Day trip to Saqqara

A day trip to Saqqara, 30km south of Cairo, is worthwhile for anyone interested in Egypt’s past. The necropolis for Egypt’s ancient capital, Memphis, it was where the first pharaohs were buried. It is best known for its Step Pyramid, Egypt’s oldest pyramid which dates from the 3rd Dynasty and was built by Imhotep. Saqqara contains another 16 pyramids, in varying degrees of preservation. It is also noted for the burial chamber Pyramid Texts in the pyramid of 5th Dynasty pharaoh, Unas, and for the well-preserved scenes decorating the walls of the Old Kingdom Tombs.