I have now seen the Pyramids twice and I still struggle to find the words to best describe them. Words simply cannot do justice to the magnificence of those three mighty stone tombs reaching to the sky.
NOTE When I use the term "the Pyramids" I am referring to the 3 pyramids belonging to Khufu, Khafre, and Menkaure. This post will solely be about the Pyramids and the Solar Boat Museum. I will discuss the Sphinx in a future post.
HISTORY
Pyramid building in Ancient Egypt began during the 3rd dynasty in the Old Kingdom with King Djoser's Step Pyramid and continued into the 4th dynasty starting with King Snefru's Bent Pyramid. These first pyramids are located in the cities of Dahshur and Saqqara near the ancient capital of Memphis. The golden age of pyramid building reached a high point - literally and figuratively - with the construction of the three major pyramids at Giza. The first pyramid to be built was the Great Pyramid of Khufu (circa 2560 BC) followed by those of his son Khafre (circa 2520 BC) and grandson Menkaure (circa 2490 BC). Most pyramids were part of a complex that included chapels, walls, additional tombs, and funerary boats. In Giza, some of the additional tombs are the smaller pyramids for the queens.
Contrary to believe, the pyramids were not built by slaves or aliens. They were built by the Ancient Egyptians themselves, some whom were seasonal workers. In Ancient times, before the Nile was controlled by dams, the river would flood agricultural land several months of the year. During these floods, Egyptians would travel to Giza and other cities to work on various building projects. They lived in worker villages where they were provided meals and medical care.
Recent excavations have discovered funerary boats alongside some tombs with the largest, most complete belonging to Khufu. These boats served the kings in the afterlife as they sailed across the heavens with the sun god Ra.
FAST FACTS
*Numbers from National Geographics and Britannica*
Khufu’s Pyramid: The pyramid was originally about 481 ft high but today it stands at approximately 450 ft in height. It contains an estimated 2.3 million limestone blocks each weighing between 2.5 and 15 tons.
Khafre’s Pyramid: This pyramid was originally approximately 471 ft high. It is the only pyramid in Giza that still has sections of the limestone casing intact.
Menkaure’s Pyramid: The smallest of the three pyramids, it had an approximate height of 218 ft in ancient times.
Khufu's Solar Boat: The boat measures 144 ft long and was buried in 1,224 pieces.
VISITING THE PYRAMIDS
The Pyramids are the last remaining of the 7 wonders of the ancient world and the chance to visit structures over 4,000 years old is rare opportunity. Most everyone has seen pictures or videos of the Pyramids and some know their basic history but few have the opportunity to touch these majestic tombs. It is quite the experience being able to walk around the Pyramids, climb their stones, and enter their chambers. Nothing prepares you for the sheer size of the limestone blocks and the realization that they were built with simple equipment.
But the Pyramids are not the only source of amazement at Giza. Unfortunately, the area around the Pyramids is notorious for the crazy amount of touts and men selling camel and carriage rides. Almost every tourist site in Egypt has touts; however, they are generally contained to one area, mainly the exit. In Giza, they surround you like the 11th plague of Egypt and your visit sort of becomes an obstacle course of avoiding touts, dodging horse carriages, and jumping over animal poop. The issue has not gone unnoticed as recent news articles outline proposed action plans by the Egyptian government to alleviate these matters. Most recently, Egyptian Streets, a great source of information on all things Egypt, posted that the government plans to build a visitor center, limit touts to a market area, and implement controls on the men selling camel and horse carriage rides.
NOTE I recommend visiting the Pyramids with a tour group or reputable tour guide since they can assist in purchasing tickets, escort you through the complex while sharing the history of the site, and most important, help you deal with the touts. On my last visit, our tour guide Tarek did a phenomenal job keeping most of the touts away from the group which contributed to a more peaceful and relaxing visit.
In my two visits to Giza, I have: 1) climbed the stones of Khufu’s and Khafre’s pyramids 2) entered the pyramids of Khafre and Menkaure 3) ridden a camel and survived (1st visit) 4) visited the Solar Boat Museum (2nd visit) 5) taken hundreds of pictures.
WHAT TO DO AND TIPS
The Giza Plateau consists of sandy, uneven terrain and hills with the occasional mound of animal poop; therefore, definitely wear sturdy, closed-toe shoes. I would also suggest sunglasses or glasses as a means of eye protection against the sand especially on windy days. And sunscreen or a hat may be a good thing to wear on your visit.
Pictures and videos are allowed outside of the Pyramids but you are not allowed to take a camera inside. In the Solar Boat Museum, you can purchase a ‘camera ticket’ along with the 'admissions ticket’. My tour mate purchased a camera ticket and offered to share the pictures so I skipped buying the ticket this visit.
When you visit the Pyramids, you need to purchase a ticket to enter the complex which includes admission to see the Sphinx. With this ticket, you can walk around and take pictures to your heart’s content and also touch and climb the pyramids. I found climbing the pyramid of Khafre to be a bit easier since there were “steps”.
NOTE In my research of Egypt tours, most include the ticket to the complex in the tour price.
