Valley of the Kings – The Eternal Home of Pharaohs
Located on the west bank of the Nile in Luxor, the Valley of the Kings is one of Egypt’s most iconic archaeological treasures. Though royal burials started here around 2100 BC, it was during the New Kingdom period (1550–1069 BC) that pharaohs began selecting this secluded desert valley—dominated by the pyramid-shaped peak of Al-Qurn (The Horn)—as their final resting place.
Once known as the “Great Necropolis of Millions of Years”, this sacred valley holds the tombs of Egypt's most powerful kings, including Tutankhamun, Ramses II, and Seti I. Today, it continues to captivate visitors with its richly decorated chambers and deep symbolism about the afterlife.
Valley of the Kings – Discover Egypt’s Royal Tombs
The Valley of the Kings on the west bank of Luxor has been the sacred site of royal burials since around 2100 BC. However, it was the pharaohs of the New Kingdom period (1550–1069 BC) who selected this secluded valley, crowned by the pyramid-shaped mountain Al-Qurn (The Horn), to become their eternal resting place.
Once known as the Great Necropolis of Millions of Years of Pharaohs or the Place of Truth, the valley contains over 63 tombs carved deep into the desert hills. Since Howard Carter's discovery of King Tutankhamun's tomb in 1922, the site has fascinated travelers worldwide.
These royal tombs, with their vivid paintings and intricate hieroglyphics, reveal the ancient Egyptians’ beliefs about the afterlife and burial rituals. A visit to the Valley of the Kings is a must-do during any trip to Egypt, especially as part of a day trip to Luxor from Hurghada, though it can be physically challenging due to high temperatures and heavy tourism.
Note that tombs open and close in rotation to protect the delicate wall art from humidity caused by crowds. Most notable tombs are usually accessible and are organized by their official KV (Kings Valley) number.
Tomb of Ramses VII (KV1)
The Tomb of Ramses VII is one of the smallest and most unfinished tombs in the valley. It consists of just a corridor and two chambers. Ramses VII died unexpectedly, resulting in a rapid and incomplete construction. Interestingly, a Greek inscription inside proves it was known and visited during the Ptolemaic period.
Tomb of Ramses IV (KV2)
The Tomb of Ramses IV (KV2) in the Valley of the Kings is accessed by a grand ancient staircase with a central ramp, guiding visitors into one of the more iconic royal tombs of Luxor’s West Bank.
At the entrance, observe the beautifully carved lintel featuring Isis and Nephthys worshiping the sun. The design also includes the ram-headed sun god and a scarab, symbolizing rebirth and protection in ancient Egyptian beliefs.
On the right side of the doorway, you'll see rare depictions of Coptic Christian figures in prayer. One figure is labeled as "Apa Ammonios the martyr," offering insight into how this tomb was repurposed and respected in later religious periods.
Though most of the vibrant stucco paintings have deteriorated over time, the tomb still houses a striking granite sarcophagus in its main burial chamber, decorated with intricate inscriptions and carved reliefs dedicated to Ramses IV's journey into the afterlife.
Tomb of Ramses IX (KV6)
The Tomb of Ramses IX (KV6) is among the most visually striking in the Valley of the Kings. It contains some of the best-preserved wall paintings, offering a vivid journey into ancient beliefs about the afterlife.
In the first corridor, the pharaoh is shown standing before Harakhty and Osiris, while texts from the Praising of Re and Book of the Dead (Chapter 125) adorn the walls. A striking depiction of the pharaoh declaring his innocence before the gods is particularly powerful.
On the right wall, he appears before Amun and the goddess Meretseger, with serpent and animal-headed deities nearby, marking the beginning of the Sun God's Journey through the Underworld.
Further into the tomb, murals show Khons-Neferhotep and Hathor greeting the king, and a dramatic resurrection scene with a scarab and sun symbol hovering above his body.
The final chamber features a vaulted ceiling with celestial artwork. Two images of the sky goddess Nut represent dawn and dusk, surrounded by constellations and star boats. This tomb is a true masterpiece and an unmissable stop on any Luxor day trip from Hurghada.
Tomb of Merneptah (KV8)
The Tomb of Merneptah (KV8), located in the heart of the Valley of the Kings, is one of the most impressive royal tombs of the 19th Dynasty. Its entrance corridors are richly decorated with texts from the Praising of Re and stunning painted reliefs of the king before Re-Harakhty.
The tomb descends steeply to an antechamber that contains the granite lid of the outer coffin. Beyond that, stairs lead to a remarkable hypostyle hall featuring a barrel-vaulted ceiling over the central aisle and flat ceilings over the side aisles — a design unique among tombs in the area.
The highlight of this chamber is the pink granite lid of the royal sarcophagus, intricately carved in the shape of a royal cartouche. The carving of Merneptah's face is particularly refined, offering a majestic glimpse into the artistry of Ancient Egypt's burial traditions.
