I loved this place - to me it was better than the Pyramids of Giza. You're pretty much able to explore the complex around the Step Pyramid of Zoser at your own place, with very little restriction. A fascinating glimpse into the world of the ancient Egyptians.

Well worth visiting. As you leave the city of Cairo, you also leave behind the pollution, noise,hustle and bustle. Saqqara means Sugar Cane and as you leave the city you start to see the farms of Sugar Cane, Dates, Tea and other crops. The Step Pyramid was the starting point for the Pyramids as we know them and is over 5100 years old. It is not actually a pyramid but a series of steps (called Mastaba's) build over the tomb which is under the ground. The idea was to make it harder for grave robbers but it didn't work as planned! It was so nice to walk around without too many other tourists around and without the "hard sell" of many other touristy sites. In this area you can see lots of pyramids close by and in the distance. Many of them are large piles of rubble as they were destroyed 100's of years ago by earthquake. Include Saqqara on your itinerary.

Amazing, like every single ancient egyptian ruin.