The Valley of the Kings is without doubt one of the most well-known archaeological websites on this planet. It is a royal burial floor, with exquisitely adorned tombs for the pharaohs who dominated Egypt between 1539 and 1075 BC. There are over 60 tombs on this small space, though solely a handful are open to public. If you’re planning a go to to Egypt, listed here are one of the best tombs to go to within the Valley of the Kings.
Concerning the Valley of the Kings
The Valley of the Kings is a burial floor for pharaohs who dominated Egypt throughout the 18th, nineteenth, and twentieth dynasties (the New Kingdom of Egypt). Well-known kings from this time interval embrace Tutankhamun, Ramses II, Tuthmosis III, and Seti I, in addition to Queen Nefertari, highly effective nobles, and the wives and kids of the pharaohs.
The tombs are labeled with the abbreviation “KV,” which stands for Kings Valley. The labeling begins with KV1 (Ramses VII) and goes as much as KV65. Nevertheless, this may change if one other tomb is found (which could be very possible).
Of the 60+ tombs within the Valley of the Kings, there are only some which are open to the general public.
Tombs That Are Open to the Public
At present, eight tombs are included on the principle ticket into the Valley of the Kings. Your entrance ticket will can help you go to three of those tombs. If you wish to see greater than three tombs, you’ll have to buy a further ticket.
Listed here are the eight tombs which are obtainable to go to with the principle entrance ticket:
KV1 – Ramesses VII
KV6 – Ramesses IX
KV8 – Merenptah
KV11 – Ramesses III
KV14 – Tausert-Setnakht
KV15 – Seti II
KV16 – Ramesses I
KV47 – Siptah
KV2, which is the tomb for Ramesses IV, was open throughout our go to in 2019. At present, it’s not open.
There are three extra tombs you could go to with an additional ticket. Right here is the checklist with the extra value for every tomb.
KV9 – Ramesses V & VI 100 EGP per individual
KV17 – Seti I 1,000 EGP per individual
KV62 – Tutankhamun 300 EGP per individual
Of those eleven tombs, we visited 9 of them. Under are pictures and some info about every tomb, with info on two spectacular tombs that weren’t open throughout our go to.
PRO TRAVEL TIP: The tombs which are obtainable to go to change periodically. Some tombs could shut for renovation and one other tomb will open to the general public. The tombs listed above are the identical ones that had been open throughout our go to in December 2019. In keeping with our tour firm, these identical tombs are open in 2022. However in the event you go to the Valley of the Kings and spot something totally different, you may tell us within the remark part beneath. It will be a giant assist to future readers. Thanks!
Concerning the spellings on this article: Spellings of the names of the kings and queens can fluctuate in accordance with the supply. For instance, the title for Tausert, a feminine ruler throughout the nineteenth dynasty, will also be spelled Twosret, Tawosret, and Tausret. The title Ramesses will also be spelled Rameses or Ramses. On this article, I primarily use the spelling discovered on the indicators at every tomb entrance.
If you’re planning a go to to Luxor, don’t miss our Information to the Valley of the Kings. This text consists of the entire sensible particulars it is advisable to know to plan your go to, together with value, images guidelines, tips on how to get right here, what to anticipate in your go to, and way more.
Finest Tombs to Go to within the Valley of the Kings
Here’s a checklist of one of the best tombs to go to within the Valley of the Kings, ranked from our favourite to our least favourite. On the finish of the checklist, I gives you two extra suggestions for tombs that weren’t open throughout our go to. If you’re fortunate sufficient to go to the Valley of the Kings when both of those temples are open, it’s value it so as to add them to your checklist.
Ramesses V and VI
Requires an additional ticket: 100 EGP
This was my favourite tomb within the Valley of the Kings. It is without doubt one of the largest tombs, that includes a really lengthy hallway and several other collection of staircases. The pillared hallway, at concerning the midpoint of this tomb, is breathtaking. The burial chamber is big and the astronomical ceiling is adorned with the guide of the Heavens, exhibiting the day by day regeneration of the photo voltaic disc.
