A Good Guide to the Great Pyramid
Few archaeological sites are as recognizable as the pyramids of Giza. And for good reason! We have the ability to build structures that dwarf the pyramids today, but at the time when they were built, these monuments seemed to be an architectural impossibility!
Each of the three pyramids at Giza is a spectacular structure, but the real show stopper is the largest and oldest of the three: the Great Pyramid of Giza.
Where is the Great Pyramid? (and how do I get there?)
The Great Pyramid of Giza
Location: Al Haram, Giza
Hours: Daily 7:00-5:00
Entry Fee: Adult 200EGP ($12.74) / Student 100EGP ($6.37) / Under 6 free (usually)
All Inclusive Tickets: Adult 600EGP / Student 300EGP
(This allows you to go inside the Great Pyramid)
Egyptian sites will often allow kids under 6 to enter for free, but will charge the student price if you don’t ask!
Website: Ministry of Tourism and Antiquities
Email: egymonuments@moantiq.gov.eg
Getting around Cairo was way easier than I expected it to be, in large part because of one app: Uber.
While it is definitely possible to use regular taxis or public transportation, we found that using Uber was consistently a more comfortable and less expensive option, especially since no one in my family speaks Arabic. Whether you’re trying to get to the Pyramids or anywhere else in Cairo, I highly recommend it. The one catch Uber requires an internet connection to work, so you’re going to want to get data for your phone as soon as possible.
Do NOT leave the airport without getting a local SIM unless you already have a way of connecting to the internet.
We use Google Fi as our phone service provider in the States, so we had internet on arrival. If you’re only visiting for a short time or are planning to visit multiple countries during your trip, Google Fi definitely makes things simpler.
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Where should I stay in Cairo?
The Giza Necropolis is located just outside of a major urban area and there are tons of great hotels and vacation stays located super close by. My family opted for an apartment in the Pyramids Gardens neighborhood, and we loved it! Not only did we get a great view of the pyramids from our balcony, but our host helped us to line up a guide for our visit. We had easy access to street food, and lots of nearby stores. That said, especially for a shorter trip, a hotel might be a more convenient option.
While looking for a place to stay, do keep in mind that many of the things to do in Cairo are located closer to the Nile and farther from the pyramids. We found ourselves taking a 45-minute drive into town almost daily during our trip, which could have been avoided if we had stayed in Cairo itself. However, it was hard to argue with the view!
Hand-Picked Stays with a Pyramid view for any family!
Dream Pyramids Inn
Even if you’re traveling on a smaller budget, that doesn’t mean your trip can’t feel like luxury!
Dream Pyramids offers an excellent view of the Pyramids for the price, and even throws in breakfast to boot. Perfect for budget-conscious families.
Pyramid gardens
If you’re planning on staying in the area for longer than a week, it can often be worth it to find an apartment with more room to relax.
The Pyramid Gardens is a neighborhood in Giza that has a great view of the Pyramids. We stayed in a different apartment than this one, but in the same general area.
Steigenberger Pyramids Cairo
Steigenberger has resorts located near each of the major tourist destinations in Egypt, and the Pyramids are no exception.
While the price tag of these resorts are significantly higher than other options, if you want to be pampered like an Egyptian Pharoah during your trip, there’s no better option.
What were the pyramids for?
Egyptian pyramids are, at their most basic, tombs. But for them, it was about a lot more than just simply remembering their dead kings. Ancient Egyptians believed that the afterlife reflected our current world in many ways. So, the grander the tomb, the greater the power in the next life. That’s why the Pharaohs had such elaborate tombs, each trying to outdo the last.
But sometime around 2500 BC, the Pharoah Khufu decided to build a tomb that would surpass them all.
Of the three larger pyramids at the site, only Khufu’s pyramid is considered to be “the Great Pyramid.” It is not only the oldest of the three pyramids at Giza but is also the largest one, measured from base to peak. In total, it is 481ft tall, with each of the four sides measuring 756ft long.
To reach that size, more than 2,300,000 limestone blocks had to be stacked on each other. And these were not small blocks. The largest stones weighed as much as 10 tons! The average block size came in at only 2.5 tons, but that’s still as heavy as a small car.
All that to say, it is absolutely massive.
On top of it all, the entire outer surface of each pyramid was covered in a sheet of fine limestone. This covering was polished to a shine, making the pyramids into a beacon in the sunlight.
That covering is almost entirely gone today, with only some small portions on Khafre’s pyramid still hanging around. Still, during the thousands of years that the pyramids were whole, they would have been an even more impressive sight.
