Included tombs
Three rotation tombs on standard ticket—board updates daily at booth.
Valley of Kings — Tomb Order and Ticket Logic
The Theban necropolis cliff holds sixty-plus tombs; a standard ticket includes three rotating openings plus optional premium entries. Queues form at the booth, not inside individual tombs—arrive early.
Start at the booth by 6:30 a.m. in peak season
The ticket office opens at 6:00 a.m. October through April. Coaches arrive by 8:00 a.m.; independent visitors who reach the booth at opening choose tombs before dust and heat build in the corridor descents. Your ticket lists three included tombs from the rotation board posted daily.
KV62 Tutankhamun requires a separate premium fee and timed entry when available. KV9 (Ramesses V and VI) offers vivid astronomical ceilings worth the add-on. KV17 Seti I opens on limited schedules—verify the week before travel.
Physical demands
Corridors include steep stairs and low ceilings. KV11 Ramesses III balances spectacle with moderate depth. Skip deep tombs if knee injuries limit stairs—Habu Temple and Colossi of Memnon provide shaded alternatives on the West Bank loop in our West Bank itineraries.
Combine with Queens and Memnon
Valley of Queens sits southwest with Nefertari tomb premium quotas. Golf carts bridge distances in summer. Finish at Colossi of Memnon for quick photos before lunch—then ferry back for Luxor Museum air conditioning.
Balloon mornings precede tomb visits—see balloon timing. Transport choices in Luxor transport tips.
Premium add-ons
KV62, KV9, KV17 when open—budget extra EGP and time.
Plan help
West Bank Runner track builds your order.
Photography inside tombs
Rules change by tomb and season—some included tombs allow phone photography without flash; premium tombs may forbid all cameras. Follow attendant instructions; violations risk confiscation. Tripods are never permitted in narrow corridors.
Guide policies
Included tombs permit self-guided visits with signage. Premium tombs may require ministry guides included in premium ticket price. Outside guides cannot enter without proper licensing—book through official channels.
Heat and hydration
Carry water before entering the valley—kiosks exist but queues build early. Sun exposure on the plateau is intense by 10:00 a.m.; plan finishing included tombs before then when possible.
Valley of Queens add-on
Queens valley ticket booth sits southwest—allow golf cart or taxi between valleys. Nefertari tomb premium quotas sell out online early in winter—plan before arrival if mandatory on your list.
Worker tombs at Deir el-Medina
Shorter tombs with vivid daily-life scenes—good afternoon filler when Kings queues lengthen. Separate ticket category on West Bank combined passes when available.
Tomb numbering primer
KV numbers run by discovery order—not importance. KV62 Tutankhamun small but famous; KV11 Ramesses III deep and spectacular; KV9 astronomical ceiling justifies premium fee when open. Rotation board at booth lists included options daily—photograph board if self-planning.
Security screening
Bags scanned at valley entrance—large backpacks discouraged. Tripods confiscated. Metal detectors routine; allow queue time before booth opens at 6:00 a.m.
KV11 Ramesses III remains popular for moderate stair depth when KV17 closed and KV62 premium sold out giving strong colour without extreme descent.
Plateau kiosk prices exceed Corniche shops so buy water before valley ascent when possible especially June through August midday loops.
Electric train to valley gate runs seasonally—walk uphill if train offline adding eight minutes before first tomb staircase even begins.
KV11 Ramesses III remains popular for moderate stair depth when KV17 closed and KV62 premium sold out giving strong colour without extreme descent.
Plateau kiosk prices exceed Corniche shops so buy water before valley ascent when possible especially June through August midday loops.
Electric train to valley gate runs seasonally—walk uphill if train offline adding eight minutes before first tomb staircase even begins.
KV11 Ramesses III remains popular for moderate stair depth when KV17 closed and KV62 premium sold out giving strong colour without extreme descent.
Plateau kiosk prices exceed Corniche shops so buy water before valley ascent when possible especially June through August midday loops.
Electric train to valley gate runs seasonally—walk uphill if train offline adding eight minutes before first tomb staircase even begins.
KV11 Ramesses III remains popular for moderate stair depth when KV17 closed and KV62 premium sold out giving strong colour without extreme descent.