Valley of the Kings and Valley of the Queens (Biban el-Melouk and Biban el-Harem)

The Valley of the Kings is a limestone valley situated in the Theban Hills where the mummified bodies of many Egyptian pharaohs were interred. The area marks a period in ancient Egyptian history in which the pharaohs abandoned the pyramid style and chose instead tombs dug within limestone in order to preserve the mummies for eternity and prevent grave robbing. The tombs, although stripped of many of their contents centuries ago, still display fantastic wall paintings depicting the lives of the pharaohs in ancient Egypt, down to the minutest detail. The most famous tomb is that of Tutankhamun, discovered in pristine condition by Howard Carter in 1922. The many treasures found in the tomb are now exhibited in the Egyptian Antiquities Museum in Cairo. Nearby, the wall paintings in the tombs of the Valley of the Queens and the Valley of the Nobles are equally fascinating. The most famous tomb in the Valley of the Queens is the Tomb of Queen Nefertari, the principal wife of Ramses II, which was only opened to the public in 1995.

Luxor Tourist Office, Nile St, Luxor, Egypt
Tel: (095) 382 215 or 373 294
Website: www.luxorguide.com

Air: Luxor International Airport. Water: Ferry: A tourist ferry leaves from the East Bank to take passengers across the River Nile. Motor boats can also be hired. Road: Coach: The majority of tourists visit the temple as part of an organised coach tour. Taxi: Taxis are available to take visitors to the temple and can be hired on arrival on the West Bank. Bicycle: Bicycles can be hired in Luxor.

Egypt