How to Visit Egypt’s Sphinx and Giza Pyramids, offering insightful narratives and historical context. Ensure to respect local customs and regulations while exploring these iconic ancient marvels for an unforgettable experience.”
How to Visit Egypt’s Sphinx and Giza Pyramids
Which kind of wish list would be complete How to Visit Egypt’s Sphinx and Giza Pyramids ? Unbelievably, it is not too difficult to tour the Giza pyramids in one day from Egypt’s main city of Cairo.
For 3,800 years, the Great Pyramid of Giza, which was constructed in 2560 BC, stood as the highest man-made structure on Earth. Out of the Seven Wonders of the Ancient World, it is the oldest and the only one that remains intact to this day.
Even if seeing the massive mounds of granite at the Egypt Pyramids is the only thing to do there, it’s nevertheless a meaningful and unforgettable experience that every traveler should cross off their list.
This travel guide will outline how to see the Egyptian pyramids independently, on a very tight budget, and with little to no preparation! You may do this with or without a tour!
Quick Facts (Main Pyramid)
- Date: 2560 BC
- Height: 150 meters (500 ft)
- Base Length: 150 meters (500 ft)
- Weight: 6 million tons
- No. of Blocks: 2.3 million
- Builders: 200,000+
Best Day Tours To The Egypt Pyramids
First off, there are choices for traveling in a tour group for convenience or safety if you’d prefer avoid the extra procedures needed in planning your own journey to the pyramids and are on a tight schedule.
For as little as $45 USD, a variety of businesses provide scheduled day tours to the Sphinx and the Pyramids of Giza, which include hotel transportation, an optional camel ride, and a return to Cairo the same day.
The topic of traveling alone and making your own plans is explored next.
Many international airlines serve Cairo International Airport (CAI), which is the closest airport. Skyscanner offers flight searches to Cairo.
Giza may be reached by car in one hour from the Cairo airport. There are several cabs available in the arrivals area, but I personally took Uber, which is far more affordable and perhaps safer.
If you are unfamiliar with driving in the Middle East, do not rent a car in Egypt! You’ll be far better off traveling with a driver who is knowledgeable with the hazardous and chaotic traffic in Arab countries.
Furthermore, the cost of an Uber journey from Cairo to Giza as of 2020 is less than 200 EGP ($10 USD), which makes Egyptian drivers very reasonable.
Giza Pyramids: What To Expect
You may simply stroll to the entrance to the pyramids and sphinx after dropping off your bags at your accommodation if you plan to stay at least one night in Giza, which I highly recommend. Many hotels in Giza provide fantastic rooftop
views and are conveniently located within a 5-minute walk from the pyramids’ main gate. Later, more on that. Simply purchase your tickets at the main ticket office when you’re ready to see the pyramids. At this point, the touts and scammers will want to strike up a conversation with you, but you should ignore them.
The general admission fee as of 2020 is 120 EGP ($7 USD), which allows you to enter both the sphinx and the entire area surrounding the pyramids.
You will need to purchase an additional ticket if you intend to enter the pyramids rather than merely stroll around and observe them from the outside, as I did.
The Khafre/Menkaure and Khufu pyramids have entrance fees of 50 and 300 EGP respectively. Additional tickets are not worth it due to potential heat and potential grave robbery. Save money for Luxor attractions or Egyptian Museum. Short security checks and no long waits. Keep your belongings secure.
Choose between seeing the pyramids and the sphinx when in Giza. The pyramids are a 15-20 minute walk from the sphinx, which is close to the entrance. It is advised to take a camel ride and then make a stop close to the sphinx. Giza is abundant of con artists, therefore be wary of aggressive touts and con artists. Refuse to pay until you have what you agreed upon. Be firm.
Camel Rides At The Egypt Pyramids
I think it’s an excellent idea to ride a horse or camel, but if you do, make sure to haggle over the terms and pricing before you get on. The touts frequently try to upsell you at exorbitant charges after you’ve already committed and feel obligated. Pay for your ride when it has been completed, regardless of what they tell you! Don’t pay for it before either! The Egyptian government set a fixed fee for camel rides in 2020, which is 50 EGP (about $3 USD) for 30 minutes. If you’re having trouble negotiating a reasonable price with the touts,
you may always point to the sign that says as much, which is located close to the entrance. You can also ask your guide to use your camera to snap some photos of you riding the camel, but be ready to tip them for it—an additional 50 EGP should probably be enough. It’s possible for your guide to become extremely demanding
and even pushy or hostile, but that’s just the nature of things in Egypt. Simply agree on a price in advance and honor it. When they see you won’t give in, even the most pushy touts will back down. This is a typical aspect of Egyptian life and tourism. A camel ride at Giza costs 50 Egyptian Pounds, according to the author,
which is a wonderful price compared to more developed locations like Dubai or Oman. They have gone on two enjoyable and somewhat frightening (because to the high altitude) thirty- and sixty-minute rides. Additionally, a visit to the Great Pyramids of Egypt is highly recommended.
The Great Sphinx of Giza
Remember to make a stop to the Great Sphinx as well. The earliest extant sculpture in Egypt depicts this legendary creature, which has the head of a pharaoh and the body of a lion. You can stroll up to the sphinx by just presenting your ticket at the entry, as it is part of the 120 EGP ticket that you purchased at the pyramids’ entrance. In addition,
there’s a fantastic outdoor photo op close to the gate where you can obtain a front-on picture of the Pyramid of Khafre and the Sphinx combined (see the image above). Unfortunately, there was scaffolding covering the sphinx’s body and paws when I went, but I believe this was due to
the expectation of US First Lady Melania Trump’s arrival the following week. Spend a moment admiring the enormous stone blocks in the entrance as well! These blocks must weigh an absurd amount.
When Is The Best Time To Visit The Giza Pyramids?
Egypt experiences year-round heat and dryness due to its arid climate.
The best time to see the pyramids is undoubtedly between December and March, when temperatures are at their lowest. However, any month in the spring or fall would be suitable.
The heat was a problem when I visited Egypt in September, especially in Luxor, but it wasn’t too severe in Giza. Compared to neighboring Middle Eastern nations like Qatar or the United Arab Emirates, northern Egypt is not nearly as hot.
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