Valley of the Kings

Few places on earth carry the weight of history quite like the Valley of the Kings. Carved into the limestone cliffs on the west bank of the Nile, this royal burial ground holds over 60 tombs of pharaohs and nobles from the New Kingdom period, spanning roughly 1550 to 1070 BCE.

Walking down into these painted corridors feels genuinely otherworldly — the colours of the hieroglyphics, preserved for millennia in the dry desert air, are startlingly vivid up close.

Your standard entry ticket covers three tombs from a rotating selection, so check which are included on the day you visit. The tomb of Ramesses IV is generally accessible and impressive, while KV62 — Tutankhamun's tomb — requires a separate ticket. Seti I's tomb, widely considered the most elaborately decorated, costs extra too and is worth every pound if it's open.

Photography inside most tombs is now permitted for a fee, though enforcement varies.

Getting there independently is straightforward. From central Luxor, cross the Nile by local ferry to the west bank, then hop on a microbus or hire a bicycle for the few kilometres to the valley. Organised minibuses from the east bank hotels are convenient but tend to rush you through.

Arriving early — by 7am when gates open — makes a real difference; by mid-morning the site fills with tour groups and the heat inside the tombs becomes oppressive. Summer temperatures regularly exceed 40°C, so visiting between October and March is strongly advisable.

Wear light, breathable clothing that covers your shoulders and knees, bring far more water than you think you need, and carry small Egyptian pounds for the tomb photography fee and tip for any attendants who assist you.