Our Best Experiences Together 4 : Inside the Pyramids

We were able to visit more pyramids on our second trip to Egypt. We have now been inside the pyramids of Khafre, Djoser, the Red Pyramid, the Bent Pyramid, Meidum and Teti. Our most memorable experiences were at the Bent Pyramid and the  Meidum Pyramid. At both, we managed to complete the full interior route, making our way through narrow and steep passages to reach the chambers deep within. It gave us the rare opportunity to experience the pyramids from the inside, rather than simply admiring these remarkable monuments from the outside.

Pyramid of Teti

https://slsongtravel.blogspot.com/2023/04/pyramid-of-teti.html

The Bent Pyramid

https://slsongtravel.blogspot.com/2023/03/bent-pyramid-2.html 

The Red Pyramid

https://slsongtravel.blogspot.com/search?q=red+pyramid

Pyramid of Meidum

https://slsongtravel.blogspot.com/2023/04/pyramid-of-meidum-2.html

Step Pyramid of Djoser

https://slsongtravel.blogspot.com/2023/04/step-pyramid-of-djoser.html

Red Pyramid

Sneferu built his second pyramid near the Bent Pyramid. Having learnt his lessons from building the Bent Pyramid, he began building it at 43 degrees from the base. This the first successful attempt at building a smooth sided pyramid.

The entrance into the pyramid

We did not go further because there was a crowd and the air inside was stale

It is unclear if this is the actual pyramidion 

It is known as the Red Pyramid because of its red limestone hue

The Best Places to Visit 4 : Pyramids of Giza

The Pyramids of Giza are among the most extraordinary surviving monuments of ancient Egypt. They were constructed during Egypt's Old Kingdom around 2600–2500 BC, as royal funerary complexes. The three great pyramids were built for three generations of pharaohs: Khufu, Khafre and Menkaure. 

The best view of the pyramids is from the Panoramic Viewpoint, where six pyramids can be seen lined up in a row across the desert.

Panoramic View Point

https://slsongtravel.blogspot.com/2023/11/panorama-view-point-giza.html

Pyramid of Menkaure

https://slsongtravel.blogspot.com/2023/11/pyramid-of-menkaure.html

Pyramid of Khafre

https://slsongtravel.blogspot.com/2023/11/pyramid-of-khafre.html

Pyramid of Khufu

https://slsongtravel.blogspot.com/2023/11/pyramid-of-khufu.html

The Great Sphinx of Giza

https://slsongtravel.blogspot.com/2023/11/the-great-sphinx-of-giza.html

Even though we have visited several other pyramids in Egypt, we still think the Pyramids of Giza are one of the best places to visit. The other pyramids, such as the Step Pyramid, Red Pyramid, Bent Pyramid and Meidum Pyramid, are farther away from Cairo and are more off the beaten path. They tend to stand rather isolated in the desert.

Giza, on the other hand, feels like an entire ancient complex. Surrounding the three great pyramids are several smaller pyramids, tombs and temples, together with the famous Great Sphinx of Giza. There is simply so much to see in one place.

However, if your main interest is to experience the inside of a pyramid, some of the lesser-visited pyramids are well worth making the extra journey for.

A very brief history of Egypt

This is a very brief history of Egypt. I also included some well known Pharaohs and the monuments built during each period. I hope this will serve as a rough guide for you when you visit Egypt.

OLD KINGDOM (3100-2180 BC)

Memphis became the capital of the unified Upper and Lower Egypt

Pyramid of Djoser

Pyramid of Meidum

Bent Pyramid 

Red Pyramid

The Great Pyramid of Giza (Khufu)

Pyramid of Khafre

Pyramid of Menkaure

Saqqara

Pyramid of Teti

Pyramid of Hawara

The beginning of mummification

First Intermediate period

MIDDLE KINGDOM (2125-1985 BC)

Highpoint of Egyptian language and literature

No temples or pyramids remain standing

Beni Hassan

The Hyksos invaded Lower Egypt

Second Intermediate period

NEW KINGDOM (1550-1070 BC)

Thebes (Luxor) became the capital

Temple of Amun Karnak

Valley of the Kings

Valley of the Queens

Deir el Medina

Temple of Hatshepsut

Luxor temple 

Abu Simbel

Amarna

North Tombs and South Tombs

Temple of Seti I Abydos

Medinat Habu

Ramesseum

Temple of Khnum Esna

Colossi Memnon

Hatshepsut

Akhenaten 

Tutankhamun

Ramses II

Queen Nefertiti

Queen Nefertari

Third Intermediate Period

Late Period

PTOLEMAIC PERIOD (305-30 BC)

Temple of Hathor Dendera

Alexander the Great

Ptolemy I

Temple of Horus

Kom Ombo

Temple of Philae

Tuna El Gebel

Cleopatra VII

Julius Caesar

Mark Antony

ROMAN PERIOD (30 BC)

Fayoum Portrait Mummies

Coptic Churches

Arab Conquest 640-1517

Ottoman Turkish Rule 1517-1882

British Occupation 1882-1952

Independent Egypt 1952

Egypt: The Land of the Pharaohs

This is our second visit to Egypt. This time we included the sites in Middle Egypt. We wanted to see more pyramids, temples and tombs.

