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Tour Inside The Great Pyramid

Discover the ancient mysteries of the Great Pyramid of Giza with our exclusive Tour Inside The Great Pyramid. Step into the heart of this iconic wonder, explore hidden chambers, and unravel the enigma of the pharaohs. Book your tour today for an extraordinary experience that will leave you in awe of Egypt’s ancient past.

Embark on a once-in-a-lifetime journey as you venture inside the Great Pyramid of Giza, the last surviving wonder of the ancient world. Our Tour Inside The Great Pyramid offers a rare opportunity to explore the inner chambers and corridors of this architectural marvel. Walk in the footsteps of pharaohs and immerse yourself in the rich history and mystique that surrounds this extraordinary monument.

Highlights :

• Entrance to the Great Pyramid: Gain exclusive access to the interior of the Great Pyramid, one of the most iconic and enigmatic structures ever built. Marvel at the intricate craftsmanship and learn about the pyramid’s construction.
• King’s Chamber: Explore the innermost chamber of the pyramid, known as the King’s Chamber. Admire the massive granite sarcophagus and learn about its significance in ancient Egyptian beliefs and rituals.
• Queen’s Chamber: Visit the Queen’s Chamber, a smaller but equally fascinating chamber within the pyramid. Discover its purpose and speculate on its mysteries.

Advantages:

• Limited Group Size: Enjoy an intimate and immersive experience with a limited group size, ensuring a more personal and meaningful exploration of the Great Pyramid.
• Expert Egyptologist Guide: Our knowledgeable Egyptologist guide will provide in-depth insights into the pyramid’s history, construction, and significance, enriching your understanding of this ancient wonder.
• Convenience and Flexibility: Benefit from convenient hotel pickup and drop-off, and the flexibility to customize the tour to suit your needs, including changing the pickup time.
• 8:00 AM: Hotel pickup in Cairo or Giza
• Transfer to the Giza Plateau
• Enter the Great Pyramid and begin the guided exploration of its interior
• Visit the King’s Chamber and learn about its significance
• Explore the Queen’s Chamber and unravel its mysteries
• Return to the entrance of the pyramid and conclude the tour
• Transfer back to your hotel

Inclusions:

• Hotel pickup and drop-off
• Professional Egyptologist guide
• Entrance fees to the Great Pyramid

Exclusions:

• Gratuities (optional)
• Personal expenses

Tips and Advice for Travelers:

• Wear comfortable clothing and shoes suitable for walking and climbing narrow passages inside the pyramid.
• Bring a flashlight or use the flashlight feature on your phone for better visibility inside the chambers.
• Respect the ancient site by following the instructions of your guide and refraining from touching or damaging the pyramid’s walls.
• Photography is allowed inside the pyramid, but using flash may be prohibited, so be prepared for low-light conditions.

Trip Notes:

• The tour operates on select days and is subject to availability.
• Duration: Approximately 2-3 hours.
• This tour is not recommended for claustrophobic individuals or those with mobility issues, as it involves walking on uneven surfaces and navigating narrow passages.
• The tour may be subject to changes or cancellations due to unforeseen circumstances, such as weather conditions or site closures. In such cases, an alternative itinerary will be provided.

Q: Can I book the tour on the same day? A: Due to limited availability, we recommend booking in advance to secure your spot for the Tour Inside The Great Pyramid. However, same-day bookings may be possible, subject to availability.

Q: Can children join the tour? A: Children aged 6 and above are welcome to join the tour. Please note that infants and young children under the age of 6 are not permitted inside the pyramid due to safety regulations.

Q: Can I customize the tour? A: Yes, we offer customization options to suit your needs. If you require any changes to the pickup time or have specific preferences, please contact our customer support team to discuss the possibilities.

Giza Pyramids Tours – An Unforgettable Egyptian Experience

Giza Pyramids Tours bring you face to face with the most famous and most popular tourist attractions in Egypt . It presents you with an ideal opportunity to visit and explore some of the most treasured ancient attractions in the world, and the last remaining one of the Seven Wonders of the Ancient World. As one would expect, a visit to these amazing pyramids is included in almost all of our Egypt tour packages and Nile cruise holidays .

Design Your Custom Tour

Day Trips to Giza Pyramids

Giza and Saqqara Day Tour

1-Day Saqqara and Dahshur Pyramids Tour

Giza Pyramids and Egyptian Museum Tour

Camel Ride at the Pyramids of Giza

Cairo Stopover Transit Tour: Giza Pyramids, Egyptian Museum & Khan El Khalili

Pyramid Day Tour Including Lunch at Cafelluca

Quad Bike at Giza Pyramids

Giza Pyramids Half Day Tour from Cairo

Pyramids Sound and Light Show

Tour the pyramids of giza.

The Pyramids of Giza   consist of the most amazing and world-renowned features in all of Egypt. The sites you will see in Giza are so revered that that they are downright iconic of Egyptian culture. Giza is not actually a city, but instead, it’s the western district of Cairo. Giza has also become increasingly popular as a commercial area, especially along Pyramids Road.

What to See?

Aerial view of the Giza Plateau in Cairo.

What can you expect to see in Giza and on all the best tours of Cairo , Egypt?   First and foremost, you have the Ancient Pyramids of Giza. Any guided Egypt tours that are worth a penny will tour the Pyramids of Giza, one of the Seven Wonders of the World. It might surprise you to discover that the Egyptian Pyramids, while still intact internally and externally, are surrounded by urban development. While visitors may come expecting to find the Pyramids in an isolated desert, what they will actually see is this natural attraction standing adjacent to businesses like McDonalds and Pizza Hut.

What can you expect when you actually visit the Ancient Pyramids? Expect the insides of the Pyramids to be hot, humid and perhaps even a bit scary, especially if you have claustrophobia. Once you’re inside though, you will be delighted by the miraculous achievement of these millennium-old creations – all the more impressive considering they were built by human hands, and contrary to what some people believe, they were not built using slave labor.

Pyramids to look for by name include Khufu (at nearly five hundred feet high), Khafre and Menkaure. In short, any and all travel to Egypt should include a visit to the pyramids.

The Great Sphinx

The Great Sphinx, Giza Plateau.

Besides the Pyramids, another iconic feature of Giza Pyramids tours is the Sphinx and the Temple of the Sphinx. This human headed lion was originally built in honor of the sun god Re-Horakhty. Is your curiosity piqued by the Sphinx’s missing nose? No, the ancient Egyptians didn’t have a sense of humor. What is believed to be the cause of the missing nose is that bored soldiers once used the Sphinx as target practice. The culprits have been suggested to be anyone from World War I British troops, to Napoleon’s army, to even Turks of the old era.

Please Note!

Camels in front of the big 3 pyramids.

Can you climb the Pyramids?   No, though at one time it was allowed. Fortunately climbing these amazing structures is no longer allowed, though some claim that guards in less frequented areas can be bribed to allow some climbing activity.

Last but not least, expect to be offered a camel ride on these Giza Pyramids tours. We generally do NOT recommend a camel ride at the Giza Pyramids if visiting the area without a guide (which is also not recommended). If you should choose to go for a ride expect to haggle and expect to be cheated, both before and after the ride. Nevertheless, you have to sample Giza in order to say you have truly seen the grandeur of Ancient Egypt! In other words: Giza Pyramids tours are an absolute must when visiting Cairo .

Discover the Magic of Giza Pyramids Tours

Cruise the Nile, explore the Pyramids and dive the Red Sea. Contact us today to find out more about our Egypt tour packages and our Nile River cruises , or to book your dream vacation right now. Our Egypt tour packages are private and fully customizable . You can have your Giza Pyramids tour your way when you travel to this ancient land with Egypt Tours Plus.

Design Your Custom Egypt Tour

Explore Egypt your way by selecting only the attractions you want to visit

8-Day Pyramids and Nile Cruise Holidays [Group Tour]

12-Day Cairo, Nile Cruise And Red Sea Stay

10-Day Luxury Nile Cruise and Cairo Tours

10-Day Round Trip Nile Cruise and Cairo Package

8-Day Cairo to Abu Simbel Tour w/ Nile Cruise

8-Day Egypt Holiday Tour – Cairo and Nile Cruise [By Train]

FAQ: Visiting the Giza Pyramids

Can I Visit the Pyramids in Egypt?

Tourist are welcome to visit all of Egypt’s famous pyramids, including the legendary Giza Pyramids near Cairo, the Red Pyramid and Bent Pyramid at Dashur, and the famous Step Pyramid at Saqqara.

Are the Pyramids in Egypt Safe to Visit?

Being Egypt’s most visited attractions, the Giza Pyramids of Khufu, Khafre and Menkaura are perfectly safe to visit. Egypt’s other pyramids at Dashur and Saqqara are also safe to visit.

How Much To Visit Pyramids In Egypt?

As of the time of writing, a ticket for the site where the Giza Pyramids are located cost EGP 200. To go inside the Great Pyramid cost an additional EGP 400, and EGP 100 for each of the other two.

What Is the Best Time to Visit Egypt Pyramids?

The best time to visit the pyramids is from mid-October to February when the weather is neither too warm nor too cool. Try to visit before 09h00 if you want to avoid large crowds of tourists.

Egypt Travel Information

Full Safety Guide: Is It Safe to Travel to Egypt?

What are the Must Visit Places in Egypt?

Egypt Travel Tips: This You Need to Know

How to Plan a Trip to Egypt – Start Here!

Best Time to Visit Egypt and When to Book!

What to Pack for Egypt (Simple Packing List)

Last Updated on March 25, 2024

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A Walking Tour of the Giza Plateau

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UNIQUE CULTURAL AND ARCHAEOLOGICAL EGYPT TOUR PACKAGES

According to an ancient hymn, Egypt is where the creator god Ptah “crafted the world in the design of his heart.” This legend gives this storied kingdom the name of “Egypt,” from an ancient Greek term meaning home of the soul of Ptah. From the fertile vibrance the Nile breathes into the landscape around it to the architectural marvels created by civilizations long past, it isn’t difficult to imagine this as the birthplace of life itself. Join us for an enchanting, mystical journey and see Egypt as it was meant to be seen, with five-star accommodations and exclusive glimpses into the past. Inside Egypt is excited to present the best Egypt tour packages at the best Egypt tour prices with our EGYPT TRAVEL COLLECTION, which features new tours, intriguing itineraries, and VIP experiences that have never been offered before, all at rates that don’t require a king’s ransom. You’ll be accompanied by our personable and friendly guides, all fluent in English, who are well-known for delighting their tour companions with their knowledge and hospitality.

CHOOSE YOUR LUXURY EGYPT TOUR & BOOK YOUR EGYPT VACATIONS NOW!

No two Egypt adventure tours and travel itineraries are exactly alike. With that in mind, we offer several options to accommodate your schedule at rates you won’t find anywhere else. Regardless of which all-inclusive Egypt vacation package you choose, the incredible journey you’re about to embark on will create memories to last a lifetime.

Embark on an unforgettable 17-day journey with Inside Egypt. Cruise luxuriously along the Nile, explore iconic sites like Valley of the Kings and Abu Simbel, and delve into Egypt's rich history. Enjoy scenic views, exclusive access to monuments, and expert guidance throughout. Let the Nile redefine travel for you.

Our signature Egypt Vacation takes you on an enthralling 14-day Egypt tour from Cairo to visit Luxor, Edfu, Kom Ombo, Au Simbel, and back again, exploring Egypt's most iconic landmarks. Vacation the Egypt pyramids ahead of the crowds and enjoy a peaceful moment to drink in the atmosphere of the Pyramid tours of Khufu and the Great Sphinx at the Giza Plateau before tourists are admitted for the day. You’ll also discover the country’s hidden gems with exclusive access to rooms and locations normally off-limits to the public, and sail down the Nile in style aboard our well-appointed cruise ship to delve further into the mysteries of Southern Egypt. Our 14 day Egypt pyramids vacation offers the most in-depth experience of our Egypt vacation tour packages. 

This 10 day Egypt travel package vacation offers a unique tour of Egypt that is custom designed to highlight the attractions of four Egyptian cities: Cairo, Giza, Luxor, and Aswan. See the Step Pyramid, Egypt’s first pyramid; tour some of the most notable monuments on Earth at the Giza Plateau; enjoy a comfortable 4-night stay on our exquisite cruise ship as it sails down the Nile; explore ancient temples; and marvel at the stunning artifacts that chronicle a compelling history at the Egyptian Museum in Cairo. You’ll enjoy all the exclusivity and luxury of our signature Egypt trip tours on a briefer timetable.

Don’t let an expedient schedule prevent you from getting a premium Cairo Egypt vacation to experience of the best of this mystical realm. This 8 day Egypt tour and vacation to Egypt is planned with efficiency in mind. You’ll wander through the halls of the Egyptian Museum, see awe-inspiring views of Cairo, and try your hand at bartering with local merchants before spending 3 nights abroad on a first-class trip down the Nile to see historic temples and the Valley of the Kings. Upon returning to Cairo, you’ll tour the National Museum of Egyptian Civilization and enjoy an intimate visit to the Giza Plateau before it’s open to other tourists, drinking in the majesty of the Sphinx and the great pyramids with every comfort our luxury Egypt vacation have to offer. 

