Is the Valley of the Kings Worth Visiting?
Is the Valley of the Kings worth it? Yes for the painted tombs, if you know what the EGP 750 ticket covers, how long you get inside and what a day from the Red Sea costs in hours (Oct 2026).
Yes: the Valley of the Kings is worth visiting for the painted royal tombs, carved deep into the hills and decorated with the books of the afterlife, but go knowing that the EGP 750 ticket admits you to three of the tombs that are open that day, that the best ones cost extra, and that a day from the Red Sea is mostly road. From a Luxor hotel it is an easy morning; Nice Tours’ day of both banks is from $30 a person before the entrance fees (checked October 2026).
Worth it for you if
- You want to see inside a pharaoh’s tomb. The Ramesside tombs run in long corridors deep into the hill, painted from floor to ceiling with the books of the afterlife and astronomical ceilings; nothing on the surface prepares you for them.
- You are in Luxor anyway. The valley, Hatshepsut’s temple and the Colossi of Memnon fill a morning, and a full day adds Karnak and Luxor Temple on the East Bank.
- You pay for one extra tomb. Ramesses V and VI’s (KV9), EGP 220, is the step up from the standard three; Seti I’s (KV17) is the finest and EGP 2,000.
Think twice if
- You have only a day from the coast and hate long drives. From Hurghada it is about 4 to 4.5 hours each way for two hours in the valley; a night in Luxor, or a two-day tour, gives you more for the road.
- You expect Tutankhamun’s treasures. His tomb is small, and the Ministry of Tourism and Antiquities itself calls it modest; the treasures were taken out after 1922.
- You want a quiet valley at midday. The tombs are underground and the paths between them are not; tours start early for a reason. The gates open at 06:00.
Check dates for both banks in a day →
What it costs, all in
| What | From Luxor | From Hurghada |
|---|---|---|
| Valley ticket (three tombs) | EGP 750 | Included on most day trips |
| One extra tomb (KV9) | EGP 220 | Some include Tutankhamun’s |
| Hatshepsut’s temple | EGP 440 | Included on most day trips |
| A tour, per person | From $23 before tickets | From $56 in current promotion (usually $86) with tickets |
| Time | About 5 hours | 14 hours or more |
Ticket prices from the Ministry of Tourism and Antiquities; tour prices from GetYourGuide (checked October 2026).
The Valley of the Queens, or both?
The Valley of the Queens is less visited, EGP 220; its best-known tomb, Nefertari’s, has a ticket of its own at EGP 2,500. If you have one morning, the Valley of the Kings comes first; tours such as Kings and Queens with lunch do both, $55 before tickets (checked October 2026).
West and East Banks
The valley, Hatshepsut, the Colossi, Karnak and Luxor Temple with an Egyptologist and lunch.
Check dates →Luxor Day with King Tut
Hotel pickup, three tombs plus Tutankhamun's, Karnak, the Colossi and lunch, tickets included.
See the day →Both Valleys with Lunch
The Valley of the Kings, the Valley of the Queens and the Colossi from your Luxor hotel.
See both valleys →Prices and ratings from GetYourGuide (checked October 2026); operators change prices, so treat them as a guide, not a quote.
Ticket prices, opening hours and the tomb descriptions from the Ministry of Tourism and Antiquities; tour lengths, inclusions and prices from the GetYourGuide listings, read on 29 October 2026.
Both Banks of Luxor in a Day
Nice Tours' shared full day from your Luxor hotel: the Valley of the Kings, Hatshepsut's temple and the Colossi of Memnon in the morning, Karnak and Luxor Temple after lunch, with an English-speaking Egyptologist. Choose the option with the entrance fees. On GetYourGuide in October 2026, free cancellation up to 24 hours before.
Check Dates and Options