The Valley of Kings   >>> The west bank of Luxor had been the site of royal burials since around 2100 BC, but it was the pharaohs of the New Kingdom period (1550–1069 BC) who chose this isolated valley dominated by the pyramid-shaped mountain peak of Al Quran (The Horn). Once called the Great Necropolis of Millions of Years of Pharaoh, or the Place of Truth, the Valley of the Kings has 63 magnificent royal tombs. Ever since Howard Carter opened up King Tut’s tomb to reveal the treasures of the child king, the Valley of the Kings has captured the imaginations of travelers. The vividly painted tombs of Thebes’ pharaohs allow visitors a glimpse at the burial rites and death rituals of Ancient Egypt, and today remain Luxor ‘s West Bank’s greatest and most popular attraction.