The Valley of the Kings on Luxor's West Bank holds more than 60 royal tombs cut deep into the rock, their painted walls still vivid 3,000 years on. A day tour gets you inside a rotating selection – Ramesses VI and Seti I are the showstoppers – with optional access to Tutankhamun's tomb, and a private Egyptologist decoding the funerary texts as you go.
Guided visits to the Valley of the Kings
Valley of the Kings Day Tours
Tutankhamun, Seti I and Ramesses VI – tomb interiors with our Egyptologist on Luxor's West Bank
LengthHalf day
From$80 / person
PickupHotel or Nile cruise included
GuideEgyptologist
The best day tour in Valley of the Kings is the one you don't have to organize yourself. We've been arranging them, in this country, since 1988.Discovery Tours Egypt · since 1988
What you'll see
Valley of the Kings, in the order that makes sense
A full day comfortably covers two or three of the stops below – your guide tailors the mix to your pace, interests and the season.
01
Tutankhamun's tomb (KV62)
The only royal tomb found nearly intact, and the one that made headlines in 1922. Small but extraordinary – the boy king's gilded outermost coffin and his mummy still rest here, in the Valley itself.
02
The painted tombs
Behind plain doorways in the cliff, corridors plunge into color – ceilings of stars, walls of gods and spells from the Book of the Dead, the pigment as vivid as the day it was laid 3,000 years ago.
03
Hatshepsut's temple nearby
A few minutes away, the three terraces of Hatshepsut's mortuary temple rise against the same cliff that hides the royal tombs – most West Bank days pair the two.
04
Seti I (KV17)
The longest and most finely decorated tomb in the Valley – every surface carved and painted, the ceiling a deep-blue astronomical chart. A separate ticket, and worth every penny.
05
Ramesses VI (KV9)
One of the most spectacular open tombs – a long, bright corridor beneath a double image of the sky-goddess Nut swallowing and rebirthing the sun. On the standard ticket when open.
Every Valley of the Kings day tours
Ways to spend the day
Every private, fully-guided day tour we run here – hotel or Nile-cruise pickup included. The price you see is the all-in rate.
Luxor West Bank: Valley of the Kings, Hatshepsut & Colossi of Memnon
This private West Bank day tour visits the Valley of the Kings, Hatshepsut's Deir el‑Bahari, and the Colossi of Memnon. We are a licensed Egyptian tour operator. Your driver meets you at your Luxor hotel; we arrange an air‑conditioned car, a short West Bank crossing, and our Egyptologist guides every visit. We don't run group bus tours; we set the pacing to avoid the midday heat and minimise queue time. Unlike typical cruise shore excursions, we allow longer time at tombs and the temple. Note: shade is limited on the West Bank and tombs have uneven steps; premium tomb tickets (Tutankhamun, Seti I) and gratuities are excluded.
From $104
Luxor Hot Air Balloon Sunrise Flight
We arrange a pre-dawn hot-air balloon flight over Luxor, including hotel pickup and a post-flight light breakfast. Flights typically run before sunrise and last about 45–60 minutes. As a licensed Egyptian tour operator we book locally licensed balloon operators and organise direct transfers to the launch field rather than moving groups by coach. Unlike mass-market vendors that squeeze launches into busy timetables, we prioritise launch timing and site choice to maximise views of the Valley of the Kings, Hatshepsut Temple and the Nile. Trade-offs: early start (hotel pickup around 4:00–4:30 AM), weather-dependent cancellations, and occasionally bumpy landings.
From $112
Know before you go
The practical bits
What to wear
Cover shoulders and knees for mosques and churches. Closed, comfortable shoes – you'll cross uneven stone and sand.
Tipping
Around $2–4 a day for your guide is standard, and a little for the driver. Never obligatory – your day tour price is complete.
Heat & water
Carry 1.5L minimum. Sites are in full sun by 10am – the early start isn't just about crowds, it's about comfort.
Cameras & fees
A few sites charge a separate camera fee at the gate; some interiors are extra. Standard site entry is always included.
Questions we hear most
Valley of the Kings day tours, answered
- How many tombs are in the Valley of the Kings?
- More than 60 royal tombs have been discovered, cut deep into the rock on Luxor's West Bank, their painted walls still vivid after 3,000 years. The standard ticket lets you enter three; Seti I, Nefertari and Tutankhamun's tomb require separate tickets.
- How much does a Valley of the Kings day tour cost?
- Private day tours in Valley of the Kings start from $104 per person, with the exact rate depending on the itinerary, group size and season. Every Discovery Tours Egypt day tour is private and all-inclusive: a licensed Egyptologist guide, air-conditioned vehicle, hotel pickup and drop-off, and all listed entry fees. There are no hidden add-ons at the sites.
- Are your Valley of the Kings day tours private?
- Yes. Every day tour we run is fully private – just your party, your own Egyptologist guide and your own driver. Nothing is shared with strangers, and the pace, stops and timing are tailored to you on the day.
- Is hotel pickup included?
- Yes. Pickup and drop-off at your Valley of the Kings hotel (or Nile cruise dock, where relevant) are included at no extra cost. Your guide meets you in the lobby; if your plans change, the local office that arranged the day tour can adjust it on the day.
- When is the best time to visit Valley of the Kings?
- October to April is the most comfortable season, with warm days and cool evenings ideal for sightseeing. May to September is hotter, so day tours start early to beat the midday heat – and you'll often find fewer crowds and lower prices. We run day tours in Valley of the Kings year-round.
- Is it safe, and are families welcome?
- Yes on both counts. We've operated in Egypt since 1988 from offices nationwide, with 24/7 in-country support, and day tours run with our own vetted guides and drivers. Families are very welcome – guides adjust the pace and content for children, and we can arrange car seats and shorter itineraries.
Plan your day in Valley of the Kings Tell us your dates.
Tell us your dates.
We'll build the day.
Private Egyptologist, hotel pickup, all entry fees, clear pricing. Offices across Egypt – and the person who answers the phone can fix things on the day.
Free cancellation up to 48 hours before pickup* · we reply within 30 minutes in Cairo office hours
*Excludes trips with pre-issued flight or train tickets.