Not everyone knows it, but entering a Pyramid isn’t a given. Aside from possible difficulties related to descent, humidity, and temperatures, tombs are periodically closed. It’s not only for maintenance and restoration work, but also because – according to local guides – “they must rest.” It’s a very beautiful expression that conveys the respect owed to these works of art, life, and death.
We were fortunate enough to have the opportunity to enter the Khufu Pyramid, on the Giza Plateau, built for Pharaoh Khufu around 2560 BCE, and the only one of the Seven Wonders of the Ancient World still standing.
The Giza Pyramid Plateau
About 14 kilometers from central Cairo, the Giza plateau houses one of the world’s most famous archaeological complexes: the Pyramids of Khufu, Khafre, and Menkaure, erected between 2580 and 2500 BCE during the Fourth Dynasty of the Old Kingdom. The three pyramids stand side by side on the western edge of the desert, symbolically where the sun sets (in ancient Egypt, sunset was primarily associated with the god Atum, the creator of the universe). The largest is the Pyramid of Khufu (the Great Pyramid), beside which sits the Pyramid of Khafre, recognizable by the still-visible limestone casing at the tip, and a little farther the Pyramid of Menkaure, the smallest yet the most refined, once faced with rose pink granite from Aswan.
In front of the pyramids lies (visit-able) the ancient Valley Temple, where priests performed mummification rites, connected by a monumental ramp to the funerary temples of each pharaoh at the base of the pyramids. A few steps away rises the famous Sphinx of Giza, with a lion’s body (strength) and a human face (intelligence), probably carved during Khafre’s reign to symbolize the sovereign.
The plateau was rediscovered by explorers and archaeologists starting in the 19th century: systematic excavations began in 1817 with Giovanni Battista Caviglia but continue to this day.
The Pyramid of Khufu: How It Was Built
Constructed with about 2.3 million blocks of limestone and granite, some weighing over 60 tons, the Khufu Pyramid was completed in roughly twenty years by an army of workers estimated between 20,000 and 100,000 people. Nearby on the plateau were found the remains of the workers’ village, complete with ovens, ceramics, and inscriptions detailing their daily life (beer included in rations!). The tomb was originally about 146.6 meters tall; today it measures around 138 meters because over time it lost its apex casing.
The Khufu Pyramid is the only one to have the burial chamber located above ground level, a distinguishing feature among the Egyptian pyramids. The precision with which it is aligned to the cardinal points (an error of less than 1/15 of a degree) continues to astonish modern scholars.
Internally, it comprises a system of passages and chambers arranged on multiple levels. The main spaces are the Grand Gallery of 46 meters, which leads to the King’s Chamber, topped by five vertical relieving chambers, designed to lessen the load from the pyramid’s weight. Inside lies the Khufu Sarcophagus. From the base of the Grand Gallery, a passage extends to the Queen’s Chamber, located near the center of the structure, whose function remains uncertain (likely serving as a storeroom where offerings and provisions were deposited for the pharaoh’s journey to the afterlife).
Outside the Great Pyramid, three smaller pyramids have been found dedicated to Khufu’s three women—the mother, the sister, and the wife. The furnishings discovered inside the queen’s pyramid are today on display at the Grand Egyptian Museum, including the bed, jewelry, and the canopic jars. Also outside the pyramid was the famous pharaonic Solar Boat, preserved for millennia in a pit next to the pyramid’s base, now restored and exhibited in an external section of the museum.
Entering the Pyramid: Practical Tips
Entering the Khufu Pyramid is an intense experience from many angles. The entrance is about 15 meters above ground, reached by ascending a sequence of convenient steps, opening into a cave carved by the Caliph al-Ma’mun in an attempt to reach the tomb. This entrance, now used by visitors, was not the original entrance, since the pyramids were designed without an official entryway, as they were meant to be sealed forever.
Almost immediately you begin to ascend in a crouched position, along a tunnel with a wooden platform and handrails, as humidity rises and the air becomes thick.
After about 40 meters of tunnel, the passage opens into the Grand Gallery: a corridor 8.5 meters high and 46 meters long, with beveled edges that relieve the weight of the immense structure.
From the gallery you access, after one last passage opened between the great blocks, the King’s Chamber, entirely built from red Aswan granite (a stone considered powerful on an energetic level), where the Khufu Sarcophagus sits, bare but imposing. To avoid disappointment, know that the chamber, measuring about 10 by 5 meters, is devoid of decorations or hieroglyphs, unlike later pyramids: here everything is sober yet immense, to the extent that some visitors engage in meditation near the stone walls. On one wall you can notice the 20 by 20 cm hole used for inspections with new advanced scanning technologies and exploring robots.
Some warnings: inside it gets very hot (over 35°C at times) and the humidity is extremely high. The first stretch is low and narrow, you have to go bent and it is two-way, so the real problem arises when meeting someone tall or a bit awkward coming from the opposite direction: you need to be a bit agile and quick, that’s all.
Practical Information
The Giza complex is open daily: from 8:00 to 17:00 (October through March) and from 7:00 to 18:00 (April through September), with light and music shows after sunset. The entrance includes a site ticket (from 540 EGP, about 16.50 EUR), which covers the Sphinx and the Valley Temple; entering the Khufu Pyramid itself requires a special ticket (about 900 EGP, in addition to the base site ticket).
Inside the site you move by shuttle buses with stops at the main interests or on foot: the route is long and sunny almost all year, so it’s best to bring water, a hat, and sun cream (there are several stalls to buy drinks or the typical Egyptian keffiyeh to shield against sand and sun). Wear closed shoes and avoid carrying bulky backpacks.
Visiting the pyramids inside isn’t suitable for those with claustrophobia, or for people with tachycardia or reduced mobility, because it’s really hot and at times the air is limited. Without alarmism, it’s wise to be aware because once inside turning back isn’t immediate. Entering in the early morning is the best option, especially in the hottest periods; or in the evening, at closing time, you can enjoy a unique landscape, with the light of the sunset casting a soft glow on the pyramids and camels.
The site, both outside and inside, has something deeply mystical, and it’s wise to respect it by keeping voices down and avoiding excessive photos and selfies, especially during climbs and descents, to prevent bottlenecks on the paths.
The architecture of the pyramids and the rites surrounding death and the afterlife in Ancient Egypt are highly complex, and a guide can truly make a difference. Do not be surprised if the guide does not enter the pyramid, but explains everything outside and waits for you at the exit: they cannot enter, and it’s prohibited to prevent crowding inside and confusion of languages and explanations.
How to Reach the Pyramids of Giza
From Italy, Cairo is connected by direct daily flights from Rome and Milan, and the national airline, Egyptair, offers several affordable promotions, especially for weekend travelers. The Pyramids are about 14 km from central Cairo and are reachable by metro, taxi, private driver, or organized tours with departures directly from the hotel. Soon a pedestrian bridge will connect the Giza plateau with the GEM, the world’s largest museum dedicated to the Ancient Egypt.
To book an Italian-language guide and organize a combined visit to the museum quickly and conveniently, it could make sense to rely on a tour operator. The Gattinoni Travel network, in addition to complete packages, also arranges individual services and guided visits, with great flexibility to accommodate different needs.
