There is a long chain of 87 pyramids running from El-Lahun (near El Faiyum) in the south to Giza in the north. At both Dahshur and Saqqara you can see pyramids to the north and to the south and so get a better idea of the extent of these monuments.

At Dahshur there is the Red Pyramid with its three corbelled rooms and the Bent or Rhomboid Pyramid. Halfway through building it, they changed the slope so it looks bent as the name suggests.

At Saqqara, the Step pyramid with its courtyard and surviving temples gives a much better idea of the way a funerary complex was more than just a tomb. It was a whole collection of buildings for the worship of the gods as well as the preparation of the Pharaoh's body.

These sites are best appreciated with a good guide or guidebook and a small group so you have plenty of time to explore and see the whole thing.

Dahshur is 40 miles south of Cairo.
Saqqara is roughly 25km south of Cairo.
Ask your hotel to hire a car and driver for the day and you can visit both sites.

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The ancient Egyptians didn't have the arch so they used corbelling to create large spaces inside the Pyramids. Only a limited number are allowed in any of the Giza pyramids on any one day and you have to get there first thing to queue but it is well worth it.

The long Gallery is in the Great Pyramid and is some 60 feet long and slopes upward. It has been created by slightly overlapping stones as they go up to create a long-toothed triangular space. It is amazing.

If you haven't the time or patience to queue for tickets, the Red Pyramid at the Dahshur Pyramid has three much smaller corbelled rooms which are truly amazing.

Giza is approximately 20km southwest of Cairo.
Dahshur is approximately 40km south of Cairo.

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Obviously. But: don't let yourselves get ripped off. When you get the taxi to the Pyramids, INSIST that they take you to the main entrance, not the side entrance. The side entrance is a way of trying to funnel you through some tourist shops. Also, DO NOT let the driver pick up any of the men waiting by the side of the road, near the Pyramids, because these are the guys who tend to try and take you to the side entrance. This happened with me, but I caught on quickly enough, kicked the extra guy back out of the taxi and told the driver to turn around and go to the main entrance.

Don't let the camel drivers etc rip you off, unless you want to take a ride, in which case be sure to haggle. Also, when they offer to pose for a photo, if you take it, they'll make a fuss about being paid afterwards.

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