I have attempted to re-write this introduction multiple times over & the words to illustrate the magnificence of the Giza Necropolis elude me. The last remaining wonder from the Ancient world attracts millions of visitors every year, quite justifiably. It is no exaggeration to say this trip was one of the defining experiences of my life & if you ever have the opportunity to go, you will not be disappointed.
The Pyramids were built around 2600 – 2500 BC according to the main stream view, however there are fringe voices starting to contest this quite strongly. With some theories around the Pyramids being submerged in water at one point, I am by no means an expert in this area but I love to hear these types of alternative possibilities. The wonder of it all is so captivating, words on a page don’t do it any justice.
Not only will you see the Pyramids, you will also see the Great Sphinx, various Temples, remains of workers villages & Cemeteries. The entire area is Awe-inspiring, Mysterious, Stunning, Majestic, Ethereal & a whisper from the Ancient world. If this is not on your bucket list, throw your list in the bin, start afresh & make sure this is top & centre!
top tips!
The entire necropolis is huge, so planning how to get around it is advisable. I decided to walk, but this is only wise if you’re happy to rack up 30-40k steps. There are tour companies that drive around the site as part of the tour, Camel rides or Horse & carriages. I would say don’t get on the Camels or Horses, however I know they are very popular. If you are going to take one, please look out animals that are happy / in good health. You don’t have to be a vet to see if the guy is having to hold the Camel down by the neck or the Horses rib cage is on show. If you spot this, don’t be afraid to request a different animal.
I hesitate to put a negative spin on an experience so incredible, it is important to be objective, giving a holistic view & providing all of the information needed to have a wonderful time. My general rule of thumb was do not take directions off anyone who isn’t a cop, now the issue there is that not all cops are in uniform or have badges so it isn’t easy to tell who is who. The best way to tell ununiformed cops is if they have a gun, in which case they are a cop, even if they aren’t a cop, they have a gun, so do what they say 😂
A common thing I spotted was ‘workers’ there who have an ID badge, they will blow a whistle at you & then ask for your ticket. When you show them, they start giving you directions & offer to show you around some parts. You then give them a tip as a thank you & they will offer to take photos for you etc & assure you that you have already tipped them, so no further tip necessary. They will then take some photos & pressure you for more money. I was happy to give out extra because my solo photos were shockingly bad (See below comparison), but the ones the worker took of me were much better. He tried to charge me 1,000EGP which I wouldn’t pay & eventually settled on 500EGP but even this was too much. I spotted about 10 meters away another worker was pressuring a couple for tips too. So be careful about what you are agreeing to.
Carrying a lot of Shawarma & EGP90 Sakara Gold beer weight 🫣
Important Information
| Opening times | I am really not sure there are any actual rules here, I saw so many different websites with different times, I rocked up a little after 7am & it was open. I only attended the Necropolis, I didn’t pay extra for entry to the Sphinx, you can see it perfectly well without the extra cost. |
| Entry fee | The plateau was around 500EGP I believe, but it seems to change frequently, it is the wild west here! You can pay extra for entry to the Great Sphinx & if you want to go inside the Pyramids, I didn’t (I have seen the Mummy too many times to fall for that!). I would always say pay at the ticket centre, the online resellers are running a proper racket! |
| Time to complete visit | If you are taking rides around the complex, you can spend a half day, but if you are taking time going at your own pace & going inside the Pyramids etc, you could be looking at around 5+ hours. |
| Getting there | Uber is ridiculously cheap, I would recommend this over any public transport. I was too lazy to set Uber up, so I paid extra for a taxi on Booking . com, which cost more but they are ready when you want them to be etc & I didn’t need to get switch Uber details over. For Uber you also need a local number. |
| Tours | I didn’t take a tour, but for something of this size & magnitude, you can find lots of tour operators offering different packages online. Being on the tours definitely had advantages, like getting around the site on tour buses etc, which was better than me hauling my fat arse around! In terms of the experience & knowledge the guides bring, I guess this is complete pot luck. It would be an idea to thoroughly research the tour operator & reviews before going. |
I am completely new to blogging & only set this up to help people out on their journeys. If you have any questions about the article or feedback, please do leave a comment & I will get back to you. You can also subscribe for free to get a notification when my next post goes live. Thanks for taking the time to read through ❤️
Tyler's Travel Tales 