According to us, ”Hub of History” is the best term to describe Luxor. You will agree with us because Luxor is truly a hub filled with history from 11th century BC. Every monument in Luxor narrates a deep story. Luxor is a city located in Upper Egypt and it was originally called ”Thebes” in ancient Egypt. Luxor also has a popular name, ”World’s greatest open-air Museum”.
The arguably longest river in the world, Nile divides the Luxor city into East Bank and West bank. The airport, train station and long-distance bus services lie on the East bank. The city is famous for its 2 huge, surviving ancient monuments- Luxor Temple and the Karnak Temple on the East Bank. And not to forget the architectural masterpiece dedicated to Queen Hatshepsut, The Temple of Hatshepsut lies on the West bank.
The Nile separating Luxor into East and West banks
In this blog, you can know about Places to visit in Luxor and everything about Valley of the Kings. Read our blog on Everything you need to know about Luxor.
Blog Contents
Things to do in Luxor
Here is the list of places to see in Luxor.
East Bank
1. Lotus Temple
2. Karnak Temple (Luxor Temple)
3. Local Markets
West Bank
1. Valley of the Kings
2. Temple of Hatshepsut
3. Asbestos factory and shops
Valley of the Kings (VOK)
The Valley of the Kings on the West Bank is approximately 30 mins drive from the West Bank ferry point. Locals call VOK, ”Valley of the Gates of the Kings”. It is the burial place for pharaohs from ancient Egypt’s New Kingdom.
The Valley of the Kings
The valley contains 63 tombs and chambers, for a period of nearly 500 years from the 16th to 11th century BC. This iconic location stands amidst 1000’s feet of limestone cliffs and other sedimentary rock.
On the way
We started very early in the morning at around 7.30 am. It took a while to exit the city limits and there were 2 security checkpoints on the way. They were just a casual checking.
It was early morning, the roads were isolated. Ours was the only car as far as the eye could see. Incredibly beautiful limestone cliffs of different shapes and sizes surrounded. The view was great and I was ready to be blown away with the beauty of VOK.
I wish we had stepped out of the car and clicked some good pics. Back then we never thought like bloggers. But don’t miss out on this because it is highly recommended.
Car parking to ticket counters
Once you enter the campus, there is a huge car parking area and you have to walk through the souvenirs market to reach the visitors’ center and the ticket counters. It is easy to navigate.
Near the car parking areaTip: Car parking is free.
Tickets and timings
The official currency of Egypt is Egyptian pounds(EGP) and 1€~18 EGP 1$~16 EGP
The ticket counter is inside the visitors’ centre and costs 100 EGP for adults and 50EGP for students.
Tip: Do carry your international student ID card. More information on the tickets here.
VOK is open to the public from 6.00 am to 5.00 pm 7 days a week. Check the timings before the visit because it varies during the holy month of Ramadan.
Note: With this 100EGP ticket you can enter only 3 out of the 63 tombs. Tutankhamun, Ay and Ramses VI. Tutankhamun’s tomb doesn’t include in the regular ticket price. You can buy a ticket for 100 EGP per person or 50 EGP per student.
The list at the visitors’ centre
Shuttle service from the visitor centre to the tomb entrance
This is a shuttle service to reach the tombs. Don’t expect a bus, it is a small train that carries up to 25-30 people at a time. It costs 4EGP per person(round trip). Shuttle tickets are available right next to the tomb ticket counters. It takes less than a minute to reach the entrance. You can walk as well.
The shuttle train from the visitor’s centre to the tomb entrance
Camera charges
At the Tomb entrance, there is a rigorous checking for cameras. Professional cameras are prohibited, leave them outside with security. Mobile cameras don’t pose any problem.
Inside the valley
VOK is a complete desert with cliffs all around. It was a goosebump moment because we had not seen anything like this before. VOK spreads over acres of land and you are free to roam around and explore the place like what we did. Clear signboards are indicating the route which leads you to the tombs.Inside the valley of the Kings
There is a small seating area where you can save yourself from the sun. The heat dehydrates you. It was 35° and we could feel the heat.
Best three tombs
The ticket allows entering only 3 tombs. The recommended tombs are
1. K.V 1 RAMESSES II
2. K.V 2 RAMESSES VIII
3. K.V 6 RAMESSES XIX
K.V stands for Kings Valley.
Inside the tombs
The tombs and chambers are of different sizes. There are very beautiful paintings engraved on the walls and also religious texts. The pharaoh or the Kings believe these texts guide them into the afterlife. Scenes from Egyptian mythology decorate the royal tombs and give clues as to the beliefs and funerary rituals of the period. All the caves are huge with limited light and usually consist of corridors and chambers.
Paintings on the wall
History
Thutmose I- the first pharaoh buried in the Valley of the Kings. Ineni is the architect of this tomb K.V 38. The final tomb built in the Valley of the Kings was for Ramses XI (K.V 4). He was the last ruler of the 20th dynasty.
Present-day
Over the centuries many of the tombs became lost to history and most of them either destroyed or robbed. Egyptologists continue to work on the Valley of the Kings searching the undiscovered tombs similar to the Angkor Wat in Cambodia.
Another painting
There are guides available at every tomb who can give you a very detailed picture of the tombs and the Kings. One can spend around 30 mins inside each tomb. You will surely feel the place if you are a history lover. We are not so much into history so we did not hire any guide, we simply walked around the place and experienced the rich history of Luxor. It was truly incredible.
Photography is prohibited inside the tombs. If the security catches you clicking pictures then you will end up paying a few bucks.
Best Time to visit
Luxor is a hot place. It is 30° at 7.00 am, so just imagine how hot it will be at noon. The best time to visit VOK is in the morning. Reach by 6.00 am and finish it as early as possible.
Overall experience: ⭐⭐⭐⭐⭐ out of 5
FAQs
How to reach VOK?
It is accessible to the public buy tuk-tuks, taxis and buses.
Is VOK crowded?No, the crowd gets distributed.
How big is the VOK?
It is spread over 100s of acres of land.
How much time do you need?
2 hours is more than sufficient.
When is the best time to visit?
At 7.00 am when there is less crowd.
Is photography allowed with a mobile camera?Yes, but photography is prohibited inside the caves.
Are there student offers?Yes, a 50% reduction in prices.
Do they accept other currencies?Yes, but be careful about the exchange prices.
Cash or card?
Better to have enough cash.
Is there a place to sit?Yes, near the tomb entrance.
Are there washrooms?Yes, at the visitors’ center.
Are there restaurants?Yes, there is a small cafe near the parking area.
Where to buy souvenirs?
It is better to buy them at the local market on East Bank because the prices are too high near the tourist attractions.
Is it safe to walk around the premises?Yes, it is safe and you can spot security at regular intervals.
Is there a dress code?No, but dress modestly.
Time of visit: May 2019
”Life is short and the world is wide. Travel” – anoyomous
The arguably longest river in the world, Nile divides the Luxor city into East Bank and West bank. The airport, train station and long-distance bus services lie on the East bank. The city is famous for its 2 huge, surviving ancient monuments- Luxor Temple and the Karnak Temple on the East Bank. And not to forget the architectural masterpiece dedicated to Queen Hatshepsut, The Temple of Hatshepsut lies on the West bank.
