Valley of the Kings

Standing on the west bank of the Nile River, within the heart of the Thebian Necropolis is the world-famous Valley of the Kings. This valley is where, from the 16th-11th century BC, tombs were constructed for Pharaohs and nobles of Egypt’s New Kingdom, all to be discovered on an Egypt tour.

The tombs have attracted attention since ancient times with some being opened to the public during the Greek and Roman periods. The valley has been a major area of modern Egyptological exploration during the past two centuries, however, many of the tombs had been robbed of antiquities by the end of the 20th century. Despite this, what remains in the tombs and the artwork and construction have provided valuable insight into the beliefs and funeral rituals of the time. In more modern times the Valley became famous for the discovery of Tutankhamun’s nearly intact tomb by Howard Carter in 1922.

The Valley became a UNESCO World Heritage Site in 1979 and remains one of the most famous archaeological sites in the world to be visited on Egypt trips. A total of 63 tombs have been uncovered with the most recent happening in 2005. The mystery and excitement surrounding the Valley that began more than two centuries ago are still felt today with tours of the tombs attracting curious tourists in search of Egypt’s fascinating past.