For under a further 100 EGP (about $6 USD), that is undoubtedly well worth the small further expense.
KV 17 – Seti I
Requires an additional ticket: 1000 EGP
This is without doubt one of the deepest and most vibrantly coloured tombs within the Valley of the Kings. It was found in 1817 by Giovanni Belzoni and is typically known as “Belzoni’s tomb.”
Many guests state that that is one of the best tomb to go to within the Valley of the Kings. With its massive price ticket, it higher be spectacular, proper?
This tomb options a number of lengthy, exquisitely adorned passageways and two pillared rooms. The passageway ends on the huge burial chamber that’s adorned with colourful scenes on the partitions and an astronomical scene on the ceiling.
On this tomb, you can even see an unfinished room, with the deliberate reliefs sketched in crimson and black ink.
KV2 – Ramesses IV
Included on the doorway ticket. This tomb just isn’t at the moment open.
This was our favourite tomb that’s included on the principle ticket to the Valley of the Kings. The hallway is lengthy and superbly detailed. The tomb can be very elaborate, with colourful photos that cowl the partitions and ceiling.
The primary passageway and antechamber are adorned with scenes from the E-book of Caverns and the E-book of the Useless. This was used as a church for a brief time frame and it’s doable to see Coptic graffiti on this tomb.
KV11 – Ramesses III
Included on the principle entrance ticket.
This is without doubt one of the largest tombs within the Valley of the Kings. Lengthy passageways, with detailed paintings that’s protected behind glass, lead all the way down to the burial chamber. There’s a lot to see on this tomb and it was very uncrowded throughout our go to.
KV 62 – Tutankhamun
Reguires an additional ticket: 300 EGP
King Tutankhamun died on the very younger age of 19. He reigned Egypt for under 10 years. His is the smallest of the tombs you may go to within the Valley of the Kings, however when it was found by Howard Carter in 1922, it contained the biggest and most elaborate assortment of artifacts of any tomb within the valley.
On this tomb, you may see the mummified physique of King Tut and the burial chamber which contained his gilded shrines. Most of the artifacts discovered on this tomb are on show within the Egyptian Museum.
KV 14 – Tausert and Setnakht
Included on the principle entrance ticket.
That is the biggest tomb within the Valley of the Kings. It comprises two tombs, the primary one for Queen Tausert. King Setnakht usurped Tausert’s tomb, enlarging it and including a number of decrease passageways and a pillared corridor for his burial chamber.
KV6 – Ramesses IX
Included on the doorway ticket.
Ramesses IX is one other stunning tomb within the Valley of the Kings. Much like the tomb of Ramesses IV, you stroll down an extended, elaborately adorned passageway to the tomb. Alongside this passageway, you may see the E-book of the Useless. The partitions are protected with glass.
The hallway ends at a viewpoint of the burial chamber, which is adorned with a determine of the king and extra detailed photos.
KV 15 – Seti II
Included on the principle entrance ticket.
This tomb contains a passageway that options low reliefs with the Litany of Ra. The decrease passageways have much less paintings on the partitions. A last descent down a staircase via a superbly adorned room of pillars takes you to the burial chamber the place you may see the sarcophagus of Seti II.
KV8 – Merenptah
Included on the principle entrance ticket.
Merenptah lacks quite a lot of the detailed paintings and reliefs you could see within the different tombs. It’s a downhill stroll via an extended passageway the place a number of the partitions are barren and a number of the partitions comprise photos of King Merenptah with the god Ra-Horakhty. The passageway ends a big burial chamber. The mother of Merenptah resides contained in the Egyptian Museum.
The Tombs of Ramesses VII and Siptah
There are two tombs that we didn’t go to, Ramesses VII (KV1) and Siptah (KV47). From what we learn on-line previous to our go to, each of those tombs sounded somewhat mediocre. Most of the passageways in Siptah are undecorated and the burial chamber is unfinished, in accordance with the books that I bought on the Valley of the Kings. The tomb of Ramesses VII is way smaller than lots of the others on this checklist, with one brief passageway and a burial chamber.
