Beyond all the trials of my visit, I still think that the Valley of the Kings was one of the most incredible places I visited in Egypt. So buy your tickets at the counter. Does anyone know which tombs are open in … Hi there Janarthanan, thanks so much for the lovely feedback! I always choose, Egypt is a predominantly Islamic country and therefore you will need to dress conservatively to respect the culture. KV62 – Tutankhamun    300 EGP per person. If you want to take some creative photos in the tombs and temples, Ali has lots of great ideas. Your heart would be weighed on a scales against a feather. They are currently excavating newly discovered tombs, 11. I felt a sense of triumph when I finally bought my tickets, I made it! The lower passageways have less artwork on the walls. KV6 is quite plain on the corridor walls compared to the other tombs as you walk in, the carvings are there but there’s not much preserved paint. About the spellings in this article: Spellings of the names of the kings and queens can vary according to the source. Hope you had an incredible time in Egypt. I liked the alabaster statues photo. Merenptah lacks a lot of the detailed artwork and reliefs that you can see in the other tombs. Things to know and prepare before you visit Egypt, How to reach the Valley of the Kings in Egypt. But, if you wish to take with a digital camera you must buy a photo pass. I think that some of the tombs and whether they are better, is a personal opinion. Although not as colourful as Ramses IV, the paintings and murals on the walls here are very impressive. I have posted on your Facebook site, photos I took September 20, 2019 within King Tut’s tomb. Hope this helps all your readers Sophie …, Hi Dave, WOW Thank you so much for the comprehensive update , I will try and update my post with this information ASAP! The earliest tombs found to date in the Valley of the Kings exploited naturally occurring faults and clefts in the valley’s limestone cliffs. I actually organised this with my cab driver who took me and my cases from the airport! The walls are protected with glass. It’s quite a short tomb but the vibrancy of the hieroglyphics more than make up for it! The most famous of this legacy can be seen today at the Pyramids of Giza. There’s usually a queue to head down there and it can get stifling. This is £300EGP (£15) and allows photography inside 3 tombs. For outfit ideas, I’ve made the. The burial chamber is decorated with vibrantly colored images of the king appearing with Isis, Osiris, Hathor, and Anubis. Sophie x. Seti I is the best tomb to see – expensive yes, but by far the most amazing (I visited all but one tomb of the 10 open in January 2020). This is the change though: use your cell phone camera & there is no need to purchase a photo pass! Instead, the authorities rotate which ones are open in order to try and mitigate the damaging effects of mass tourism (including increased carbon dioxide levels, friction and humidity). Tripods are strictly prohibited. Old Winter Palace Luxor – 7 Reasons Why it’s the Perfect Hotel for History Lovers! It includes lots of advice and practical information you need to know to plan your visit. I was actually really out of breath when I was going up! The tombs I would suggest are the ones mentioned in this article. I followed your recommendations for tombs on the main ticket and was really happy with the choices. Take care and thanks for all your great Egypt content. The best tombs in the Valley of the Kings for photos (or just to oggle at! As a Brit, the honour of queueing is a sacred ritual, so I wasn’t best pleased and quickly told them to wait their turn. Or, if you crossed the Nile by boat to the West Bank, it’s a 15 minute drive from there. Only the Tomb of Ay (out of 16 available tombs) is open to the public. This is another one of t… The Valley of the Kings is a burial ground for pharaohs who ruled Egypt during the 18th, 19th, and 20th dynasties (the New Kingdom of Egypt). Statues of them? If you want to see more than three tombs, you will have to purchase an additional ticket. Some tombs may close for renovation and another tomb will open to the public. In the main valley, Thutmose III, Thutmose IV, Horemheb, Merenptah, Seti II, Siptah, Tausert and Sethnakht, Ramesses IV, Ramesses VII and Ramesses IX were open when we visited two weeks ago. When the tombs in the Valley of the Kings were excavated, they had no idea who the person was inside the tomb at that time so they labelled them as KV (standing for Kings Valley). But, the biggest excavation works took place by Egyptologists in the 19th and 20th Century with the likes of Henry Salt, John Gardiner Wilkinson and most famously, Howard Carter. The artwork alone within the tombs is beyond amazing … Going inside these tombs is hot and sweaty work. To the immediate right out the back door is the ticket booth. Thanks Terry, Hi Terry, the photo pass only allows 3 tombs. So, even if you pay extra to see Ramses V & VI (KV9), you won’t get to