Valley of the Queens, Luxor’s quiet royal necropolis
Published on 08/27/2026 at 17:22 | Editorial responsibility: Rafael Müller, Editor-in-Chief AD HOC NEWS
On the western bank of the Nile opposite Luxor, the Valley of the Queens forms a side gorge of the Theban Necropolis where New Kingdom queens and royal children were laid to rest. Known in ancient Egyptian as Ta-Set-Neferu, “the place of beauty”, it gathers dozens of rock-cut tombs from the eighteenth to twentieth dynasties into a compact desert hollow framed by cliffs and gravel slopes.Theban Necropolis gorge
Ta-Set-Neferu: a royal cemetery beside the desert cliffs
The Valley of the Queens lies in the arid hills southwest of Luxor, one of several linked wadis carved into the limestone plateau that rises behind the cultivated riverbank. It is part of the wider Theban Necropolis, the burial landscape that also includes the Valley of the Kings, the workers’ village at Deir el-Medina and mortuary temples such as that of Ramesses III at Medinet Habu.Thebes on Luxor’s West Bank Here, away from the floodplain, tomb entrances punctuate the valley floor and lower slopes, cut into the rock and reached by short paths or ramps.
Ancient texts and modern archaeology link the necropolis with the New Kingdom rulers of the eighteenth to twentieth dynasties, roughly between 1550 BC and 1070 BC.New Kingdom burial period Queens, princes, princesses and high officials of that era were buried in rock-hewn chambers here, reflecting a shift in elite burial away from pyramid fields near Cairo and toward cliff tombs around Thebes. The valley’s ancient name, Ta-Set-Neferu, underlines its status as a place of honoured burials rather than an anonymous desert gorge.Ta-Set-Neferu place of beauty
Tombs in the Valley of the Queens: layout and decoration
The cemetery contains over ninety known tombs, though only a handful are accessible at any given time.More than 90 tombs Most follow a relatively compact plan: a descending passage or short corridor, one or more chambers on either side, and an inner room where the sarcophagus once stood. Some tombs are largely undecorated, while others carry detailed wall paintings of deities, protective symbols and scenes from funerary texts painted on plaster over the rock.
The most celebrated tomb in the Valley of the Queens is QV66, belonging to Queen Nefertari, principal wife of Ramesses II.QV66 tomb of Nefertari Inside, brightly coloured scenes depict Nefertari in the presence of gods, playing board games and making offerings, framed by elaborate hieroglyphic bands. The density and preservation of the painting work have made QV66 a benchmark for New Kingdom tomb art. Other accessible tombs often belong to princes or lesser queens; their decoration tends to be simpler but still features standard elements such as protective deities, offering tables and passages from funerary compositions.
A side valley of the Theban Necropolis
Geographically, the Valley of the Queens sits south of the Valley of the Kings within the same range of limestone hills, reached from the fertile Nile strip by a route that passes the villages and ancient temple sites of Luxor’s west bank.West bank near Luxor The main wadi, which contains most tombs, is flanked by smaller subsidiary valleys, including the Valley of Prince Ahmose, the Valley of the Rope, the Valley of the Three Pits and the Valley of the Dolmen.Subsidiary valleys list Together they form a compact cluster of burial areas, each with its own set of entrances cut into the rock.
The wider Theban Necropolis, including the Valley of the Queens, forms part of the ancient remains around Luxor that UNESCO recognises as a World Heritage Site.UNESCO World Heritage context From the valley floor, visitors can see the contrast between the barren hills and the irrigated Nile plain below, a reminder of why tombs of the New Kingdom were sited in the desert margins rather than among the fields. The separation between the living city on the riverbank and the necropolis in the hills is one of the clearest spatial patterns around Luxor.
Visiting Valley of the Queens: what travellers from Western Europe should know
- Valley of the Queens lies on Luxor’s west bank in the Theban hills, reached by crossing the Nile from the city and continuing by road past sites such as Medinet Habu.
- The terrain in the valley consists of hard desert ground with short slopes and low steps around tomb entrances; paths are mostly exposed to the sun with limited shade.
- The site sits within a wider archaeological landscape that includes the Valley of the Kings, Deir el-Medina and several mortuary temples, all on the same side of the river.
- The official language is Arabic and the currency is the Egyptian pound.
- Entry requirements depend on your nationality; UK travellers can check the FCDO travel advice at gov.uk/foreign-travel-advice, Irish travellers the Department of Foreign Affairs at ireland.ie.
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Frequently asked questions about Valley of the Queens
Where is Valley of the Queens in relation to Luxor?
Valley of the Queens lies on the west bank of the Nile opposite Luxor, in the Theban hills south of the Valley of the Kings and near Medinet Habu.
What should visitors expect during a visit?
Visitors walk on exposed desert paths between tomb entrances, then descend into rock-cut chambers where painted or carved decoration survives on walls and ceilings.
What makes Valley of the Queens distinctive among Egyptian cemeteries?
It concentrates New Kingdom burials of queens and royal children into a compact wadi, and includes outstandingly painted tombs such as QV66 of Queen Nefertari.
