The Valley of the Kings was the burial place of most of the pharaohs of Egypt of the New Kingdom period, approximately from 1539 BC to 1075 BC, and contains 62 known tombs.

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The Valley of the Kings is one of the most remarkable archaeological destinations in the world. The valley is located on the west bank of the Nile, just across from Luxor (ancient Thebes), and consists of two valleys, East Valley (where the majority of the royal tombs are situated) and the West Valley. The Valley of the Kings was the burial place of most of the pharaohs of Egypt of the New Kingdom period, approximately from 1539 BC to 1075 BC, and contains 62 known tombs, starting with Thutmose I and ending with Ramesses X or XI. The Valley of the Kings also have tombs for the favorite nobles and the wives and children of both nobles and pharaohs. Around 1300 BC the Valley of the Queens was begun, although some wives were still buried with their husbands.

The area has been a focus of concentrated archaeological and egyptological exploration since the end of the eighteenth century, and its tombs and burials continue to stimulate research and interest. With the 2005 discovery of a new chamber, and the 2008 discovery of 2 further tomb entrances, the valley is known to contain 62 tombs and chambers, ranging in size from a simple pit to a complex tomb with over 120 chambers. Most of the tombs found had already been plundered in ancient time. A few, like the tomb of Tutankhamen or that of Yuya and Thuyu, contained thousands of artifacts. Some tombs have been accessible since antiquity, but most of them have been discovered in the past two hundred years.

On most days of the week an average of four thousand tourists visit the main valley, but on days that the Nile Cruises arrive, the number can rise to around nine thousand. Most of the tombs are not open to the public although 18 of the tombs can be opened at the same time, but this rarely happens. The West Valley has only one open tomb, that of Ay, and a separate ticket is needed to visit this tomb, the same applies for the tomb of Tutankhamen, primarily because so many want to visit this tomb.

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