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History of the Valley of the Kings
The Valley of the King is an Egyptian archaeological site located in the hills behind the West Bank of Luxor. It is one of the most fascinating archaeological destinations in the entire world and is the burial place of many Egyptian pharaohs. The position of the Valley of Kings is quite isolated, resulting in reduced access and the ability of special tomb police, called the Medjay, who were able to guard the necropolis.

Ahmose I defeated the Hyksos and reunified Egypt several thousand years ago. Ahmose I was a member of the Theban Royal House. These Theban rulers constructed elaborate tombs to reflect their newfound power. Ahmose’s son, Amenhotep I, is said to have been among the first royal tombs in the Valley of Kings, but this is disputed by historians. Notes in Thutmose I’s tomb shows that he advised his king to place his tomb in the Valley of the Kings.

At least sixty three tombs are contained in the Valley of Kings, which was used for burials between approximately 1539 BC to 1075 BC. Thutmose I is said to be the first to be buried here (although some would say it was his father, Amenhotep) and Ramses X or XI is said to have been the final king buried here.

One would assume the Valley of the Kings only contained tombs of kings, but it also contains the tombs of many nobles along with wives and children of those nobles and pharaohs. Out of the sixty three tombs, only about twenty actually contain remains of kinds. Nobles and their families were buried in unmarked pits. During the time of Ramses I (about 1301 BC), construction on a separate Valley of the Queens began.

Napoleon noted the western valley for the first time during his exploration on the area in the late 1700’s. European exploration continued during the 19th century in the area around Thebes. Belzoni visited the area later in the century and discovered several tombs in the West Valley, including those of Ay in 1816 and Seti I in 1817 Belzone claimed that all tombs had been found and nothing else remained.

American Theodore Davis came to the Valley of Kings around the beginning of the 20th century. Him and his team discovered many royal and non-royal tombs. He eventually found what they thought were the remains of Tutankhamun’s burial site, and exclaimed that the valley was completely explored and there was nothing else to be found. Davis died in 1915 and Lord Carnarvon took over and discovered the actual tomb of Tutankhamun in late 1922. Expeditions have continued in the valley and added a great deal of knowledge of the area.

Valley of the Kings Visitor Information
The Valley of the Kings is open daily in the summer from 6am to 6pm. In the winter hours are 9AM to 5PM. Admission is LE 70 for three tombs. Tourists get to choose those three tombs. If you want to visit more than three, you will need to buy additional tickets from the main ticket office in the West Bank. Experts suggest that tourists visit at least one tomb from each of the main building phases, of which there are three.

Most tombs are not open to the public. Eighteen of the tombs can be opened but are seldom open all at once. Restoration work is quite extensive, which causes officials to close many that are open in order to be worked on. The tomb of Ay in the West Valley is the only one in that area that is open. Tourists need a separate ticket when visiting this tomb. Tour guides used to be able to inform tourists while giving tours, but they are not allowed to talk while inside the actual tombs. Travelers are expected to remain respectful and quiet when proceeding through the tombs. The point is to minimize time in the tombs and prevent damage from the large amount of crowds. Photography is also not allowed when visiting the tombs. Four to five thousand visitors come to the main valley on most days. Experts expect numbers to rise to 25,000 by 2015.

Highlights of Valley of the Kings

• Tutankhamun’s tomb is arguably the most popular highlight of a visit to the Valley of Kings. It does require a separate ticket which costs LE 100. Although most want to visit Tutankhamun’s tomb, travelers sometimes leave disappointed compared to other royal tombs. It is much smaller and has much less decoration than other tombs. The riches found in the tomb are now housed in the Egyptian Museum in Cairo. If you’re short on time, you may want to skip this one.
• Phase One Tombs: The tomb of Thutmose III is located in one of the most remote areas in the valley. You must walk up several flights of steps, but it is worth the climb.
• Phase Two Tombs: The tomb of Horemheb is worth visiting as he is the last king of the 18th Dynasty. The Tomb of Merneptah, who was the son of Ramses II, has paintings and reliefs that are in good condition.
• Phase Three Tombs: The Tomb of Ramses VI was originally started by Ramses V. Ramses VI enlarged the tomb and had workers carver his image over his Ramses V’s. One of the most interesting tombs surviving in the Valley is Ramses VI because it is the most complete and best preserved.

Valley of the Kings Conservation Efforts

Tourism has created many problems for the area.  Plexiglass panels have been erected over parts of the tombs to protect them from erosion due to visitor’s putting their hands on them.  Stabilising walls have been erected to control the flow of visitors, while an air circulation system has also been installed.  Flooding continues to be an issue in the area and strengthening measures have also been taken to protect the site.