The Valley of the Nobles is a place where nobles live.

As the Valley (Tombs) of the Nobles is commonly known, it provides a fascinating insight into the hundreds of tombs that have been discovered here over time and through numerous archeological digs.

It was once an ancient city located along the West Bank of the Nie River, surrounded by unmistakable sandstone rock cliffs, and it was here that all of the burials took place.

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Location

Luxor in Upper Egypt is just a short one-hour flight away from Cairo, or it may be reached by taking the night sleeper train from Cairo (which takes roughly ten hours).

There are two ways to get there from Hurghada: by plane (30 minutes) or by car (about 4 hours).

There are two options: a vehicle trip from Aswan (3 hours) or a Nile cruise over a few days of sailing.

History

On the West Bank of the Nile across from Luxor City is located The Theban Necropolis namely the Tombs of the Nobles.

There are a plethora of tombs in this area, some of which contain the burial sites of some of the most powerful courtiers and citizens of the ancient city.

The site was known to contain hundreds of tombs, some of which were thought to have been lost and have not yet been found.

During the New Kingdom period, tombs were adorned with inscriptions containing the names of the tomb owners, as well as a brief prayer in some cases.

The Tombs of the Nobles, which are frequently overlooked by visitors due to the high level of promotion and attention paid to the Valley of the Kings, are well worth a visit.

There are hundreds of tombs in the city’s cemetery, all of which are embedded in the rock face and are very often richly decorated with frescoes depicting the working lives of their residents.

Not all of the site and surrounding area can be visited; however, it does include tombs such as Sennofer, who was the Mayor of Thebes at the time of his death.

The original paintings on this tomb depict harvest scenes and grapevines, and they are quite beautiful.

A very grand Tomb included in this worthy visit is the tomb of the Noble Ramose which offers a glimpse of life at that time under the rule of Akhenaten, one of the earliest rulers to follow the monotheistic faith.

To date, over 450 tombs of the Nobles have been discovered at this site in ancient Egypt’s West Bank, which is located near the Nile.

The tombs include those of civil servants, generals, nobles, and wealthy and elite people, all of whom have more elaborate tombs.

Currently, it is possible to visit approximately 15 tombs, which are usually only available as part of a group tour.

These tombs are located across the road from the Ramesseum.

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