Hawara at a glance
- Location
- El Hawara, Fayoum
- Builder
- Amenemhat III
- Period
- 12th Dynasty
- Suggested visit
- 1.5–2 hours
ETC Egypt Tours ClubLicensed local planning · Egyptologist-guided routes
Amenemhat III · Fayoum
Complete Travel Guide to the Hawara Pyramid
Explore Amenemhat III’s mud-brick pyramid, the legendary Labyrinth, a monolithic quartzite burial chamber, ingenious security passages and Hawara’s wider archaeological landscape.
Quick Travel Answer
What is the Hawara Pyramid?
The Hawara Pyramid is the royal tomb of Amenemhat III, built during the 12th Dynasty at the entrance to Fayoum. Its mud-brick core, complex anti-robbery passages, massive quartzite burial vault and adjoining mortuary temple made it one of the Middle Kingdom’s boldest funerary complexes.
Why it matters
The complex connects 12th-Dynasty engineering with the famous temple traditionally identified as the Labyrinth, later cemeteries and the long archaeological history of Fayoum.
Explore the UCL Hawara resource →Labyrinth and Archaeology
Top things to see at the Hawara Pyramid
Follow the site from its eroded mud-brick core and legendary mortuary temple to the sealed burial system, royal family burials and later Hawara cemetery.
Mud-Brick Engineering
Amenemhat III’s Mud-Brick Pyramid
- Period
- 12th Dynasty
- Focus
- Mud brick and limestone casing
Amenemhat III’s builders created a dense mud-brick core originally faced with fine limestone. Stripped casing and centuries of erosion produced the rounded, mountain-like profile visible today.
Study the Hawara complex →
Classical Wonder
The Legendary Labyrinth
- Period
- Mortuary temple complex
- Focus
- Courts and chambers
South of the pyramid stood an enormous mortuary temple praised by Herodotus and Strabo. Its foundations and scattered fragments are associated with the complex later known as Egypt’s Labyrinth.
Explore the Labyrinth record →
Subterranean Engineering
Quartzite Burial Chamber
- Period
- Monolithic stone vault
- Focus
- Groundwater-limited access
Deep beneath the pyramid, architects installed a huge quartzite burial chamber and heavy roof slabs. Groundwater now limits access, so the interior is normally understood through archaeological plans and reports.
Review pyramid-access advice →
Security Design
False Passages and Portcullises
- Period
- Amenemhat III
- Focus
- Anti-robbery architecture
Blind turns, false routes, blocking devices and concealed architectural transitions were intended to mislead robbers and protect the king’s burial apartment beneath the unstable mud-brick mass.
See the archaeological reference →
Royal Family Burials
Princess Neferuptah and Hawara Tombs
- Period
- Late 12th Dynasty
- Focus
- Royal funerary landscape
The Hawara landscape includes royal-family burials associated with Amenemhat III’s court, including Princess Neferuptah’s nearby pyramid and tomb complex, alongside later Middle Kingdom cemeteries.
Explore the Hawara excavation archive →
Long-Lived Cemetery
Petrie, Hawara and Fayoum Portraits
- Period
- Roman-period Hawara
- Focus
- Excavations and portraits
Flinders Petrie’s excavations documented the pyramid and temple and revealed a major later cemetery. Hawara became famous for Roman-period mummy portraits and richly furnished burials.
Explore Petrie’s Hawara record →Internal Planning Links
Connect Hawara with Fayoum and Egypt’s pyramids
Use these Egypt Tours Club pages to connect Hawara with Hawara, Fayoum temples, protected landscapes, Cairo departures and practical pyramid guidance.
01Medinet MadiAmenemhat III’s Middle Kingdom sanctuary in southern Fayoum. →02Qasr QarunA remarkably intact Ptolemaic temple near Lake Qarun. →03Wadi El HitanUNESCO whale fossils in Fayoum’s Western Desert. →04Tours from CairoCompare private routes beyond the capital. →05Pyramid Ticket GuidePrepare for changing access and separate interior tickets. →06Tailor-Made Egypt ToursCustomize transport, guiding, hotels and pace. →
Routes and Access
How to reach Hawara from Fayoum and Cairo
Hawara lies about 9 kilometres southeast of Medinet El-Fayoum. Private transport is the simplest way to link it with Lahun, Meidum and other dispersed sites.
From Fayoum
- Depart early with a private driver.
- Travel southeast toward Hawara El-Maqta.
- Allow time for the pyramid and Labyrinth foundations.
- Continue to Lahun on a combined route.
From Cairo
- Use the Cairo–Fayoum road or Western Desert route.
- Allow roughly 1.5–2 hours each way, traffic dependent.
- Prearrange guiding and local access.
- Use a full day for several monuments.
Best pyramid circuit
- Start with Hawara’s pyramid and Labyrinth.
- Add Lahun and Senusret II’s pyramid.
- Include Meidum for earlier pyramid evolution.
- Confirm every site’s current access.
Trusted References
Official and specialist information
Use current official channels for access, and archaeological or museum sources for the pyramid, Labyrinth, excavations and finds from Hawara.
Plan More
Build a complete Egypt itinerary
AEO Travel Answers
Hawara Pyramid questions before you go
Direct answers for travelers planning access, timing, groundwater-aware expectations and a wider Fayoum pyramid route.
Who built the Hawara Pyramid?
Pharaoh Amenemhat III built the pyramid during Egypt’s 12th Dynasty, around the late 19th century BCE, as the center of his royal funerary complex at the entrance to Fayoum.
What makes the Hawara Pyramid unusual?
Hawara combines a mud-brick pyramid, complex deceptive passages, an enormous quartzite burial vault and the adjoining mortuary temple celebrated by classical authors as the Labyrinth.
Can visitors enter the Hawara Pyramid?
The lower passages are affected by groundwater and interior entry is not normally the focus of a public visit. Confirm current official access and obey all barriers.
How long should I spend at Hawara?
Allow about 1 to 1.5 hours for the pyramid exterior, Labyrinth foundations and surrounding archaeology. Add more time for Hawara, Meidum or other Fayoum sites.
Where is the Hawara Pyramid?
The pyramid stands at Hawara El-Maqta in Fayoum Governorate, about 9 kilometres southeast of Medinet El-Fayoum and roughly 100 kilometres southwest of Cairo.
What should I bring to Hawara?
Bring sturdy walking shoes, water, sun protection and Egyptian-pound cash. The archaeological area is exposed, uneven and has limited shade.
What was the Hawara Labyrinth?
The “Labyrinth” was the enormous mortuary temple south of Amenemhat III’s pyramid, described by classical writers as a complex of courts and chambers. Only foundations and fragments survive.
Can Hawara be combined with Lahun and Meidum?
Yes. Hawara and Lahun form a strong Middle Kingdom route, while Meidum adds an earlier stage of pyramid development. A private vehicle makes the dispersed circuit practical.
Private Planning
Plan your Hawara and Fayoum route
Share your date, Cairo or Fayoum hotel, group size and preferred sites. Egypt Tours Club can combine Hawara, Hawara, Meidum and Fayoum with private transport and Egyptologist guiding.