# Tombs of the Nobles Guide: History, Tickets & What to See Source: https://luxor101.com/ancient-luxor/tombs-of-the-nobles Language: en # Tombs of the Nobles مقابر النبلاء The decorated chapels of Theban officials add family, work and social identity to the story told by the royal monuments. Their scenes also served religious and funerary purposes. These tombs offer a different perspective on ancient Thebes: officials at work, families receiving offerings, workshops and fields. Read such scenes as carefully chosen images of status and an ideal afterlife, not as unfiltered snapshots of daily life. Published sources · confirm changing details before travel **Already at the site?**Keep the visit sequence and details to look for close to hand. [Open the field guide](https://luxor101.com/ancient-luxor/tombs-of-the-nobles/visit) In one paragraph A private Theban tomb of this kind follows a recognisable plan, repeated with variations across the hillside. A courtyard leads to a chapel cut into the rock: typically a broad transverse hall running across the entrance, sometimes followed by a narrower hall running back into the hill, ending in a niche that could hold statues of the owner and his family. Somewhere in the floor — in the court, the hall, or both — a shaft descends separately to the actual burial chamber, usually plain and not part of the visit. Above the entrance of a number of chapels stood a small steep mudbrick pyramid, echoing in miniature a form the kings themselves had abandoned centuries before. Time needed: 1–2 hours, depending on how many tomb groups you visit · Best time of day: A cooler part of the day, subject to confirmed opening hours and the forecast. [Choosing Tombs in the Valley of the Kings](https://luxor101.com/journal/which-valley-of-the-kings-tombs) **Type**: Necropolis **Bank**: West bank **Period**: New Kingdom **Principal deity**: Osiris **Time needed**: 1–2 hours, depending on how many tomb groups you visit **Best time of day**: A cooler part of the day, subject to confirmed opening hours and the forecast. **Heat exposure**: High _· Expect exposed sections. Continuous shade or a seated rest area has not been verified; plan a separate break._ **Walking**: Moderate _· Select named tombs before arranging the transfer: this is a dispersed group on the hillside. Check the approach, steps and return for each chapel; no measured accessible circuit is recorded._ **Guide**: Recommended **Ticket**: Separate ticket groups; see details below. **Photography**: The official ticket page lists mobile-phone photography as free. Confirm room-specific restrictions and rules for other equipment at the site.Online sources checked 2026-09-19 · [Tombs Of The Nobles — published visitor information](https://egymonuments.com/details/TombsOfTheNobles) [Tombs Of The Nobles — ticket categories](https://egymonuments.com/book-date/24) **Current access**: Current access not verified Dashed boxes mark information we have not verified. Check essential prices, hours and access arrangements with the official venue before travelling. FIG. 1 — TOMBS OF THE NOBLES · A LIFE ON THE WALLS ## Beyond kings, the work of the living. A representative hillside and T-shaped chapel, alongside studies of banquets, work and family portraits. These scenes and doorways do not identify individual tombs. LANDSCAPE & DETAIL · SCHEMATIC 1\. A banquet for the afterlife Select a number to explore a detail here. 1. [A banquet for the afterlife](https://luxor101.com/ancient-luxor/tombs-of-the-nobles#lookfor-tombs-of-the-nobles-daily-life) 2. [The work that paid for the tomb, scene by scene](https://luxor101.com/ancient-luxor/tombs-of-the-nobles#lookfor-tombs-of-the-nobles-work-of-the-living) 3. [How high a man could cut, and why](https://luxor101.com/ancient-luxor/tombs-of-the-nobles#lookfor-tombs-of-the-nobles-rank-on-the-hillside) 4. [The same two people, painted again and again](https://luxor101.com/ancient-luxor/tombs-of-the-nobles#lookfor-tombs-of-the-nobles-family-portraits) The hillside & chapel 3\. How high a man could cut, and why - CHAPELS ON THE HILLSIDE Select a number to explore a detail here. 1. [How high a man could cut, and why](https://luxor101.com/ancient-luxor/tombs-of-the-nobles#lookfor-tombs-of-the-nobles-rank-on-the-hillside) Banquets & daily life 1\. A banquet for the afterlife Select a number to explore a detail here. 1. [A banquet for the afterlife](https://luxor101.com/ancient-luxor/tombs-of-the-nobles#lookfor-tombs-of-the-nobles-daily-life) Work & responsibility 2\. The work that paid for the tomb, scene by scene Select a number to explore a detail here. 1. [The work that paid for the tomb, scene by scene](https://luxor101.com/ancient-luxor/tombs-of-the-nobles#lookfor-tombs-of-the-nobles-work-of-the-living) Family portraits 4\. The same two people, painted again and again Select a number to explore a detail here. 1. [The same two people, painted again and again](https://luxor101.com/ancient-luxor/tombs-of-the-nobles#lookfor-tombs-of-the-nobles-family-portraits) Text alternative for this figure Beyond kings, the work of the living. | Look for this | Where | | --- | --- | | 1. A banquet for the afterlife | Banquet scenes in decorated private chapels; the subjects and their positions vary by tomb | | 2. The work that paid for the tomb, scene by scene | The inner hall of a chapel, in the long registers running toward the back | | 3. How high a man could cut, and why | Step back and look at the hillside as a whole, not into any single tomb | | 4. The same two people, painted again and again | Throughout any chapel, in scene after scene | A representative hillside and T-shaped chapel, alongside studies of banquets, work and family portraits. These scenes and doorways do not identify individual tombs. Look for this ## Details worth stopping for. Numbers match the plan above. Each entry says where it is, what you will actually see, and how confident anyone can be about what it means. 