Valley of the Kings

About

Situated under the pyramidal shadow of Al Qurn mountain, the Valley of the Kings served as the burial site for the pharaohs of the New Kingdom. Between 1550 and 1069 BC 63 magnificent royal tombs were built here. Over the years, many of these were stripped of their treasures, but in 1922, it was the site of one of the greatest archaeological discoveries of all time: the untouched tomb of King Tut. Today, authorities keep a rotation of 18 tombs open to the public in an attempt to protect them from damage. While, King Tut’s tomb is neither the oldest or grandest, it remains the most popular - perhaps because it still houses the boy king’s mummy and gilded sarcophagus. For those looking to see the mummies and many treasures that once filled the tombs, be sure to visit the Egyptian Museum in Cairo and Grand Egyptian Museum near the Giza Pyramids.