Pyramids, Sphinx And Grand Egyptian Museum Private Tour in Giza

Pyramids of Giza. Starts at 8:00 am with pickup from your hotel in either Cairo or Giza By tour guide and transfer to Giza Pyramids to Start your half day tour visiting Giza Pyramids Where you Visit the Great Pyramids - Cheops, Chephren & Mykerinos

Great Pyramid of Cheops (Khufu). The Great Pyramid, the tomb of King Khufu (c.2589–2566 BC), with its original height of 146.5 meters, was the tallest structure in the world for 3,800 years. It remains the last surviving member of the Seven Wonders of the Ancient World, and took an estimated 10 to 20 years to build. To this day, it is not entirely certain how this was done. The Great Pyramid is made of local limestone, but its exterior was once entirely covered with high quality limestone. These casing stones were brought from Turah, south of Maadi, by ship. On the inside, the pyramid has three chambers, one cut into the bedrock underneath, and two high up within the masonry itself, a feature that no other pyramid possesses. The sarcophagus in which Khufu was once laid to rest can still be seen in the upper of these two rooms, the King’s Chamber. This room is accessed through the Grand Gallery, a majestic corbelled ascending passage, and a masterpiece of ancient engineering and architecture.

Pyramid of Khafre. Khafre (c.2558–2532 BC), whom the ancient Greeks knew as Khefren, was a son of King Khufu (Cheops), the builder of the Great Pyramid. He built the second pyramid complex at Giza, and constructed his tomb on slightly higher ground, making it appear just as tall as his father’s. At 143.5 meters in height, however, his pyramid is only slightly shorter, and a tremendously impressive monument. Its core masonry is made of blocks of local limestone. The top of the pyramid still preserves the beautifully polished blocks of high-quality limestone that once encased the majority of the structure’s towering height. This white stone was quarried in Turah, south of Maadi, and transported here by ship.

Pyramid of Menkaure. Menkaure (Mykerinos to the ancient Greeks; c.2532–2503 BC) is the builder of the third of the three large Giza Pyramids. He was most likely the son of Khafre (Khefren), and grandson of Khufu (Cheops). With a base area that is less than a quarter of their pyramids’, and with an original height of 65 meters, Menkaure’s is by far the smallest of the three. This reduction in size is due to several factors, including the limited amount of space left on the Giza Plateau. The material used for the outer casing of Menkaure’s pyramid is another. Whereas his predecessors had used limestone for this purpose, Menkaure employed granite, which was quarried in Aswan, over 800 km away. In addition to the logistics involved in transportation of the granite blocks, the material itself is much harder than limestone. However, only the bottom quarter of the casing stones are made of granite however, the rest being limestone.

The Grand Egyptian Museum. Let's start with the Ramses II Statue. This statue is truly awe-inspiring and is one of the largest exhibits in the museum. It stands tall and proud, and visitors can even observe the intricate details of its carvings and embellishments up close. After that, we'll take a look at 10 Statues of Senusret from a distance view, which is a great way to appreciate the artistry that went into creating these ancient works of art. We'll then make our way to the Grand Staircase, which you can also appreciate from a distance view. This is a massive staircase that leads visitors up to the upper floors of the museum, and it's truly a sight to behold. As we continue the tour, we'll see the Ptolemaic King and Queen exhibits. These displays showcase the fascinating history and culture of the Ptolemaic period in Egypt, and you'll learn a lot about this exciting time in human history. then the Hanging Obelisk, which is one of the most unique and interesting exhibits in the museum. This obelisk is suspended from the ceiling, giving visitors a unique perspective on its ancient hieroglyphics and intricate carvings. Next, we'll see the Victory Columns, which are towering examples of ancient Egyptian art. These columns were built to celebrate military victories and are adorned with carvings and other decorations that are sure to impress. We'll then move on to the Royal Regalia exhibits, which showcase the royal jewels, crowns, and other accessories used by the ancient Egyptian kings and queens. You'll learn about the opulence and extravagance of these ancient rulers and will be in awe of the craftsmanship that went into creating these beautiful items.