Giza Pyramids of Egypt: Are They Worth It?
Camel is the only way to travel around the pyramids!
Arrival, Logistics, and Experience
The pyramids are iconic and the only ancient wonder of the world still in existence. Although 4500 years ago they were perfectly smooth and covered in white glistening limestone, Father Time has run its course and the large building blocks are mostly what remain. The pyramids were the tallest structure on earth for 3871 years only surpassed by the Lincoln Cathedral in 1311 which subsequently collapsed. Any trip to Egypt isn’t complete without visiting the pyramids, but today we’ll find out… Are the pyramids worth it?
We had flown into Egypt the prior night and had never traveled before in the country, so we ended up booking a tour through our hotel the Conrad Cairo Hilton. This was definitely more expensive than a local guide, but it removed a lot of the hassle. Egypt is also a very inexpensive country and your dollar, euro, pound, etc… will go a very long way. We started the day at the Egyptian Museum (which was great) and then headed to the pyramids.
The first thing you will notice about the pyramids are they are truly massive. It’s also obviously a big tourist attraction so expect people to be trying to sell you souvenirs, food, water, etc… The cost to actually go inside the pyramids is 400 Egyptian pounds which is about $25. Since this was our first time in Egypt, we decided to actually go inside! You also have the option to ride camels around the pyramids for around 300 Egyptian pounds (around $20). Riding the camels allows you to get some really great photographs. Actually, the majority of our photos were from the the camel ride so I would definitely recommend it!
Camel Ride Photo!
Camel Photo with Actual Camels!
The camel ride was really enjoyable. We got some really good photos and while it was a little pricey (for Egypt), it was a once in a lifetime experience. You can see us riding around the pyramids in the video below.
So much fun!
After all the photos and camel rides, it was finally time to enter the pyramids. We really weren’t sure what to expect, but we were super excited. We had to go up a few blocks to get to the entrance of the pyramid. As you can see from the photo below, the blocks are much larger than most people think. It literally looks like it goes on for miles!
We climbed up the blocks and entered the pyramids. We have a few videos that show what the experience is like. It’s a little claustrophobic, but we wouldn’t trade it for the world. Due to COVID, it was not very crowded. The guards, allowed us to take pictures by ourselves because no one else was in the grand chamber.
Short and Narrow!
Into the grand chamber!
When we initially arrived in the grand chamber, there were a couple people standing around but they left soon after we arrived. We ended up having the chamber all to ourselves with only the Egyptian park employee in charge of preventing people from desecrating the chamber watching us. It was kind of a surreal feeling that might have been a once in a lifetime opportunity due to COVID. Nothing is left in the grand chamber except for a granite dwelling where the pharaoh’s sarcophagus used to be located. Although you’re not normally allowed to take photos inside the pyramids, the Egyptian park employee offered to take photos of us. We greatly appreciated it and gave him a $20 Egyptian pound tip ($1.07 USD).
The only ones in the Grand Chamber!!!
Another cool thing about the Pyramids are that they are located next to the Great Sphinx of Giza. After we had our camel ride, climbed up the pyramid, and went inside the grand chamber, we headed over to the Sphinx. You can view the Sphinx from the right or left side. I definitely recommend the left side as you get better views and you’re not directly on the street. You will have to go through some vendors to get to the good photo spots. As you can see from our photos, it was once again not that crowded due to COVID.
Sphinx with Pyramids in the background!
Are The Pyramids of Giza Worth It?
Considering the pyramids are the last remaining wonder of the ancient world, this question seems like a no brainer. They are truly impressive in size and scope and for this reason everyone needs to visit the pyramids at least once in their lives. While I would probably visit the pyramids again if I visited Egypt in the future, they would not be the top item on my list. The Valley of the Kings and Queens along with Abu Simbel were some of the coolest archeological sites we have ever seen. So we’re giving the Pyramids a grade with a caveat… If it’s your first time visiting, they are a 20/20, but if you’ve visited before, we’d rank them a 16/20. They are truly a wonder to behold, but majority of the artifacts and historical items have been removed, so a trip to the museum before or after your visit might add to your experience!
