Unspecified/General

In a purpose-built venue in north Austin, Horizon of Khufu is an immersive virtual-reality experience that uses cutting-edge motion-tracking technology to transport visitors back nearly five thousand years to the construction of the Great Pyramid of Giza. The production was created by Excurio, a Paris-based pioneer of large-scale virtual-reality experiences, in partnership with the French national museum union, and toured successfully through several European capitals before launching its first North American residency in Austin. The experience is built around a sweeping, hour-long virtual-reality journey covering some 7,000 square feet of physical floor space, with up to twenty-five guests at a time wandering freely while wearing high-resolution wireless headsets and bodysuit motion-tracking equipment. As participants walk, the technology projects them seamlessly into a stunning recreation of the Giza Plateau as it would have appeared at the time of Pharaoh Khufu, complete with the original gleaming white limestone facing of the Great Pyramid, the brightly painted temples and the bustling village of workers and craftsmen who built the great monuments. The journey unfolds across multiple themed scenes. Visitors witness the construction of the Great Pyramid itself, walk through the temples of the Old Kingdom, descend into the burial chamber to attend the funerary procession of Pharaoh Khufu and finally drift across the cosmic river of the underworld in the company of the ancient gods. Throughout, a thoughtful musical score and historically informed narration weave together history, mythology and contemporary archaeological scholarship. The technology is the result of significant investment. The high-resolution headsets are designed to be comfortable for the full hour, while the body-tracking suits allow guests to see their own movements and those of their fellow travellers in real time within the virtual environment. Tickets are sold by timed entry, with adult and family-friendly sessions both available. For visitors curious about ancient Egypt or simply interested in where immersive technology is going next, the experience offers a uniquely memorable hour.

Type: Tourist Attraction

Address: 11000 Middle Fiskville Road, Suite A1, Austin, TX, United States

Website: horizonkhufu.com