Pyramids

At the distance of a few miles the Pyramids rising above the palms, looked very clean-cut, very grand and imposing, and very soft and filmy, as well. They swam in a rich haze that took from them all suggestions of unfeeling stone, and made them seem only the airy nothings of a dream—-structures which might blossom into tiers of vague arches, or ornate colonnades, may be, and change and change again, into all graceful forms of architecture, while we looked, and then melt deliciously away and blend with the tremulous atmosphere.” Mark Twain, Innocents Abroad

The only surviving of the Seven Wonders of the Ancient World, the Pyramids at Giza are a must visit. The largest is the Great Pyramid, which was built for the Fourth-Dynasty pharaoh Cheops, or Khufu (2589-2566 BC). For almost four centuries, until the 19th century, it stood as the tallest man-made structure in the world at 485 feet. It is believed that it took twenty-two years to finish and is built from more than 2.3 million blocks of stone.

There is a saying, “Man fears time but time fears the Pyramids.” The structures have stood for more thank 4,000 years and outlasted all the legendary kings and conquerors who have come to see them. On busy days, thousands of visitors pass through the entrance gates, but it is possible to enjoy a visit even when there are crowds, especially if escorted by a knowledgeable guide. Travelers should visit multiple pyramids, not just the Great Pyramid, in order to have a more enjoyable camel or horse ride and photo op at the distant pyramids away from the crowds. Contact Indagare to arrange a tour.