The royal tombs of the Valley of the Kings are cut into the limestone beneath the pyramid-shaped peak of el-Qurn on the West Bank of Luxor. A Valley of the Kings tour splits on three lines: whether the day starts in Luxor or at a Red Sea resort, whether the official entry tickets are in the price, and whether Tutankhamun's tomb is. A guide explains the tombs from outside, since guides are not permitted inside.
The pick for a Valley of the Kings tour is the private Reflections Travel West Bank day at $89.24, with entry tickets to the Valley of the Kings, the Valley of the Queens, Hatshepsut Temple, Medinet Habu and Deir el-Medina included. It runs 8 hours with a licensed Egyptologist and holds 4.9 from 1,740 reviews. From Hurghada the pick is a $93 small-group day that includes the tickets and Tutankhamun's tomb.
Key takeaways
Each listing below is sold on GetYourGuide or Viator, which handle the payment, and free cancellation runs to 24 hours before departure on every one. The price shown is the lowest rate on the listing, and the options you select at booking decide whether the official entry tickets are in. Hurghada days run 15 to 17 hours with pickups around dawn, while Luxor tours run 4 to 9 hours. Read the ticket column carefully, because a cheap headline price can still mean paying EGP 750 or more at the gate.
A small-group day from Hurghada to Luxor with the Tutankhamun tomb, the Valley of the Kings, Karnak and lunch. Entry tickets are included.
A long day trip from Hurghada to Karnak, the Valley of the Kings, Hatshepsut Temple and the Colossi of Memnon. Pick the option that includes entry fees or the Tutankhamun tomb.
A shared West Bank morning with the Valley of the Kings, Hatshepsut Temple and the Colossi of Memnon, plus lunch. Entrance fees are an option you add at booking.
A private West Bank day with the Valley of the Kings, the Valley of the Queens, Hatshepsut Temple and Medinet Habu. Entry fees to five sites are included.
One shared day that covers the Valley of the Kings, Hatshepsut Temple and the Colossi of Memnon, then Karnak and Luxor Temple. Lunch is included and entry fees are an add-on option.
A private car for a full day across the Luxor West Bank and East Bank, with a guide, entry fees and lunch as options. Pick the combination that fits your budget.
A hot air balloon flight over the West Bank, then the Valley of the Kings, Hatshepsut Temple and Karnak in one booking. Entry fees and the balloon ride are included.
A small-group day by bus from Hurghada to Karnak, Hatshepsut Temple, the Colossi of Memnon and the Valley of the Kings, with lunch. The cheapest option has mandatory fees on top.
A shared half day with the Valley of the Kings, the quieter Valley of the Queens and the Colossi of Memnon, then an Egyptian lunch. Entry fees are an add-on option.
A private 4-hour visit to the Valley of the Kings with an Egyptologist guide and hotel transfers. Entrance tickets are paid on top, and the listing quotes two different amounts.
A private full day across both Luxor banks with three tombs in the Valley of the Kings including Tutankhamun's, then Karnak and Luxor Temple. Lunch is included.
A private half day on the West Bank with the Valley of the Kings, Hatshepsut's temple and the Colossi of Memnon. Entry tickets and the special tombs are paid on top.
Every Valley of the Kings tour in the catalog, compared on price, starting point, length and what happens to the entry tickets, from the listings on GetYourGuide and Viator.
| Tour | Price | From | Hours | Entry tickets | Book |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Hurghada, Tut's tomb | $93 | Hurghada | 1 day | Included, with Tut | Check Availability Details |
| Hurghada small group | $45 | Hurghada | 15-16 hours | Option at checkout | Check Availability Details |
| West Bank half day | $23 | Luxor | 5 hours | Option at checkout | Check Availability Details |
| Private Kings and Queens | $89.24 | Luxor | 8 hours | Included | Check Availability Details |
| Both banks shared | $30 | Luxor | 8 hours | Option at checkout | Check Availability Details |
| Private car, options | $15 | Luxor | 8 hours | Option at checkout | Check Availability Details |
| Balloon and sights | $160 | Luxor | 9 hours | Included | Check Availability Details |
| Hurghada bus day | $18.22 | Hurghada | 15-17 hours | Extra €60 | Check Availability Details |
| Kings and Queens half day | $55 | Luxor | 5 hours | Option at checkout | Check Availability Details |
| Private valley, 4 hours | $50 | Luxor | 4 hours | Not included | Check Availability Details |
| Private both banks, Tut | $80 | Luxor | 8 hours | Option at checkout | Check Availability Details |
| Private West Bank half day | $40 | Luxor | 4-5 hours | Not included | Check Availability Details |
A low price usually means the tickets are an option at checkout or paid at the gate, so compare the tour price with the ticket line before you book. Cancellation terms are on each card. Figures current in Q4 2026.
