Giza: Pyramids & Sphinx

Of the seven wonders of the ancient world, only one remains today: The Great Pyramid of Giza. If that’s not certified unmissable, we don’t know what is. Giza emerges as a sublime structure, the miraculously accurate realisation of an ideal structure inside which the kings would journey to the next world and emerge as gods. Despite their age, these structures still overwhelm and overpower visitors, and elude archeologists and scientists who still cannot answer exactly how the pyramids were built.

The three huge Pyramids of Giza were constructed around 2550 B.C.E, part of the Old Kingdom period, as tombs for the pharaohs Khufu, Khafre and Menkaure.  The pyramid of Khufu is the largest of the pyramids, and it is utterly overpowering to behold.   The pyramids are guarded by the Sphinx of Khafre, a mythological and colossal half king, half lion.  The structure of the Sphinx carries with it an air of mystery and adventure, and begs many questions which your Egyptologist will be on hand to answer.  Incredibly, the gargantuan Sphinx was carved from a single stone and remains one of the world’s most ancient and huge monolithic pieces.  The Pyramids and Sphinx form part of an archeological complex which make up the Memphis UNESCO World Heritage Site.

In order to understand the evolution of the building of Pyramids, we invite you to visit the even older monuments at Saqqara and Dahshur.  At Saqqara you will see the ‘stepped’ pyramid which seems to have been used as a prototype for the later pyramids.  At Dashur you will find the oldest Bent and Red pyramids.  Time allowing you will also visit Memphis, the first capital of Egypt and home to the huge statue of Ramases II.

Reaching Giza from Cairo takes about 45 minutes by private transfer, and the pyramids at Saqqara and Dashur are further afield, making this a full day trip for those wishing for the full pyramid experience.

We are able to arrange out of hours private access tours to the Pyramids of Giza and the Paws of the Sphinx during which you will be accompanied by a leading archeologist.