We started in Cairo and travelled south for three days and two nights by road along the River Nile to Luxor via Dasyhur -> Meidum -> Minya-> Assiut-> Sohag-> Abydos-> Dendera-> Luxor. A distance of about 660 km. We then spent three days in Luxor. We are glad that we managed to see most of the sites in Luxor. We then took an overnight train back to Cairo. 

In Cairo, we visited the Islamic Cairo and spent more time at the Egyptian Museum and the Giza Pyramids. We missed the Grand Egyptian Museum because the opening has been delayed again and again.

Day 1
Landed in CAIRO at 1040

The Egyptian Museum

Corniche el-Nil

Dinner at Downtown Restaurant in the hotel

Steigenberger Hotel El Tahrir

Day 2

Dasyhur

The Bent Pyramid

The Red Pyramid

Lunch at Restaurant Pharous 

SAQQARA

Pyramid of Djoser

Tomb of Mereruka

Tomb of Kagemni

Pyramid of Teti

Philosophers' Circle

Serapeum

Tomb of Ti

Tomb of Iynefert

Tomb of Unasankh

Tomb of Seshseshet Idut

Dinner at Downtown Restaurant at the hotel

Steigenberger Hotel El Tahrir

Day 3

Pyramid of Meidum

Hawara Pyramid

BENI HASSAN

Tomb of Khety

Tomb of Baqet III

Tomb of Khnumhotep

Tomb of Amenemhat

Dinner at Layla House Restaurant

MG Nefertiti Hotel

Overnight in MINYA

Day 4

TUNA EL GEBEL

Tomb of Petosiris

Tomb of Isidora

Ibis and Baboons Catacombs

Hermopolis

Sandstone Baboons

TELL AL AMARNA

Northern Tombs

Tomb of Meryre

Tomb of Ahmes

Tomb of Penthu

Tomb of Panehsy

Royal Tomb of Akhenaten

City of Akhenaten

Southern Tombs

Tomb of Any

Tomb of Ramose

Tomb of Mahu

Tomb of Ay

Dinner at Wanas Cafe

Diamond Azur Hotel

Overnight in SOHAG

Day 5

White Monastery

Red Monastery

ABYDOS Temple of Seti I 

DENDERA Temple of Hathor

Dinner at El Hussein Restaurant

Hotel Pavillon Winter Luxor

Overnight in LUXOR

Day 6

Colossi Memnon

VALLEY OF THE QUEENS

Tomb of Queen Nefertari

Tomb of Titi

Tomb of Prince Amen Khopshef

Tomb of Prince Kha Em Wast

DEIR AL MEDINA

Tombs of Ammenakht, Nebenmaat and Khaemteri

Tomb of Inherkhau

Tomb of Sennedjem

Hathor Temple

Tomb of Pashedu

Lunch at Paris Restaurant

Medinat Habu

The Ramesseum

ABU AL NAGA TOMBS

Tomb of Roy

Tomb of Shuroy

Luxor Museum

Mummification Museum

Dinner at El Hussein Restaurant

Hotel Pavillon Winter Luxor

Day 7

VALLEY OF THE KINGS

Tomb of Ramses IX

Tomb of Siptah

Tomb of Queen Tausert/Setnakht

Tomb of Seti II

Tomb of Ramses V/VI

Tomb of Ramses I

Tomb of Seti I

Tomb of Ramses III

Tomb of Tutankhamun

Tomb of Merenptah

Tomb of Ramses IV

Tomb of Ramses VII

Lunch at Paris Restaurant

GURNA TOMBS

Tomb of Ramose

Tomb of Userhat

Tomb of Khaemhat

Tomb of Benia

Tomb of Khonsu

Tomb of Userhat

Tomb of Nakht

Tomb of Meena

Tomb of Sennefer

Tomb of Rekhmire

Dinner at Whale Fish Restaurant

Hotel Pavillon Winter Luxor

Day 8

ESNA Temple of Khnum

Lunch at New Oum Hashim Restaurant

Temple of Amun Karnak 

Luxor Temple

Overnight train to Cairo

Day 9 

CAIRO

Islamic Cairo 1

Mosque of Sultan Hassan

Mosque of ar-Rifai

Mosque of Ibn Tulun

Khan al-Khalili

Talaat Harb Street

Dinner at Downtown Restaurant in the hotel

Steigenberger Hotel El Tahrir

Day 10

Wadi El-Natrun

St Bishoy Monastery

Tomb of Pope Cyril VI

Monastery of the Holy Virgin Mary El Sourian

Monastery of Baramus

Lunch at Cafe Riche

Khan al-Khalili

Dinner at Naguib Mahfouz

Steigenberger Hotel El Tahrir

Day 11

Giza

Pyramids of Khufu, Khafre and Menkaure

Tomb of Neferbauptah

The Sphinx

Lunch at Downtown Restaurant in the hotel

Islamic Cairo 2

Al Muizz Street

Dinner at the Downtown Restaurant in the hotel

Steigenberger Hotel El Tahrir

Day 12

Flight home at 1305

Pyramid of Meidum

Most Egyptologists believe that Sneferu built this pyramid before Bent and Red pyramids. The pyramid began as an eight stepped structure. The steps were then filled to form a pyramid. It then collapsed under its own weight. This is all that remain today.