photograph it if it you’ve used up your three turns. You’ll be following the steps of Howard Carter and his excavation team. Child tickets are 50% of the adult tickets. The tour guides are no longer allowed to lecture inside the tombs and visitors are expected to proceed quietly and in single file throug… Thanks so much for reading! In several tombs, the murals are protected by dehumidifiers and glass screens; while others are now equipped with electric … There are three additional tombs that you can visit with an extra ticket. Saw them in Feb 19, in a group tour so many problems were solved. I’m traveling on my own to Egypt (Cairo, Aswan, Luxor) in october. The name Ramesses can also be spelled Rameses or Ramses. I’m glad you got to explore 10 tombs, that must of been an amazing experience. Join 80,000 readers. You’re welcome! By continuing to browse this website you are agreeing to our use of cookies. The authorities change things regularly to help preserve them. Thank you for sharing and keep the good job ? The name Ramesses can also be spelled Rameses or Ramses. Any inputs on this is much appreciated. Instead, we chose three tombs to visit from the small handful that are open to the public. This tomb was recently discovered in 1998. Just thought you would like to know …, Hello Sophie … He is very knowledgeable, punctual, and has a great personality. You can choose to buy more tickets to see more tombs :-) and you'll have to pay extra for Tutankhamun and Ramesses V/VI but the latter is one of … to our guide on how to visit the Valley of the Kings. Most tombs listed below are usually open. The number of visitors to KV62 has led to a separate charge for entry into the tomb. Add in body heat from all the tourists and it’s like a sauna. The Valley of the Kings is a really popular tourist destination. One thing that remains constant though, be it a regular camera or cell phone camera, under NO condition do you use a flash at any time while in a tomb. 2000USD) for up to 10 persons. Sophie x, Your email address will not be published. You will need present them at the entrance of each tomb you enter and it will be hole punched each time you wish to use it. It contains two tombs, the first one for Queen Tausert. The tombs in the Valley of the Kings were created to transmit these kings to the underworld and the more elaborate the tomb, the more elaborate the send off. This tomb features several long, exquisitely decorated passageways and two pillared rooms. In Luxor and Aswan, we had a van and a private driver which took the hassle out of arranging our transportation. This post may contain affiliate links. On the way back, I joined another tour group and didn’t end up paying. News spread like wildfire and the world was reading about the Curse of the Pharoah in the papers. Have an epic time in Egypt, Sophie x, Hi Sophie … Descend the stairs to the entry of the Anti-Chamber, turn left & there is King Tut, within his climate / humidity controlled special display unit. Walk to the exit and turn right. Of these, fifteen are currently open to the public: Ramesses I, Ramesses III, Ramesses IV, Ramesses V/VI, Ramesses VII, Ramesses IX, Seti II, Siptah, Merenptah, Thutmose III, Thutmose IV, Mentuherkhepshef, Tausret/Sethnakht, Ay, and Tutankhamun. I hope you have a wonderful time! That means that you will enter the tombs alone, without any other tourists. Sophie x, Hi Sophie, planning to visit in December 2019,looking really forward to it. They confiscate cameras and also keep an eye out for people being too noisy. Most of the tombs of the Valley of the Kings are not open to the public. As of 2020, you are now allowed to take mobile phone photos for FREE. Howard Carter and nine others died within 10 years of opening the tomb and many blame the “Curse of King Tut”. In 2007, Egyptologists removed him from his sarcophagus for testing as he died in mysterious circumstances 3,000 years ago. Hi Brian! You could try your luck with a baksheesh to the guard but it’s a risk. Of the 60+ tombs in the Valley of the Kings, there are only a few that are open to the public. I know its quite strict, but they’ve only recently allowed photos again and so I guess they’re trying to cash in on it for now. Not to mention the fact there are two ticket counters and so I had to wait twice. There are two tombs that we did not visit, Ramesses VII (KV1) and Siptah (KV47). This tomb is small but deep underground. Required fields are marked *. Their selection most probably is based on which three will take least time so they can get it overwith, to proceed to next attraction. Sign Up to Get the Latest Adventures Straight to Your Mailbox! waiting to view a tomb. It is only New Kingdom, so that “fact” really should not be in here. When I got here, all the tour groups were standing around and not buying tickets. The Old Kingdom of Egypt saw many kings wanting to be buried in Pyramid style tombs in the old capital of Memphis near Cairo. When I went, the guards were confiscating phones so