Tour Reviews

Private tours, haven't found the dream egypt vacation for you, private guided egypt tour.

Our Egyptian tour guides are passionate and knowledgeable about their homeland. They know practically everything about it, constantly gaining information by reading books, and talking to living witnesses of history.

Their knowledge of Egypt cultural tours is impressive and goes far beyond the cliches found in a travel guide. Most of our guides, who specialize in Egypt cultural tours , are Egyptologists and know almost everything about the history of ancient Egypt, as well as modern Egypt, and its customs, traditions, and culture.

Inside Egypt knows very well that the key to a successful trip in Egypt is a trip with a professional guide. Our professional licensed guides guarantee high standards, thorough content and professionalism during the luxury trips to Egypt that we offer. Therefore our Egyptian tour guides make each of our luxury Egypt tours a really exclusive trip!

They know English very well and have a lot of knowledge that they can share with tourists. They provide professional and up-to-date information about Egypt, visited places, areas and facilities, monuments, and along with tour leaders (concierges travel), they take care of our clients.

With our professional Egyptian guides on your luxury Egypt tours, you will see and learn important details of places and monuments that you will never know about by reading a few guides before coming to Egypt. You will hear fascinating, fun and interesting stories, and anecdotes about people and places in Egypt.

Visiting the land of the pharaohs during our private guided Egypt tours allows you time to have an interesting discussion with our guide, free questioning, and therefore a time well spent. If you want to really get to know Egypt, visit with us and participate in one of our luxury Egypt tours.

Luxury Accommodation

Holidays do not happen often and for this reason, we believe that you should spend your Egypt vacation time in the best possible way.

That is why we offer our guests only the best 5-star hotels in Cairo when spending their time in Egypt during their Egypt vacation. The hotels we use are luxurious and are characterized by a high class of service. They have beautiful interiors and serve delicious and exquisite meals.

We want our guests to be mentally and physically rested after a day of sightseeing so that when they wake up each morning, they have a lot of energy to explore the attractions we have prepared for them. That is why our luxury hotels in Cairo are characterized by high standards that will undoubtedly meet the requirements of each guest. The hotels that we choose also have the best location as they are right in the center of Cairo.

Our luxury hotels offer the following services: wake up calls, storing valuables, or cleaning the room as requested. In addition to this you can easily find bars, restaurants, and elements related to relaxation and recreation (swimming pools with jacuzzi, gyms, saunas, SPA) within the premises of the hotels.

During our luxury Egypt tours our guests are staying at: Four Seasons Cairo at First Residence Four Seasons Cairo offers all the amenities you’d expect, such as a spa, gym, pool, hot tub, and exceptional dining experiences. This luxurious hotel in the heart of Cairo also offers high-end boutiques at the First Mall and high-stakes excitement at Caesar’s Casino. For additional cuisine, entertainment, and scenery, venture across the road to the First Nile Boat, Four Seasons’ first culinary ship. When you’re ready to turn in, your quaint, colonial-styled room awaits to envelop you in comfort.

Marriott Mena House Hotel, Cairo Since 1869, this opulent hotel has been the venue of peace treaties between nations, the birthplace of Agatha Christie mysteries, and host to a parade of A-list celebrities. Its picturesque locale in the shadow of the famed Giza Pyramids ensures that your time here will be anything but generic and that you’ll stay closely connected to the atmosphere of Ancient Egypt throughout your stay. Each richly appointed room features a pleasing view of either the pyramids or our lush gardens, and the three in-house restaurants feature an array of cuisines from around the world that is sure to please any palate. Take advantage of every exquisite amenity we have to offer, including a deluxe spa, fitness center, and swimming pool.

Our luxury 5-star Nile cruise ship is a floating hotel of the highest standard. Traveling on the Nile River, you will not be bored for a moment. Life on the ship follows established rules. Its rhythm consists of constant elements, such as tasty and varied meals (in the restaurant on board), sightseeing (each time involving disembarkation), evening performances, including dancing and live music. You can also enjoy sunbathing on board and admiring shifting amazing views. It is a luxury cruise which, in addition to the possibility of visiting the monuments of ancient Egypt, will provide you with relaxation in comfortable conditions.

Luxury Tours to Egypt from the USA

Our luxury Egypt tour packages guarantee you a luxurious all-inclusive Egypt holiday. If you book an Egypt tour from the USA with us, your only task is to buy international plane tickets to Egypt (we can even help you with that, if needed), travel insurance and an Egyptian visa at the airport in Cairo ($ 25).

After leaving Cairo airport, the only thing you need to think about is enjoying the tour and making memories in Egypt. The rest of the work in Egypt is for us to do.

Our Egyptian all-inclusive packages include luxurious Cairo accommodation and a luxury cruise on the Nile. Our guests receive three meals a day: breakfast, lunch and dinner. The exception is the first and last day of the Egyptian trip. On the first day of the Egypt tour, you only receive dinner, and on the last day, you will only receive breakfast. Our Egyptian all-inclusive packages do not include beverages, except bottled water.

Transfers from Cairo airport are provided on the day of arrival in Egypt and the day of departure from Egypt.

Our guests travel around Egypt by comfortable coaches, and the long distance between the north and south of Egypt is covered by plane (two ways). You will be under the constant care of our fluent English professional Egyptian tour leader (concierge travel) and Egyptian tour guide.

Our guests visit Egypt according to the Egypt tour itinerary, which always includes the most important Egypt highlights and a luxury cruise on the Nile, as well as some VIP attractions and unique experiences.

The booking process is very simple using the booking form on our website for each Egyptian tour. But if you have any problems, our travel consultants are there to help you.

We offer the best all inclusive packages for luxury Egypt tours at very attractive prices. See for yourself. Book a luxury trip to Egypt from us, and we guarantee it will be the trip of a lifetime.

Does the Vacation Package Include a Cruise?

All our holiday packages include a luxury Nile cruise doing the Luxor-Aswan route or vice versa, as it is a very important part of a trip to Egypt. The cruise always takes place on a luxury cruise ship, where the standard of the ship and its service are very high. Thanks to this form of travel, you will be able to comfortably move around southern Egypt, and after a day of sightseeing, you will have the opportunity to relax on the upper deck of the ship, enjoying the beautiful views and the passing villages.

The length of the Nile cruise on our Egypt tours varies. The cruise on the Nile can take anywhere from 3 to 7 days. The longer you stay for, the more time you spend in the south of Egypt, the more you explore the area and have more time to relax. The Nile cruise Itinerary is arranged in such a way that during the day, after reaching the shore, you can visit ancient monuments, while in the evening or at night the ship calmly moves on - you do not have to worry about traveling on the water as the movement of the ship is only slightly noticeable.

The crossing through the lock in Esna, where the ship then sails to Kom Ombo, makes an amazing impression. This is one of the locks on the first dam on the Nile, built in 1906 by the British.

From the deck of the ship, we can see the land of the pyramids from a different perspective. While slowly sailing we see small towns and villages, we will notice the changing fauna and flora of the area - cows lying on the grass, birds floating by the river, we will witness children playing, jumping into the water or bathers by the shore, there will also be fishermen fishing from tiny boats.

A cruise on the Nile is a great time spent in Upper Egypt and it guarantees a magical experience. You will get to understand the culture learnt from history books, and you will be able to see the wonders of ancient technology with your own eyes, admiring monumental temples, obelisks and rock tombs.

How Many People Do You Usually Have On Your Egypt Group Tours?

MAXIMUM GROUP SIZE - 20 GUESTS

Our small group Egypt tours are limited to 20 participants. We believe this is a good figure to ensure our clients have comfortable guided Egypt tours and travel safety. We use a full-size coach (50 seats) while traveling to allow appropriate social distancing.

One person can book a trip to Egypt for many people, for example family members and a group of friends using the booking form on our website for each trip. You can also book an Egypt tour for a larger number of people (10+), such as business partners. If a date is closed due to being fully booked and you want to go on this tour at that time, please contact us. We will put you on the waiting list and when there are enough people we will start an additional group on the same date.

Our luxury Egypt tours are perfect for travelers of all ages, including those who are looking for  Egypt tours for seniors . Whether you're a young professional seeking a hassle-free trip or a more mature traveler looking for added comfort and convenience, our tours cater to everyone. Couples, solo travelers , groups of friends and whole families travel with us, as long as they can all take a vacation at the same time and want to share their travel experiences. Families with children (12 years of age and older) are also welcome on our luxury Egypt tours.

Traveling with people with similar interests, exchanging views on different topics and sharing the same impressions with them can be a great experience. Friendships are often made for life, especially with women traveling alone who often prefer a group tour as a safer method of travel. Our group tours in Egypt therefore mean safety and company as well as giving you new friendships and wonderful memories.

Which Restaurants Are Included in Our Package?

Our luxury all inclusive Egypt tour packages include breakfast and dinner at 5 star hotels in Cairo. Egyptian hotel restaurants serve international cuisine suitable for all tastes. Drinks for breakfast, lunch and dinner, in addition to water, are payable as an extra charge. Breakfast is buffet style and dinner buffet or set menu.

Our guests on the Cairo city tour will eat lunch in the best local restaurants in Cairo, strategically located close to the monuments they visit. During these lunches, they will be able to sample delicious Egyptian cuisine. Our guests will have the opportunity to dine at the new 9 Pyramids Lounge restaurant, located at the heart of the Great Pyramids of Giza.

In addition to a tasty lunch, they will enjoy a fantastic view of the Pyramids of Giza. We will also take our guests to the atmospheric Felfela restaurant in the center of Cairo. The interior of this famous restaurant has a typical Egyptian character and the restaurant specializes in Middle Eastern cuisine. During a visit to Saqqara, our guests will eat lunch at the nearby Saqqara Palm restaurant. The open-air restaurant serves grilled dishes, fresh Egyptian pita bread and Egyptian cuisine consisting of rice, a variety of vegetables, sauces and dips.

During a trip to Alexandria, our clients will enjoy lunch at the Fresh Market restaurant serving seafood with a beautiful view of the Mediterranean Sea. It will also be possible to eat other dishes for vegetarians and people who do not like seafood. Our guests will also enjoy a tasty lunch in the restaurant located at the top of Al Azar Park with a beautiful view of the Saladin citadel and the Mohamed Ali Mosque.

All meals during the Nile cruise will be served buffet style on board. The dishes will have a mixture of international and Egyptian cuisine.

Participants of our luxury Egypt tours shorter than 14 days will not be able to eat lunch in all of the listed restaurants due to their shorter stay in Egypt. Guests who do not eat certain types of food, e.g. vegetarians, vegans, those on a gluten-free diet, should notify us of their meal requests before their Egypt tour.

Tour Prices

The prices of our Egypt travel packages are very attractive and affordable. The deposit is low, only $ 1000, and is collected on the day you book. The remaining amount will then be paid at least 3 months before the trip to Egypt. Travelers making reservations less than 3 months from the date of the Egypt tour are required to pay the full amount on confirmation.

Make the most of your vacation time and join our Egypt and Jordan tours !  Each of our luxury Egypt tours can be extended with a 5-day trip to Jordan, meaning that you can travel to two countries and make a trip to Egypt and Jordan.  The price of the 5-day tour to Jordan is  $3655.  Single supplement costs $1265.

The prices of our Egypt travel packages do not include: international airfare (we can assist you with the booking of this), travel insurance, $ 25 entry visa (issued and paid in cash on arrival at Cairo International Airport), tips, soft and alcoholic beverages, or personal expenses.

Our 4 best luxury Egypt tours:  17 Days in Egypt on a Long Nile Cruise  costs $6,895 per person in a twin/double room, based on 2 travelers. This package offers a 17-day immersive experience in Egypt, featuring a leisurely journey along the Nile River on a luxurious 5-star cruise. Included are 14 nights on the cruise ship, complemented by 2 nights at top-tier hotels in Cairo. Additionally, the package covers a domestic flight, three meals each day, guided tours, bottled water during excursions, an English-speaking guide, transfers, and exclusive VIP experiences. For travelers opting for single accommodation, there is a supplementary fee of $3,285 for the tour.

The price of a two-week trip to Egypt, AROUND EGYPT IN 14 DAYS is $ 5895  and includes: 7 nights in 5-star hotels in Cairo in a twin/double room; 6 nights on board a 5-star deluxe Nile cruise ship in a twin/double room; Domestic flights during the tour (Cairo to Luxor; Luxor to Cairo); 3 meals a day - breakfast, lunch and dinner; All sightseeing tours and entrances included in the Egypt tour itinerary; Exclusive VIP Experiences as a private entry to the Giza Plateau, the Great Pyramid & special access to the Great Sphinx enclosure; Bottled water while sightseeing; English-speaking guide; English-speaking tour leader (concierge travel); Transfers in air-conditioned buses; Reception at the airport and airport transfers on standard arrival and departure days; Taxes. If you would like to have a room to yourself, the single supplement for this tour is $ 1955 .

