The Valley of the Kings stands on the west bank of the River Nile. It is home to the tombs of many Pharaohs and powerful nobles from Ancient Egypt. The valley has been heavily excavated since the end of the 18th-century by archaeologists who were keen to uncover the mysteries of this area. The West Valley is where the majority o the significant tombs are located although there are many more tombs in East Valley. The discovery of the tomb of Tutankhamun made this one of the most famous and historically significant sites in the world. In 1979, it was declared a UNESCO World Heritage Site. There is now also a tourist center in the Valley of the Kings. The majority of the tombs are not open to the public. In fact, there are only 18 that can be viewed but these are not always open at the same time as restoration work takes place regularly. Usually, there are between 4,000 and 5,000 visitors to the Valley of the Kings each week. However, when Nile cruises are taking place, there are as many as 9,000 visitors.
