Egypt Attractions

Venue: Pyramids at Dahshur    When: Daily

Located in South Saqqara, a short drive from Cairo, the Dahshur Pyramids include the Red Pyramid and the Bent Pyramid. They are among the largest and most accessible in the country to visit, but attract fewer visitors and are far less chaotic than those at the Giza Plateau.

Studies show that these two pyramids were built between 2575 and 2551 BC, at the time when Snofru ruled the 4th Dynasty. The Red Pyramid, taking its name from the reddish limestone used to build it, is thought to be older and is currently the only one that tourists can go inside. It is also believed to be the first successful pyramid ever built in Egypt, and its 160 layers of stone make it one of the highest in the country.

The Bent Pyramid, also called Rhomboidal, False, or Blunt Pyramid, is one of the most unusual and best preserved in Egypt. Unusually, it has two entrances, and another key characteristic is the angle change, attributed to either a collapse during construction works and subsequent modification, or to the builders themselves wanting to reduce the volume of work to reach early completion.