Open: Summer daily 6AM - 5PM Winter 6AM - 4PM. Admission: LE 80/40 for three tombs of your choice those wishing to view more than 3 tombs will need to purchase additional tickets, available from the main Ticket Office in the West Bank.
Note that not all the tombs within the Valley are currently open to the public. Many are closed periodically for resting and renovation. As of December 8 2011, the following tombs were open: KV1, KV2, KV6, KV9, KV62, KV11, KV15, KV16, and KV47.
Information within the Valley has been vastly improved in recent years; mostly gone are the old faded signs, now replaced by engraved metal signs detailing the history, architecture and decoration of each tomb, together with detailed plans and diagrams these have been provided courtesy of the Theban Mapping Project, in association with the Egyptian Supreme Council of Antiquities.
In order to get the best idea of the tombs within the Valley of the Kings, it is wise to visit at least one tomb from each of the three main building phases see below.
phase one tombs
the Tomb of Thutmose III KV34 (http://www.thebanmappingp...) - one of the most remote tombs in the Valley, located at the far end of the Valley and up several flights of steps to gain entry. The climb is worth it though. The tomb is of the typical, early curved plan with a large oval burial chamber. The decoration is unique, being in a simple, pleasing style that resembles the cursive writing of the time. This tomb was not open as of Dec 8 2011.
tutankhamun
the Tomb of Tutankhamun KV62 (http://www.thebanmappingp...), requires an extra ticket of LE 100/50 for admission - arguably the most famous of the tombs in the Valley, the scene of Howard Carter's 1922 discovery of the almost intact royal burial of the young king. Compared to most of the other royal tombs, however, the tomb of Tutankhamun is barely worth visiting, being much smaller and with limited decoration. The fabulous riches of the tomb are no longer in it, but have been removed to the Egyptian Museum in Cairo. Visitors with limited time would be best to spend their time elsewhere.
Anyone interested in seeing evidence of the damage to the mummy done during initial attempts to remove it from the coffin will be disappointed as only the head and shoulders are visible.
phase two tombs
the Tomb of Horemheb KV57 (http://www.thebanmappingp...) - the tomb of the last king of the 18th Dynasty This tomb was not open as of Dec 17 2011.
the Tomb of Merneptah KV8 (http://www.thebanmappingp...) - son of Ramesses II the Great, Merneptah's tomb has suffered greatly from flash flooding of the Valley over the millennia. Those paintings and reliefs that have survived, however, are generally in good condition. This tomb is marked as Under Restoration and closed to the public as of Dec 8 2011.
phase three tombs
the Tomb of Ramesses VI KV9 (http://www.thebanmappingp...) requires an extra ticket of LE 50/25 for admission - this tomb was originally started by Ramesses V, but usurped after his death by his successor Ramesses VI, who enlarged the tomb and had his own image and cartouches carved in over his predecessor's. The tomb is one of the most interesting in the Valley, with one of the most complete and best preserved decorative schemes surviving.