1. 1 ### A banquet for the afterlife [Back to the drawing](https://luxor101.com/ancient-luxor/tombs-of-the-nobles#site-drawing) Banquet scenes in decorated private chapels; the subjects and their positions vary by tomb Men and women seated in rows at a feast, served food and wine by attendants, entertained by musicians and dancers, garlanded with lotus flowers. The banquet brings together family, offerings, music and status. It draws on recognisable activities, but presents a chosen vision of abundance and remembrance for the tomb owner’s afterlife. 2. 2 ### The work that paid for the tomb, scene by scene [Back to the drawing](https://luxor101.com/ancient-luxor/tombs-of-the-nobles#site-drawing) The inner hall of a chapel, in the long registers running toward the back Ploughing behind oxen, sowing, the grain harvest, men working a marsh among reeds and rising birds — the estates and duties that were the owner’s actual livelihood, set out register by register. Agricultural and workshop scenes can preserve valuable details of work while also expressing status, provision and hopes for the afterlife. Their practical detail and religious purpose belong together. 3. 3 ### How high a man could cut, and why [Back to the drawing](https://luxor101.com/ancient-luxor/tombs-of-the-nobles#site-drawing) Step back and look at the hillside as a whole, not into any single tomb Doorways and courtyard cuttings scattered across the slope in real density, some low near the cultivation, others cut high up the hill. Interpretation Fact — the density and spread of tomb entrances across the hillside. Interpretation — reading position and scale as a direct proxy for rank; the correlation is broadly accepted but not a fixed rule, and some well-placed tombs belong to officials whose exact standing is not otherwise well documented. Position and scale on this hillside broadly tracked office and royal favour — the closest thing here to a map of the Theban administration’s own pecking order, cut into rock rather than written on a papyrus. 4. 4 ### The same two people, painted again and again [Back to the drawing](https://luxor101.com/ancient-luxor/tombs-of-the-nobles#site-drawing) Throughout any chapel, in scene after scene The tomb owner and his wife, seated or standing side by side, repeated through the chapel, sometimes with children shown small at their feet or under a chair. A king’s tomb is built around a text and the journey it describes. A tomb like this is built around two named, portrayed people asking, plainly, to be remembered and provided for — which is a far older and far more universal reason to build a tomb at all. Look closely, photograph only where permitted, and keep hands and bags clear of ancient surfaces. Follow barriers and conservation instructions. How to visit ## Plan your visit. ### Tickets Published prices in Egyptian pounds per person. Online sources checked 2026-09-19. **Rekhmire and Sennefer** **Foreign adult / student**: 120 / 60 EGP **Egyptian adult / student**: 10 / 5 EGP **Nakht and Menna** **Foreign adult / student**: 200 / 100 EGP **Egyptian adult / student**: 20 / 10 EGP **Ramose** **Foreign adult / student**: 200 / 100 EGP **Egyptian adult / student**: 20 / 10 EGP There is no single admission price for this dispersed group. These are three named ticket groups from the official list; check the exact tombs included before paying. Recheck the official seller for your visit date, concession eligibility and any additional charges. A listed ticket does not establish which interiors are open today. Online sources checked 2026-09-19 · [Tombs Of The Nobles — published visitor information](https://egymonuments.com/details/TombsOfTheNobles) [Tombs Of The Nobles — ticket categories](https://egymonuments.com/book-date/24) ### Opening hours & timing **Daily hours**: Opens 06:00; last entry 17:00 in summer, 16:00 in winter and Ramadan. **Time needed**: 1–2 hours, depending on how many tomb groups you visit **Best time of day**: A cooler part of the day, subject to confirmed opening hours and the forecast. ### Heat & shade **Heat exposure**: High **Shade**: Low **Walking**: Moderate **Water on site**: not verified Expect exposed sections. Continuous shade or a seated rest area has not been verified; plan a separate break. ### Photography **Photography**: The official ticket page lists mobile-phone photography as free. Confirm room-specific restrictions and rules for other equipment at the site.Online sources checked 2026-09-19 · [Tombs Of The Nobles — published visitor information](https://egymonuments.com/details/TombsOfTheNobles) [Tombs Of The Nobles — ticket categories](https://egymonuments.com/book-date/24) ### Getting there On the west bank, on the lower slopes of the same hill that carries Deir el-Bahari above it and the path over to the Valley of the Kings, a