The guide for our tour was Sem Sem, a legend in Egypt. He truely made our tour a lively, unique, and rememberable experience.
The first stop on our first day of the tour is the Step Pyramid. The pyramid was developed in stages, beginning as a mastaba similar to the mud brick tombs of earlier pharoahs. This was extended twice before being covered by a four stepped pyramid, which was later enlarged to the final six stepped form.
A camel off in the distance.
Next stop was the Great Pyramid of Giza. This pyramid is thought to have been built between 2589 - 2566 BC. It would have taken over 2,300,000 blocks of stone with an average weight of 2.5 tons each. The total weight would have been 6,000,000 tons and a height of 482 feet. It is the largest and the oldest of the Pyramids of Giza.
Next, we walked past the Pyramid of Khafre. Although it is smaller, a steeper angle results in the illusion that they are the same size. In fact, Kephren's pyramid appears taller since it is on higher ground. As it occupies the central point, it has the illusion of greater size, and still has some of its casting stones intact, it is frequently misreferred to as the Great Pyramid.
View of all three pyramids together (from left to right) - The Great Pyramid, The Pyramid of Khafre, and The Pyramid of Menkaure.
Our group takes a camel ride. I found it to be "smoother" than riding elephants, but some of the camels seemed a little rowdy.
Sphinx with Pyramid of Khafre in the background.
That evening we board the overnight train to Aswam. A big thanks to Drew for the Somminex! I was able to have a decent night's rest even with the lights on in the train and only 45 degrees of reclining. In fact, I think 1 tablet would have been sufficient.
The first stop on our first day of the tour is the Step Pyramid. The pyramid was developed in stages, beginning as a mastaba similar to the mud brick tombs of earlier pharoahs. This was extended twice before being covered by a four stepped pyramid, which was later enlarged to the final six stepped form.
A camel off in the distance.
Next stop was the Great Pyramid of Giza. This pyramid is thought to have been built between 2589 - 2566 BC. It would have taken over 2,300,000 blocks of stone with an average weight of 2.5 tons each. The total weight would have been 6,000,000 tons and a height of 482 feet. It is the largest and the oldest of the Pyramids of Giza.
Next, we walked past the Pyramid of Khafre. Although it is smaller, a steeper angle results in the illusion that they are the same size. In fact, Kephren's pyramid appears taller since it is on higher ground. As it occupies the central point, it has the illusion of greater size, and still has some of its casting stones intact, it is frequently misreferred to as the Great Pyramid.
View of all three pyramids together (from left to right) - The Great Pyramid, The Pyramid of Khafre, and The Pyramid of Menkaure.
Our group takes a camel ride. I found it to be "smoother" than riding elephants, but some of the camels seemed a little rowdy.
Sphinx with Pyramid of Khafre in the background.
That evening we board the overnight train to Aswam. A big thanks to Drew for the Somminex! I was able to have a decent night's rest even with the lights on in the train and only 45 degrees of reclining. In fact, I think 1 tablet would have been sufficient.
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