The price of a 10-day tour of Egypt , the Exploring Egypt guided tour is $ 5385  and includes: 6 nights in Five Star hotels in Giza; 3 nights onboard a Five Star Deluxe Nile Cruise Ship; Domestic flights during the tour (Cairo - Abu Simbel; Luxor - Cairo); Three meals a day - breakfast, lunch and dinner; All sightseeing tours and entrances included in the itinerary; bottled water during the sightseeing; English speaking guide; English speaking tour leader (concierge travel); Transfers in air-conditioned buses; Airport meet and greet; Airport Arrival & Departure transfers; Government taxes; Exclusive VIP Experiences as special access to Abdeen Palace in Cairo and Montaza Palace in Alexandria. If you travel alone and you would like to stay in a single room then the supplement for this tour is $ 1585  (USD).

The price of the 8-day GOLDEN HIGHLIGHTS OF EGYPT trip to Egypt is $ 4495  and includes: 4 nights in Five Star hotels in Giza in a twin/double room; 3 nights onboard a Five Star Deluxe Nile Cruise Ship in a twin/double room ; Domestic flights during the tour (Cairo - Abu Simbel; Luxor - Cairo); Three meals a day - breakfast, lunch and dinner; All sightseeing tours and entrances included in the itinerary; Exclusive VIP Experiences as a private entry to the Giza Plateau, the Great Pyramid & special access to the Great Sphinx enclosure; Bottled water during the sightseeing; English speaking guide; English speaking tour leader (concierge travel); Transfers in air-conditioned buses; Airport meet and greet; Airport Arrival & Departure transfers; Government taxes. If you would like to have a room to yourself, the single supplement for this tour is $ 1255  (USD).

Why Choose Inside Egypt Over Other Tour Companies?

If you’re planning an international trip to one of the most beautiful, historic places in the world, chances are you’ve done your research to discover how to tour Egypt so that you can experience safety, comfort, and adventure. With so many tour companies vying for your business, how can you possibly know which to choose to give you the best experience? For us, the answer is simple: we’re Egyptian and we share one thing: a love for this enthralling land we call home. We speak its languages. We’ve lived its story. We know its secrets. And we want to share them with you. Visit Egypt with tours built by local professionals to ensure that you get the best experience filled with luxury and adventure. 

TRAVEL WITH CONFIDENCE Inside Egypt is a reliable Egyptian travel agency operating legally. Through our cooperation with our valued partners, we have gained the trust of the international market and are highly recommended by world-class experts . We have many positive reviews  and video- testimonials from our clients who have used our group and private Egypt tours in the past. We are the undisputed expert in luxury Egypt tours and one of the best luxury Egypt tour companies. 

EXCLUSIVE VIP EXPERIENCES We provide our clients not only with a luxurious tour of Egypt, but also unique VIP experiences , such as private access (without crowds) to some of the most iconic places in Egypt, which cannot be offered by other travel agencies. We also provide special access to sites that are closed to the public. This makes our tours exclusive and sets us apart from the competition.

CULTURAL EXPERIENCES Most travel agencies in Egypt  specialize in typical group tours, but we immerse our clients deeply in Egyptian culture. With us you will experience the real Egypt, you will learn about Egyptian hospitality, everyday kindness, empathy and the willingness to help. Egyptians are very proud to be Egyptians, they are also very open-minded and like to talk not only about their history, but also everyday life and their problems.

The most valuable and enjoyable thing on our luxury Egypt tours is making friends with ordinary people. The friendships will last a lifetime. On our luxury Egypt tours, you will even learn a little Arabic and use the words you have learned during trade negotiations when buying Egyptian souvenirs.

GREAT VALUE FOR MONEY Contrary to popular opinion, an all inclusive holiday in Egypt is not an unnecessary luxury, but a great way to save money. The price is adequate to the expenses we incur and the high quality offered. Our attractive Egypt tours offer means you can choose exactly the package that fits your budget. You can be sure that if you went on an Egypt vacation with another travel agent and used everything that our all-inclusive Egypt travel packages offer, you would spend a lot more money.

A vacation to Egypt is a long-awaited trip that is sometimes planned for months ahead. No wonder we want it to be perfect and go our way with no unnecessary surprises. Inside Egypt is a travel agency that offers the  best luxury Egypt tours, these tours will satisfy even the most demanding traveler and make your vacation in Egypt successful and unforgettable. Choose to tour Egypt by experts!

Where are you visiting us from?

At Inside Egypt we organize Luxury Egypt Tours for travelers around the world. Know more about our:

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Egypt - Essential Information for Travelers

Are you planning a high-end journey to Egypt and are considering one of our Egypt luxury tour packages? Be sure to read the following practical information that will let you know what to expect when visiting Egypt, making your stay easier and more comfortable.

Do you want to know what the weather is like in Egypt and when is the best time to go, along with the time zone etc.? You will get the answers to these and many other questions below.

Holidays in Egypt are almost guaranteed to be good weather. In spring; from March to May, the average temperature is 28˚C / 82˚F. In summer; from June to the end of August, it is hot with an average temperature of 34˚C / 93˚F. Autumn from September to November is still warm and pleasant with an average temperature of 29˚C / 84˚F. In winter; from December to February, the nights and mornings are cool, with an average daytime temperature of 20˚C / 68˚F. Light rainfall is possible during this time, especially in the north of Egypt. The best time to visit the sights of Egypt would be from October to the end of April.

The official language in Egypt is Arabic, but English is widely known, especially in the capital of Egypt, large cities and tourist destinations.

Eastern European Summer Time applies in Egypt - Time zone (London GMT+3hr).

In the land of the pharaohs, you should pay in Egyptian pounds. You can easily exchange US Dollars, Euros and pounds Sterling for Egyptian pounds at exchange offices and banks.

To enter Egypt, you must have a passport valid for at least 6 months from the date of your planned return from Egypt. A tourist visa ($25) is required for tourists visiting Egypt. Inside Egypt recommends purchasing a visa upon arrival in Egypt at the airport or an electronic visa (eVisa). To apply online, visit visa2egypt.gov.eg/eVisa/Home .

Egypt does not require any vaccinations or Covid tests for tourists entering Egypt for a holiday. You must have travel insurance when traveling to Egypt. This will cover you in the event of an unexpected illness or accident, and will cover all the costs of treatment, hospitalization, and other expenses.

Now you know all about traveling to Egypt, all that's left to do is book one of our 5-star Egypt tours and get ready to go!

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Half Day Tour Inside the Great Pyramids, Valley Temple, Sphinx with Camel Ride

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Pyramids Tour Details

First of all, your expert tour guide will be waiting for you at your hotel, ready to welcome you to Egypt and start your tour inside Pyramids of Giza .

On the commencement of your tour, you will be taken to your private A/C vehicle. Your guide will focus on you and your interests, provide you an insight to Egyptian history and point out the popular landmarks in Cairo .

You will be amazed by Giza plateau where you will see the Pyramids of Cheops “Khufu”, the only remaining of the seven wonders of the ancient world.

Then move on to visit Chephren , Mykerinus pyramids and 6 queen pyramids. You can also go around the pyramids in the desert on camelback with an additional cost. There is also an optional visit with an extra ticket to Inside the Great Pyramid where you will see there are three burial chambers. The first chamber is located underground. The second chamber is located directly above the ground. It is often called the Queen’s Chamber; Note that this name is wrong, while the third room (the king’s room) is located in the heart of the pyramid, and there is a large gallery leading to it, and it is believed that Khufu was placed in a heavy granite coffin, and was buried in the king’s room.

Once the tour is complete you will be transferred in comfort back to your hotel.

As Cairo is overwhelming with so much to do and explore, please feel free to add or skip any sites mentioned as to adjust the tour to your schedule. Just let us know your requests, it will be our pleasure to accommodate your needs.

Departure & Return Location

Cairo International Airport / Your Hotel in Cairo or Giza

Private Tour

Price Includes

• Pick-up & Drop off service.
• Expert tour guide
• Private vehicle with air conditioning
• Entrance fees to all the mentioned sites in our itinerary
• 1 Soft drink and Snacks.
• All service charges & taxes

Price Excludes

• Entry visa into Egypt - We can assist you with obtaining your visa upon arrival
• Any extras not mentioned in our itinerary
• Any Tips given throughout the tour

Optional Visits

• 2-hour Nile Cruise dinner and Folk-dance show
• Sound & Light show, Pyramids at night

Privacy & Policy

Prices are quoted in US Dollars per person per trip and can be paid in Sterling or Euros by credit card via a secure payment system with no extra surcharge.

Children Policy

• Children under 2 years of age can travel free of charge with their parents.
• From 2 to 5.99 years old: 25% of the adult price
• From 6 to 11.99 years old: 50% of the adult price
• Children aged 12 and over travel at the same fare as adults.

The children’s policy applies to children who share a room with their parents. If your trip includes a flight ticket, additional fees for your children may apply.

Payment Policy

Reservations should be made as early as possible to book the desired Nile cruise, spaces will be secured upon receiving a deposit of 25 %, and during the Christmas and New Year holidays, the required deposit is 50%. This deposit forms part of your final payment. Deposits can only be made by credit cards, wire transfer and or the Western Union.

It is a customary attitude for expressing one’s satisfaction of good services rendered to him by staff on duty with him. We advise if you are willing to offer it, this would be great and if not, you are not obliged to do it.

Cancellation Policy

• The full amount of the cruise will be charged if cancellation is received less than 30 days prior to check-in date.
• 50% of the whole cruise amount will be charged if cancellation is received 60 to 31 days prior to check-in date.
• 15 % of the whole cruise amount will be charged if cancellation is received from 90 to 61 days prior to check-in date.
• Full refund of payment will be given if cancellation is received before 91 days prior to check-in date.

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Going inside the Pyramids

Category: Egypt, Travel Tips & Guides

The Pyramids of Giza is a miracle in the history of human architecture. It is generally believed that the pyramid is the tomb of the ancient Egyptian emperor, but it is completely different from the dazzling gold in the tomb of Tutankhamun. King’s Chamber and granite sarcophagus inside the Pyramid of Giza are waiting for your exploration. The super difficulty of architecture, coupled with the “coincidence” of various numbers makes it full of mystery. Visitors here are to appreciate its grandeur. As for puzzles, leave them to specialists and scholars. If you want to go inside the Pyramids of Giza, let’s learn about the following things.

Can visitors go inside the Pyramid of Giza?

Yes. Among the Egyptian Pyramids of Giza , the Pyramid of Khufu allow tourists to visit the inside, and the only passageway is from the Grand Gallery to the King’s Chamber.

Does it cost extra to go inside the Pyramid of Giza?

Yes. The ticket to go inside the pyramid is not included in the ticket of the Giza Scenic Area, so you should purchase the inside ticket separately at a price of 440 EGP (about $24).

What’s inside of the Pyramid of Giza?

The entrance to the pyramid has become larger by excavation, and cement steps and iron guardrails have been set up. Going inside the ascending passage becomes narrower and narrower, even many segments are less than 1.5 meters in height and width. In order to facilitate the passage of tourists, non-slip wooden boards, handrails, lighting lamps have been laid in the passage. In such a deep and narrow tunnel, visitors need to bend over and climb up all the time. Although it is a test for physical strength, but meanwhile you can realize the difficulty to construct such a hulking pyramid, making you marvel at the wisdom and superb technique of the ancient Egyptians.

About 20 minutes ahead of the passage, you can reach the permissible endpoint, that is, the King’s Chamber. The last segment is the narrowest and lowest section of the passage, with a height and width of less than 1.2 meters, but the four sides are extremely smooth. The size of the passage may be designed according to the size of the sarcophagus. It is said that the King’s Chamber is located in the center of the Pyramid of Khufu, in which an empty sarcophagus is waiting to be unraveled the mystery. The joints of the wall, ground, and top were matched exactly, which does not look like an architecture built by the ancients more than 4,000 years ago, but built by modern people with various machines.

The Pyramid of Khufu is the tallest and largest one in Egypt , equivalent to the height of 40 floors. Therefore, many people imagine that the inside pyramid must be very spacious, but that is not the case. The pyramid is a piece of similar-size stone piled. For stability, it is obviously difficult to leave too much space inside. At least for now, the inside is not spacious.

What can you see in Giza Scenic Area at night?

There is a light show in the Giza Scenic Area at night, which is a wonderful program that cannot be missed. With rocks as the curtain, the lights tell the ancient legends of Egypt . The images on the rock curtain include statue of God, murals, portraits of pharaohs and their wives, just like real people come in sight. With three pyramids in the distance as the background, the Sphinx is sometimes bright and sometimes dark under the flowing lights and changed colors.

