Day 01
Saqqara, Memphis, and the Giza Wonders
- Witness the real magnificence of ancient Egyptian attractions through visits to some of the country's most remarkable sites.
- The Step Pyramid of Saqqara: Also called the Step Pyramid of Zoser or Josser, this monument was commissioned by King Zoser, who ordered his minister Imhotep to build it. The pyramid consists of six layers and stands about 197 feet (60 meters) high. It is the first pyramid ever built and the first large-scale stone building in the world.
- Pyramid of Unas: The Pyramid of Unas is a smooth-sided pyramid built in the 24th century BC for the Egyptian pharaoh Unas, the ninth and final king of the Fifth Dynasty.
- Pyramid Complex of Teti: Teti (c. 2345-2323 BC), the first ruler of the Sixth Dynasty, built his pyramidal complex not far from the Step Pyramid of Saqqara. Upon completion, it stood 52.5 meters tall.
- The mastaba tomb of Kagemni, also known as Memi: This mastaba was discovered in 1843 by Richard Lepsius. It had to wait until 1905 before von Bissing began publishing rooms IV to VIII, a work that was not completed until 1911.
- The mastaba of Nikauisesi: The mastaba of Nikauisesi is situated in the north-east sector of the necropolis of Saqqara. The tomb was discovered in 1979-80 by the Supreme Council of Antiquities.
- The mastaba of Ankhmahor: The mastaba of Ankhmahor is situated on the northern side of Teti's pyramid at Saqqara, in the block of tombs belonging to the officials of the king's Dynasty VI reign.
- Memphis Open Air Museum: Memphis was the oldest capital of ancient Egypt, the first city founded after the unification of Upper and Lower Egypt. The city was founded in the First Dynasty (3100 BC).
- Giza Pyramids Complex: The three main pyramids of Giza - Khufu, Khafre, and Menkaure - are said to contain enough stone to build a 2-meter-long wall spanning 100,000 square kilometers around the globe along the equator.
- The Great Pyramid: The Great Pyramid of King Khufu is considered to largely represent the spirit of ancient Egypt. King Khufu, who built this pyramid as a cemetery, left little information about his reign.
- The Magical Sphinx: Who among us, when mentioning the name of the Sphinx, does not think of this stone sculpture carved in the form of a human head and a lion's body? Located on the Giza Plateau in Egypt, the Sphinx is one of the oldest and largest sculptures in the world, measuring about 73.5 meters long and 6 meters wide.
- Enjoy your lunch, which will be served at a local restaurant after the day tour. Then return to your hotel in Cairo.
