completely different interpretations of the tomb of Rameses IV.
The tomb of Rameses IV consists of multiple corridors leading to the main burial chamber. On the walls are hieroglyphics and burial art from a variety of Ancient Egyptian Holy Texts including the Book of Caverns, the Book of Gates, the Book of the Dead, and more.
As this tomb was the first one I entered, I was in awe of how the hieroglyphic writing was visible and well preserved. Nermeen had explained that each tomb was filled with ancient Egyptian spiritual text to assist the deceased pharaoh in his journey to the Underworld.
The tombs of the deceased pharaohs typically had their name written many times throughout the corridors and burial chambers. In the photo below, the writing on the ceiling says “Rameses IV.” Next to Rameses IV’s name are protective vultures to keep him safe during his journey to the Underworld.
Ancient Egyptians believed that the Underworld, also known as Duat, was the pathway to Osiris, the God of the Underworld. Along the way, there were various obstacles that the Ka, or soul, of the deceased Pharoah would have to contend with to reach Osiris. Once the Ka reached Osiris, the final judgment began, which would determine their place in the afterlife.
The hieroglyphic scriptures written in Rameses IV’s tomb were meant to help his Ka succeed in its journey to the Underworld. As I walked through the tomb, I thought about how difficult it would have been to write this ancient text without modern tools or lighting.
Walking through the corridors of the tomb of Rameses IV, I was impressed with the sheer scale of the hieroglyphics and art. It seemed that every inch of Rameses IV’s tomb was covered in art.
Even the ceiling was decorated with stars that were supposed to represent the night sky.
After I visited Egypt’s top attraction, I wanted to learn more about the Valley of the Kings. I researched what some of the burial art was depicting. The scene below is from the Book of Caverns. This book describes the journey of Ra, the Sun God, through the six caverns of the Underworld.
At the end of the corridors was the burial chamber which held the sarcophagus of Rameses IV. It was in the burial chamber that I first encountered one of the security guards who kept watch over the various tombs. Visitors have to be careful as the security guards will try to do everything they can to get tips, including behaviors that could be considered unethical and even damage the tombs. I was not prepared for this and ended up having to tip the security guard after he took a photo of me standing in front of the sarcophagus of Rameses IV.
The burial chamber of Rameses IV was filled with the hieroglyphic writing of Rameses IV’s name, as well as various religious texts, including the Book of Nut. The Book of Nut focuses on astronomy, including the movement of the stars.
The tomb of Rameses IV was one of the few tombs that had an additional chamber after the burial chamber. On the walls of this additional chamber was text from the Book of Caverns and the Book of the Earth.
I spent about twenty minutes walking through the tomb of Rameses IV. When I exited, Nermeen was waiting for me and suggested that my next tomb should be the tomb of Tutankhamun.
Visiting the Tomb of Tutankhamun - KV 62
The next tomb that I visited during my tour of Egypt’s top attraction, the Valley of the Kings, was KV 62, King Tutankhamun’s. King Tut’s tomb is considered the most famous in the world because when it was discovered, it still held all of the treasures that had been buried with the young pharaoh. The tomb of Rameses V and VI was built on top of the tomb of King Tutankhamun, burying King Tut’s tomb’s entrance with debris. The debris-covered entrance kept Tutankhamun’s tomb safe from grave robbers. After being discovered by Howard Carter in 1922, the tomb was thought to be cursed when Carter died during the excavation process.
Despite my best efforts, I do not claim that all of the information below is 100 percent accurate, as I found that different sources sometimes had completely different interpretations of the tomb of King Tutankhamun.
It is believed that King Tut was originally supposed to be buried in a different location and that this tomb was created for him when he died at a young age. There are also rumors that some archaeologists believe that Nefertiti might be buried in a yet-to-be-discovered chamber near the tomb of King Tutankhamun. Due to King Tut’s early death, his tomb is one of the smallest in the Valley of the Kings.
After entering the tomb of King Tut, I walked down the stairs, and the first thing I saw was the mummified body of King Tutankhamun.
I had seen photos of King Tut’s mummified body on the Internet, but it was a surreal experience to be seeing it in person.
King Tutankhamun’s actual burial chamber is fairly small. One of the interesting scenes depicted inside the burial chamber of King Tut is the Opening of the Mouth. This ritual was performed so the deceased pharaoh would be able to breathe during the afterlife.
Goddess Nut, the Goddess of the Night, is also shown greeting King Tut.
