Giza Pyramids
The
sole survivor of the Seven Wonders of the World, the Pyramids of Giza still
live up to more than 4,000 years of hype. Their extraordinary shape, geometry
and age render them somehow alien constructions; they seem to rise out of the desert
and pose the ever-fascinating question, 'How were we built, and why?' The
oldest and biggest pyramid is that of Cheops, and you can go inside this one if
you don't suffer from claustrophobia. Once they were covered in smooth white
marble but that was taken for temples over the centuries, but you can imagine
how even more impressive they would have been then. Climbing on the pyramids is
strictly banned.
It
can be a bit of a shock to visit the Giza Plateau and realize that the sandy
mound that's home to the pyramids is actually plonked in the middle of the
congested city suburb of Giza.
Practical Info
Guided tour or private car and guide who can take you from place to place on the large site are the easiest ways to see the pyramids. Alternately you can get there by bus from Heliopolis via Midan Tahrir (the Egyptian Museum). There are currently two entrances: the main entrance is via a continuation of Pyramids Road (Sharia al-Haram) at the foot of the Great Pyramid of Cheops, and the secondary entrance is via the village of Nazlet as-Samaan, below the Sphinx. Most independent visitors enter from Sharia al-Haram; that's where the bus and minibus from Downtown stop. Follow the road up from the roundabout towards the pyramids.Special Offer
Book and travel by July, 20, 2014 and save 10% off the recommended
retail price
Take a leisurely private tour of Cairo's most famous sites:
the Giza Pyramids, Sphinx, Egyptian Museum and Khan el-Khalili bazaar. With
your own private Egyptologist guide to lead the way, you'll see Cairo's most
famous attractions in one day. As this is a private tour, you can determine the
amount of time you'd like to spend at each site.
Highlights
- Private day trip to the Great Pyramids, Sphinx, Cairo Museum and Khan el Khalili bazaar from Cairo
- Guided introduction to the three pyramids
- Free time to enter one of the pyramids (additional cost)
- Visit the enigmatic Sphinx
- Tutankhamun's coffins and death mask in Cairo's Egyptian Museum
- Free time to shop in bustling Khan el Khalili bazaar
- Enjoy privileged, personalized attention from your expert Egyptologist guide on this special private tour
- Pick-up and drop-off from central Cairo hotels
Egypt’s UNESCO World Heritage Sites
February 2014 by Lydia Schrandt
With a history of epic proportions that Egypt has,
visiting the country is better than any history class you could take. One of
the best ways to learn about the region (and see some of it’s top attractions)
is to visit each of Egypt’s UNESCO World Heritage sites.