How many tombs are in the Valley of the Kings?

More than 60 royal tombs have been discovered, cut deep into the rock on Luxor's West Bank, their painted walls still vivid after 3,000 years. The standard ticket lets you enter three; Seti I, Nefertari and Tutankhamun's tomb require separate tickets.

How much does a Valley of the Kings excursion cost?

Private excursions in Valley of the Kings start from £41 per person, with the exact rate depending on the itinerary, group size and season. Every Discovery Tours Egypt excursion is private and all-inclusive: a licensed Egyptologist guide, air-conditioned vehicle, hotel pickup and drop-off, and all listed entry fees. There are no hidden add-ons at the sites.

Are your Valley of the Kings excursions private?

Yes. Every excursion we run is fully private – just your party, your own Egyptologist guide and your own driver. Nothing is shared with strangers, and the pace, stops and timing are tailored to you on the day.

Do you collect us from our hotel?

We do, and it costs nothing extra. A driver collects you from your Valley of the Kings hotel, or from the Nile cruise dock where that applies, and brings you back afterwards. You will find your guide waiting in the lobby, and should your plans shift, the local office behind the excursion can rearrange things that same day.

Which months suit Valley of the Kings best?

The kindest weather falls between October and April, when days are warm, evenings are cool and walking round the sites is a pleasure. From May to September the heat builds, so excursions set off early and are done before midday, often with quieter sites and gentler prices as a reward. Valley of the Kings excursions run in every month of the year.

Is it safe, and can we bring the children?

It is safe, and children are welcome. Our team has worked in Egypt since 1988, with offices across the country and someone on call day and night, and every one of our excursions uses guides and drivers we have checked ourselves. With youngsters along, the guide slows the pace and tells the stories at their level, and child seats or a shorter day can be arranged on request.

Guided visits to the Valley of the Kings

Valley of the Kings Excursions

Tutankhamun, Seti I and Ramesses VI – tomb interiors with our Egyptologist on Luxor's West Bank

LengthHalf day

From£65 / person

PickupHotel or Nile cruise included

GuideEgyptologist

By the Egypt Discovery desk · Reviewed 17 October 2026

The Valley of the Kings on Luxor's West Bank holds more than 60 royal tombs cut deep into the rock, their painted walls still vivid 3,000 years on. A day tour gets you inside a rotating selection – Ramesses VI and Seti I are the showstoppers – with optional access to Tutankhamun's tomb, and a private Egyptologist decoding the funerary texts as you go.

The best excursion in Valley of the Kings is the one somebody else has organised for you. Our people on the ground here have done exactly that since 1988.

Egypt Discovery · in Egypt from 1988

What you'll see

Valley of the Kings, stop by stop

Two or three of these stops fit into one unhurried day. Your guide chooses the combination to suit your energy, what you most want to see and the time of year.

Tutankhamun's tomb (KV62)

The only royal tomb found nearly intact, and the one that made headlines in 1922. Small but extraordinary – the boy king's gilded outermost coffin and his mummy still rest here, in the Valley itself.

~30 minSeparate ticket

The painted tombs

Behind plain doorways in the cliff, corridors plunge into colour – ceilings of stars, walls of gods and spells from the Book of the Dead, the pigment as vivid as the day it was laid 3,000 years ago.

~2 hrs3 tombs included

Hatshepsut's temple nearby

A few minutes away, the three terraces of Hatshepsut's mortuary temple rise against the same cliff that hides the royal tombs – most West Bank days pair the two.

~1 hrDeir el-Bahari

Seti I (KV17)

The longest and most finely decorated tomb in the Valley – every surface carved and painted, the ceiling a deep-blue astronomical chart. A separate ticket, and worth every penny.

~30 minSeparate ticket

Ramesses VI (KV9)

One of the most spectacular open tombs – a long, bright corridor beneath a double image of the sky-goddess Nut swallowing and rebirthing the sun. On the standard ticket when open.

~30 minStandard ticket

Every Valley of the Kings excursions

How you could fill the day

Every private, fully-guided excursion we run here – hotel or Nile-cruise pickup included, priced in GBP, all-in.

