Dahshur sits in open desert, with no crowds of hawkers and no queue for photographs. For many travelers it is the part of the day they remember best, because you can stand alone and look at a pyramid.
Why the Bent Pyramid bends
The lower part of the pyramid rises steeply. Then, partway up, the angle softens and the sides slope more gently. A common explanation is that the builders changed the angle to keep the structure stable. Whatever the cause, it tells you that the shape of a pyramid was still being worked out.
The Bent Pyramid also keeps much of its original outer casing, so you can see how the smooth surface was meant to look.
The Red Pyramid
Close by stands the Red Pyramid. It is often described as the first true smooth-sided pyramid, built after the Bent one. The name comes from the reddish tone of its stone in the right light.
It is large, and the proportions look familiar if you have seen Giza. Walking around it helps you feel the scale.
Going inside
Visitors can sometimes enter the Red Pyramid. The passage is long, steep and low, and you have to bend over. It is not suitable for anyone with knee or back problems, or who dislikes tight spaces. Entry inside the pyramids is not part of the trip price, so ask your guide on the day.
How to visit
The easiest way is the private day trip that begins here. Your driver collects you around 08:00, and you reach Dahshur first, then go on to Saqqara for the Step Pyramid, have lunch, and finish at Memphis.
- Entrance tickets to Dahshur, Saqqara and Memphis are included
- An Egyptologist guide walks you through each site
- Lunch and bottled water are included
- You are back at your hotel in the afternoon
What to bring
There is almost no shade. Bring sunglasses, a hat, water and sunscreen, and wear shoes you can walk in on sand. In winter mornings can be cool, so a light layer helps.
If you are short of time in Egypt, choose between the older pyramids and Giza. If you have time for both, do Dahshur on a separate day from Giza and enjoy each one.
Dahshur is a working archaeological area, and parts of it are sometimes closed or restricted. Your guide will know what is open on the day and will adjust the order of stops.
If you are visiting Egypt for the first time, seeing Dahshur before Giza makes Giza easier to understand, since you will already have seen the earlier attempts.
Children who like climbing and caves often enjoy this stop, but the interior is not suitable for small ones.
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Dahshur: the Bent and Red Pyramids, a visitor guide
What to see at Dahshur, why the Bent Pyramid bends, how the Red Pyramid compares to Giza, and how to visit on a private day from Cairo.