short distance from the Ramesseum and from Deir el-Medina. The tomb groups are scattered and reached by short unpaved tracks off the main west-bank road; because which chapels are open changes, a guide or driver who already knows the current situation is genuinely useful here, more than at most other sites in this guide. **Typical taxi fare**: not verified ### Do you need a guide? A knowledgeable guide can help identify chapels and interpret their scenes. Confirm the open entrances and chosen route in advance. [Choosing a guide in Luxor](https://luxor101.com/plan/do-you-need-a-guide) Access ## Check the access details you need. Access depends on the whole route: surfaces, thresholds, distance, shade and facilities. We describe these separately, but have not completed an on-site access audit. Confirm the details you need before visiting. [How we assess accessibility](https://luxor101.com/plan/accessibility) **Ground surface**: Sloping, sandy and uneven; the paths between tomb entrances are unpaved and cut by low walls and thresholds **Stairs**: Each tomb group means a climb up the hillside first; inside, several chapels are entered down a few steps, and the shafts to the actual burial chambers are not part of the visit **Shade**: Expect exposed sections. Continuous shade or a seated rest area has not been verified; plan a separate break. **Sensory conditions**: Outdoor hillside approaches lead to chapels with different depths and layouts. Check light and enclosure for the named tombs you choose; one chapel does not establish conditions in another. **Claustrophobia**: Tomb interiors can be confined, with stairs or narrow passages and a return along the entry route. Conditions differ by tomb; assess the exact route before entering. **Distance on foot**: Select named tombs before arranging the transfer: this is a dispersed group on the hillside. Check the approach, steps and return for each chapel; no measured accessible circuit is recorded. **Confirm before visiting:** Step-free entry · Wheelchair route · Seating · Accessible toilet · Vehicle drop-off. Our access descriptions are planning guidance, not an on-site audit. Confirm the route and facilities you need before visiting. Photographs alone cannot establish accessibility. After the reading ## Would a licensed guide help your visit? We do not arrange guides or take booking fees. Our guide explains where local knowledge and historical context can add to a visit, and what to ask before hiring someone. [Do you need a guide in Luxor?](https://luxor101.com/plan/do-you-need-a-guide) Continue reading ## Explore the connections 1–1 / 8 [Village · West bank ### Deir el-Medina The village of the men who cut the royal tombs. It is the site that makes all the others feel human. ](https://luxor101.com/ancient-luxor/deir-el-medina)[Necropolis · West bank ### Valley of the Kings The royal burial landscape of the New Kingdom: rock-cut tombs tucked into a desert valley, separate from the kings’ major commemorative temples. ](https://luxor101.com/ancient-luxor/valley-of-the-kings)[Temple · West bank ### Temple of Hatshepsut Terraces set straight into the cliff at Deir el-Bahari — and a reign that was later chiselled off its own walls. ](https://luxor101.com/ancient-luxor/temple-of-hatshepsut)[Temple · West bank ### The Ramesseum Ramesses II’s mortuary temple, largely collapsed — including the colossus that put “Ozymandias” into English. ](https://luxor101.com/ancient-luxor/ramesseum)[God ### Osiris Ruler of the dead, associated with restoration and renewal. ](https://luxor101.com/ancient-luxor/gods/osiris)[God ### Anubis The black jackal of the cemetery, who does the embalming and guards the burial. ](https://luxor101.com/ancient-luxor/gods/anubis)[God ### Hathor Goddess of love, music and the western mountain — the one who receives the dead. ](https://luxor101.com/ancient-luxor/gods/hathor)[God ### Amun The hidden god of Thebes, who became king of the gods and the state god of an empire. ](https://luxor101.com/ancient-luxor/gods/amun) Sources & further reading 7 Tier 2 Thebes in Egypt: A Guide to the Tombs and Temples of Ancient Luxor, Nigel and Helen Strudwick British Museum Press Tier 1 Theban Mapping Project — Atlas of the Theban Necropolis Theban Mapping Project Tier 2 Topographical Bibliography of Ancient Egyptian Hieroglyphic Texts, Reliefs and Paintings, Bertha Porter and Rosalind L. B. Moss Griffith Institute, University of Oxford Tier 1 [Ancient Thebes with its Necropolis — World Heritage List inscription and documentation](https://whc.unesco.org/en/list/87/) UNESCO World Heritage Centre Online source checked 2026-09-19 Tier 1 Ministry of Tourism and Antiquities — monument and site records Ministry of Tourism and Antiquities (Egypt) Tier 1 [Tombs Of The Nobles — published visitor information](https://egymonuments.com/details/TombsOfTheNobles) Ministry of Tourism and Antiquities — official ticket service Official page indexed · checked 2026-09-19 Tier 1 [Tombs Of The Nobles — ticket categories](https://egymonuments.com/book-date/24) Ministry of Tourism and Antiquities — official ticket service Official page indexed · checked 2026-09-19 Source review is incomplete. Consultation dates are shown only for checked references. These references provide the historical background for the page. [Sources and review status](mailto:corrections@egyptmore.com?subject=Luxor101%20correction)