Time: 20:30, 21:30, 22:30 in summer; 18:30, 19:30, 20:30 in winter

Guides for visiting the pyramid both outside and inside

1. Open time: Annual 8:00-16:00

Outside: 240 EGP for adults (about $13); Inside: 440 EGP for adults (about $24, as mentioned above).

There are many hotels to choose from near the pyramids , from budget to luxury. If you want to see the pyramids closely indoors, we can arrange a suitable hotel for you (such as the Marriott Mena House Hotel), from which you can directly enjoy the magnificent pyramids at windowsill or balcony, and appreciate an extremely spectacular sunset. Incredibly, you will find that the sun sets at the back center of the pyramid. In addition to the super sunset, you can also watch the light show in the evening for free (of course, it won’t be the same as the scene you spend money to watch).

4. The best time to visit:

Cairo has only two seasons: summer and autumn, and autumn is the best season for an Egypt trip. Cairo’s autumn begins in October, so the best time to visit Cairo is from October to April of the next year, during which the temperature is the most pleasant, making exploring the busy streets of Cairo, visiting the Pyramids in the desert, and exploring ancient Pharaonic tombs more comfortable and enjoyable. The summer in Cairo is hot and dry, and traveling outside may be grueling, but the high temperatures are alleviated by air conditioning, far fewer visitors, and lower prices, that is to say, summer is also a feasible season for your trip. Because of the large temperature difference between day and night in the desert, it is necessary to prepare both summer clothes and autumn clothes for your trip. November to February of the next year is the peak tourist season, so you’d better book a hotel and plan your trip in advance.

5. Notices:

It is not allowed to take pictures during an inside visit, and the camera must be kept by the staff at the entrance.

It is not allowed to wear inappropriate clothing to go inside the pyramid, such as slippers, shorts, skirts, sleeveless blouses, etc.

Micro cameras are installed inside the pyramid, and graffito or damage is prohibited.

The passage inside the pyramid is narrow and steep, with poorly ventilated, hot, and humid air, so the indisposed tourists are recommended to take their health as a priority when entering the inside the pyramid.

The sun is scorching during the day. It is recommended to wear long-sleeved trousers and breathable and wind-proof clothes, and use sunscreen with high SPF.

Please resolutely say “NO” to the peddlers who use various tricks to sell goods at high prices, if you don’t need to buy.

The locals may ask you to ride a camel or take group photos for any reason in the scenic area, all of which are charged.

Interesting facts of the pyramids

1. The reason that the ancient Egyptians built the pyramids

The ancient Egyptians ’ devout belief in God made them form a deep-rooted “afterlife concept”. They even believed that “life is just a short stay, and it is permanent enjoyment after death”. Therefore, the Egyptians regarded the heavenly life as the continuation of earthly life. Influenced by this concept, the ancient Egyptians prepared for the afterlife sincerely when they lived. Pharaohs wantonly built tombs for themselves when they lived, setting off a wind of building pyramids in ancient Egypt. Therefore, the ancient kingdom of Egypt is also known as the Pyramid Age.

2. All Egyptian pyramids were built on the West Bank of the Nile

All the pyramids in ancient Egypt were built on the West Bank of the Nile, which has something to do with the ancient Egyptians ’ view of life and death. The West Bank of the Nile is where the sun sets, representing the end of earthly life and the start of heavenly life.

3. The Pyramids of Giza is in the urban area of Cairo

In many tourist photos, the three pyramids of Giza are always located on the skyline of the desert, showing the mysterious style of ancient Egypt. So many people mistakenly believe that the three pyramids are in the middle of the desert, far away from the city. But in fact, they are right in front of Cairo’s bustling urban area, facing busy traffic.

4. The Great Pyramid of Giza was once the tallest architecture in the world

The Pyramid of Khufu is the largest pyramid in Egypt, with an original height of 146.5 meters and a current height of 138.8 meters. It was once the tallest man-made architecture in the world. This record had been maintained for 3,871 years, and it was not until the completion of Lincoln Cathedral in Britain that it broke this record.

5. Source of the stones for building pyramids

The stones for building pyramids came from three places in Egypt. The stones used in the inside pyramid are collected from the sandstone in the desert near Giza; the limestones used in the outer frame are transported from the east bank of the Nile River; the granites used in the Grand Gallery and tombs came from Aswan 960 kilometers away. Every year when the Nile flooded, a huge flat-bottomed barge carrying stones would drift down the upstream of the Nile.

6. Special mortar helped the pyramids survive

There is an Arab proverb, which means “Man fears time, time fears the pyramids ”. Part of the reason the pyramids survived was the use of mortar. The analysis shows that a lot of strong mortar can be used to fix the stone in place. It is estimated that about 500,000 tons of mortar were used in the construction of the Great Pyramid of Giza alone.

7. The pyramids were not built by slaves

It is a big misunderstanding that the pyramids were built by slaves. Modern archaeologists found the work records when studying the stone tablet hieroglyphs, and found the contracts engraved with the guarantee for food in the tomb, all of which can prove the existence of employment relations. According to the research, the Great Pyramid of Giza was built by 5,000 permanent employees and 20,000 casual workers. Many of the workers who died during the construction of the pyramids were buried in cemeteries near the pyramids.

8. The “Khufu ship” demonstrated the superior technology of ancient Egyptians

The most famous intact ancient Egyptian ship is the 44-meter long “ Khufu ship ”, found in the Great Pyramid of Giza . It can be seen that the ancient Egyptians had mastered shipbuilding technology thousands of years ago. They sailed on the Nile and took boats for maritime trade with neighboring countries. The earliest boat was a wooden boat, but later it developed into a unique barge and transport ship. The ancient Egyptians skillfully used wooden nails and tenon for connection, which showed their mastery of carpentry.

9. Not all the dead were mummified

Archaeologists pointed out that mummifying the dead in ancient Egypt required a long, difficult and expensive process. Generally speaking, only the privileged class could afford it. Most dead were just buried in the desert. Interestingly, the hot and dry desert is more antiseptic than the sarcophagus in the tomb.

10. Egypt is not the only country with pyramids

About 140 pyramids have been found in the ancient Egyptian areas, of which the three pyramids in Giza are the most famous. However, there are pyramids in many parts of the world. Egypt is not the country with the largest number of pyramids. In the desert more than 240 kilometers away from Khartoum, the capital of Sudan, there is a pyramid complex with 220 pyramids, which is more than the number of pyramids in Egypt.

For anyone who is willing to explore more of the Egyptian pyramids, going inside the Great Pyramid of Giza is no doubt an essential experience. With a  tailor-made trip , you can enjoy the journey at your own pace as everything is well taken care of.

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Egypt's most mysterious pyramids and tombs – and what was found inside them

Posted: 10 January 2024 | Last updated: 10 January 2024

Life and death in ancient Egypt

We all know what Egypt’s pyramids look like on the outside, but what do they look like on the inside? Narrow passageways, spacious chambers and steep galleries make up the bulk of the interior layouts. Relics from the pyramids are on display in museums around the world – and in Giza's Grand Egyptian Museum, opening late-spring 2024 – while the surrounding tombs contained untold wonders too.

Click through this gallery to discover the stories behind Egypt's greatest funerary monuments, and learn about the mysterious treasures recovered from its ancient royal tombs...

Khufu Pyramid, Giza

The Great Pyramids of Giza complex consists of three pyramids, each named after the king they contained: Khufu, Khafre and Menkaure. The Khufu Pyramid is the largest of the three, standing at a height of 482 feet (147m). It was constructed between 2550 and 2490 BC, using a whopping 2.3 million stone blocks. Khufu ruled between 2589 and 2566 BC and was the second pharaoh of the 4th dynasty. 

In 1954, a dismantled wooden ship was discovered buried next to the pyramid – a common inclusion as ancient Egyptians believed these vessels would transport their kings to the afterlife. As the pharaoh was believed to be the earthly representation of Ra, the sun god, they were called solar boats. Until 2021, Khufu's ship was housed in its very own Solar Boat Museum, not far from where it was first discovered, but it has now been moved to the new Grand Egyptian Museum, set to open to the public in late-spring 2024.

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Another aspect of the Khufu Pyramid overlooked during early explorations was a network of subterranean passages, commonly referred to as 'the pit'. In the 18th century, the rubble blocking the descending passageway was cleared away, and a Greek or Roman character was subsequently discovered on one of the tunnel ceilings. It might not look like the most striking discovery, but it seemingly confirmed the Greek historian Herodotus’s accounts that the pyramid's interior was accessible during the ancient Roman period.

For such a grand pyramid very few artefacts were discovered; just three items, in fact. Commonly referred to as 'the Dixon Relics', named after Waynman Dixon who found them in 1872, the items consist of a granite sphere, a forked copper instrument and a wooden slat. The forked instrument may once have included a bone or wooden handle and was likely used to manipulate rope, while the granite sphere worked as a pounder.

The wooden slat, meanwhile, went missing for more than a century, and was only rediscovered in 2020 when a curatorial assistant at the University of Aberdeen stumbled across the item hidden in a cigar tin. Interestingly, the slat was carbon dated to 500 years before the supposed construction of the pyramid, posing new questions about when it was actually built. 

In March 2023, a 4,500-year-old chamber was discovered in the Khufu Pyramid. Located using high-tech equipment, the corridor – which measures 30 feet (9m) long and over six feet (1.8m) wide – is found close to the northern side of the ancient pyramid’s main entrance. The room cannot be accessed from outside – this photo was taken by feeding a tiny camera through cracks in the masonry – and archaeologists are still trying to figure out its purpose.

Meidum Pyramid, Meidum

Located roughly 62 miles (99km) from Cairo, the Meidum Pyramid was built during the reign of King Sneferu, the first pharaoh of the 4th dynasty (2613 to 2589 BC). The Meidum Pyramid was Egypt’s first straight-sided pyramid – affectionately said by some to resemble a sandcastle – and it's often described as a ‘false pyramid’. Numerous construction issues meant it was never completed, so its appearance is noticeably different to other Egyptian pyramids. 

Learn more about the Bent Pyramid and other Ancient Egyptian mysteries

Entering the Meidum Pyramid takes visitors along a steep passageway, 56 feet (17m) in length, leading down to what would’ve been the burial chamber. Here, the sarcophagus (a large stone-built coffin usually displayed on ground level) would have held the mummified pharaoh. Except there’s nothing there. The burial chamber was never completed, there are no human remains and there’s no valley temple (a place where the royal mummy was received), which was a standard inclusion in royal ancient Egyptian burials. 

The Meidum Geese painting was discovered in a tomb beside the Meidum Pyramid, and is now on display at the Egyptian Museum in Cairo. The wall painting features six geese: two pairs facing away from each other at the centre, and one goose at each end picking at the grass. Natural pigments included white from limestone, red from hematite and green from malachite, and would have been mixed with egg white emulsifier.

Although a faster paint-and-plaster approach was applied in this part of the painting, you can still admire the exceptional level of detail. It was discovered on the north wall in the tomb chapel of Itet, daughter-in-law of King Sneferu and wife to his son, Nefermaat. It would have been part of a larger scene in the tomb. While the original wall painting is on display at the Egyptian Museum in Cairo, there’s also a replica on display at the Metropolitan Museum of Art in New York.

Bent Pyramid, Dahshur

Dahshur is an ancient plateau located some 20 miles (32km) south of Cairo. Here you’ll find the Bent Pyramid, the second pyramid built by King Sneferu, who added to his straight-sided pyramid at Meidum with another unusual edifice. A number of construction issues gave the pyramid its odd shape, with the lower half rising at an angle of 54 degrees to 154 feet (47m), before suddenly switching to a 43 degree angle. Following a lengthy closure for structural works, the Bent Pyramid's interior finally reopened to the public in 2019.

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One of the more recent discoveries at the Bent Pyramid was made in 2021 by Anyextee, an author and tour leader. He revealed in a YouTube video  that there was some graffiti dating to the pyramid’s rediscovery by the western entrance. It was left by Egyptologist John Shae Perring, who started his exploration of the pyramid in September 1839. Anyextee also managed to document a "real-life Indiana Jones trap": a stone gate that would have been lowered across the passageway to block the entrance. 

In 2019, a number of mummies were located in and around the Bent Pyramid. Most of the mummies were in excellent condition, having been preserved inside stone, clay and wooden sarcophagi. The finds also included a number of funerary masks, all of which dated to the Late Period (664-332 BC) – much later than Sneferu’s 25th century BC reign. The Late Period is widely considered one of the last eras of true Egyptian rule before the Persians invaded around 525 BC.

