Solar Boat Museum (Khufu Ship) Tours and Activities
2 Reviews
Dedicated to one single, spectacular item, an ancient boat used in the funeral rites of the pharaoh Khufu (Cheops), the Solar Boat Museum (Khufu Ship) is a highlight of any visit to the Giza Pyramids. The 143-foot-long (44-meter-long) cedar ship may have been used to float his body down the Nile or intended for his use in the afterlife with the sun god, Ra.
The Basics
Entrance to the Solar Boat Museum is not included in Giza Pyramids admission tickets, although, as it’s located right by the Great Pyramid of Khufu, you will need to pay to enter the complex first. There’s a significant additional charge for the museum, with another fee if you would like to use a camera. You don’t need a guide to explore the museum, as the signage is clear and the barque quite self-explanatory, but some find a guide or an organized Giza Pyramids tour adds greatly to their experience of the site as a whole.
Things to Know Before You Go
How to Get There
The Solar Boat Museum stands just south of the Great Pyramid of Khufu, inside the Giza Pyramids complex. While Giza can be reached from Cairo proper on the metro, you’ll need to ride a bus, microbus, or taxi from the stop. Many prefer to avoid the hassle of aggressive transport touts and book a door-to-door tour.
When to Get There
The Solar Boat Museum is open from morning to afternoon, seven days a week. It is at its least busy soon after opening, before the group tours come through, while visits tick up slightly over the Islamic weekend (Friday to Saturday). It is also a pleasantly cool spot to beat the midday heat.
King Khufu—aka King Cheops—and His Solar Boat
King Khufu, often known by his Greek name, Cheops, ruled Egypt during the 26th century BC and founded the Giza Pyramids by building his Great Pyramid. The solar boat preserved in the Solar Boat Museum is one of five that were buried in his honor. This one was rediscovered in 1954 and painstakingly extracted and reassembled over several years for display.
The Basics
Entrance to the Solar Boat Museum is not included in Giza Pyramids admission tickets, although, as it’s located right by the Great Pyramid of Khufu, you will need to pay to enter the complex first. There’s a significant additional charge for the museum, with another fee if you would like to use a camera. You don’t need a guide to explore the museum, as the signage is clear and the barque quite self-explanatory, but some find a guide or an organized Giza Pyramids tour adds greatly to their experience of the site as a whole.
Things to Know Before You Go
- The Solar Boat Museum is a must for anyone with an interest in ancient Egyptian history.
- Wear sensible shoes, as you’ll need to add protective covers to keep the sand out of the museum.
- The Solar Boat Museum has entrance ramps and wheelchair-accessible restrooms.
How to Get There
The Solar Boat Museum stands just south of the Great Pyramid of Khufu, inside the Giza Pyramids complex. While Giza can be reached from Cairo proper on the metro, you’ll need to ride a bus, microbus, or taxi from the stop. Many prefer to avoid the hassle of aggressive transport touts and book a door-to-door tour.
When to Get There
The Solar Boat Museum is open from morning to afternoon, seven days a week. It is at its least busy soon after opening, before the group tours come through, while visits tick up slightly over the Islamic weekend (Friday to Saturday). It is also a pleasantly cool spot to beat the midday heat.
King Khufu—aka King Cheops—and His Solar Boat
King Khufu, often known by his Greek name, Cheops, ruled Egypt during the 26th century BC and founded the Giza Pyramids by building his Great Pyramid. The solar boat preserved in the Solar Boat Museum is one of five that were buried in his honor. This one was rediscovered in 1954 and painstakingly extracted and reassembled over several years for display.
Address: Pyramids Zone, El Haram, Giza, Egypt
Admission: Varies
1 Tours and Activities to Experience Solar Boat Museum (Khufu Ship)
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Half-Day Tour of the Giza Pyramids and Solar Boat Museum with Lunch and Camel Ride
5
Enter the world of ancient Egypt’s pharaohs for a morning on a private visit to the Giza pyramids and Solar Boat Museum from Cairo. After admiring the pyramids, Sphinx, and Valley Temple and hearing their secrets from your Egyptologist guide, head inside the modern Solar Boat Museum. Gaze in awe at the prize exhibit: a reassembled wooden boat found buried near the Great Pyramid and probably used as a funerary barge. Round off your tour with a leisurely camel ride on the Saharan sands and a tasty Egyptian lunch.
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From
$32.92
From
$32.92
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