Since our go to, the tomb of Ramesses I (KV16) opened. When you have visited this tomb and need to write in along with your expertise, you are able to do so within the remark part beneath.
Two Further Suggestions
These subsequent two tombs weren’t open throughout our go to. Nevertheless, from what I learn on-line and from speaking to our information, these two tombs are spectacular. If one (or each) of those tombs are open throughout your go to, add them to your checklist as an alternative of 1 or two of the opposite tombs listed on the included ticket.
KV 57 – Horemheb
This is without doubt one of the deepest tombs within the Valley of the Kings. Undecorated corridors lead down into the burial chamber. The burial chamber is adorned with vibrantly coloured photos of the king showing with Isis, Osiris, Hathor, and Anubis.
Horemheb was the final pharaoh of the 18th dynasty of Egypt.
KV 34 – Tuthmosis III
From what I learn on-line, this is without doubt one of the most spectacular tombs within the Valley of the Kings. Nevertheless, it has not been open in years.
This tomb was not too long ago found in 1998. The burial chamber is designed within the form of a giant cartouche. The ceiling is adorned with yellow stars on a darkish blue background. The partitions of the burial chamber are coated with scenes of the primary full model of the Amduat, or “That Which is within the Underworld.”
Which Tombs do We Advocate?
Of the eight tombs which are included on the principle entrance ticket, K11 (Ramesses III) and KV 14 (Tausert and Seknakht). The tomb of Ramesses IX (KV6) can be very good.
I feel that it’s completely value it to spend 100 EGP to go to the tombs of Ramesses V and VI.
If you wish to see the mother of King Tut, then it’s value it for 300 EGP. Nevertheless, the tomb is nothing particular and you may see higher preserved mummies on the Egyptian Museum.
Is the tomb of Seti I value 1000 EGP? That relies upon. In US {dollars}, that’s about $60 simply to go to one tomb. Nevertheless, it’s spectacular. Many individuals who see it state that it’s the finest tomb to go to within the Valley of the Kings. For many individuals, this can be a large splurge. It was for us too, however I’m very glad that we received to see it.
Simply so you’re conscious, there’s one other, much more spectacular tomb on the west financial institution of Luxor, the wonderful tomb of Queen Nefertari, which is situated within the Valley of the Queens. This tomb additionally has a good bigger price ticket of 1400 EGP. If you’re making an attempt to determine between Seti I and Queen Nefertari, we suggest Queen Nefertari.
I don’t assume that it’s mandatory to buy two entrance tickets into the Valley of the Kings to be able to go to six included tombs. I like to recommend choosing three from this checklist and saving your money and time for different websites on the West Financial institution. In all honesty, the tombs get to be repetitive, so visiting three included tombs and the extra further tombs is all that the majority guests will want right here.
In abstract, choose three included tombs. The additional expense for the tomb of Ramesses V and VI is value each penny. Solely pay the payment to enter Tutankhamun’s tomb if you wish to see his mummy. Seti I is value it in case you have the cash to spend.
In case you missed it, right here is the hyperlink to our information on tips on how to go to the Valley of the Kings. It consists of a lot of recommendation and sensible info it is advisable to know to plan your go to.
About Our Go to to Luxor
We spent 4 days in Luxor on the finish of December, 2019. On this journey, we had been a bunch of six, since our moms, Kathy and Valerie joined us. Due to the big quantity of websites to go to, we visited the West Financial institution twice.
For our go to to Luxor (and for lots of the locations we visited in Egypt), we employed the corporate Egypt Tailor Made. We selected Egypt Tailor Made based mostly on their impeccable critiques on Journey Advisor.
From begin to end, our expertise with Egypt Tailor Made was incredible. Tim communicated with the proprietor of the corporate by electronic mail to customise their day excursions into our itinerary. In Luxor and Aswan, we had a van and a personal driver which took the effort out of arranging our transportation. Our guides for each Luxor and Cairo had been very educated.
I extremely suggest Egypt Tailor Made in order for you personalised service to your journey to Egypt. You possibly can string collectively their day excursions or customise them into your individual private itinerary.