It was a long walk to the pyramid

Ahmed, our guide

The stairs leading to the entrance

Pyramid of Khufu

The Pyramid of Khufu is also known as the Great Pyramid of Giza. It is the largest of the three great pyramids. Standing at a height of 146 m, it is also the tallest of the three. Khufu reigned from 2589-2566 BC during the Old Kingdom. Khufu managed to built this great pyramid from the lessons learned from building the Bent and Red pyramids.

A boat pit

Another boat pit

London, Paris, Holland and Provence

We went to attend our son's second graduation in London. This time he has graduated with a Master's Degree (M.Sc) in Advanced Software Engineering from King's College London. We also took the opportunity to visit Holland and Provence. We kept London to a minimum and instead chose Paris as a base to facilitate our travel to Holland and Provence by high speeed trains.

Day 1
Singapore Changi Airport to Paris Charles-de-Gaulle Airport 

Arrived in PARIS at 0715

Monmartre

The Basilica of Sacre Coeur 

Place du Tertre

Lunch at Chez Eugene

La Madeleine

Rue Royal

Dinner at Terminus Nord

The Whistler Hotel

Day 2 

To AMSTERDAM by Eurostar at 1024

Arrived at 1344

Lunch at Restaurant Flame

Beurspassage

Old Kerk

Dam Square

Niuve Kerk

Ann Frank's House

Red Light District

Dinner at Seafood Bistro

Park Plaza Victoria Hotel

Day 3

VOLENDAM

Lunch at Cannibale Royale

ZAANSE SCHANS

Heineken Experience

Dinner at Wagamama

Park Plaza Victoria Hotel

Day 4

UTRECHT

St Martin's Cathedral

Domtoren

Oudegracht

GOUDA

t' Kaaswinkeltje

St Janskerk

Vrouwebrug

Lunch at Restaurant Belvedere

DELFT

Nieuwe Kerk

Oude Kerk

De Roos Windmill

Dinner at the Seafood Bar

Park Royal Victoria Hotel

Day 5

Rijksmuseum

Van Gogh Museum

Canal Cruise

To LONDON by Eurostar at 1445

Lunch at the Eurostar Station

Arrrived at 1815

Dinner at Hawksmoor in Seven Dials

Hilton London in Euston

Day 6

Graduation Day at Royal Festival Hall

Lunch at Paul

Oxford Street

Dinner at Rules

Covent Garden

Hilton London in Euston

Day 7

Lunch at Lincoln's Inn

Kensington Palace

Hyde Park

St Mary Abbots Church

Kensington High Street

Earl's Court

Dinner at Toff's in Muswell Hill

Hilton London in Euston

Day 8

To PARIS by Eurostar at1024

Arrived 1348

Lunch at Terminus Nord

Pantheon

St Etienne du Mont

Dinner at Cafe du Nord

The Whistler Hotel

Day 9

Champs de Mars

Place de la Concorde

Jardin des Tuileries

Louvre Pyramid

To AVIGNON by TGV train

Dinner at Cotesushi

Ibis Avignon

Day 10

ARLES

Notre Dame de la Major

Church of St Trophime

Amphitheatre

Roman Theatre

Cloisters of St Trophime

Lunch at Cafe de la Paix

Back to AVIGNON

Palais de Papes

Notre Dame des Doms

Jardin des Doms

City Wall

Pont St Benezet

Tea at Amorimo

Dinner at Fou de Fafa

Ibis Avignon

Day 11

Pont du Gard

Lunch at Pont du Gard Bistro

ORANGE

Roman Theatre

Orange Cathedral

The Triumphal Arch of Orange

Dinner at La Fourchette

Ibis Avignon

Day 12

CARCASSONNE

Cite de Carcassonne

Lunch at Auberge de Dame Carcas

Basilique St Nazaire

Chateau Comtal

The ramparts of the castle

Tea at Le Carnot

Cathedral of St Michael

Dinner at Cotesushi

Ibis Avignon

Day 13

MARSEILLE

Notre Dame de la Garde

Cathedral de la Major

Restaurant Au Bout du Quai

Old Port

Church of St Ferréol les Augustins

Ferry to Frioul Island and back

Tea at Amorino

Dinner at Arlequin

Ibis Avignon

Day 14

AVIGNON

Iglise St Didier

Basilica St Pierre

Musee Lapidaire

To Paris by TGV

Lunch on the train

Dinner at Terminus Nord

Moulin Rouge

The Whistler Hotel

Day 15

Flight home