Valley of the Kings: Map, How to Visit & Best Tombs in 2026

A practical Valley of the Kings map and guide. Where it is, how to visit, tickets explained, and the most beautiful tombs to see first in Luxor, Egypt.

The Valley of the Kings looks simple on paper. In reality, it’s a maze of numbered tombs, shifting paths, and decisions you don’t want to improvise under the Egyptian sun.

This guide starts with a clear Valley of the Kings map, then answers the questions that actually matter: where the site is, how big it really feels once you’re inside, how tickets work, and which beautiful tombs are genuinely worth your time. I visited recently, walked it myself, and used my own photos to hopefully turn a famous but complex site into something very navigable.

So what is the Valley of the Kings? It’s the main royal burial site of Egypt’s New Kingdom, used roughly between 1539 and 1075 BCE, and located on the west bank of the Nile, opposite modern Luxor. Instead of pyramids, pharaohs chose hidden tombs cut deep into limestone hills, a deliberate move to reduce looting and keep burial chambers protected. The valley contains more than 60 tombs, identified by “KV” numbers, ranging from simple corridors to vast, multi-room complexes. Although local tomb entrances were known for centuries, systematic exploration began in the late 18th and 19th centuries, with the most famous discovery, Tutankhamun’s tomb, made in 1922.

Today the Valley of the Kings forms part of the UNESCO-listed site of Ancient Thebes, recognized for its historical and cultural significance. For background context, see the UNESCO World Heritage listing. 

• Many visitors arrive in Luxor as part of a longer journey along the Nile. If that’s what you want 👉 read more about the best Nile River cruises here.

At first glance, the Valley of the Kings map looks simple. In practice, it covers an area of roughly 2 km², with more than 60 numbered tombs spread across a main central valley and a few side branches far away. Most visitors stay in the central valley, where the highest concentration of open tombs sits within a walkable radius of a few hundred meters.

From the entrance and ticket area to the central tomb zone, electric shuttle vehicles run continuously along a short desert road of about 1 km. Once dropped off, all tombs are reached on foot via marked paths branching from the main route. The map is less about aesthetics and more about time management, which, in this hot valley, is a very real skill.

Each tomb is identified by a KV number, which is the only label that matters once you’re inside. The bars shown on the map represent the actual underground length of the tombs, which explains why some visits take five minutes and others feel like a small commitment.

The right-hand column shows whether a tomb is open or closed, but this status can change temporarily for conservation or monitoring. Always confirm availability at the ticket office the same day, especially if you’re visiting with a short list in mind.

Entry to the valley is restricted and well controlled, and the area is considered very safe. Vendors are not allowed inside, so there’s no pressure once you pass the gate. A guide or Egyptologyst is very useful for historical context and orientation, but not necessary for security or logistics. They are also not allowed inside tombs, so they can only provide you with info in the common external areas.

Every general admission ticket to the Valley of the Kings costs 750 EGP (about $16) and gives access to 3 tombs. You choose them from a rotating list of roughly 9–10 open tombs, since others are constantly closed for conservation. The daily list is clearly displayed at the main gate and again inside the valley.

Your ticket works as a punch card. Every time you enter a tomb, it gets marked. Three punches and that ticket is finished. You’re free to explore inside each tomb, but you can’t re-enter, undo a punch, or swap for another tomb afterward. If you want to see more than three standard tombs, you simply buy an additional general ticket, which gives you three more entries.

The tombs included in the standard ticket are still among the most impressive in the valley, with long corridors, dense decoration, and well-preserved colors.

Some tombs require separate tickets, purchased individually. These extra-ticket tombs are separate entries and do not count toward the three included tombs:

• Tutankhamun (KV62) 700 EGP (about $15)
• Seti I (KV17) 2000 EGP (about $42)
• Ramesses V & VI (KV9) 220 EGP (about $5)
• Ay (KV23, West Valley) 200 EGP (about $4)

Tickets are best purchased directly on site, at the desk or machines, especially since tomb availability can change even for a single day. Tickets can also be purchased online via the official government platform. If you’re visiting with a guide, they often buy tickets for you the day before, which helps with early entry and smoother logistics.

This is a personal ranking that balances visual impact, historical significance, preservation, and how much time and money they actually cost you. It’s also designed to work with the Valley of the Kings map above, prioritizing tombs that are close together and visually rewarding early in the visit.

1. Ramesses V & VI (KV9 – extra ticket)

One of the longest publicly accessible tombs, about 104 meters, and one of the most visually dense. Almost every surface is decorated, with deep blues and yellows that still read clearly even under artificial light. The astronomical ceiling is the highlight and alone explains why this tomb gets its own ticket. It’s also wide and linear, which makes it efficient to visit before crowds compress the corridors.
Pay attention to the Book of Gates and Book of Caverns scenes running almost uninterrupted along the corridors. This tomb was reused by Ramesses VI, which is why his cartouches appear over earlier ones, a quiet reminder that even pharaohs recycled prime real estate.

2. Ramesses IV (KV2 – included)

A textbook royal tomb and one of the best values inside the standard ticket. Roughly 88 meters long, with a straight, readable layout and consistently well-preserved colors. This is often the tomb people realize they underestimated. Easy to walk, easy to understand, and visually satisfying without demanding too much time or patience.
Notice the ceiling covered entirely with astronomical texts and the unusually clear depiction of the sun god’s nightly journey. The tomb was left largely unfinished, which paradoxically helped preserve its decoration by limiting later alterations.