Alongside the 2019 reopening, visitors can also now visit a smaller, adjoining pyramid. It’s believed that this is where Queen Hetepheres I – the wife of Sneferu, mother of Khufu – was buried. It’s the first time this pyramid has been open to the public since it was first excavated in 1956. Excavations at the site are still ongoing, but a visit to the Bent Pyramid is a great way to get a behind-the-scenes look at how the pyramids were laid out, and how they differed from one another.

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Khafre Pyramid, Giza

Khafre Pyramid is the second largest pyramid in the Pyramids of Giza complex. King Khafre (2558-2532 BC) built this pyramid next to his father Khufu's, and it's situated 33 feet (10m) higher on the plateau than the Khufu Pyramid, making it look deceptively larger than its taller neighbour. Built roughly between 2520 and 2494 BC, the top of the pyramid maintains its outer casing of limestone while the rest has worn away, leaving it looking a little like a snow-capped mountain. It’s widely believed that the Great Sphinx in front of the pyramid was built for Khafre too.

A number of life-sized and bigger-than-life-sized statues discovered at Khafre Pyramid are now on display at the Egyptian Museum in Cairo. One of the most well-known is the Khafre Enthroned. This funerary statue was discovered beneath the floor of the valley temple, and was supposed to provide a place of rest for Khafre’s ka (soul). Carved out of a single block of stone, the throne on which Khafre is seated features lion paws, hieroglyphics, a royal cobra and the Egyptian god Horus. The pharaoh is also wearing a lined headdress – all these motifs symbolise his mighty power.

Unfortunately the Khafre Pyramid was robbed repeatedly by tomb raiders over the years, dating back to Pharaoh Ramesses II himself, who is said to have lifted sections of the pyramid's limestone casing for his own temple. In the absence of artefacts (although a few were recovered), historians have analysed the different materials used for the pyramid. Granite cladding was used in the upper descending passageway and there are gabled limestone beams supporting the burial chamber. 

Djoser Pyramid, Saqqara

Possibly Egypt’s strangest-looking pyramid, the Djoser Pyramid is located in Saqqara in the ancient capital of Memphis. Djoser (2650-2575 BC) was the first pharaoh to use stone in a pyramid’s construction – before this, royal tombs were simple rectangular monuments made from clay bricks called mastabas. The bizarre, tiered structure is the work of the architect Imhotep, who ‘stacked’ the mastabas to create this step pyramid – 204 feet (62m) high and the first of its kind.

Djoser’s sarcophagus was laid deep inside the burial chamber, along with 40,000 stone vessels, bowls and urns of various sizes. They were all inscribed with the names of pharaohs from the 1st and 2nd dynasties, which is curious because Djoser was one of the first kings of the 3rd dynasty. While it’s still not completely understood why they were found here, some believe that the earlier pharaohs' own tombs were robbed, and in order to protect their souls Djoser collected their urns and sealed them inside his own tomb.

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A series of beautiful blue and green tiles were uncovered in the pyramid's galleries and burial chamber. These once lined the walls to imitate the decorative sheets of reeds that would originally have hung in the king’s royal palace, while the blue and green colours symbolised rebirth. The ceramic tiles were created in the faience glazing style, and restored sections are on display at the Imhotep Museum in Saqqara and the Metropolitan Museum of Art in New York.

Prior to much-needed restoration work in 2006, the Djoser Pyramid was on the verge of collapse. The work included reassembling and restoring the granite sarcophagus, adding paved floors to the cemetery, installing a lighting system and adding a ladder to access the cemetery and well. The walls and ceilings were also strengthened, and more faience tiles were installed. The Djoser Pyramid finally reopened to the public in 2020, allowing visitors to again experience one of Egypt's most important UNESCO World Heritage Sites.

Red Pyramid, Dahshur

Like the Bent Pyramid, the Red Pyramid is located on the ancient plateau of Dahshur, roughly 25 miles (40km) south of Cairo. Although the pyramid was once covered with white limestone the casing was later removed, exposing the rust-coloured stone beneath and giving it the nickname we use today. Built for the pharaoh Sneferu, exactly how long it took to build is still disputed, but construction is likely to have taken place between 2575 and 2551 BC.

Sometimes known as the North Pyramid due to its position half a mile north of the Bent Pyramid, the Red Pyramid is the third largest in Egypt after the pyramids of Khufu and Khafre in Giza. It’s still celebrated as the first ‘true’ pyramid, due to its sloping sides and lack of steps. Visitors today can explore its fascinating 4,000-year history by stepping inside and viewing the magnificent burial chamber.

The Red Pyramid's passageways and chambers are unique among Egyptian pyramids. All three of the main chambers feature corbelled (bracketed) ceilings, supporting the roughly two million tonnes of stone above. Unlike other pyramids that have collapsed or needed restoration work, such as the Bent and Djoser pyramids, to this day the Red Pyramid hasn’t suffered any structural issues – not even a crack.

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Even more unusual is the location of the second chamber, which is found directly beneath the apex (or centre point) of the pyramid. No other pyramid uses this design. While the final chamber has been made accessible to modern visitors through the addition of a staircase, excavations haven’t located any further passageways inside the pyramid.

Menkaure Pyramid, Giza

The Menkaure Pyramid is the last and smallest of the three Great Pyramids of Giza, standing at just 213 feet (65m) tall. Completed in the 26th century BC, it was built for King Menkaure, and sits on the same plateau as the pyramids of his father (Khafre) and grandfather (Khufu).

Many statues from inside the tomb depict Menkaure accompanied by gods and other figures. One greywacke stone statue recovered from the pyramid depicts Menkaure and his wife standing side by side. It's a classic example of Old Kingdom royal tomb sculpture, with both the king's arms down by his sides and with one leg stepped forward.

Userkaf Pyramid, Saqqara

The Userkaf Pyramid doesn't quite have the same wow factor as some of its fellows on this list, but it does have an interesting history. King Userkaf (2494-2487 BC) was the first pharaoh of the 5th dynasty, and chose to build his pyramid at Saqqara, where the local limestone is much thinner than it is at other tomb locations like Giza. This, along with weak structuring, later led the pyramid to collapse, earning itself the unfortunate moniker ‘Heap of Stone’. Visitors today can see that it more resembles a conical hill than an impressive royal pyramid.

Discover the amazing places to explore ancient civilisations 

While much of the Userkaf Pyramid remains unexcavated, a number of funerary stone reliefs were recovered from the king’s funerary temple. These would have been placed along the courtyard walls, and included hunting, fishing and nature scenes which were common depictions in 5th dynasty royal temples. One limestone relief depicts birds in a papyrus thicket, two intricately carved birds in a marsh along the Nile and the names of Upper and Lower Egyptian estates connected to the cult of Userkaf. The reliefs would have been colourfully painted.

In 2018, archaeologists discovered a number of tombs on the edge of the Userkaf Pyramid complex containing not only sarcophagi but also mummified cats. Animals were mummified as religious offerings, and the ancient Egyptians believed cats held special positions in the afterlife. In total three tombs contained mummified cats, with one featuring a large bronze statue of a cat dedicated to a goddess. They also found mummified scarab beetles – highly unusual for such tombs – which were believed to symbolise the sun god, Ra.

Unas Pyramid, Saqqara

King Unas (2465-2325 BC) ruled during the 5th dynasty, and his pyramid at Saqqara was once 141 feet (43m) tall, but it fell into decay after his death and later Egyptian kings removed and reused most of the stones. The pyramid has long been in a sorry state, but you can still see an inscription left by Prince Khaemwaset, the son of Ramesses II and High Priest of Ptah in Memphis, who restored the monument in the 13th century BC.

Funerary masks (or death masks) were placed over the faces of mummies. They resembled the deceased, so they could help the soul (ka) find its body in the afterlife. Pictured here is an artefact thought to be Prince Khaemwaset's funerary mask, which was found in the Serapeum of Saqqara, a burial place near Memphis. 

The Unas Pyramid was the first of its kind to feature 'pyramid texts', a modern-day name given to spells (or 'utterances') which adorned tomb walls and helped the spirit navigate its journey to the underworld. These were instructional texts and no two were the same, although one seemingly essential spell that was frequently included discussed the sun god Ra.

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Inside King Unas's burial chamber was the sarcophagus. The chamber's ceiling was beautifully patterned with gold stars against a night-blue sky. While the contents were robbed long before excavations could begin, the mummified remains of a left arm, hand and skull were found amongst the debris. Could these belong to the former pharaoh? 

Also found at the Saqqara site was this thin gold band measuring 90cm, placed among the mummy bandages of Prince Ptah-Shepses. Dating back to 2323-2150 BC, red carnelian (gemstone) and volcanic glass beads form angular, geometric patterns, while hieroglyphics are inscribed on the buckle.

Teti Pyramid, Saqqara

The Teti Pyramid was once 172 feet (52.5m) tall and housed the deceased King Teti, the first pharaoh of the 6th dynasty (roughly 2345-2323 BC, although sources vary). Located in Saqqara, the pyramid was constructed with a core of stone blocks encased in limestone. Inside were typical painted reliefs depicting offerings to the gods, plus star-patterned ceilings and three niches which may have held statues of the king. Today the site looks more like a lopsided mound, but it hasn't completely collapsed and you can still take a tour inside.

While many of the pyramid's external blocks have been looted over the years, interesting artefacts have been recovered, and a large cemetery was found in front of the pyramid housing the remains of Teti's officials. Pictured here is a comb believed to be from the tomb of Teti himself. The intricate item is made of wood and is only 11cm long. It's on display at New York’s Metropolitan Museum of Art.

Teti's burial chamber was located beneath the pyramid, along with his well-preserved basalt sarcophagus. Like the Unas Pyramid, the Teti Pyramid's walls were also adorned with pyramid texts. These funerary texts first appeared in the 5th dynasty of the Old Kingdom (2465-2323 BC), and were succeeded by so-called 'coffin texts' during the Middle Kingdom (inscriptions found inside sarcophagi that tended to focus on the underworld). Both went on to influence the New Kingdom's Book of the Dead.

These are where your favourite stars are laid to rest

In 2022, archaeologists digging at the Saqqara site discovered hundreds of coffins and well-preserved mummies dating to the New Kingdom (approximately 1550-1070 BC) in a series of interconnected tunnels at the Teti Pyramid. Some of the artefacts may even belong to Tutankhamun's closest generals and advisors. Statues of the god Ptah-Sokar, shabtis, a metal axe and pieces of an ancient Egyptian game were also found, with a selection due to go on display at the Grand Egyptian Museum when it opens in late-spring 2024.

Pyramid of Neith, Saqqara

At the same excavations, archaeologists also uncovered the pyramid of a previously unknown Egyptian queen named Neith. Pictured here is the excavated site, with the Teti and Djoser pyramids visible in the background. Neith was likely named after the Egyptian goddess of creation, wisdom, weaving and war, as well as being worshipped as a funerary goddess.

The Book of the Dead

The Book of the Dead is an umbrella term for a series of ancient Egyptian texts. Specific chants (or 'utterances') were typically copied onto papyrus scrolls and placed in tombs, like the fragment from the tomb of Theban scribe Ani in Luxor pictured here, which dates back to 1250 BC and is on display at the British Museum. This scene depicts the Hall of Judgement, with Ani muttering Spell 30B as his heart is weighed on the scales of justice, determining whether he'd make it to paradise or not. Spells from the Book of the Dead also adorned mummy bandages and even Tutankhamun's golden death mask.

In early 2023, archaeologists at Saqqara made a remarkable discovery: a 52-foot (16m) papyrus scroll containing spells from the Book of the Dead. It was the first complete papyrus discovery in a full century, and will undoubtedly enhance modern understandings of ancient Egyptian belief in magic. Currently, the lengthy papyrus is being restored at the Egyptian Museum Laboratory in Cairo, and it's hoped the epic document will eventually go on display at the all-new Grand Egyptian Museum in Giza.

Valley of the Queens, Luxor

This colourful painting of Queen Nefertari was found in her tomb in the Valley of the Queens in Luxor (ancient Thebes). The royal lady was buried in a small rock-cut temple and is depicted here playing a popular ancient Egyptian game called 'senet'. The game had symbolic meaning; senet meant 'passing', and it was seen as a parallel for the journey into the afterlife.

Valley of the Kings, Luxor

Tutankhamun's tomb is one of the most famous in the Valley of the Kings, even though it wasn't discovered until 1922. His legendary funerary mask was made from 22lbs (10kg) of solid gold, as well as lapis lazuli, quartz, glass and obsidian. His body was wrapped in resin-soaked bandages and was accompanied by items that would help him into the afterlife. Some have speculated that the tomb he was found in seems second-hand – could it have been intended for his stepmother, Queen Nefertiti?

Ornate jewellery was commonly stored inside Egyptian pyramids, either as divine offerings or to accompany the deceased into the afterlife. This spectacular scarab bracelet is just one of the items found inside Tutankhamun's tomb. Formed from gold and lapis lazuli, the intricate trinket is a gorgeous example of ancient craftsmanship. Regardless of gender or status, the Egyptians loved jewellery, and over the centuries endless precious charms and ornaments have been discovered.