The private Reflections Travel day costs $89.24 with tickets to both valleys and three temples in the price. Eight hours, licensed Egyptologist, free cancellation 24 hours before.
You'll confirm the exact date and time on the secure booking page.
The single biggest difference between listings is whether the official entry tickets are in the price. This section sets the ticket figures beside the tours so the totals are clear. Every ticket with its price is on Valley of the Kings tickets, and the two famous tombs have their own pages: Tutankhamun's tomb and the tomb of Seti I.
A painted pillar in KV17, the tomb of Seti I, which needs its own EGP 2,000 ticket. Photo: Leon petrosyan, CC BY-SA 4.0, via Wikimedia Commons
The figures below come from the Ministry of Tourism and Antiquities ticket list, with independent guides agreeing on the main amounts. The general Valley of the Kings ticket is EGP 750 for foreign adults and EGP 375 for foreign students, and it covers 3 tombs of your choice from those open that day. Tutankhamun, Seti I, Ramses V and VI and the tomb of Ay all sit outside that general ticket and need their own tickets.
Egyptian citizens pay far less, for example EGP 60 for the general valley ticket.
| Ticket | Price for foreigners | What it covers |
|---|---|---|
| Valley of the Kings general ticket | EGP 750 adults, EGP 375 students | Entry to 3 tombs of your choice |
| Tutankhamun KV62 | EGP 700 | The tomb itself, a separate ticket |
| Seti I KV17 | EGP 2,000 adults and students | The tomb, a separate ticket |
| Ramses V and VI KV9 | EGP 220, EGP 110 students | The tomb, a separate ticket |
| Valley of the Queens | EGP 220 | General entry to the site |
| Nefertari QV66 | EGP 2,000 (EGP 2,500 on Wikivoyage) | The tomb, a separate ticket, 10-minute limit reported |
| Temple of Hatshepsut | EGP 440 on the temple page, 360 EGP on the Deir el-Bahari site page | General entry to the temple |
| Colossi of Memnon | Free | The outdoor statues |
| Luxor Pass Standard | $130 adults, $70 students under 30 | 5 days of sites, not Seti I or Nefertari |
| Luxor Pass Premium | $250 adults, $130 students under 30 | 5 days, adds Seti I and Nefertari |
Listings fall into three groups. Tickets included means the entry fees sit inside the headline price: Hurghada Day Trip with Tut's Tomb at $93, Private West Bank, Kings and Queens at $89.24 and Balloon Ride and Full-Day Sights at $160. Tickets as an option means you select an add-on at checkout: Hurghada Small Group, Entry Options, West Bank Half Day with Lunch, Shared Full Day, Both Banks, Private Car, Guide Options, Kings and Queens Half Day with Lunch and Private Both Banks with Tut's Tomb.
Tickets not included means you pay at the gate: Private Valley of the Kings, 4 Hours and Private West Bank Half Day list the fees as exclusions, and the cheapest option on the Hurghada bus day adds mandatory transport taxes and entrance fees of €60 per adult and €30 per child.
Howard Carter found KV62 on 4 November 1922, and the tomb is much smaller than most royal tombs with four chambers. Tutankhamun's mummy still lies in the tomb in a climate-controlled glass case. The famous treasures are not there.
The Grand Egyptian Museum in Giza opened with 5,398 Tutankhamun objects across two halls, so the gold is in Giza near Cairo and only the tomb and mummy are in the valley. On the tours, Hurghada Day Trip with Tut's Tomb and Private Both Banks with Tut's Tomb put the KV62 visit in the itinerary, while Hurghada Small Group, Entry Options and Hurghada Bus Day, Groups of 9 sell it as an option. The KV62 ticket costs an extra EGP 700 on top of the general ticket.
The Valley of the Kings takes card payment only, at the ticket office or online, per two independent guides, so cash no longer works at the ticket window. The photo rules differ by source: one 2026 guide lists phone photos as free with no photography pass, while Wikivoyage says photography in the tombs is forbidden, so ask at the gate. Flash photography is prohibited inside the tombs because it damages the painted walls.
An electric tram runs from the visitor centre to the tomb area at 20 EGP round trip, and the visitor centre has restrooms. Plan 1 to 3 hours at the valley depending on the tombs and your pace.
Where the day starts decides the shape of the whole trip. The figures below come from the tour listings and from road distance guides for the Red Sea drive. The long day from the Red Sea is laid out on Luxor day trip from Hurghada.