it’s great to see that yuo can use them free of charge now. Currently, eight tombs are included on the main ticket into the Valley of the Kings. My, my! What tombs are currently open to the public at Valley of the Kings in 2020? Pro Travel Tip: The tombs that are available to visit change periodically. Your entrance ticket will allow you to visit three of these tombs. When you’ve walked through the massive tourist market and through security, you’ll then walk through the information centre. You enter the visitor center and go through. If you have any questions about the best tombs to visit in the Valley of the Kings, or if you want to share your favorites, let us know in the comment section below. You can still visit Howard Carters house which is now a museum near the Theban Necropolis. Since you have seen extra tombs could you please suggest. I recommend picking three from this list and saving your time and money for other sites on the west bank. Valley of the Kings tomb. If you are planning a visit to Luxor, don’t miss our. Sophie x. Hi, are you able to take photos outside as you like? If you don’t have a photo pass, you will be asked to hand your camera into the photography kiosk in a locker which is guarded by a staff member. However, there’s a catch. I only mentioned Queen Cleopatra as it’s something they are still on the lookout for. Wrong. The Egyptian Ministry of Antiquities opened three tombs in Luxor’s Valley of the Kings to the public for the first time on Thursday. In December 2018, they uncovered a new tomb of a woman dating back 3,000 years. The key missing tomb is Smenkaure (the name of Nefertiti when she took the throne upon her husband’s death and prior to Tut). The Valley of the Kings is located around 30 kilometres away from the city of Luxor by road, around a 45 minute drive by car. From start to finish, our experience with Egypt Tailor Made was fantastic. The number of times that I read your post I must have it memorized now LOL. Only if you wish to take photos with a camera you need a photo pass. The things they don’t tell you about visiting the tombs in the Valley of the Kings – that could actually be useful, 1. If you’re travelling here independently (i.e. For many people, this is a huge splurge. Not to mention it’s hotter than hell inside and full of tourists, who also don’t have a clue what’s going on! Also is Ramesses II? Now, personally, this is the biggest change: up until recently, no photos within King Tutankhamun (KV62) were allowed but that too has changed; you are NOW allowed to take photos within the Tut’s tomb, regular camera, you must have your photo pass present; cell phone camera, no photo pass required! Lots of tour buses turn up each day with crowds and crowds of tour groups. This tomb features a passageway that features low reliefs with the Litany of Ra. Thank you very much for the update. With its big price tag, it better be spectacular, right? KV2 – Ramesses IV So, the Theban hills and the peak of Al-Qorn, which has a pyramid-like shape, was chosen as the perfect location. Read all of our articles about Egypt in our. They really won’t be upset or angry, it’s business. Although, all the artifacts were looted long time ago, you will be still amazed by the beautifully decorated walls and ceilings inside the tombs. If you are planning a visit to Luxor, don’t miss our Guide to the Valley of the Kings. The entry ticket gains access to three tombs, with extra tickets to see the tombs of Ay, Tutankhamun, Seti I and Ramses VI. The 4 Best Tombs in the Valley of the Kings for Photos & 11 Things They Don’t Tell You About Visiting! King Setnakht usurped Tausert’s tomb, enlarging it and adding several lower passageways and a pillared hall for his burial chamber. This particular painting shows the night and day journey of the sun. Open to public: Yes KV63: Unknown: 18th dynasty: The purpose of this tomb is currently unknown. Sophie x. In this article, I primarily use the spelling found on the signs at each tomb entrance. Sophie x, I was thinking, that I will buy the Luxor Pass, that allows all the sites in the Valley of the Kings and Luxor, except the super expensive tombs. While you’re in Luxor, I would highly recommend a visit to the Temple of Hatshepsut, the Valley of the Queens, Madinet Habu, the Colossi of Memnon, Karnak temple, Luxor temple and a hot air balloon ride for sunrise over the West Bank. Always having a restless soul seeking adventure, she has now travelled to over 30+ countries, many of them solo. The snaps too are wonderful. Five minutes later they’ll be hawking the next group. Unlike the Pyramids, kings of the New Kingdom would build elaborate tombs. Take your pick from 50 of the world's best travel adventures. All of the treasure is gone but what’s inside more than makes up for it. Hi WJR, Thanks for this awesome insight. The decision is expected to be affective from 1st of October as the tourism season usually starts. KV47 – Siptah. 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