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Sandals and toe stalls (golden toe coverings) were discovered on many Egyptian mummies, including Tutankhamun. Pictured here is a replica of a pair recovered from King Tut's tomb, where some 80 pairs were found in total. These funerary items served symbolic purposes; on each sole are figures and arches representing Egypt’s nine traditional enemies, which the pharaoh symbolically trod on.

Royal necropolis of Tanis, Nile Delta

In 1939, French Egyptologist Pierre Montet discovered the royal necropolis of Tanis. The underground site was almost completely untouched, which was hugely significant as not a single fully intact royal tomb had been found in Egypt until Montet's find. Kings and princes from the 21st and 22nd dynasties were buried in the necropolis complete with stone sarcophagi, silver coffins and copious amounts of gold and silver. Dubbed the Tanis Treasures, Montet's discovery was just as remarkable as Howard Carter's Tutankhamun find.

This striking silver coffin is arguably the most famous of the Tanis Treasures. The priceless coffin contained the mummy of Shoshenq II, a 22nd-dynasty pharaoh unknown until Montet's discovery. Unusually, the coffin uses a falcon instead of the king's head, and the miniatures surrounding his coffin contained his organs – a stark contrast to the canopic jars more commonly used.

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Also found inside Shoshenq II's tomb was this breastplate-like collar. While the colours have faded slightly, you can still get a sense of just how opulent it must have been. The jewellery piece is shaped like a falcon and depicts the goddess Nekhbet, who often appeared in vulture form and hovered above kings holding the shen (circle, or sun disc) to represent eternity.

This beaded necklace was found in king Psusennes I's tomb. The two rows of beads are made from lapis lazuli with two golden beads in the middle, and date back to roughly 1069-945 BC. Unusually, there's an Assyrian inscription on one of the beads, and historians are still unsure as to why this foreign item was found in an Egyptian king's tomb.

Wendjebauendjed was an army general, high dignitary and high priest during King Psusennes I's reign (circa 1044-994 BC). While Wendjebauendjed wasn't of royal descent, his tomb was uncovered inside the royal necropolis, suggesting that he was a figure of great importance. His funerary mask is detailed with a slight smile and the inlaid eyes are made of glass, but you'll spot that the ears aren't symmetrical – the left protrudes further than the right.

Discovered inside the tomb of king Amenemope (a 21st-dynasty pharaoh) was this detailed pectoral brooch. At the centre is a lapis lazuli scarab touching the golden sun disc, representing rebirth. The scarab is flanked by the goddesses Isis and Nephthys, who protected the wearer, while along the bottom runs a cartouche, an inscription of the king's name. 

Discover these little-known Roman ruins from around the world

Tomb of Meru, Luxor

In February 2023, Egypt opened one of its most ancient monuments to the public for the first time. The 4,000-year-old Tomb of Meru, situated on the Nile's western bank in Luxor, was built for a high-ranking official in the court of King Mentuhotep II (who died in 2004 BC). The tomb, located on the North Asasif necropolis, is close to the mortuary temple of Mentuhotep II. Inside the rock-hewn tomb is a collection of elaborate murals and a stone sarcophagus, which Egyptology enthusiasts are now able to enjoy.

Meru's Tomb was recently restored by a joint team of archaeologists from the Egyptian Ministry of Antiquities and the University of Warsaw, Poland. It's not the first time the tomb has been touched: in 1996, some of the wall paintings were restored by an Italian team. The wall paintings are especially significant, because the technique of painting directly onto lime plaster is unusual.

As you might imagine, Luxor is filled with other ancient Egyptian treasures and tombs. Like the Tomb of Meru, the Madinet Habu necropolis (pictured) dates to the 11th dynasty. In later generations, it became a fortified town, religious shrine and even an administrative centre for a nearby women's village. Other sights worth seeing near Luxor include the Mortuary Temple of female pharaoh Hatshepsut, the temple at Karnak and the Valley of the Kings.

Now discover the astonishing story of the pyramids of Giza

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Footage capturing rare look inside Egypt pyramids has people feeling uncomfortable

Social media users have described the footage as 'claustrophobic'.

Callum Jones

If you enjoy traveling and want to tick off some of the biggest landmarks on the planet, then you've probably thought about visiting the pyramids in Egypt.

Attracting millions of tourists every single year, the ancient structures certainly take visitors on a trip back in time.

Renowned as a UNESCO Heritage Site and one of the Seven Wonders of the World, the pyramids are, of course, incredibly impressive on the outside, but not many people are familiar with what's inside.

Since the pyramids were once sealed to stop people from entering, videos documenting the interior often go viral.

And footage giving a look inside the popular tourist attraction has recently left many social media users a little uncomfortable.

The video, which was shared on TikTok by @youneszarou , shows the content creator entering the pyramids in Egypt.

And if you are claustrophobic then this is probably not going to be for you.

It may not look there is any way inside of the pyramid, however the video shows how it is riddled with tunnels, chambers and side passages.

Many of these branch off to other rooms, leading to the ultimate maze experience.

The man can be seen just about squeezing through extremely tight passage ways, and many folks online can't quite believe how cramped the pyramids really are.

“My claustrophobia could never,” one user penned, while another wrote: "I can't breathe watching this."

A third commented: "Claustrophobia left the chat."

And someone else added: "I'm panicking just watching."

Of course, when the pyramids were built, there was no such thing as health and safety.

Add modern lighting on top of that, and you've got a pretty ancient monument.

Despite the pyramids being thousands of years old, scientists are still finding out so much about them.

Just last year, experts located a nine-meter hidden passageway inside the Egyptian Pyramid of Khufu.

The Egyptian tourism and antiquities minister announced this amazing discovery in March 2023, providing answers to those looking into the matter.

The group Scan Pyramid are part of a mission to see the inside of pyramids by using technology such as scanners and infrared thermography.

They do not know currently what the passageway is for just yet, but the findings have provided some clues.

According to Mostafa Waziri, the Head of the Egyptian Supreme Council of Antiquities, the ceiling of the tunnel indicates it was built to relieve the weight of the pyramid.

"But a big question mark hangs over whether this corridor was created to relieve the weight on the [main] entrance or lighten the load on a space yet to be discovered," he said.

"Scanning work will continue to uncover more secrets.”

Topics:  Travel , Social Media

@ CallumJ2709

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What is the ‘Horizon of Khufu’ Egyptian pyramid VR experience like?

Credit: ECLI

Atlanta has had its fair share of immersion-type experiences in recent years focused on “Stranger Things,” “Jurassic World,” “Friends” and “Downton Abbey” as well as artists Claude Monet and Pablo Picasso.

A few have included virtual reality as part of the equation such as the current Balloon Museum at Pullman Yards in Kirkwood and the Van Gogh Experience at the Exhibition Hub in Doraville .

But those experiences are fairly static in the sense that you sit there, wear goggles and watch a show.

A French company Eclipso has created the first virtual reality experience in Atlanta that enables attendees to roam a large open space donning VR headsets while touring the pyramids in Egypt, both present day and thousands of years in the past. They have rented out the Illuminarium building off the Beltline for a year, temporarily redubbing the space the Eclipso Centre.

Tickets for the experience, which lasts about 45 minutes, range from $24 to $28 depending on the day through Fever.

In the past, I have personally tried out virtual reality experiences that have lasted a few minutes at a time. I have yet to use the Apple Vision Pro. This is the first time I spent this much time with goggles on inside another world. And it’s well worth the price of admission.

A VR guide Zander Krenger walked me through the experience. At a terminal near the entrance, I signed myself up as an avatar. If I had up to three other people with me, we would create avatars together so we could see each other through our VR goggles and recognize each other.

He then placed the special VR goggle around my head. It felt comfortable. I was immediately able to see a virtual version of my hands, though not my feet while I’m walking. (Krenger said the goggles are light enough for ages 8 and up.)

Mona, our virtual reality guide, opens the experience, a pleasant gabby sort dressed in khakis who admits this is her first time doing this, a harbinger of things to come. She starts a virtual nighttime tour of the Pyramid of Khufu, also known as The Great Pyramid of Giza. We slowly float up to an elevated entrance. The 3D visuals provide the sensation of movement even while I’m standing still.

While this is a “free roaming” VR experience, you can only walk in a limited area at one time. The VR goggle provides a shifting box with a blue border in which you can wander. Step beyond the border and the screen goes black, which will discourage most folks from going fully rogue. The technology also recognizes real walls and pillars with criss-crossed red lines so you don’t easily bump into them.

But within those borders, you can walk around, peer into nooks and crannies and act as if you are in the actual pyramid. The reality is you are a specter in the sense nobody in the scenario reacts to what you do. You could literally walk through the tour guide or stand uncomfortably close to her without her reacting.

While you can see generic shadowy figures representing other people on the tour, Krenger, the guide, said people might run into each other on occasion. It’s his job to minimize that from happening. “We’re like the ghosts in the scenario,” he said. “You can’t see us but we see you.”

In the early going, a cat calmly follows us. Once we enter a room containing Khufu’s tomb, the electricity goes out and the guide leaves to find help. All goes dark and the cat transforms into a regal Egyptian goddess named Bastet who talks, opens a portal in the wall and guides us through the interior of the pyramid.

Bastet then takes us outside of the pyramid. In what is possibly the highlight of the tour, we travel up the side of the pyramid rising to the top, 481 feet high, so we can bask in the view while birds fly overhead. We then go back in time and see what the area looked like 4,500 years earlier. At one point, we become King Kong super-sized, enabling us to more easily traverse the immediate neighborhoods around the pyramids. And no, we are not crushing anything. As previously noted, nothing we do has any impact on the visuals.

We then enter a barge that enables us to travel an ancient river and see how Khufu was buried. We then partake in a ceremony with many of his followers mourning his death.

The quality of the visuals are not quite 4D but fairly sharp. The guide, cat and others we see possess ghostly eyes and fall just shy of looking real.

But in all, it’s educational and truly immersive. I didn’t get dizzy. I didn’t ever feel like I was losing my bearings. I was able to step off the pyramid, effectively floating in air, knowing it wasn’t real. And Krenger, the human guide, was always there to answer my questions.

Taking the goggles off when it ended and realizing I was standing in a large room with odd black and white symbols painted on the walls was mildly disorienting. The markings allow the headset to know what is happening.

Credit: RODNEY HO/rh

“We can do more than one show in here at a time and set people on different pathways so they do not collide,” said Jen Berghs, Eclipso Centre’s general manager.

This experience is also in three cities in France (Lyon, Paris, Bordeaux) and London and will soon be opening in New York City. Eclipso said more than 400,000 people have seen “Horizon of Khufu” so far over the past two years.

Catherine Ceys — executive director of Emissive, the virtual reality studio that created the experience Eclipso is distributing — said they were able to create the experience after taking a trip to Egypt with Harvard University Egyptologist and advisor Peter Manuelian.

Eclipso plans to add other experiences to the mix. Ceys said they have shows focused around Impressionist painters as well as dinosaurs.

“Horizon of Khufu”

Noon-8 p.m Tuesday-Friday; 10 a.m.-9 p.m. Saturday; 10 a.m.-8 p.m. Sunday. $24-$28. Eclipso Centre, 550 Somerset Terrace NE, Atlanta. feverup.com .

About the Author

Rodney Ho writes about entertainment for The Atlanta Journal-Constitution including TV, radio, film, comedy and all things in between. A native New Yorker, he has covered education at The Virginian-Pilot, small business for The Wall Street Journal and a host of beats at the AJC over 20-plus years. He loves tennis, pop culture & seeing live events.

Credit: Courtesy SaveRoswellHistory.Com

Credit: AJC, AP

Credit: Steve Schaefer /

Credit: [email protected]

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Private Tour Inside The Great Pyramid In Private Time

Special offer for sharing VIP Tour inside the Great Pyramid at non-official hours on (Sat.22 June. 2024) (From 5:00 to 7:00 AM)

Step into a world of history like never before with our exclusive invitation to a private tour inside the Great Pyramid . This one-of-a-kind experience allows you to explore the secrets of this iconic structure up close and personal. Uncover the mysteries, wander through ancient passages, and discover the cultural wonders hidden within the heart of the tour inside the great pyramid. Join us for a unique journey back in time as we unlock the stories held within this ancient marvel.

Enjoy a private tour inside the Great Pyramid by visiting the King’s chamber , queen’s chamber , grand gallery, and subterranean chamber (the pit) in private time (Non-official working hours).

• Inside the great pyramid of king Khufu.
• The King's chamber

The queen's chamber

• The grand gallery
• The subterranean chamber

The beginning of the adventure

The King's chamber and the grand gallery

The subterranean chamber (the pit)

End of the tour with happy and unforgettable memories

Included/excluded.

