The Valley of the Queensوادي الملكات

The Valley of the Queens — known in ancient times as the "Place of Beauty" — was the burial ground for the queens, princes, and princesses of the New Kingdom, complementing the nearby Valley of the Kings where the pharaohs lay. More than ninety tombs have been found cut into its rock, ranging from simple chambers to richly decorated royal tombs. Set in a peaceful desert valley on the West Bank, it is a quieter but deeply rewarding part of the Theban necropolis.

The valley's treasure is the tomb of Queen Nefertari, the favourite wife of Ramesses II. Its walls are covered with breathtaking painted scenes of the queen among the gods, in colours so vivid and craftsmanship so refined that it is often called the most beautiful tomb in Egypt. Painstakingly restored, it is a fragile masterpiece; access is carefully limited to protect it, but those who enter encounter one of the supreme achievements of ancient Egyptian art.

Beyond Nefertari, the valley holds other notable tombs, including the colourful tombs of several young princes, sons of Ramesses III, who died young and were buried here with touching scenes of their father presenting them to the gods. With its dramatic desert setting and its concentration of royal tombs, the Valley of the Queens makes a perfect addition to a day exploring Luxor's West Bank monuments.

• What it is: the burial valley of New Kingdom queens and royal children.
• Arabic name: وادي الملكات (the Valley of the Queens).
• Location: Luxor's West Bank, near the Valley of the Kings.
• Tombs: more than 90, from simple to richly painted.
• Highlight: the tomb of Nefertari, often called Egypt's most beautiful.
• Also: the tombs of several young princes.

Sources include standard Egyptology references. Some details are approximate.