africa

The Pyramids at Giza

Where is it? Cairo, Egypt

After a week of grey skies and drizzly rain, where better a place to write about for this week’s sight of the week than the scorching Pyramids at Giza. It’s not hard to see why in these winter months, Egypt is a top destination choice for those Brits who are looking to escape the cold. The familiar site of the Pyramids has become an iconic symbol for years, but how much do we really know about the Great Pyramid?

History

The Giza Pyramid is the only remaining ancient wonder of the world- Measuring thirty times larger than the Empire State Building and so prominent it can be seen from the moon- this impressive landmark is definitely worth a visit at least once in your life. The Great Pyramid was built over a 20 year period, remaining the tallest man-made structure in the world for over 3,800 years. The Great Pyramid contains three chambers, and is the only known pyramid to have ascending and descending passages. This magnificent building is breath-taking in not just its appearance but also its size. The base of the great pyramid is longer than two and a half football fields, covering 13 acres. Each stone is taller than a person, and when you consider there are over 2 million stones used, you can really begin to grasp the colossal scale of the Pyramid.

Things to Explore

Once you’ve reached the entrance to the Great Pyramid, visitors are fortunate enough to be allowed into the pyramid itself, so long as you don’t suffer from claustrophobia. You are forced to literally crouch down and shuffle your way along the passage, getting nice and sweaty in the process. Try to keep a safe distance from those ahead and behind you else it could get unpleasant. You climb down a 350 foot passage way, into the Great Pyramids central burial chamber, giving you a chance to really soak up the inner-workings of the pyramid.

Other attractions

Aside from the pyramids there is plenty more to see at this historic landmark. The great Sphinx is a similarly iconic figure, and despite having received a bit of a battering in the past remains an impressive sight, and definitely worthy of a visit. Another highlight is the Solar Boat Museum, a short walk from the Great Pyramid. The museum contains a perfect reconstruction of the ship, found buried in the sand of Giza. The ship was found in such perfect condition that it remains the world’s oldest intact ship. It’s an incredibly interesting visit, and the slippers you get given to wear on entering the museum are an added bonus too.

Why Egypt

The Great Pyramid is undeniably a must-do in Cairo- but there is a lot more to Egypt than Pyramids, Sphynix’s and old ships. With the historic Valley of the Kings (where you can pop in and see Tutankhamun), beach town of Sharm el Sheik, or a romantic cruise on the Nile to choose from, you will not be left short of things to keep you occupied in Egypt. With the summer months sometimes proving almost too hot even for the biggest sun worshiper of Brits, Christmas time really does seem the perfect opportunity to visit the great sights of Egypt. Take a look at our site to find the perfect Egypt winter holiday for you