• Pick up and drop off from/to the hotel.
• Professional Egyptologist Tour Guide.
• Transfers by private air-conditioned car
• Private tour with permission from the Egyptian Ministry of Antiquities
• Permission from the tourism police of opening the pyramids area (Permission to inside the pyramid)
• Visit inside the great pyramid of king Khufu.
• Visit the King's chamber
• Visit the queen's chamber
• Visit the grand gallery
• Visit the subterranean chamber
• Bottled water during your tour
• All Service charges and taxes
• Personal spending

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• Experience our Skip-the-Line service, designed to save you time and effort. Your visa will be efficiently processed upon arrival.
• Benefit from multilingual support provided by our fluent-speaking professional Egyptologists.
• Customize all tours according to your preferences and needs.
• Please note that hotel ratings in Egypt differ from those in the USA or Europe.
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• Enhance your experience by replacing the night train with an additional hotel night and a domestic flight.
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• Ensuring your trip is a once-in-a-lifetime experience is our commitment, and we aim to offer you the best possible price. Prices are regularly updated to guarantee you receive the most competitive rates. Once your tour is confirmed, we assure you that the price will remain unchanged. No hidden fees, no tricks!
• We accept all secure payment methods, including major credit cards, via our Secure Online Payment Platform, and wire transfer.
• Price quotes are provided in US dollars per person per trip; nevertheless, you have the flexibility to pay in Euro, British pound sterling, or other accepted currencies.
• The price is valid until April 30, 2024; for inquiries beyond that date, please contact us.
• For pricing details during Christmas, New Year’s, and Easter holidays, kindly inquire.

Children Policy

• For children aged 2 to 5.99 years, a fee of 25% of the tour price applies.
• Those aged 6 to 11.99 years will be charged 50% of the tour price.
• Children aged 12 and above will be required to pay the full tour price, equivalent to the adult rate.
• Child pricing is designed for those sharing rooms with their parents (a maximum of 2 children in one room). An additional cost is applicable for an extra bed.
• Should your sightseeing tours involve domestic flights or ferry boat journeys, please note that an extra supplement for your child may be applicable.

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• To ensure availability and secure spaces at hotels, domestic flights, desired Nile cruise cabins, and other travel-related services, we recommend making your booking as early as possible.
• Upon receiving the deposit, it becomes our responsibility to initiate your booking process.
• The required deposit is 25%, and during the Christmas and New Year holidays, a 50% deposit is necessary. This deposit constitutes a part of your final payment.
• Multiple deposit methods are available, including major credit cards, via our Secure Online Payment Platform, and wire transfer.

Tipping in Egypt

• In Egypt, tipping (Baksheesh) for a job well done is customary and is a way of expressing satisfaction with good services. Tipping is considered a part of the income for the person serving you. While non-compulsory, we encourage you to tip as you see fit, personally.
• Feel free to offer a tip to your guide, representative, drivers, and hotel staff.
• Familiarize yourself with the guidelines for tipping in Egypt.

Cancellation Policy

• To cancel your reservation, please send a cancellation request via email to provide the Company with written confirmation.
• Booking to 41 days before your arrival: 10% of the deposit paid.
• 40 to 30 days before your arrival: 25% of the entire tour price.
• 29 to 15 days before your arrival: 50% of the entire tour price.
• 14 to 7 days before your arrival: 75% of the entire tour price.
• 7 to 1 days before your arrival: 100% of the entire tour price.
• Additionally, cancellation fees apply to all domestic flights within Egypt. If you cancel a tour, you’ll be subject to any fees per the airline’s cancellation policy.

Emergency Cancellation Policy

• Tour Egypt Club provides a flexible cancellation policy in case of government or airline-issued travel warnings from/to your departure country and destination. We prioritize your well-being and safety, adapting our cancellation policy accordingly.
• A refund will be processed to the original payment method within a maximum of 14 working days. No refunds are possible in the event of a no-show for an existing reservation.

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Inside Billionaire CEO and Former WWE Diva's Epic Egyptian Wedding at the Pyramids! See the Photos (Exclusive)

Bilt Rewards CEO Ankur Jain wed Erika Hammond in front of the Great Sphinx on April 26: “Once in a lifetime experience,” the bride tells PEOPLE exclusively

When it came to planning their wedding, Ankur Jain and Erika Hammond agreed on one thing: it was going to be over the top. They just didn’t initially agree on where to get married. 

“My first pitch to Erika for the wedding was to get married in space,” says Jain, the billionaire founder and CEO of Bilt Rewards, a tech company that has disrupted the credit card industry by letting users earn cashback points on rent. His bride, a former WWE wrestler and creator of KNOCKOUT at Equinox, had different feelings: “I was like, ‘I don't want to die on my wedding day!’"

Their compromise? Having the first wedding celebration thought to be held in modern times at the base of the Great Pyramids in Egypt, in front of the Sphinx, officiated by the world's foremost Egyptologist, Jain's family friend Dr. Zahi Hawass.

“We’re New Yorkers and there's something so special about being in a completely different world environment. So we decided, our wedding is about having a moment together to celebrate the new beginning, having a really special party with our friends somewhere where you're in a different world,” says Jain. Adds Hammond: “It’s a once in a lifetime experience.”

For Jain, 34, who first visited Egypt as a boy during an annual family vacation, and recalls a magical experience going on his first archeological dig of the ancient tombs as a teen, with Dr. Hawass, it was a chance to share his love of ancient history with his wife-to-be, 32. “I’m obsessed with ancient history and society,” says Jain. “The pyramids are just insane to see. You’re speechless. I can’t believe that this is even a part of our civilization,” adds Hammond. 

As they got to planning, the couple agreed they were more interested in the experience than the traditions of a classic wedding. There were no bridesmaids or groomsmen; no wedding cake cutting moment or toasts. And they left the ornamental details of the night up to the planners. 

“I had no idea what the napkins looked like or what the table setting looked like,” says the Texas-born Hammond. “We're not traditional wedding people,” adds Jain, who grew up in Washington state, where his father was a tech executive at companies including Microsoft. “Why do you have to spend $20,000 on flowers? It doesn’t make sense. And none of that should matter when you're getting an opportunity to sit and have dinner at the base of the pyramids!” (Editor's note: PEOPLE was invited to the wedding itself, and for the record, the flowers were spectacular, featuring an assortment of local Egyptian blooms and foliage.)

Instead, the couple focused on creating an incredible four day itinerary for their 130 guests.

Although met with last minute travel disruptions that threatened to derail the entire destination wedding , Jain and Hammond pulled off a late night launch to the festivities April 24 with a a “Modern Cairo” themed welcome reception at the Muhammed Ali Palace in Cairo, complete with belly dancers, fire dancers and a shoppable bazaar for guests with a DJ playing Arab house music. “Everybody rallied when we were running late and our guests said, 'Nope, we’ll push the party, we’ll stay up…. we’re going to keep the party going and you guys come when you land, and we’re going to celebrate together,’ ” Jain told PEOPLE Thursday morning after the event. "We partied until 5:00AM having just the best opening night.”

On day two, “​​it was all about the ancient history of Egypt,” says Jain. The couple arranged for a fully private tour of the Pyramids and the Sphinx, including areas not generally open to the public, facilitated by Dr. Hawass, followed by an Ancient-Egypt x Met Gala themed dinner at the not yet opened Grand Egyptian Museum , featuring traditional performances and aerial dancers. “We wanted the vibe to be kind of like the Met Gala's Egypt section, but in the real Egyptian area, where you've got one of the largest statues of the Pharaoh Ramesses II in the middle of the hall,” says Jain.

Guests were able to shop specialty vendors at the event, including custom mixed Egyptian perfumes, customizable sentimental papyrus scrolls and body gems, and enjoyed specialty cocktails including passion fruit and espresso martinis into the extreme wee hours once again.

Despite the distinct lack of rest, the couple was ready and refreshed in time for their big day Friday, April 26.

Guests assembled at a specially constructed event site in front of the Sphinx at the base of the Great Pyramids of Giza shortly before sunset for a non-denominational wedding celebration, hosted by Dr. Hawass. "It was so special having Dr. Zahi officiate," says Jain. "He has written every major book on Tutankhamen and the pyramids and he's such a character. At dinner one time while we were engaged, he goes, 'Erika and Ankur, I am pleased to be your officiate for the wedding,'" Jain recalls. Adds Hammond: "We just said to ourselves, I guess we found our officiant! We couldn't have been happier."

Jain's parents Naveen and Anu Jain walked him into the ceremony. Then Hammond, flanked by parents Tonya and Will Hammond made her grand entrance as famed violinist Lindsey Sterling played a rendition of Ed Sheeran's "Perfect" in a showstopping gown designed by Indian designer Rahul Mishra. “It was important to me to draw inspiration and celebrate my fiancé’s Indian culture, ancient Egyptian culture, and Western traditions,” says Hammond of the gold-embroidered bridal gown. “Since we weren't doing an Indian wedding, I wanted a little bit of Indian inspiration, mixed with a Cleopatra feel.” (Hammond flew to Delhi, India a month before the wedding for final fittings and to retrieve the gown.) “His designs are modernized Indian. So like the sari gowns.”

Dr. Hawass opened the service with some gentle ribbing—saying the bride had learned so much about Egypt after once not knowing Tutankhamen was the one she knew more commonly as King Tut, and invited the couple back when they later had children. Then the pair shared heartfelt vows, remembering how they first got together just before the pandemic, and spent months bonding over FaceTime chats when they couldn't date in person. The bride vowed to always have a Tempur-pedic pillow for her new husband; the groom vowed to always focus on making his 'Fiancee Senior' happy."

“We wanted it to be very funny, very us. We were cracking jokes," Hammond says of their vows. "It was an emotional moment, and I was about to cry. Then he cracked a joke and lightened the mood. It was so very authentic to us."

She continues, "I wasn't as nervous because I felt I was there with my friends and family. It was this moment we were planning for a year.”

“I lost my words for a moment, I was so emotional," Jain adds. "There were a couple of moments when I looked at Erika and realized it was me and my wife standing in front of the pyramids, and I had to get my bearings. We were in the most magical place in human history to celebrate the most magical moment in our lives."

As the sun set on the Giza Plateau, the party was shuttled around to the other side of the pyramids for a cocktail hour with a stunning view of the desert and all six pyramids. The couple’s 130 guests included Lance Bass and his husband Michael Turchin, Robin Thicke and his wife April Love Geary, Ryan Serhant and his wife Emilia, Shark Tank's Kevin O’Leary and his wife Linda, Former Texas governor Rick Perry and his wife Anita, the Points Guy Brian Kelly, influencer Serena Kerrigan, Miami Mayor Francis Suarez and his wife Gloria, Fox Business anchor Liz Claman, Fox 5 New York anchor Bianca Peters, Equinox chairman Harvey Spevak, Dr. Hawass as well as fellow archeologist Dr. Mark Lehner.

For dinner, the couple had a New York inspired menu. “We chose all our favorites: the pasta from Lilia, the burger from 4 Charles,” says Jain. As guests dined at the base of the pyramids, violinist Lindsey Sterling performed a stunning, acrobatic set.

After the meal, the couple invited guests down to another area for the afterparty and dessert. Foregoing a classic wedding cake, the couple opted for affogatos and three dessert stations from their favorite New York confectioners: a sundae bar inspired by the American Bar, a Levain cookie station—(“they’re warm and gooey!” says the bride)—and Milk Bar station serving birthday cake slices.

Singer Robin Thicke performed a surprise set for guests, then the bride (in her afterparty mini dress by Grete Henriette) got up onstage to dance the night away as DJ Gryffin took over, playing iconic house music hits. Guests enjoyed midnight snacks of tacos and pizza along with plenty of Clase Azul Reposado tequila shots as the night wrapped up with an epic fireworks display over the pyramids, followed by an impromptu performance of "Bye, Bye, Bye" by Lance Bass.

The couple first met when Jain started working out at Rumble Boxing where Hammond, who is a founding member of the celeb-loved gym, was also an instructor at the time. "We were just acquaintances there," she recalls. "But a couple years later, Hammond happened to be with one of the gym's other co-founders when they ran into Ankur. The duo briefly chatted and then just a few days later they met again after signing up for the same workout class.

"It was funny because she's normally teaching the class, but we were both taking it," says Jain. "I'm not the fittest guy, so it was probably a dumb move in hindsight, but I was like, 'Why don't you come work out next to me?'" Afterwards, Jain asked her out for a drink.

"It's so great, adds Hammond. "I didn't have makeup on. I was in workout clothes and all sweaty. I knew he was going to love me no matter what."

After the wedding, Jain tells PEOPLE, "Surprisingly, I'm feeling alive after partying all night."

"Last night it was almost hard to really internalize everything. It was even crazier than we imagined," he added. "We had the best time. It was so special. When the fireworks went off, it was one of the most spectacular moments. I was so emotional, I couldn't even put it into words.”

Hammond, for her part, says, “I literally am speechless. Looking at the photos, I was living my best life. I became a popstar onstage last night. It was the most incredible night of my life."