3. Seti I (KV17 – extra ticket)

The most elaborate tomb in the valley and the longest at over 130 meters. Instead of paint, many scenes are carved in raised relief, which is rare here and still astonishingly crisp. The ceiling astronomy is among the finest in Egypt. It’s also the most expensive tomb by a wide margin. Worth it if you care deeply about art and technique, but not a mandatory expense if your budget is tight.
What stands out most is the original sarcophagus chamber, now empty but still architecturally intact, along with the delicacy of the relief carving, which was never fully completed. Seti I died before the tomb was finished, and that abrupt stop is still visible in the final chambers.

4. Tutankhamun (KV62 – extra ticket)

Small, compact, and not particularly decorative. What you’re paying for here is context. Tutankhamun’s mummified remains are still inside, displayed in the burial chamber. The visit is short, often crowded, and visually modest, but historically unmatched. This is a decision based on curiosity, not beauty.
The key detail here is the quartzite sarcophagus base and the mummy itself, still resting where it was found in 1922. This is the only tomb in the valley where the king is still present, which quietly changes the tone of the visit.

For a clearer picture of the significance of this particular discovery, read more about the Grand Egyptian Museum here, especially the Tutankhamun gallery section

5. Merenptah (KV8 – included)

Long at about 160 meters, but visually uneven. Some chambers feel sparse, others surprisingly detailed. Historically interesting because the tomb was reused and damaged by flooding in antiquity. Worth it if you like seeing how tombs aged, less so if you’re chasing perfect walls.
Worth spotting are the massive stone sarcophagus fragments still inside. Merenptah’s burial equipment was so large it barely fit, and parts were abandoned where they fell after ancient floods.

6. Ramesses IX (KV6 – included)

A solid, underrated tomb with long corridors and large wall surfaces, around 105 meters in length. Decoration quality varies, but some sections retain strong colors and clear iconography. It’s rarely anyone’s favorite, but it’s consistently better than expected.
You’ll notice unfinished sections sitting alongside fully painted ones. Ramesses IX ruled during a period of tomb robberies, and records suggest the burial was rushed, which shows in the uneven execution.

Accessibility

Accessibility is generally poor, for obvious reasons, with most tombs reachable only via very steep stairs. The electric vehicles used to shorten the walk from the entrance to the central valley area are not wheelchair accessible, but the road surface itself is mostly asphalted, although sloped. In the central valley area the terrain is then much more textured and uneven.

There are three tombs marked as wheelchair accessible, but expectations should be realistic. There are no lifts, elevators, or alternative entrances designed specifically for reduced mobility.

The tombs marked as accessible are:

• KV2, Tomb of Ramesses IV: the entrance is wide and located close to the main path, although the terrain immediately before the entrance is somewhat rough. Inside, there are no steps, only a gentle slope with smooth wooden boards, making this the most accessible option overall.
• KV6, Tomb of Ramesses IX: very close to KV2, this tomb has a sloped entrance that is tricky but manageable for most with assistance. The main interior areas are flat and boarded, but there is an additional lower section accessed by stairs, which will have to be skipped.
• KV1, Tomb of Ramesses VII: despite being officially marked as accessible, this tomb is questionable in practice. Reaching the entrance requires navigating a fairly long stretch of uneven ground, with a slope that becomes increasingly steep. The final ramp into the tomb is also quite steep and demanding.

Overall disabled visitors, particularly wheelchair users, should expect to need strong physical assistance in several sections of the Valley, even when visiting the tombs labeled as accessible.

Shoes and what to bring

• Tomb floors and ramps are smooth stone and can be slippery, especially in the morning. Shoes (closed ones) with grip are highly recommended.
• In warm months, plan for at least 1 liter of water per person. There is a small kiosk with seating in the central tomb area, near the shuttle stop. It usually sells bottled water, sodas, and basic snacks.
• Large backpacks may be denied entry to individual tombs. Small daypacks are fine.
• Strollers are impractical due to stairs and narrow corridors.

Photography and electronics

• Phones pictures are allowed without flash, as well as the ones taken with small cameras. Big professional cameras may be restricted. Flash is never allowed, regardless of device.
• Tripods, stabilizers, and professional rigs are not permitted.
• Mobile signal inside tombs is weak or nonexistent. Download maps or notes in advance if you need them.

Guides, vendors, and safety

• Guides are not required for safety or navigation, as the site is controlled and clearly marked. They are however reccomended mainly for context, symbolism, and prioritization. They also cannot enter the tombs with visitors, so their support is limited to the external area.
• Vendors are not allowed inside the Valley itself. Once past the gate, it’s quiet and pressure-free.
• There are no audio guides provided on site.

Facilities and logistics

• Bathrooms are available only near the entrance area, not in the central tomb zone.
• Card payment is usually accepted at the ticket office, but machines can go offline. Cash is still useful.
• Bag checks at the entrance are strict and routine.

Time planning

• A focused visit to the Valley of the Kings takes 2–3 hours without rushing.
• Combining the Valley with other West Bank sites (like like Hatshepsut’s Temple) makes sense and realistically requires a 4-5 hours, not less.
• When navigating the site, the signage often refers only to tombs by their KV numbers, which is why matching them against the Valley of the Kings map we saw earlier before entering is useful.
• The West Valley (KV23) requires extra time, physical effort or coordination and is pretty much always skipped by standard tours.

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