Medinet Habu, Deir el-Medina & the Valley of the Queens

Most visitors to the West Bank head straight for the Valley of the Kings. This half day goes elsewhere, to three sites that are often quieter and just as rewarding. We pick you up from your hotel, cross the river and start at Medinet Habu, the vast mortuary temple of Ramses III, its walls carved with battles against the Sea Peoples and its ceilings still holding much of their colour.

Next is Deir el-Medina, the Valley of the Workers, home to the craftsmen who cut and painted the royal tombs. You walk among the foundations of their houses and visit some of their own small tombs, decorated with the same skill they brought to the pharaohs' and a more personal touch.

The last stop is the Valley of the Queens, where royal wives and young princes were buried. Your guide shows you the tombs open that day, with vivid painted scenes; Queen Nefertari's tomb needs a separate, more expensive ticket. You're back at your hotel about four hours after pickup.