On the western wall of King Tutankhamun’s tomb, twelve baboons represent Thoth, the God of Wisdom. During his journey to the Underworld, King Tut had to pass by all twelve baboons.
On the back wall, King Tut is seen with his Ka (soul), Goddess Nut, and Osiris. Osiris is the God of the Underworld.
In the burial chamber is the sarcophagus of King Tutankhamun. Inside the sarcophagus were three coffins, including the famous solid-gold that held the mummified body of King Tut for over 3,000 years.
Due to its small size, I only spent about fifteen minutes inside the tomb of King Tutankhamun. When I exited the tomb, Nermeen was waiting for me and suggested that next, I visit the Tomb of Merenptah.
Visiting the Tomb of Merenptah - KV 8
The next tomb I visited at Egypt’s top attraction, the Valley of the Kings, was the tomb of Merenptah. To gain entrance, I had the guard hole-punch my general admission ticket, meaning that the tomb of Marenptah counted as the second of the three tombs I was allowed to visit. Above the entrance of Merenptah’s tomb is artwork depicting the Egyptian Sun Disk.
Despite my best efforts, I do not claim that all of the information below is 100 percent accurate, as I found that different sources sometimes had completely different interpretations of the tomb of Merenptah.
There was less hieroglyphic writing and burial art inside the tomb of Merenptah. Below are writing and images from the Book of Gates. The Book of Gates describes the journey of the Ka (soul) to the Underworld while following the journey of the Sun. Throughout the journey, the Ka will have to pass through a series of gates guarded by Egyptian Goddesses.
One of the best examples of Egyptian burial art is inside the tomb of Merenptah. In the photo below, Merenptah is greeted by Ra, the God of the Sun. This relief-style artwork was much different than the burial art that I had seen in some of the other tombs.
When I exited the tomb, I asked Nermeen why there were so many snakes inside the tomb of Merenptah. Nermeen explained that the Goddesses that guard the gates mentioned in the Book of Gates take the form of serpents. Below is an example of images with snakes depicting the Book of Gates.
I have struggled with finding verified information on the multiple sarcophagi inside the tomb of Merenptah. According to Nermeen, many of the tombs had false-sarcophagi to deter tomb raiders. But in my post-trip research, I rarely found any mention of a false-tomb inside the tomb of Merenptah. I did discover that Marenptah had originally been buried in four stone sarcophagi. I wonder if that was the purpose of the additional sarcophagi.
Below is the burial chamber of Merenptah. According to my research, the stone sarcophagus was so large that it would not fit through the entrance of the tomb. To make the entrance large enough, they had to remove parts of the entrance to the tomb.
It was in this location that I had my worst experience with one of the tomb guards. A foreign tourist had been led down to a restricted area behind the tomb. The guard had then requested a large tip that the man was refusing to pay. The two were in an animated discussion, and the guard was threatening him with arrest. If you visit the Valley of the Kings, do not allow the guards to take you inside any restricted areas. They are only doing so to extort a large tip from you. Those areas are restricted for a reason and can cause damage to the ancient tombs.
In the burial chamber of Merenptah is a ceiling full of stars and scenes from the Book of the Dead. I only could find a few descriptions of the text and artwork of the photo below. My best efforts told me it was likely from the Book of the Dead.
Following my visit to the Tomb of Merenptah, Nermeen suggested that the next tomb I should visit is the Tomb of Rameses I.
Visiting the Tomb of Rameses I - KV 16
The tomb of Rameses I was the third tomb included on my general entrance ticket. To gain access to the tomb, I had to present my ticket to be hole-punched by the guard. My ticket now had three hole-punches, which meant I could not enter any additional general admission tombs.
Despite my best efforts, I do not claim that all of the information below is 100 percent accurate, as I found that different sources sometimes had completely different interpretations of the tomb of Rameses I.
After walking down two steep sets of stairs, I entered the burial chamber of Rameses I. The best examples of Egyptian burial art are located inside the burial chamber of Rameses I.
Directly behind the sarcophagus of Rameses I is artwork depicting Rameses I and Atum-Ra-Kheperi. Atum-Ra-Kheperi is an ancient Egyptian god that represents the rising sun.
The photo below shows the Egyptian God Ptah beside Rameses I. Ptah is typically displayed as a mummified man. He is one of the Egyptian creator gods and is credited with conceiving the world.
As in many of the tombs I visited, the Book of Gates is featured throughout the tomb of Rameses I.