On my first trip, I did ride a camel and fortunately, that was organized via the tour company. The camel and horse carriage rides are not regulated so vendors can charge you whatever price and best of all, take you into the desert for a nice photo opportunity of the Pyramids and then demand additional money for the return trip. Even Tarek joked about this during the trip saying that if we were interested in a camel ride, he will arrange it for us and not to accept a camel ride from anyone since we may wind up in Libya. I understand that for some the camel ride is part of their bucket list so before you travel to Egypt visit sites like TripAdvisor for detailed tips and try to hire a guide. When in Giza dealing with the camel vendors, be stern when haggling and don’t be afraid to say no and walk away.
EXTRA TICKETS
If you wish to enter the Pyramids, you will need to purchase an additional ticket with each pyramid being a different price. Also, not all three pyramids are open at the same time. During my first visit, we had the choice of visiting either Khufu’s or Khafre’s pyramid and the second visit we had the choice of Khufu’s or Menkaure’s.
NOTE The Pyramid chambers are empty so you will not find mummies or other items inside. You just enter the pyramids for the sheer awesomeness of being inside a giant tomb that is over 4,000 years old. I’ve done it twice and both times I have been equally fascinated. Since all the pyramids are empty inside, it’s basically the same experience regardless of which one you enter. When I visited Khafre's pyramid, it was just one chamber. Menkaure’s pyramid on the other hand had several chambers so you spent more time walking around and more time feeling the awesomeness of being inside one of the pyramids.
Be warned that if you have mobility issues or are really claustrophobic then entering the Pyramids may not be a good choice. In Menkaure’s pyramid, one had to walk down a steep wooden ramp while crouching since the roof is low. Once inside, it is easy to walk around but the climb in and out is a bit of a work out. It was the same way in Khafre’s pyramid.
The Solar Boat Museum is also extra but I highly recommend it. Along with the boat, the museum contains several exhibits and the opportunity to view part of the pit where it was found. There were no crowds in the museum so my tour mates and I were able to enjoy a leisure walk around the boat admiring the fine craftsmanship and intricate details while being amazed that a wooden boat has survived 4,000 plus years in almost perfect condition.
When you arrive at the museum, you will be given these blue shoe covers to slip on over your shoes. Overall, I didn’t have too much of an issue except when going up and down the stairs since they didn’t provide much traction.
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October 2010 - Picture Taken During a Camel Ride
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NOTE When I use the term "the Pyramids" I am referring to the 3 pyramids belonging to Khufu, Khafre, and Menkaure. This post will solely be about the Pyramids and the Solar Boat Museum. I will discuss the Sphinx in a future post.
HISTORY
Pyramid building in Ancient Egypt began during the 3rd dynasty in the Old Kingdom with King Djoser's Step Pyramid and continued into the 4th dynasty starting with King Snefru's Bent Pyramid. These first pyramids are located in the cities of Dahshur and Saqqara near the ancient capital of Memphis. The golden age of pyramid building reached a high point - literally and figuratively - with the construction of the three major pyramids at Giza. The first pyramid to be built was the Great Pyramid of Khufu (circa 2560 BC) followed by those of his son Khafre (circa 2520 BC) and grandson Menkaure (circa 2490 BC). Most pyramids were part of a complex that included chapels, walls, additional tombs, and funerary boats. In Giza, some of the additional tombs are the smaller pyramids for the queens.
Contrary to believe, the pyramids were not built by slaves or aliens. They were built by the Ancient Egyptians themselves, some whom were seasonal workers. In Ancient times, before the Nile was controlled by dams, the river would flood agricultural land several months of the year. During these floods, Egyptians would travel to Giza and other cities to work on various building projects. They lived in worker villages where they were provided meals and medical care.
Recent excavations have discovered funerary boats alongside some tombs with the largest, most complete belonging to Khufu. These boats served the kings in the afterlife as they sailed across the heavens with the sun god Ra.
FAST FACTS
*Numbers from National Geographics and Britannica*
Khufu’s Pyramid: The pyramid was originally about 481 ft high but today it stands at approximately 450 ft in height. It contains an estimated 2.3 million limestone blocks each weighing between 2.5 and 15 tons.
Khafre’s Pyramid: This pyramid was originally approximately 471 ft high. It is the only pyramid in Giza that still has sections of the limestone casing intact.
 |
| October 2010 - Picture showing the limestone casing on Khafre's Pyramid (picture taken inside the bus hence the glare) |
Menkaure’s Pyramid: The smallest of the three pyramids, it had an approximate height of 218 ft in ancient times.
Khufu's Solar Boat: The boat measures 144 ft long and was buried in 1,224 pieces.
 |
| January 2018 - Khufu's Solar Boat Photo Credit: Alicia D. - Trip Tour Mate |
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VISITING THE PYRAMIDS
The Pyramids are the last remaining of the 7 wonders of the ancient world and the chance to visit structures over 4,000 years old is rare opportunity. Most everyone has seen pictures or videos of the Pyramids and some know their basic history but few have the opportunity to touch these majestic tombs. It is quite the experience being able to walk around the Pyramids, climb their stones, and enter their chambers. Nothing prepares you for the sheer size of the limestone blocks and the realization that they were built with simple equipment.