The Colossi of Memnon, the two seated statues of Amenhotep III by the West Bank road. Photo: MusikAnimal, CC BY-SA 4.0, via Wikimedia Commons
The table sets the Luxor tours against the Hurghada day trips on the figures that matter: what the listings charge, how long the day runs, when you are picked up, how much time you actually get in the valley, and the drive. Luxor listings run from $15 to $160 and Hurghada listings from $18.22 to $93.
| Compare | From Luxor | From Hurghada |
|---|---|---|
| Price range | $15 to $160 | $18.22 to $93 |
| Hours | 4 to 9 hours | 15 to 17 hours |
| Pickup | At your Luxor hotel | About 6:00 AM on the Ranco Travel listing |
| Time in the valley | About 30 minutes to 2 hours on the itineraries | About 2 hours on the Ranco Travel itinerary |
| Drive | Short hop to the West Bank across the Nile | About 300 km by road, less than 4 hours each way |
A Luxor base gives you the whole range, from a $23 five-hour shared West Bank morning to a $160 day with a sunrise balloon. The valley sits on the West Bank, a short drive from Luxor town, so half-day tours leave time for the rest of your day. With 4 to 9 hour options you can see the tombs and still add Karnak, Luxor Temple or the Valley of the Queens.
If the tombs are the priority, the private 8-hour pick covers the Valley of the Kings, the Valley of the Queens, Hatshepsut, Medinet Habu and Deir el-Medina in one booking with the tickets included.
The road from Hurghada to Luxor runs about 300 km and takes less than 4 hours each way, which is why the listings show 15 to 17 hour days. Hurghada Day Trip with Tut's Tomb picks up at approximately 6:00 AM and advises eating breakfast before, with the exact time confirmed the day before around 1:00 PM. Hurghada Small Group, Entry Options runs 15 to 16 hours, and Hurghada Bus Day, Groups of 9 runs 15 to 17 hours. The early pickup is what buys you the 2 hours at the Valley of the Kings on the Ranco itinerary, so a day starting late would eat into tomb time.
The valley holds over sixty tombs plus about twenty unfinished shafts, spread across an East Valley and a West Valley. Only about 18 tombs can be opened to visitors, and the general ticket covers 3 tombs of your choice from those open that day. The tombs and the West Bank temples are plotted on the Valley of the Kings map.
The astronomical ceiling of KV9, the tomb of Ramses V and VI, with the sky goddess Nut. Photo: Diego Delso, CC BY-SA 4.0, via Wikimedia Commons
The KV numbering still used today was set by John Gardner Wilkinson. The general ticket at EGP 750 covers three ordinary tombs, but the most famous names sit on separate tickets on top of it. The figures below come from the official Ministry pages and current guidebook research.
Tomb numbers with a fact worth knowing before you queue: KV9 was open in antiquity and carries about 995 Greek, Latin, Demotic and Coptic visitor inscriptions, and KV11 runs 188 metres. KV17, the tomb of Seti I, is 137.19 metres long with seventeen chambers and was the first tomb in the valley to be entirely decorated, per the Ministry.
| Tomb | Pharaoh | Ticket | Why go in |
|---|---|---|---|
| KV62 | Tutankhamun | 700 EGP extra | Found by Howard Carter on 4 November 1922. The mummy lies in the tomb in a climate-controlled glass case, and the innermost coffin is 110.4 kg of solid gold. |
| KV17 | Seti I | 2,000 EGP extra | 137.19 metres long with seventeen chambers, the first tomb fully decorated, with a vaulted burial chamber. |
| KV9 | Ramses V and VI | 220 EGP extra | Astronomical ceilings showing the Book of the Day and the Book of the Night framed by the goddess Nut. |
| KV11 | Ramses III | On the general ticket when open | 188 metres long, also called the Harper's Tomb for its paintings of two blind harpers. |
| KV2 | Ramses IV | On the general ticket when open | Listed among the rotating set of tombs drawn from for the general ticket. |
| KV8 | Merenptah | On the general ticket when open | Listed among the rotating set of tombs drawn from for the general ticket. |
| KV14 | Tausert and Setnakht | On the general ticket when open | Listed among the rotating set of tombs drawn from for the general ticket. |
| KV34 | Thutmose III | Not stated | Found by Victor Loret in 1898, it holds one of the earliest versions of the Amduat. |
The tombs open to visitors change periodically and some close for renovation, so you cannot choose a tomb before you arrive. Wikipedia counts only 18 tombs as able to open, and they are rarely all open at once. That means no Valley of the Kings tour can promise a specific named tomb on the general ticket.