There are fewer examples of Egyptian burial texts inside the tomb of Rameses I. Instead, Rameses is portrayed multiple times as being greeted by important Egyptian deities.
I spent about fifteen minutes visiting the tomb of Rameses I. When I exited the tomb, Nermeen was waiting for me and told me that we would be heading to her favorite tomb, the tomb of Rameses V and Rameses VI.
Visiting the Tombs of Rameses V and Rameses VI - KV 9
The final tomb that I visited at the Valley of the Kings, which is Egypt’s top attraction, was the tomb of Rameses V and Rameses VI. Entrance to this tomb required an extra ticket and was not included in the general admission ticket. The Tomb of Rameses V and Rameses VI was the most spectacular of the five tombs I entered during my visit to Luxor’s Valley of the Kings.
Despite my best efforts, I do not claim that all of the information below is 100 percent accurate, as I found that different sources sometimes had completely different interpretations of the tomb of Rameses V and Rameses VI.
Upon entering the tomb of Rameses V and Rameses VI, I first walked down a long corridor where much of the burial art was in poor shape. I recommend only spending a few minutes in the corridor, as there is a pillared chamber about halfway to the burial chamber that had the most spectacular artwork that I saw during my visit to the Valley of the Kings.
I was immediately overwhelmed by the pillared chamber inside the tomb of Rameses V and Rameses VI. There was so much to look at and analyze that I didn’t know where to start.
I recommend doing some research ahead of time, so you know the areas of the pillared chamber that should be your main focus. Nermeen had provided quite a bit of information before I entered the tomb, but it was quickly forgotten as my eyes and mind became overloaded by the hieroglyphics and burial art.
For example, I spent a lot of time trying to figure out the meaning of the two photos below. When I returned home, I spent a considerable amount of time researching the tomb of Rameses V and VI and could not figure out what the two photos below were depicting.
One of the most impressive examples of Egyptian burial art inside the tomb of Rameses V and VI was this portrayal of the Imydwat, which depicts the story of Ra. In the Imydwat, Ra, the Sun God, traveled through the Underworld, departing when the sun set in the west and returning when the sun rose in the east. According to the Imydwat, deceased pharaohs take the same journey.
Another great example of Egyptian burial art is the photo below depicting the Book of Caverns. In this book, the Sun God Ra traveled to the six caverns of the Underworld.
The Book of Gates was also very prevalent in the tomb of Ramses V and Rameses VI.
Although I couldn’t find any examples explaining the burial art in the photo below, I believe the god on the left is Thoth, as he has the head of an ibis. Thoth was the god of wisdom and was also known as the scribe of the gods, as they believed he invented hieroglyphics. As time went on, I was pleased that I was able to begin recognizing some of the Egyptian gods.
Out of the five tombs that I visited, the tomb of Rameses V and Rameses VI had the best ceilings. The ceilings in the burial tombs of the Valley of the Kings typically are either covered with stars or scenes from the Book of the Day and the Book of the Night.
The Book of the Day focuses on the journey of Ra, the Sun God, during the day. In contrast, the Book of the Night focuses on Ra’s journey to the Underworld after the setting of the sun.
The burial chamber inside the tomb of Rameses V and VI was the most spectacular of the five burial chambers I visited. Below is the inner sarcophagus of Rameses VI. Behind the sarcophagus is burial art from the Book of Gates.
The sarcophagus of Rameses VI was supposed to be guarded by a pit floor, although it was never completed.
The outer sarcophagus of Rameses VI is in worse shape than the inner sarcophagus. Archaeologists attempted to piece it back together, although many pieces of it are missing.
Behind the outer sarcophagus of Rameses VI is burial art from the Book of the Earth. The Book of the Earth focuses on the creation of the Sun Disk.
Be sure to spend quite a bit of time inside the burial chamber of Rameses V and VI. There is so much to look at and I wish I would have spent more time trying to analyze and figure out the ancient texts.
I spent about 45 minutes inside the tomb of Rameses V and VI. If I wasn’t on a time limit, I would have likely spent even more time. Nermeen had told me that I had about two and a half hours total to spend at the Valley of the Kings. Since I was on a day tour that involved flying from Cairo, I definitely had to keep track of the time, so I could see everything that Luxor had to offer and still make my return flight.
I had a great time during my visit to Egypt’s top attraction, Luxor’s Valley of the Kings. Luxor is a place I would return to, as I only saw five of the many tombs.
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