Egypt is the dream of many travelers and history lovers, and for good reason: its territory is home to some of the oldest monuments in the world, and some of the most beautiful… including the only one of the seven wonders of the world to have survived the time.
There’s nothing like a cruise on the legendary Nile to explore the temples and pyramids of ancient Egypt and imagine yourself as a great adventurer in the time of the Pharaohs. While the Giza pyramids are the best known and by far the most visited in the world, Egypt has other pyramids worthy of a visit. Here is our list of the 6 most beautiful pyramids to visit during a trip to Egypt :
The pyramid of Cheops
It is THE symbol of Egypt, THE monument that attracts all these tourists, THE dream of historians . The Pyramid of Cheops , also known as the Pyramid of Khufu or the Great Pyramid of Giza, is the best known of all the pyramids in the world. With its 138.5m in height , it is the highest pyramid in Egypt. It is also the only one of the seven wonders of the world still standing today, so yes, you have to see it at least once in your life!
The Cheops pyramid is believed to have been built in 2560 BCE as the burial tomb of Pharaoh Khufu. Its construction would have taken between 10 and 20 years and required 2 million blocks of stone, a colossal effort given the means at the time!
It is possible to visit the interior of the pyramid, in particular the room of the queen, the room of the king and the great gallery. Ideal for unraveling the mysteries of ancient Egypt .
The pyramid of Khafre
Still at Giza, the pyramid of Khafre is a smaller copy than that of Khufu. It was built a decade later, probably in 2570 BCE , to bury Khufu’s son, Pharaoh Khafre.
Don’t be fooled by the optical effect: the pyramid of Khafre, also called the pyramid of Chephren is much smaller than that of Cheops, even if it seems higher since it is placed on a raised hill.
You can also visit the rich interior of this pyramid, including the burial chamber. It is one of the only pyramids to have two entrances. Above all, this pyramid is known for the Great Sphinx which guards its entrance…
The Pyramid of Menkaure
The third pyramid of Giza was also intended for the same family, this time for Khufu’s grandson, Menkaure. Its construction dates from 2510 BC . It would be the last pyramid built for a pharaoh.
It is much smaller than the other two, displaying a height of only 65m . It is nonetheless worth the detour, however. Its interior is very beautiful, and in addition, this pyramid is the symbol par excellence of the importance of preserving our heritage : vandalism in the 12th century left a large hole in the pyramid.
Djoser’s pyramid
Possibly the first pyramid in the world, the pyramid of Djoser is a real historical and architectural treasure. Located on the Saqqara plateau , a few kilometers south of Cairo, it is definitely worth a visit. Besides, Saqqara is home to some of the oldest pyramids in Egypt.
Djoser’s pyramid is said to have been built in 2600 BCE for the pharaoh of the same name. Before, the pharaohs were buried in mastabas , rectangular tombs. Djoser’s pyramid is a stack of six mastabas of different sizes, giving it a stepped pyramid shape . We notice the difference in construction and architecture with the more recent pyramids of Giza, which have smooth walls.
This pyramid has 14 doors , but only one of them is a real entrance into this world of mysteries. It fascinates many historians and architects. A network of underground tunnels was built before the first foundations of the pyramid. It was reopened to the public in March 2020 after 14 years of restoration work
The red pyramid
Built entirely of red limestone , the Red Pyramid, or the Northern Pyramid , is the fourth highest in Egypt (104m). It is located in Dahshur , on the west bank of the Nile, next to another marvel of ancient Egypt, the Bent pyramid.
This pyramid is older than those of Giza. Built during the reign of Khufu’s father, Snefru, it is one of the first smooth pyramids in Egypt.
The Bent Pyramid
Another work of Pharaoh Snefrou , the Bent pyramid is on the same plateau as the red pyramid and is just as pretty. It is also known as the Bent Pyramid .
It was to be Egypt ‘s first smooth and ideal pyramid. But the art was not yet completely mastered, since the construction plans were changed halfway through: the inclination of the pyramid went from 54 to 43 degrees during construction, which gives the pyramid a fascinating double tilt . Some historians say that this was not due to an error, but to a need to complete the construction more quickly because of the fragile health of the Pharaoh.
Despite this, it is the best preserved pyramid of ancient Egypt, since part of its coating is still visible. It is also unique due to its two entrances, one of which is not located on the north face as tradition dictates.
