Overview
Overview of Day Tour from Cairo to the Pyramid of Meidum and the Pyramid of Hawara
Escape the bustling city of Cairo and embark on a unique day tour into the heart of ancient Egypt’s lesser-known treasures: the Pyramid of Meidum and the Pyramid of Hawara. This journey offers an enriching experience for archaeology enthusiasts, history lovers, and travelers eager to explore the evolution of pyramid architecture far from the crowds of Giza.
The tour begins with an early morning departure from Cairo, heading southward through the fertile Nile Valley towards the Beni Suef Governorate. After approximately two hours on the road, you’ll arrive at the impressive and mysterious Pyramid of Meidum—an early attempt at pyramid construction attributed to Pharaoh Huni, the last king of the 3rd Dynasty, and later completed or modified by Pharaoh Sneferu, the founder of the 4th Dynasty and father of Khufu.
The Meidum Pyramid is sometimes referred to as the “Collapsed Pyramid” due to its current shape. Originally built as a step pyramid and later converted into a smooth-sided pyramid, much of its outer casing collapsed, leaving behind a towering core with steep sides that rises dramatically from the desert floor. Although it may not be as famous as the pyramids of Giza, Meidum provides critical insight into the experimental phases of pyramid design. Visitors can walk around its massive base, admire the remains of surrounding mastabas, and even venture inside the pyramid (if open), experiencing the atmosphere of one of Egypt’s earliest large-scale royal tombs.
Following your exploration of Meidum, the tour continues further south toward the lush region of Faiyum, a fertile depression in the desert that has been cultivated since ancient times. After about an hour and a half’s drive, you’ll reach the Pyramid of Hawara, built by Pharaoh Amenemhat III, a powerful ruler of the 12th Dynasty during Egypt’s Middle Kingdom.
Though heavily eroded and appearing as a large mound of mudbrick today, the Hawara Pyramid is historically significant. It originally stood as a finely constructed pyramid with a limestone casing and was once part of a grand funerary complex. The complex included a massive mortuary temple known in ancient texts as the “Labyrinth”—a structure so vast and complex that it impressed the Greek historian Herodotus, who claimed it surpassed even the pyramids in grandeur.
While much of the labyrinth has been lost to time, the site still offers a fascinating window into Middle Kingdom funerary practices. The pyramid’s internal design was highly sophisticated, with concealed passages and traps intended to thwart tomb robbers. Although the burial chamber has long been looted, it once held one of the most finely crafted royal sarcophagi ever discovered.
After exploring Hawara and the surrounding desert landscape, enjoy a relaxing lunch at a local restaurant in Faiyum, where you can sample traditional Egyptian dishes amid the serene oasis environment. The return journey to Cairo takes about two and a half hours, with expected arrival in the early evening.
This day tour provides a remarkable opportunity to journey beyond the usual tourist paths, discovering two ancient pyramids that played crucial roles in Egypt’s architectural and cultural history. From the experimental design of Meidum to the engineering sophistication of Hawara, the tour connects you to the stories of ancient kings and the innovations that shaped one of the world’s most enduring civilizations.
