The grandeur of Egyptian civilization in preserving the history and culture of the ancient Egyptians awaits you in one place. The first place where we heard about the curse of the pharaohs and the secrets of mummification, the Valley of the Kings, which houses approximately 63 ancient pharaonic tombs of the greatest kings of the ancient Egyptian era. It is a valley in Egypt that was used for 500 years, between the 16th and 11th centuries BC, to construct tombs for the pharaohs and nobles of the New Kingdom, spanning the 18th to the 20th dynasties of ancient Egypt. The valley is located on the western bank of the Nile, opposite Thebes (now Luxor), in the heart of the ancient city of Thebes. The Valley of the Kings is divided into two valleys: the Eastern Valley (where most of the royal tombs are located) and the Western Valley, which contains two large royal tombs and several smaller tombs of lesser-known royal figures.

Luxor, home to a third of the world’s monuments, was declared a World Heritage site by UNESCO in 1979, along with other archaeological sites in the city. It is considered the most popular and frequently visited site by tourists, often topping travel itineraries even before the Karnak Temple or the Mortuary Temple of Hatshepsut. The number of visitors to the Valley of the Kings typically ranges from 8,000 to 15,000 tourists daily.

The best activities you can do in the Valley of the Kings:

• On your way to the Valley of the Kings in Luxor, you can visit the legendary colossal statues known as the Colossi of Memnon and learn about the myths surrounding them.

• Visit three royal tombs with a single ticket, including the most visited tombs of King Ramses III, Ramses IX, and the complete tomb of Tutankhamun.

• See the mummified body of Tutankhamun, which is the only one available for viewing in the open tombs.

• Take souvenir photos and buy DVDs from the valley’s bazaars to document your trip.