Pyramid of Khafre Travel Guide: Top Sights in Egypt, Tours & Travel

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Pyramid of Khafre- Travel Tips What to See, How to Plan & Tours: Historical & Cultural; Egypt; 5 Reviews

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Suggested Duration: 4 hours

Dominating the Giza Plateau with striking presence, the Pyramid of Khafre stands as the second-tallest and second-largest of the famed trio. Built around 2520 BC for Pharaoh Khafre of Egypt's Fourth Dynasty, its enduring power stems from unique physical attributes. Unlike its neighbors, significant sections of its original, smooth Tura limestone casing stones still cling to the apex, hinting at the monument's pristine, gleaming ancient appearance. Crucially, its base sits on bedrock approximately 10 meters (33 feet) higher than the Great Pyramid of Khufu nearby; combined with its steeper slope of 53 degrees 8 minutes, this elevation creates the optical illusion that Khafre's monument is actually the tallest structure at Giza. The pyramid's construction reveals remarkable engineering. Massive limestone blocks, each exceeding two tons, form its core, with stone sizes diminishing towards the summit where blocks measure only about 50 cm thick. Its base was partially carved from the plateau's bedrock, especially at the northwest corner, while the southeast corner required significant built-up foundations. The precision, even with observable millimeter-level staggering in the remaining casing stones (potentially due to seismic settling or constrained working space at the top), remains awe-inspiring. A distinctive band of exceptionally regular masonry is visible midway up the structure. Khafre's pyramid complex offers some of Giza's best-preserved Old Kingdom architecture, particularly the Valley Temple. Constructed from colossal megalithic blocks sheathed in red granite, its remarkably intact interior features alabaster paving and massive granite pillars. A 500-meter causeway originally linked this temple to the largely ruined mortuary temple east of the pyramid, which pioneered the standard five-element design for later funerary temples. The nearby Great Sphinx, carved from a quarry likely used for Khafre's pyramid blocks, is strongly associated with his reign, completing a monumental landscape designed for eternity.

Operators offering tours in Egypt

Attractions in Giza

Giza pyramid complex

4.6

Great Sphinx of Giza

Grand Egyptian Museum

4.6

Pyramid of Menkaure

Saqqara Necropolis

Pyramid of Djoser

4.8

Bent Pyramid

Red Pyramid

4.8

Reviews of Pyramid of Khafre

Seokjin Ham

5
Reviewed: 2024-08-12

It is tall enough to rival the Great Pyramid of Giza. This is famous for the Great Sphinx of Giza guarding the front. It is the tomb of Khafre, the pharaoh of the 4th Dynasty of the Old Kingdom of Egypt. It is said to have been built around 2570 BC. The capstone that remains at the top naturally reminds me of its original appearance.
melton h

5
Reviewed: 2024-07-21

I love this place the energy, the people and the wonder of how this was created. Fantastic wonder of the world.
Kryštof Laryš

5
Reviewed: 2024-05-17

Such a beautiful place. It is a must see in Egypt.
Yanni

5
Reviewed: 2024-05-04

The Pyramid of Khafre, also known as the pyramid of Chephren, stands as a remarkable testament to ancient Egyptian architecture and engineering. Let me take you on a journey to explore this awe-inspiring monument: Historical Marvel: The Pyramid of Khafre is the middle of the three Ancient Egyptian Pyramids of Giza, the second tallest and second largest of the group. It is the tomb of the Fourth-Dynasty pharaoh Khafre (Chefren), who ruled around 2558−2532 BC. With a base length of 215.5 meters (706 feet), the pyramid rises to a height of 136.4 meters (448 feet). Made of limestone blocks weighing more than 2 tons each, it stands as a testament to ancient craftsmanship. The slope of the pyramid rises at a 53° 13’ angle, steeper than its neighbor, the Pyramid of Khufu, which has an angle of 51°50’24". Interestingly, Khafre’s pyramid sits on bedrock 10 meters (33 feet) higher than Khufu’s pyramid, creating the illusion that it is taller. Construction and History: Like the Great Pyramid, a rock outcropping was used in the core. Due to the slope of the plateau, the northwest corner was cut 10 meters (33 feet) out of the rock subsoil, while the southeast corner was built up. The pyramid is constructed of horizontal courses, with larger stones at the base and smaller ones as it ascends. During the Nineteenth Dynasty, casing stones were taken to build a temple in Heliopolis on Ramesses II’s orders. Arab historian Ibn Abd al-Salam recorded that the pyramid was opened in 1372 AD. An Arabic graffito on the burial chamber wall likely dates from the same time. The pyramid was first explored in modern times by Giovanni Belzoni in 1818, revealing an empty burial chamber with an open sarcophagus. The first complete exploration was conducted by John Perring in 1837, and in 1858, Auguste Mariette discovered a diorite statue of Khafre. Unique Characteristics: The Pyramid of Khafre retains a section of its original white outer casing stones at the very top, adding to its allure. Its timeless beauty and historical significance continue to captivate visitors from around the world. In summary, the Pyramid of Khafre stands as a beacon of Egypt’s rich history, a marvel of ancient ingenuity, and a tribute to the pharaohs who shaped the sands of time. 🇪🇬🔺
S Hetherington

5
Reviewed: 2023-08-18

Visited the Giza Plateau 8 October 2022. Included in the Cairo Pass. This is the second of the three pyramids of Giza. When you are standing in between the two pyramids this pyramid appears to be the taller of the two which is an optical illusion. The Pyramid of Khafre is smaller than the Great Pyramid but is a built on a slightly higher piece of ground so appears taller. This is the only pyramid here which still has the casing stones at the summit. Unfortunately was closed the day we visited so could not enter the burial chamber. You can walk around three sides of the pyramid but for some reason the fourth side is partitioned off. On the far side closer to the Pyramid of Menkaure is a good vantage point to get both of the main pyramids in a picture. You will come across some of the ubiquitous Camel hawkers here and if you want pictures it will cost you. I recommend not riding the poor animals as the abuse they get is terrible for such a noble creature.