Arrival in Egypt

I had been postponing my trip to Egypt for several years. I had heard many unpleasant stories and read discussions from travelers who described Egypt as the worst country to visit. I truly respected it — and feared it a bit. But one day, my desire to see the pyramids became stronger than my fear, and I bought the tickets. It was decided. I was going to Egypt.

Right before my flight, I was very nervous. Not only about the trip itself, but also because my flight was not to the main airport in Cairo, but to a smaller one, Sphinx Airport near Giza. I decided to visit the pyramids first, because if I ended up disappointed with Egypt, I probably wouldn’t have the mood to visit them later. But things turned out very differently.

It was eleven o’clock at night when, just before landing, I moved to an empty seat in the first row so I wouldn’t have to wait in line for a visa. After getting off the plane, everything went smoothly. I was the first one to buy a visa at the counter, I exchanged my money at a good rate, passed through passport control, and found myself face to face with a country where I was supposed to experience my worst travel moments.

The driver from the hotel wasn’t there to pick me up, but a group of Saudis helped me find out that he was already on his way. The driver safely took me to my small reserved hotel — Bella Casa Pyramids in Giza. That night I tried to get some rest, because in the morning I was going to see the most magnificent structures ever built by humans – the pyramids of Giza.

 

 

Buying Tickets

After breakfast and a nearly sleepless night, I went out into the streets of Giza. I had a very similar feeling here as I did in Agra in India. Giza is very dirty, and the pyramids, just like the Taj Mahal, seem to be built right in the middle of a dump. But no one bothered me, and I reached the main entrance without any problems. The small windows in the shabby ticket office don’t suggest that you are about to visit the only remaining wonder of the ancient world.

In Egypt, there is a new law saying that all tickets for official state monuments can now only be bought by card, not in cash. In Giza, you can buy different types of tickets. You need the main entrance ticket to the area for 700 EGP, and then you can also buy an extra ticket to enter the Great Pyramid of Khufu for 900 EGP, a ticket to the smaller Pyramid of Menkaure, and access to the Sphinx and nearby tombs. I bought both pyramid entrance tickets because it had been my dream since childhood. The Great Pyramid is always open, and access to the other pyramid changes.

If you want to avoid problems with buying tickets, waiting in line, or being bothered inside the pyramid area, you should consider joining an organized tour with a guide. This way, you can avoid all unpleasant situations. These tours usually include hotel pickup and drop-off, so you can skip staying in Giza altogether. You can find all tours on the website Get Your Guide, just choose the one that suits you best.

 

The pyramids of Giza

I passed through the security check and found myself inside the main pyramid complex. Tired, but happy. I was finally seeing them with my own eyes. After so many years of postponing this moment.

First, I went to take a closer look at the Sphinx. Not much is known about it. It is believed that it was carved from rock by Pharaoh Khafre (the builder of the middle pyramid in Giza), who ruled around 2500 BC. However, this is only a theory, because there are no records mentioning the Sphinx from ancient Egyptian times.

I went back to the main road and walked uphill toward the plateau where the pyramids stand. As I got closer, I began to realize their true size. They are enormous. I sat down by the Great Pyramid of Khufu and looked at it for a long time.

Then I walked all the way around it and reached the northern side, where the entrance is located. I stood in line, slowly moving toward the inside of this mysterious structure. In front of me was a tourist from the USA and in front of him another one from Germany. We exchanged a few words and then entered together.

 

Inside the Great Pyramid of Khufu

At the beginning, we walked through a short passage that does not come from the original construction of the pyramid. It was a tunnel made by tomb robbers who first tried to get inside. We waited there for a moment. Soon after, we joined the original so-called descending corridor, which was extremely low. I had to walk completely bent over. As we continued, the air inside became hotter and hotter, and there was noticeably less oxygen.

It didn’t bother me, but the American tourist in front of me started to panic. After a short while, he had a claustrophobic attack, and his pyramid journey ended there. He had to go back outside.

I continued without any problems. The descending passage soon connected to an ascending one, and after a short while, I found myself in the so-called Grand Gallery. I still get chills when I think about that place. The Grand Gallery inside the Great Pyramid of Khufu is a narrow but very tall chamber. On the ceiling, you can see perfectly placed stone blocks from which the entire pyramid was built.