Why Should I Visit?
As the last remaining wonder of the ancient world, the Great Pyramid is one of the best-known archaeological sites in the entire world. I doubt that there are very many people interested in archaeology who are spending much time on whether or not they should visit the Great Pyramid. They already know that they absolutely should!
While only the Great Pyramid itself is considered a “Wonder of the World,” the entire pyramid complex and the surrounding are all parts of the UNESCO World Heritage site.
Here’s what you can expect to see on your trip:
The Great Pyramid
Khufu’s pyramid was the first at this location and is the only one considered to be a Wonder of the World. I’ve already talked about it, so I’ll continue on.
Pyramid of Khafre
Khafre was the son of Khufu, and his pyramid is the second oldest of the three. When you look at the pyramids, it may seem that Khafre’s pyramid is larger than the Great Pyramid, but that’s just because it was built on a small rise of land. Base to tip, it measures 448ft (136m) high, a full 33ft shorter than his father’s pyramid.
Pyramid of Menkaure
Menkaure was the grandson of Khufu and the final pyramid builder at this particular site. His pyramid is the youngest and the shortest of the three. Even so, it’s still an amazing feat of architecture and would probably be a much bigger deal if it weren’t overshadowed by its predecessors.
The Overlook
Just a short drive away from the pyramids is an overlook where you can take in the entirety of the plateau. The area boasts great views and a small artisan market where you can buy souvenirs. There’s also a place where you can hire a camel for a short ride around the pyramids.
We paid 300 Egyptian pounds for two camels (less than $20) to take a 10-minute ride, but there are definitely longer rides if you’re interested.
The Sphinx
The Great Sphinx is the other popular place to visit on the Giza Plateau. It sits eastward of the Great Pyramid where it is said to be guarding the dead pharaohs against the land of the living.
Its face looks toward the east, where the sun rises. This represents the land of the living. Behind it are the pyramids and the place where the sun sets, representing the land of the dead. It is some beautiful symbolism for a beautiful statue.
Interestingly, no one really knows how the Sphinx lost its nose. There is a popular legend that says it was damaged when Napoleon Bonaparte’s soldier used it for firing practice, but this has been proven to be untrue. Not only are there no bullet holes or bullets embedded in the statue, but there are references to the Sphinx being noseless predating Napoleon’s visit to the area.
How can visiting the pyramids be an educational experience?
Archaeological Trip
Let’s learn about…
As impressive as these pyramids are, visiting them for the sole purpose of staring at one of the greatest architectural feats of the ancient world would be completely appropriate.
However, going the extra mile to make your trip into an educational experience can add a lot of depth and enjoyment to what already promises to be an amazing trip.
Archaeological Field Trips are all about the search for knowledge about ancient human history and its impact on the world as we know it today. But practically speaking, that means that archaeology covers an impressively wide array of topics. Many of these can be explored during a trip to the Pyramids of Giza.
Here are just a few of the ways you can add a little education to your visit.
Architecture
The architecture of the pyramids of Giza and the surrounding ruins is the most obvious place to start when trying to add some education to your trip. Pyramids are among one of the most common shapes for monumental structures around the world. Though the Great Pyramid is by far the most famous example, pyramids of some kind can be found on every continent except Antarctica!
Take time to admire the shape of the pyramids, and look closely at the stones used to build them. Notice how closely the blocks fit together. Ask your kids how they think the Egyptians would have been able to build such a grand monument, but don’t worry if they can’t figure it out.
The greatest minds in history have been pondering that question for thousands of years, and while historians have some guesses, no one is completely certain how it was done!
When thinking about architecture, it is important to think about function as well as form. While the pyramids can definitely be called monuments, their most basic function is that of a gravesite. Make sure to locate the tunnels into the heart of the pyramids, and take a trip inside if you have the time. This is also a great time to think about the reasons why someone might want to be buried in such a large and obvious tomb.
It’s totally ok if you don’t have the right answers at the ready! A large part of education is asking questions and considering the possible answers. Make sure to write down any questions that you can’t answer for later research.
Note: The tickets to enter the pyramid are sold at the front ticket office. If you plan on going inside, be sure to get them before walking the path up to the pyramids!
History
Every archaeological site has something to teach us about history, and the pyramids have plenty of stories to tell! The Pharaohs who commissioned the pyramids, the mummification process, or the monuments themselves are all fair game here.
Egypt’s history spans thousands of years, so it’s impossible to cover it all in a single trip. Choose your launching off point and explore as far as you want!
