How to get there and how to get around the Valley of the Kings

The Valley of the Kings lies approximately 7–12 miles (a dozen or so kilometres) from the centre of Luxor, on the other side of the Nile. Luxor itself is about an hour’s flight south of Cairo; you can get there by plane, train or boat as part of a several-day river cruise.

Arriving in the Valley

Once you arrive in Luxor, bear in mind that traditional “public transport” – meaning buses – is virtually non-existent. You can get around the city itself on foot, but reaching the Valley requires a bit more effort. Here’s a couple of options that allow you to get to the Valley.

By bus. Most tourists get there by coach on organised tours run by local travel agencies, or from one of the Red Sea resorts. In this case, a visit to the Valley is just one stop on a tiring, full-day excursion. So you are unlikely to have time to see everything.

By car. Among independent travellers, the most popular option is to hire a car with a driver. You will find offers on popular travel websites. It is worth hiring one for the whole day, as this will allow you to visit other places in the area too. This includes both the popular ones, and those less frequently visited. Such as the Temple of Hatshepsut and the Valley of the Queens. This is the most flexible option – the driver simply waits for you in the car park.

By taxi. You can also reach the Valley by taxi from Luxor. It is worth arranging your return journey straight away, and agreeing on the price in advance. Keep in mind that fares may rise in the afternoon and taxis may be in short supply.

Getting around

Regardless of your mode of transport, all visitors arrive at the large car park by the ticket offices. That is where you buy your tickets, unless, of course, you already have them. Don’t bother with the ticket machines; head straight to the ticket office. Please note: the path from the car park to the ticket offices passes the market stalls. Ignore the vendors trying to attract customers and go straight to the ticket offices.

Once you have bought your ticket, go through the turnstiles. After leaving the building, you will see another stretch of road leading deeper into the valley. Electric trolleys run along this route; as of April 2026, a return fare cost 25 EGP. Is it worth it? Judge for yourselves – it is about 1,650 feet (500 metres) on foot. The ticket checkpoint and entrance to the Valley of the Kings itself are about 650 feet (200 metres) past the bend visible in the distance.

Once inside the main archaeological park, you may only move around on foot.

When planning a visit to the Valley of the Kings, it is also worth bearing in mind that most of the tombs require a good level of fitness. This is because of the stairs inside or the path leading to the entrance. If stairs are a problem for you, this may not be the place for you. The tombs with facilities for people with mobility issues are KV1 (Ramesses VII), KV2 (Ramesses IV) and KV6 (Ramesses IX). Scroll through the photos at the top of this screen to see a more detailed map.