Luxor West Bank: Valley of the Kings, Hatshepsut & Colossi of Memnon

This private half-day tour visits Luxor’s West Bank: the Valley of the Kings, Hatshepsut Temple at Deir el‑Bahari and the Colossi of Memnon. We provide a local Egyptologist and a private car; standard site entrance fees are included. Premium tombs such as Tutankhamun or Seti I are excluded and require separate tickets. We are a licensed Egyptian tour operator and run small private departures rather than large coach groups. Unlike cruise-ship shore excursions, we schedule early starts to avoid the morning boats and midday heat. Expect uneven ancient stone and limited shade; comfortable shoes and a hat are essential.

From £77

Medinet Habu & Valley of the Kings Day Tour: Hatshepsut Temple and Colossi of Memnon

Luxor’s West Bank brings together royal tombs, funerary temples and the Colossi of Memnon, two seated statues of Amenhotep III. At the Valley of the Kings, the standard entrance ticket covers three tombs; Tutankhamun’s and Seti I’s tombs require separate tickets. The route also takes in Hatshepsut’s terraced temple at Deir el-Bahari and Medinet Habu, the mortuary temple of Ramses III. Unlike itineraries that stop after the Valley of the Kings and Hatshepsut Temple, this one adds Medinet Habu, where reliefs record events from Ramses III’s reign. Our private licensed Egyptologist guide provides context at each site.

From £93

Luxor in a Day by Air from Cairo: Private Guide, Valley of the Kings and Karnak

A private day trip from your Cairo or Giza hotel to Luxor and back by air. On the West Bank you see the Valley of the Kings, the Temple of Hatshepsut and the Colossi of Memnon, then cross to Karnak after lunch. Return economy flights, a private Egyptologist guide, a driver in Luxor and lunch are all included. It is a long day of about 16 hours, with an early start.

From £655

Luxor Excursion from Hurghada: Valley of the Kings and Karnak

A long day by coach from Hurghada to Luxor and back, with an Egyptologist guide for the Valley of the Kings, the Temple of Hatshepsut, the Colossi of Memnon and Karnak. The vehicle is shared with no more than 16 other travellers and lunch in a local restaurant is included. It is 15 hours door to door, with about four hours of driving each way, so it suits people happy to swap sleep for a great deal of history.

From £74

Luxor Hot Air Balloon Sunrise Flight

Float over Luxor West Bank at first light; the flight gives aerial views of the Nile, the Valley of the Kings and Hatshepsut's Mortuary Temple. We are a licensed Egyptian tour operator. Hotel collection is typically between 04:00 and 05:00 depending on season; you receive a short safety briefing and watch the balloon inflate. We reschedule flights rather than fly in marginal winds – a safety-first policy. Unlike cruise-boat excursions, our ride includes private hotel transfers before dawn and a small-group briefing by one of our Egyptologists. Expect an early start and occasional cancellations for wind; launch and landing areas have limited shade and uneven ground. The flight ticket and transfers are included; gratuities are excluded, and breakfast is taken back at your accommodation rather than at the landing site.

From £112

Deir el-Medina and Tombs of the Nobles Half-Day Tour

Deir el-Medina preserves the remains of the village where workers lived while building and decorating royal tombs in ancient Thebes. At the nearby Tombs of the Nobles, decorated burial places reflect the status and lives of officials and other members of elite society. The contrast between a workers’ community and noble tomb art gives this Luxor West Bank visit its focus. Unlike a broad West Bank itinerary, this half-day excursion concentrates on these two archaeological sites. A private Egyptologist guide provides context as you visit, with a private vehicle for pickup and drop-off at your Luxor hotel or Nile cruise.

From £41

Private Quad Bike Desert Safari on Luxor's West Bank at Sunset

A private, guided quad bike ride through the sugar-cane tracks and desert edge of Luxor's West Bank, timed for the late afternoon light over the Theban hills. Your party rides together, each rider on their own quad, behind a private guide on a lead quad. You get a safety briefing and practice ride first, then about an hour and a half on the move with a tea stop. No experience is needed.

From £65

Worth knowing beforehand

The practical bits

What to wear

Mosques and churches ask for shoulders and knees to be covered. Wear sturdy closed shoes, as the ground is rough stone in places and soft sand in others.

Tipping

Most guests give their guide about £2–4 for the day, with something smaller for the driver. It is your choice entirely, since the excursion fare already covers everything.

Heat & water

Bring at least a litre and a half of water each. By ten in the morning there is little shade at the sites, which is why we set off early: it is cooler as well as quieter.

Cameras & fees

Some sites ask for a camera ticket at the entrance, and a handful of tombs and inner rooms carry their own charge. Ordinary admission to each site is part of your fare.

What guests ask us