Tombs of the Nobles
Small painted tombs of scribes, stewards and mayors — the most human and colorful art on the whole West Bank.
Colorful daily-life wall painting inside a Tomb of the Nobles
What to expect at Tombs of the Nobles
Where royal tombs show gods and afterlife rituals, the Nobles' tombs — cut into the hills above the modern West Bank villages — show life. Scenes of harvesting flax, banquet musicians, cattle counting, fowling in the marshes and daughters holding lotus flowers to their fathers' noses. There are about 400 known tombs here, grouped by hillside (Sheikh Abd el-Qurna, Khokha, Assasif, Dra Abu el-Naga). Only a handful are open at any time, sold in pairs on separate tickets ($4-6 per group of 2-3 tombs).
This is where you go once you’ve done the greatest hits and want to see something the coach tours skip. The tombs of Rekhmire, Sennefer, Nakht and Menna are the classic four to prioritize. Hire a taxi to wait — you’ll walk between clustered entrances, guarded by local gaffirs who unlock tombs and expect a small tip ($1) each.
Questions about Tombs of the Nobles
$4-6 per group of 2-3 tombs. Budget $15-20 to see the four classic Nobles' tombs.
No — all tickets sold at the site.
2-3 hours for the four highlight tombs, including walking time between clusters.
Open daily. Individual tombs rotate open and closed — the ticket office confirms which are available.
No advance booking. The Luxor Pass includes all Nobles' tombs, which is the smart way to see them all.
Al-Qurna hillside, West Bank. Taxi from the ferry $10-15 return; ask specifically for 'Tombs of the Nobles' as many drivers default to Kings.
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