The feeling of being deep inside the Great Pyramid, which is about 4,500 years old, was indescribable. I climbed steeply up to the upper part of the Grand Gallery, from where a short, low corridor led into the King’s Chamber.

The German boy and I agreed that this experience was truly amazing and almost unbelievable, it was hard to imagine exactly where we were. It was very hot in the King’s Chamber. Moisture was condensing on me, but at that moment, I could get used to the uncomfortable feeling.

In the room, there is a stone sarcophagus, where Khufu was supposedly buried. However, his mummy was never found. Inside the chamber, there were still two other larger groups of people with guides. They gradually left, and no new visitors came in. Soon, we were completely alone. It was an indescribable experience. For me, one of my greatest dreams had finally come true.

I went outside, and the German boy and I laughed because the heat that had felt so strong before entering the pyramid now felt like a pleasant, cool breeze. We agreed to walk together to the farthest viewpoint. We went around the back and slowly made our way to Khafre’s Pyramid.

 

Khafre’s Pyramid

Khafre’s Pyramid is the second largest pyramid in Giza, after the Great Pyramid of Khufu. Khafre was Khufu’s son, but he was not the direct heir. It is still not clear why he became Pharaoh instead of the direct heir.
Khafre wanted to show that he was a more powerful Pharaoh than his father. That is why he wanted his pyramid to look more massive. This pyramid really seems bigger than Khufu’s, but it is only an optical illusion because its sides are steeper, and the pyramid is built on a plateau that is 10 meters higher than the Great Pyramid.
At the top of this pyramid, you can clearly see the original casing stones. In ancient times, all pyramids were covered with smooth casing, so you couldn’t see the individual blocks. Over time, these stones were removed and used for other buildings.

 

The Pyramid of Menkaure

We reached the Pyramid of Menkaure. I had a ticket to enter, so I went inside while the entrance was still empty. Inside the pyramid, you first go down through a narrow corridor until you reach a decorated room. Then you continue into the main chamber.

This pyramid, however, cannot be compared to the Great Pyramid. So, if I could give advice, I would definitely recommend visiting the Great Pyramid of Khufu, even though the entrance fee is several times higher than for the Pyramid of Menkaure.

When I came outside, the German boy was sitting in the shade of the pyramid, waiting for me. I joined him, and we took a short rest with a view of the two large pyramids. It was very pleasant. No one bothered us, the November weather was perfect, and we watched these incredible structures, about which we still know very little even after almost 5,000 years.

 

Pyramid Viewpoint

After resting a bit, we went for a walk to a more distant viewpoint, where tourists usually go on camels or horses. It wasn’t far at all, and if the weather isn’t extremely hot, it’s easy to get there on foot. From the back side, you could see Cairo nicely in the background.

From this viewpoint, the changing angle of the pyramids is very interesting. At first, we saw them in a row, one behind the other, and then they stood out beautifully, one by one. From this side, you can also clearly see the three smaller pyramids, known as the Queens’ Pyramids.

After visiting these viewpoints, we walked along the other side and took some photos right below the middle pyramid, where you can clearly see how small a person looks next to the pyramids in Giza.

We walked past the Sphinx and exited the complex through the main gate. I was back in dirty Giza, with its noise, smog, and lots of trash. But it didn’t bother me. I was truly happy to have experienced such an amazing day, from early morning until late afternoon.

 

 Final Thoughts

I returned to the hotel and had my first Egyptian dinner. Then I realized something interesting. I had hardly slept at night, and I was very tired in the morning. But this exhaustion completely disappeared after visiting the Great Pyramid of Khufu. For the rest of the day, I didn’t feel tired at all — in fact, I felt full of energy. A long time ago, I had heard that the pyramids can give energy. Now I remembered that. I don’t know if it was the case for me, but I can really confirm that there is something special about the Great Pyramid of Khufu. The feeling I had inside it was something I had never experienced before.

Do you have a similar experience with the pyramids? If yes, write to me — I’m curious.
That night, I slept well, and in the morning I had a 10-hour bus journey ahead to the city of Luxor, where more amazing experiences were waiting for me.

 

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