Operators such as Nice Tours and AlHassany Travel show you whichever three decorated tombs are open, and guides explain at the entrance, because guides are not permitted to lecture inside the tombs.
Inside, visitors move in single file to keep the crowd flowing, and Wikivoyage warns of a queue of at least 15 to 30 minutes in peak season. The corridors descend steps into rock, so wear closed-toe shoes with grip. The good news on heat is that rock-cut tombs run underground and stay noticeably cooler than the desert outside.
A shuttle tram runs from the visitor centre to the tomb area, about three minutes each way at 20 EGP round trip, and the visitor centre has restrooms.
Sources: Ministry of Tourism and Antiquities, Earthtrekkers, Wikivoyage
Both valleys sit in the Theban Necropolis on the west bank, and both were inscribed with Ancient Thebes as a World Heritage Site in 1979. They differ in who is buried there, how many tombs each holds and what a ticket buys. The other side of the river and the other valley have their own guides: Valley of the Queens, Temple of Hatshepsut, Colossi of Memnon, Medinet Habu and Karnak Temple.
The terraces of the Temple of Hatshepsut at Deir el-Bahari under the cliffs of the West Bank. Photo: Diego Delso, CC BY-SA 4.0, via Wikimedia Commons
The table compares the two sites using official Ministry ticket prices and published tomb counts, so you can decide whether your tour needs both. The general Valley of the Queens ticket is 220 EGP, and its star tomb is extra. Tours from Luxor that cover both valleys in one booking include Reflections Travel, Special Egypt and the private Nice Tours full day.
| Compare | Valley of the Kings | Valley of the Queens |
|---|---|---|
| Who is buried there | New Kingdom pharaohs of the Eighteenth to Twentieth Dynasties, roughly 1550 to 1069 BC | Queens and royal family members, ancient name Ta-Set-Neferu, the Place of Beauty |
| Number of tombs | Over sixty plus about twenty unfinished shafts | 110 documented tombs, 91 in the main wadi and 19 in side valleys |
| Star tomb | KV62, Tutankhamun, at 700 EGP extra | QV66, Nefertari, at 2,000 EGP extra (EGP 2,500 on Wikivoyage) or the Premium Luxor Pass |
| Ticket | 750 EGP for 3 tombs | 220 EGP general admission |
| Tours that go there | Most Luxor tours, see the catalog | Reflections Travel, Special Egypt, Nice Tours private day |
A Valley of the Kings tour rarely stops at the valley alone. The Temple of Hatshepsut at Deir el-Bahari is 273.5 metres long with three terraces, and its middle terrace shows the expedition to the Land of Punt. The Colossi of Memnon are two statues of Amenhotep III about 18 metres high and roughly 720 tons each, with no entrance fee.
Medinet Habu is Ramesses III's mortuary temple, built about 1184 to 1153 BC, showing his battles with the Sea Peoples inside a 315 by 210 metre enclosure. Deir el-Medina housed the tomb builders' village of about 68 houses, whose workers staged what may be the first recorded sit-down strike around 1170 BC. The Ramesseum is Ramesses II's temple, whose fallen colossus weighed an estimated 1,000 tonnes and inspired Shelley's poem Ozymandias. Reflections Travel includes admission to five of these sites in its $89.24 price.
Sources: Ministry of Tourism and Antiquities, Wikipedia
Listing photos show the gate and the bus. These show what the separate tickets buy underground: Tutankhamun's tomb, Seti I and the Ramesside corridors.
A walk down into KV62, the tomb on its own separate ticket, with the mummy in its glass case.
Video: Gimbal Walk TVThe decorated corridors of the tombs that carry their own tickets, side by side.
Video: Slideshow AlchemistThe fully decorated tomb of Seti I, the most expensive single ticket in the valley.
Video: Visit PlacesThird-party videos, embedded from YouTube. This site did not shoot them and has no relationship with the creators.
The valley sits in open desert with about 4,000 hours of sunshine a year and under 1 mm of rain, so the season you pick decides how hard the walking feels. Crowds peak between 10 am and 2 pm. Flights, safety and prices are on Luxor hot air balloon.