This tomb is a must-visit for those interested in the history of Luxor and the spiritual beliefs of the New Kingdom. It's one of the unforgettable stops included in our Luxor day tour from Hurghada.
Tomb of Ramses VI (KV9)
The Tomb of Ramses VI, also known as KV9, was initially begun for Ramses V, but it was Ramses VI who completed and expanded it into one of the most striking tombs in the Valley of the Kings. This tomb stands out for the remarkably preserved painted sunk reliefs, which, though stylistically simpler than earlier dynasties, offer deep insight into ancient beliefs.
Visitors follow three descending corridors that lead into an antechamber, then a pillared chamber originally intended as the final resting place of Ramses V. On the left-hand wall, vivid scenes illustrate the sun god Ra's nightly journey through the Underworld as described in the Book of the Gates.
Deeper inside, two additional corridors guide you through texts and reliefs from the Book of What Is in the Underworld and the Book of the Dead, leading to another stunning chamber supported by columns and housing the remains of Ramses VI’s massive granite sarcophagus.
Particularly mesmerizing is the vaulted ceiling, which depicts two enormous figures of the sky goddess Nut, symbolizing both the day and night skies, surrounded by hourly divisions of the day. The tomb also contains numerous ancient Greek and Coptic graffiti — a testament to centuries of fascination with this sacred site.
A stop at the tomb of Ramses VI is often a highlight for those taking a day trip to Luxor from Hurghada, thanks to the tomb’s rich iconography and impressive state of preservation.
Tomb of Ramses III (KV11)
The Tomb of Ramses III (KV11) is one of the most captivating and well-preserved tombs in the Valley of the Kings. Originally begun by Pharaoh Sethnakht, construction was halted when workers accidentally broke into an older tomb. Later, under Ramses III, the tomb’s axis shifted, resulting in a unique architectural layout and stunning interior decorations.
The tomb stretches over 125 meters into the mountain and ends in a majestic burial chamber supported by eight pillars. Visitors are mesmerized by colorful sunken reliefs illustrating sacred texts such as the Litany of Ra and the Book of Gates. These scenes depict Ramses III interacting with various deities, a key aspect of ancient Egyptian beliefs about the afterlife.
What sets this tomb apart is its collection of unique, non-religious scenes. In the entrance corridor's side chambers, you’ll find tributes from foreign lands, depictions of the royal navy and army, imported Aegean pottery, and the famous “Harpers Scene” — which inspired the tomb's nickname, the “Tomb of the Harpers”.
One of the rear chambers includes an aborted tunnel — a result of accidental interference with a neighboring tomb — and another chamber decorated with scenes from the Book of Gates. Graffiti left by priests from the 21st Dynasty records the reburial of Ramses III, whose sarcophagus now rests in the Louvre, while his mummy is displayed in the Egyptian Museum in Cairo.
This tomb has fascinated travelers and historians for centuries, even inspiring the iconic 1930s movie character “The Mummy.” No day trip to Luxor from Hurghada is complete without visiting this masterpiece of New Kingdom architecture and art.
Tomb of Ramses III (KV11)
Introduction
One of the most popular tombs in the Valley of the Kings, KV11 is also one of the most interesting and best-preserved. Originally started by Sethnakht (1186–1184 BC), the project was abandoned when workers hit the shaft of another tomb (KV10). Work resumed under Ramses III (1184–1153 BC), the last of Egypt’s warrior pharaohs, with the corridor turning to the right, then left.
Architecture and Decorations
The tomb continues deep (125m overall) into the mountain and opens into a magnificent eight-pillared burial chamber. The wonderful decorations include colorful painted sunken reliefs featuring traditional ritual texts (Litany of Ra, Book of Gates, etc.) and Ramses before the gods.
Unusual here are the secular scenes, in the small side rooms of the entrance corridor, showing foreign tributes such as highly detailed pottery imported from the Aegean, the royal armory, boats, and in the last of these side chambers, the blind harpists that gave the tomb one of its alternative names: ‘Tomb of the Harpers’.
Historical Notes
When the Scottish traveler James Bruce included a copy of this image in his Travels to Discover the Source of the Nile, he was laughed out of London after its publication in 1790.
In the chamber beyond is an aborted tunnel where ancient builders ran into the neighboring tomb. They shifted the axis of the tomb to the west and built a corridor leading to a pillared hall, with walls decorated with scenes from the Book of Gates.
There is also ancient graffiti on the rear right pillar describing the reburial of the pharaoh during the 21st dynasty (1069–945 BC).
The remainder of the tomb is only partially excavated and structurally weak. Ramses III’s sarcophagus is in the Louvre in Paris, its detailed lid is in the Fitzwilliam Museum in Cambridge, and his mummy – found in the Deir Al Bahri cache – is now in Cairo’s Egyptian Museum. It was the model for Boris Karloff’s character in the 1930s film The Mummy.
Booking Your Trip
For more information and to book your Luxor day trip from Hurghada, visit our tour page.