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The Pyramids - Giza, Saqqara, Dashur |
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The Great Pyramids at Giza are among the world's largest buildings, and were one of the Seven Wonders of the Ancient World. The complex includes three pyramids, the Sphinx, royal boat museum, and numerous royal tombs called mastabas. |
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Giza – | ||
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 Grand Egyptian Museum – A new museum complex will have amazing Tutankhamun treasures (some artifacts never seen before), massive ancient Egyptian statues, mummies and more. Check for latest info: Grand Egyptian Museum. |
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the pyramids at Giza – At Giza, kids will never forget going
inside the pyramids of Khufu (Cheops), Khafre (Chephren) and Menkaure. The ramps
leading down into the pyramid are kid size (an adult has to bend over).
Inside, you emerge into the galleries, some with very high ceilings. The
sensation of being inside these huge piles of stone is awesome. |
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Pyramids Sound and Light show – Your kids may not care about the narrative,
but lighting effects are amazing! Also, it begins early
in the evening and there is something wonderful about seeing the pyramids
in the dark. |
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| Khufu's Boat Museum (Solar Boat Museum) – In addition to all the stuff inside his great pyramid, Cheops funerary goodies included two full size "sun boats" to ferry the pharaoh through the afterworld or across the heavens. In the museum, you'll see an amazing reconstruction of one boat, re-assembled from over 1200 pieces. |
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Editor’s note – Giza is a circus. Sometimes I wanted to make all the souvenir sellers and camel drivers just disappear. A sense of humor helps. When I’d been accosted for the gazillionth time, "Want to ride a camel?" and I’d replied, "We’ve ridden camels and they aren’t comfortable," one guy wittily responded, "Want to buy a camel." The kids loved the idea. |
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Saqqara (Sakkara) – Saqqara is close to Cairo, but fewer tourists. |
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The Step Pyramid is impressive, the first stone pyramid, over 4,600 years old, is now open to explore inside, climb down to see the burial chamber of King Djoser, with huge stone sarcophagus. Kids will like low ceilings in the passageways, and carved reliefs on the walls. |
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Our favorite tombs were Prince Unas tomb and and Mastaba of Ti, with lovely painted reliefs, scenes of daily life. |
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At the Mastaba of Ti, inside we saw a live scarab beetle. Our guide caught it in a plastic bag and asked if we wanted to take it home. |
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Dashur – Dashur is just a little further than Saqqara, and well worth a visit. | ||
The Red Pyramid is as large as the Great Pyramid at Giza and the interior rooms are very impressive. My son said, "We squeezed through a narrow stone doorway and came out into a room. Not just any room, but a huge stone room with vaulted ceilings that looked like it has upside down steps in it. I stared there for awhile with my nose and mouth hanging open, just staring." |
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Avoid the hassle of negociating with guides or taxi drivers for your visit to Giza and the Sphinx. With a private tour (4 hours), explore inside the pyramids on your own and decide how much time to spend at each location: |
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Giza Pyramids Private Tour | ||
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| Sakkara and Dashur are well worth a visit, but you'll need a car and driver to get there. When you sign up for a private tour, step out of your hotel and your guide will whisk you away: | |||
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Sakkara and Memphis Private Tour | ||
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