The figures below are Luxor's mean daily maximums from the 1991 to 2020 climate record, grouped the way a tour day feels. The record high at Luxor is 50.0°C, and US News advises avoiding the valley in summer when temperatures climb past 100°F. Winter months from October to April offer the most comfortable conditions.
| Months | Average high | For a tour |
|---|---|---|
| October-November | 35.5°C, then 29.1°C | Warm but workable, cooler by the month |
| December-February | 24.2°C to 25.3°C | The most comfortable touring weather, bring a layer for mornings near 7°C |
| March-April | 29.7°C, then 35.0°C | Fine early in the day, hot by late morning |
| May-September | 39.1°C up to 41.4°C | Avoid the midday valley, nights stay hot too with lows near 25°C |
The Ministry lists the Valley of the Kings as open daily from 6:00 AM, closing at 5:00 PM, though some sources give 4:00 PM in winter. Earthtrekkers recommends arriving by 8 am, or one to two hours before closing, for fewer visitors. That is why tours like Ranco Travel's Hurghada day run pickup at approximately 6:00 AM: the first hour is cooler and the queues are shortest.
Peak crowds fall between 10 am and 2 pm, when the desert heat is at its worst.
If you want the West Bank from above, the balloon and full-day sights package starts with a 30-minute hot air balloon flight over Luxor before the valley and Karnak. The flight lifts off from a take-off site about 15 minutes by van from the pickup, and launches happen on the West Bank, with guests crossing the Nile first. The listing does not state the launch hour.
Balloon rides in Luxor generally cost 950 to 1,900 EGP and last at least 45 minutes. The package price of $160 covers the flight and the entry fees.
Sources: Ministry of Tourism and Antiquities, Wikipedia climate data for Luxor, Earthtrekkers
Average daily highs at Luxor from the 1991-2020 climate record, with what each month means for a morning in the valley. November to February is the comfortable season.
You can do the valley yourself with a taxi and the official tickets, or hand the logistics to a tour. Each side has a real cost.
Who it's NOT for: Not for travelers who want to linger in a single tomb for an hour on their own schedule.
If You want one private day that includes the tickets for the Kings, the Queens, Hatshepsut, Medinet Habu and Deir el-Medina
Take Reflections Travel's private West Bank day at $89.24 for 8 hours.
If You are staying at a Red Sea resort and want the Tutankhamun tomb handled
Book Ranco Travel's Hurghada day trip at $93 with entry tickets and KV62 included.
If You have only half a day in Luxor
Pick the West Bank half day with lunch at $23 for 5 hours, and add the entrance fee option at checkout.
If You want to see Karnak and Luxor Temple in the same booking
Choose the shared full day across both banks at $30 for 8 hours.
If You want the West Bank from the air before the tombs
Go for the sunrise balloon and full-day sights package at $160 with entry fees included.
If You are unsure what the tickets cost on their own before you compare tours
Read the official tickets section first, then the comparison table.
it was very lovely, we had a lot of fun our guide Christine was very kind and explained everything in detail. Would definitely recommend!
Alaa Hassan was a fantastic guide. He was super friendly and looked after the group from start to finish. Highly recommended!
He was an amazing person and did his job amazing. Also he was very helpful for us to understand everything ❤️
Our balloon man Rufac? Was fantastic. Funny, helpful, took us over the best areas. A great memorable experience
Thanks to our guide Remon it was a vera pleasat and interessant trip.
Had a great guide As a solo traveller he was so accomodating and knowledgeable and took photos with me in as well The drive was excellent as well Highly recommend tour
The pick is Reflections Travel's private West Bank day, which costs $89.24 for 8 hours, includes admission to five sites and holds a 4.9 rating from 1,740 reviews. From Hurghada, Ranco Travel's day trip is the pick with tickets and Tutankhamun's tomb included.
Listings in the catalog run from $15 to $160 from Luxor and $18.22 to $93 from Hurghada. On top of that, the official general ticket is 750 EGP, so check what the tickets cost against what each tour includes.
KV62 is small, with four chambers, and the treasures now displayed at the Grand Egyptian Museum in Giza, so what you see is the mummy in a glass case and the painted burial chamber. If that history is why you came, Ranco Travel's Hurghada day includes it, or you can add the 700 EGP ticket to any tour.
Plan 1 to 3 hours at the valley depending on the tombs and your pace, or 5 to 6 hours for a full visit including the paid tombs. The West Bank half day gives the valley 5 hours in total with Hatshepsut and the Colossi of Memnon added.
Sources disagree: one 2026 guide lists phone photos as free with no photography pass, while Wikivoyage says photography in the tombs is forbidden, so ask at the gate. Flash is prohibited inside the tombs because it damages the painted walls, a rule that applies on every Valley of the Kings tour.
Only if you accept a 15 to 17 hour day with pickup around 6:00 AM and about 4 hours of driving each way. Ranco Travel's small-group day softens it with tickets and Tutankhamun's tomb included and a group limited to 9.
Before you book
The tickets and the tombs, the rest of the West Bank, Karnak across the river, the balloons at dawn and the long day from the Red Sea.
Valley of the Kings Tour
