THE GREAT PYRAMID OF GIZA TRAVEL GUIDE

Egypt is a country with a plethora of dynamic historical and cultural riches and a vast number of sites of historical importance. The Valley of the Kings is known the world over, as is the figure of the Sphinx; but undoubtedly the most prestigious of all Egypt's famous landmarks is the Great Pyramid of Giza. Completed circa 2560 BC after around 20 years labour, the structure is the only remaining member of the Seven Wonders of the Ancient World, with the others long since destroyed by earthquake, invasion, theft and fire. The Pyramid's status for this fact alone is of certain significance.

But the Great Pyramid has not escaped unscathed from the ravages of time, the force of nature, or the hand of man. In 1301 BC a huge earthquake shook loose most of the casing stones, highly polished angled stones which gave the pyramid a smooth outer surface.

But long before this event many of the various pyramids on the site had been opened and robbed by thieves after the riches with which the bodies of the Pharaoh, his family, and other nobles, were buried. And of course, the centuries of erosion have taken their toll on the remaining stones.

Vast numbers of tourists visit every year to see the Great Pyramid and its surrounding structures. It is situated 20 kilometres from central Cairo and served primarily by Cairo international airport, and it goes without saying that tourists won't struggle to find a tour operator to take them out to the Pyramid site. Most large airlines fly into Cairo on a regular basis. Some do find Cairo a stifling place, with its 16 million inhabitants and sprawling urban area, especially in the summer months. Many tour operators incorporate the Great Pyramid into larger Egypt holidays that often include a Nile cruise and visits to The Valley of the Kings, which often means flying into Luxor instead with airlines such as Fly Monarch.

There is so much to see in Egypt that travellers needn't feel limited to staying in just one place. Although travellers should reap the benefits of indulging in any.