Mythology
Mythology is a special category of history that delves into a culture’s myths and belief systems. Whereas general history explores the whats, whens, and hows of culture, mythology takes a look into the whys.
Egyptian mythology has the added benefit of being featured very prominently in their architecture and monuments, so understanding even a little bit of the mythology can be helpful for keeping kids engaged while exploring the ruins.
A good starting place might be learning about Anubis, the god of the dead, or Osiris, the god of the afterlife.
Geology
Even though the Great Pyramid is a cultural site, there are some interesting things about the area’s geology as well. The pyramids are built almost entirely of limestone blocks cut from the surrounding landscape. That’s interesting because of how limestone forms.
Limestone is a sedimentary stone formed from the shells of ancient sea creatures! Long before Khufu decided to build his pyramid, this entire area was covered in an ancient sea. Keep your eyes out for fossils embedded in the stone. There are lots of tiny shell fossils around, but you can find larger ones, too. For instance, our tour guide pointed out fossils of dugongs.
Limestone gets used in Egyptian monuments a lot, so it’s worth learning how to identify it. Other stones that are commonly used are alabaster, red granite, and sandstone.
Geography
The fun thing about geography is that it can be added as an educational angle for pretty much any trip. Take a moment to look at a map of Egypt. Discuss Egypt’s desert climate and the importance of the Nile River. Maybe even look at where other wonders of the world were located.
Geography is a tremendously wide subject, covering all sorts of smaller topics. There’s bound to be something that catches your interest!
How can I maximize educational opportunities during my field trip?
Discussing any of these topics during your trip can make it into an incredible educational experience! But, if you want to maximize the learning, it is good to take time both before and after your trip to explore the concepts you’d like to teach.
Here’s a sampling of a few great resources to explore to make the most of your time in Giza.
Books
The Usborne Encyclopedia of Ancient Egypt
Usborne does a great job with all of their resources. I especially like their internet-connected encyclopedias, which feature tons of links to great resources to take your learning far beyond the pages of their books.
National Geographic Readers: Egypt Collection
Nat Geo Readers are a great choice if you have younger kids. A heavy focus on pictures and easy-to-read text keeps readers engaged throughout each of the four books!
Great Ancient Egypt Projects: You Can Build Yourself
Interested in a more hands-on approach? This book of projects is a great way to learn more about a variety of Egyptian architecture by building your own versions at home!
DK Eyewitness Books: Ancient Egypt
DK is another publisher that consistently puts out amazing resources. I haven’t invested in this particular book, myself, but since it is from DK I can confidently say it would be an excellent one to add to any collection.
Videos
Ancient Egypt – 5 Things you Should Know
This is a quick and engaging video that goes over some basic facts about Egypt. It isn’t super detailed, but it’s fun and works well as an introduction to Ancient Egypt!
The Pyramids of Egypt and the Giza Plateau
This is a really detailed look at the history of Egyptian pyramids and why the Egyptians built them. It isn’t the most engaging video, but it has tons of great information for families that want to know more!
Saqqara is another group of tombs near Cairo, and home to the Pyramid of Djoser, which is thought to be the oldest pyramid in Egypt.
The Secrets of Saqqara video does a great job exploring the importance of this area in a beautiful documentaru of some of the work being done there. If you have Netflix, I highly reccomend it.
Other Egyptian Field Trips
Do I Need a Guide for the Great Pyramid?
As usual with the question of whether or not to get a guide, the answer can be a bit complicated. We decided to get a guide for our first trip to the pyramids because we had heard that if we didn’t, other guides would follow us around the whole time.
We didn’t see many other guides there during our trip, so it probably wasn’t strictly necessary to have a guide. But honestly, our guide taught us a lot about Egypt that we hadn’t heard before, which added a ton of great value. For me, I think it was probably worth it.
Ultimately, it comes down to your own personal preference and whether you’re comfortable navigating a new place on your own.
Guide Pros:
- Transportation between locations in a car with A/C
- Interesting facts and knowledge about the pyramids
- Knows the best route to see everything
- Knows the prices for extras like camel rides
- Knows where to get the best angles for pictures
- Keeps other guides from bothering you
Guide Cons:
- An added expense to the trip
- Moves slower or faster than you might like
- May focus attention on parents, not kids, and make it boring for them
Note: Not all guides are Egyptologists. To be an Egyptologist, a guide must go to school for years to learn everything they need to know to answer your questions. Egyptologists are more expensive, but if you’re already getting a guide, it’s probably worth the added cost to get an Egyptologist.
Regardless of whether you choose to go with a guide or on your own, a trip to the pyramids should make for a great experience!