Now, as the newlyweds continue to bask in wedded bliss, they're still taking in all the joy from their special day.

“It was amazing. Everybody we know from all eras of our life came together in one place to celebrate and it was very special,” says Jain. “If you only get married once, you want to make it a once-in-a-lifetime experience for everybody!”

Event Management: Vertex Events

Photos: Bottega 53

Makeup: Kelly Dawn, Dawn Artist Agency

Stylist: Yasmine Kenawi @yasminekenawi and Margot Zamet @margotzamet

Wedding Ceremony Dress: Rahul Mishra @rahulmishra_7

Bridal Jewelery Customized by Ajour Consultancy and Louis Diamonds @ajourconsultancy @louisdiamondsofficial 

Shoes: Rene Caovilla

Wedding Dress After Party Dress: Grete Henriette @grete.henriette

Jewelry: Nado’s Jewellery @nadosjewell

Social: Olivia Burrows Sutherland

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It's not every day you get married in front of the Great Pyramids of Egypt! Bilt Rewards founder Ankur Jain and former WWE Diva Erika Hammond tied the knot on Friday in front of the Great Sphinx with the pyramids in the background. 

The couple had their stunning nuptials in front of 150 close friends and family. Their ceremony was officiated by Dr. Zahi Hawass, a leading Egyptologist. 

Singer and violinist Lindsey Stirling and singer Robin Thicke performed at the reception at the pyramids while guests ate dinner. Griffin DJ'd the event and guest Lance Bass of N'SYNC fame jumped up onstage to sing the boy band's hit, "Bye Bye Bye," with Hammond onstage with real estate broker Ryan Serhant joining in. 

"This truly was the wedding of the century," a wedding guest tells ET. "Ankur and Erika work so hard, so it was amazing to be able to celebrate their marriage with them under one of the most iconic wonders of the world."

Guests were treated to a spectacular fireworks show with the pyramids in the backdrop, acrobats, and more performers throughout the night. 

For her ceremony gown, Hammond wore a dazzling Rahul Mishra sheer gown with gold detailing and a lengthy train. 

For the after-party, Hammond changed into a custom mini-dress by Grete Henriette with gold tassel beading. 

The epic wedding weekend began with a safari dinner in a South African jungle before the bride and groom and guests were flown via private jets to Egypt. They then had a "Modern Cairo"-themed welcome reception at the Muhammed Ali Palace in Cairo. The next day, the couple had a private tour of the Great Pyramids and the Great Sphinx for their guests. 

The couple initially met at Hammond's Rumble Boxing gym, People reports, and got engaged in November 2022. 

"11/15/2022 ❤️💍 BEST night of my life!!!" Hammond captioned a series of pics from the grand occasion. "To my love, @ankurjain, from our first date w/ truffle fries & martinis (and me in sweat pants😅) to now, you continue to make me the happiest woman in the world. I cannot wait to marry you and continue making unforgettable memories together. I LOVE YOU FOREVER… my fiancé 😜 To our families & friends- Having all of our favorite people there to celebrate our love was so incredibly special. Thank you for being a part of our adventure together!! We love ya'll!"

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How Egypt’s City of the Dead is dealing with a controversial modernization program

Ahmed Maher, 83, stands outside his home in the Majid house, built in 1880, which he hopes will not be demolished, across The City of the Dead, where a new construction project is underway on the Salah Salem road in the capital city of Cairo, Egypt, on May 25, 2023. HADEER MAHMOUD/Reuters

The City of the Dead, to my surprise, was full of life.

Like many foreigners, I had avoided this vast necropolis during my visits to Cairo, choosing instead the classic haunts – the Pyramids, the Egyptian Museum, various popular mosques. The name alone sounded foreboding. Some locals, or Cairenes, I talked to described it as a vast dusty slum, implying it was a no-go zone for guileless visitors.

Instead, I found the area fascinating and intriguing – a delight overall. But it also filled me with fear – fear that Egyptian President Abdel Fattah el-Sisi will eradicate vast portions of the City of the Dead, as he seems intent on doing.

Read also: Death - and plenty of life — on a Nile River cruise

Thousands of tombs are being bulldozed to make way for roads and bridges as part of el-Sisi’s construction campaign. Already, the southern part of the City is dominated by a new, elevated roadway, the Bridge of Civilization leading to the New Administrative Capital – Egypt’s government quarter, which is rising from the desert about 40 kilometres east of Cairo.

One of the towering minarets of the Khanqah of Faraj ibn Barquq funerary complex, with author Eric Reguly peering over edge on the rectangular balcony. Eric Reguly/The Globe and Mail

I visited the City on a warm day in early April with a local guide who believed that living among the dead, an old pharaonic idea, was nothing unusual in Egypt.

We began the tour at the Khanqah of Faraj ibn Barquq, the religious funerary complex built by the Mamluk Sultan Faraj in the early 1400s. The Mamluks were originally non-Arab slave soldiers and freed soldiers who came from what is now Turkey and the Russian Caucasus. Their sultanate ruled Egypt, the Levant and the Hejaz (the west coast of Saudi Arabia) from the 13th to the 16th Century, when they were conquered by the Ottomans. Today, the northern portion of the City is full of Mamluk tombs, of which the Khanqah is the most impressive.

It was built around a vast courtyard and had residential quarters, schools and a mosque, which is still active. The male and female mausoleums are covered by soaring ornate domes, which, at more than 14 metres across, are the biggest of their kind from the Mamluk era. Saeed, one of the Egyptian guardians of the Khanqah, took us inside the male mausoleum, cupped his hands to his mouth and, with his deep, powerful voice, sang a prayer. I felt myself tingling as his voice reverberated through the void.

Another view of the Khanqah of Faraj ibn Barquq funerary complex in the City of the Dead. Eric Reguly/The Globe and Mail

He then took us to the roof of the Khanqah, after which we climbed the narrow corkscrew stairways of one of the twin minarets. The views were worth the skyward hike. They showed the sheer vastness of the City of the Dead, which stretches for six km – four km across at its widest point – and forms part of historic Cairo, a UNESCO World Heritage Site.

When we stepped down to Earth, my guide and I strolled through the City. The area was full of artisans, workshops, bakeries, grills, tea spots and convenience stores – all of them charmingly dilapidated and cluttered but perfectly functional. People lived among the tombs and mausoleums, some in shoddy brick apartment blocks that were erected without permits in recent decades. In one overgrown alleyway, we spotted an ancient limestone bathtub next to the carcass of what looked like a 1920s’ Model-T Ford.

We ended the tour with a visit to the Sultan Qaytbay Mosque, a Mamluk gem built in the 15th century. It was richly decorated, with magnificent stained-glass windows and an ornate water trough for horses and camels just beyond the main structural walls. In both the Qaytbay and the Khanqah, we were the only tourists. It was bliss – no diesel-belching tour buses, no souvenir shops full of Chinese-made tat, no overpriced coffee shops.

Saeed, one of the guardians of the Khanqah of Faraj ibn Barquq in the City of the Dead, sings a prayer in the male mausoleum of the funerary complex to demonstrate the reverberation effect of the soaring dome.

Eric Reguly/The Globe and Mail

No one knows how many people live in the City; estimates range from several hundred thousand to a million or more, with the northern section of the necropolis more livable than the southern one. But big expanses of the City are at risk and many archaeologists, architects, historians and city planners inside and beyond Egypt are alarmed by what the government has in mind for the area as it “modernizes” Cairo.

Basem Kamel, secretary-general of the Egyptian parliament’s small Social Democratic Party, suspects the City of the Dead faces the wrecking ball, at least parts of it. “The mentality here is to build roads and bridges,” he said. “This will hurt our history.”

Since el-Sisi came to power in 2014, new infrastructure to move cars, buses and trains has been his main development pursuit. Egypt’s population has more than tripled since the 1970s and new cities are sprouting in the desert, one of them being the New Administrative Capital. Official figures show that 7,000 km of roads and some 900 bridges and tunnels have been built everywhere. The urban development projects have cost US$500-billion.

The author, Eric Reguly, on a narrow street in the City of the Dead, with the dome of the Sultan Qaytbay mosque in the distance. Eric Reguly/The Globe and Mail

Already, a six-lane road bisects the northern and southern parts of the City and the foundations of the Civilization Bridge have cut into stretches of the southern part. Tombs are being torn down, even those of some of the famous. In February, the remains of Queen Farida, the first wife of King Farouk, who ruled Egypt from 1936 to 1952, were dug up and transferred to another cemetery (Farida lived in what is now the official residence of the Canadian ambassador from 1948 to 1951).

Last August, Omniya Abdel Barr, an architect whose specialty is cultural conservation, appealed for help as the demolitions continued. “Help! Inhumane creatures are destroying our heritage,” she said on X. The same month, several members of a government-appointed committee tasked with documenting heritage buildings of outstanding historical significance resigned in protest of the destruction of mausoleums.

International petitions signed by architects and urban planners pleading for the mausoleums’ preservation circulated. Amro Ali, a former professor of sociology at the American University of Cairo, used X to note, “The level of blindsided greed, self-entitlement, and impunity it must take to destroy your own beautiful heritage when even foreign wars and colonial endeavours didn’t dare touch it.”

The government has defended its modernization program as a way of eradicating slum areas. It also insists that antiquities in historic Cairo will not be touched, though conservationists have said that the protection system is haphazard. They note that some precious buildings are not registered as antiquities.

The interior of the richly decorated and serene Sultan Qaytbay mosque, a Mamluk-era gem built in the 15th Century. Eric Reguly/The Globe and Mail

It appears that much, maybe most, of the City of the Dead will survive, though the more popular parts could see their fairly modern apartment blocks torn down, and their residents relocated to new suburban towers. Doing so might leave the City more or less intact but lifeless as their residents are ejected.

Visiting the City of the Dead is best done with a local guide, not because it is unsafe – it is not, though beware petty crime – but because you will get lost in the maze of streets as you try to find the area’s highlights. One popular travel company is Travco, travco.com . Another is Memphis Tours memphistours.com .

If you go on your own, stick to the northern side of the City, where the main mausoleums and mosques are located. There are no entrance fees to the main sites, but handing the equivalent of a few dollars to whoever lets you in is polite.

Female visitors are welcome to visit mosques and mausoleums but are expected to cover up. Bare arms and short skirts are considered disrespectful. A simple head scarf should be worn.

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Inside billionaire Ankur Jain, Erika Hammond’s wild Egypt wedding: Private jets, pyramids and celebs

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Billionaire Ankur Jain and former WWE wrestler Erika Hammond tied the knot Friday in an over-the-top ceremony that took place in front of the Great Pyramids in Egypt.

“We’re New Yorkers and there’s something so special about being in a completely different world environment,” Jain, the founder and CEO of tech company Bilt Rewards, told People following their nuptials.

“So we decided, our wedding is about having a moment together to celebrate the new beginning, having a really special party with our friends somewhere where you’re in a different world.” (Jain had originally suggested getting married in space, but Hammond was not keen on the idea.)

While the location of their wedding was unique, it wasn’t the only unorthodox detail about their celebrations: The couple had no bridal party and no wedding cake — although they did serve a birthday cake from Milk Bar.

“I had no idea what the napkins looked like or what the table setting looked like,” Hammond, 32, told People.

Jain, 34, added, “We’re not traditional wedding people. Why do you have to spend $20,000 on flowers? It doesn’t make sense.”

The couple worked to make their dream wedding with an event company called Vertex.

The one detail they were certainly involved in was the transportation of their wedding guests from the safari they brought them on in Africa back to Cairo for their ceremony.

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Ahead of their welcome party, their private Egypt Air flight was halted by the South African government, leaving them in a huge bind. After the bride and groom stayed up hours trying to get their guests to Egypt, they eventually pulled it off — but it made their welcome event kick off three hours late.

“We partied until 5 a.m. having just the best opening night,” Jain recalled to People April 25. The event, which was held at the Muhammed Ali Palace, had a “Modern Cairo” theme and featured belly and fire dancers.

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Jain and Hammond’s 130-person guest list was impressive as well. Some of the biggest celebrities celebrated their love, including Lance Bass and his husband, Michael Turchin, Robin Thicke and his wife, April Love Geary, “Shark Tank” investor Kevin O’Leary and his wife, Linda, influencer Serena Kerrigan, several politicians and prominent businesspeople.

Thicke, 47, surprised guests with a performance, while Bass, 44, gave an impromptu show of “Bye, Bye, Bye” near the end of the night after a stunning fireworks show over the pyramids.

“We had the best time. It was so special,” Jain gushed to the outlet. “When the fireworks went off, it was one of the most spectacular moments. I was so emotional, I couldn’t even put it into words.”

The newlyweds met at Rumble Boxing, where Hammond is a founding member. She was also an instructor there when they first interacted.

A few years later, they hit it off and got engaged in November 2022.

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