Hidden in a remote desert valley on the west bank of the Nile, the Valley of the Kings served as the royal burial ground for Egypt’s New Kingdom pharaohs for nearly 500 years. Over 60 tombs have been discovered here, carved deep into the limestone bedrock and decorated with extraordinarily vivid wall paintings depicting the pharaoh’s journey through the afterlife, scenes from the Book of the Dead, and elaborate depictions of gods and goddesses in colors that remain startlingly bright after more than three millennia. The tomb of Tutankhamun, discovered nearly intact by Howard Carter in 1922, is the most famous, but the tombs of Ramesses VI and Seti I feature some of the most elaborate and well-preserved decorations in the entire valley. Each tomb is a masterwork of ancient art and engineering, with corridors plunging as deep as 100 meters into the mountain.

Pro tip: The tomb of Ramesses VI (KV9) has the most spectacular ceiling decorations in the valley — its astronomical ceiling depicting the goddess Nut swallowing the sun is worth the visit alone, and it is included in the standard ticket.