But the Pyramids are not the only source of amazement at Giza. Unfortunately, the area around the Pyramids is notorious for the crazy amount of touts and men selling camel and carriage rides. Almost every tourist site in Egypt has touts; however, they are generally contained to one area, mainly the exit. In Giza, they surround you like the 11th plague of Egypt and your visit sort of becomes an obstacle course of avoiding touts, dodging horse carriages, and jumping over animal poop. The issue has not gone unnoticed as recent news articles outline proposed action plans by the Egyptian government to alleviate these matters. Most recently, Egyptian Streets, a great source of information on all things Egypt, posted that the government plans to build a visitor center, limit touts to a market area, and implement controls on the men selling camel and horse carriage rides.
NOTE I recommend visiting the Pyramids with a tour group or reputable tour guide since they can assist in purchasing tickets, escort you through the complex while sharing the history of the site, and most important, help you deal with the touts. On my last visit, our tour guide Tarek did a phenomenal job keeping most of the touts away from the group which contributed to a more peaceful and relaxing visit.
In my two visits to Giza, I have: 1) climbed the stones of Khufu’s and Khafre’s pyramids 2) entered the pyramids of Khafre and Menkaure 3) ridden a camel and survived (1st visit) 4) visited the Solar Boat Museum (2nd visit) 5) taken hundreds of pictures.
WHAT TO DO AND TIPS
The Giza Plateau consists of sandy, uneven terrain and hills with the occasional mound of animal poop; therefore, definitely wear sturdy, closed-toe shoes. I would also suggest sunglasses or glasses as a means of eye protection against the sand especially on windy days. And sunscreen or a hat may be a good thing to wear on your visit.
Pictures and videos are allowed outside of the Pyramids but you are not allowed to take a camera inside. In the Solar Boat Museum, you can purchase a ‘camera ticket’ along with the 'admissions ticket’. My tour mate purchased a camera ticket and offered to share the pictures so I skipped buying the ticket this visit.
When you visit the Pyramids, you need to purchase a ticket to enter the complex which includes admission to see the Sphinx. With this ticket, you can walk around and take pictures to your heart’s content and also touch and climb the pyramids. I found climbing the pyramid of Khafre to be a bit easier since there were “steps”.
NOTE In my research of Egypt tours, most include the ticket to the complex in the tour price.
On my first trip, I did ride a camel and fortunately, that was organized via the tour company. The camel and horse carriage rides are not regulated so vendors can charge you whatever price and best of all, take you into the desert for a nice photo opportunity of the Pyramids and then demand additional money for the return trip. Even Tarek joked about this during the trip saying that if we were interested in a camel ride, he will arrange it for us and not to accept a camel ride from anyone since we may wind up in Libya. I understand that for some the camel ride is part of their bucket list so before you travel to Egypt visit sites like TripAdvisor for detailed tips and try to hire a guide. When in Giza dealing with the camel vendors, be stern when haggling and don’t be afraid to say no and walk away.
 |
| October 2010 - Casanova the Camel and I |
EXTRA TICKETS
If you wish to enter the Pyramids, you will need to purchase an additional ticket with each pyramid being a different price. Also, not all three pyramids are open at the same time. During my first visit, we had the choice of visiting either Khufu’s or Khafre’s pyramid and the second visit we had the choice of Khufu’s or Menkaure’s.
NOTE The Pyramid chambers are empty so you will not find mummies or other items inside. You just enter the pyramids for the sheer awesomeness of being inside a giant tomb that is over 4,000 years old. I’ve done it twice and both times I have been equally fascinated. Since all the pyramids are empty inside, it’s basically the same experience regardless of which one you enter. When I visited Khafre's pyramid, it was just one chamber. Menkaure’s pyramid on the other hand had several chambers so you spent more time walking around and more time feeling the awesomeness of being inside one of the pyramids.
Be warned that if you have mobility issues or are really claustrophobic then entering the Pyramids may not be a good choice. In Menkaure’s pyramid, one had to walk down a steep wooden ramp while crouching since the roof is low. Once inside, it is easy to walk around but the climb in and out is a bit of a work out. It was the same way in Khafre’s pyramid.
The Solar Boat Museum is also extra but I highly recommend it. Along with the boat, the museum contains several exhibits and the opportunity to view part of the pit where it was found. There were no crowds in the museum so my tour mates and I were able to enjoy a leisure walk around the boat admiring the fine craftsmanship and intricate details while being amazed that a wooden boat has survived 4,000 plus years in almost perfect condition.
When you arrive at the museum, you will be given these blue shoe covers to slip on over your shoes. Overall, I didn’t have too much of an issue except when going up and down the stairs since they didn’t provide much traction.
 |
| January 2018 - Tickets for the Pyramid Complex, Menkaure's Pyramid, and Solar Boat Museum. Based on current exchange rates (02/08/18) the extra tickets cost $3.40 for Menkaure's Pyramid and $4.53 for the Museum. |
Well done.
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