Egypt’s tomb of Pharaoh Amenhotep III reopened to visitors on October 4, 2025, following more than two decades of restoration. Located in the Valley of the Kings near Luxor, the 3,400-year-old burial site had been closed to the public for over 20 years.
Amenhotep III ruled Egypt from around 1390 to 1350 BC during the 18th Dynasty, a period associated with the height of ancient Egypt’s power and prosperity. His reign left behind temples, palaces and monumental statues, including the Colossi of Memnon near Luxor.
French engineers first located the tomb in 1799 during Napoleon’s Egyptian campaign. British archaeologist Howard Carter carried out a full excavation in 1915, but looters had emptied the burial chamber centuries earlier. Despite the damage, the site retains remarkable wall paintings and hieroglyphs from the Book of the Dead, an ancient Egyptian funerary text intended to guide the deceased into the afterlife. The stone frame of the sarcophagus also survives, with its lid preserved in place.
Restoration took place between 2001 and 2024 in three phases, involving Egyptian, Japanese and international teams. More than 260 specialists contributed over the two decades, working to conserve the tomb’s structure and its surviving artwork. The project also included restoration of the sarcophagus lid.
Visitors can descend around 14 metres underground to explore the tomb. Its preserved paintings and inscriptions offer insight into the artistic traditions and burial practices of ancient Egypt, while the restoration highlights the work required to protect archaeological sites for future generations.
The reopening forms part of Egypt’s wider efforts to conserve its archaeological heritage and strengthen cultural tourism.
