Visiting the pyramids

Hello everyone, There are two ticket booth areas—I always go to the lower one, facing the Habou Shakra restaurant, where we often go with our tours. The ticket office is right across the street. There’s a line for foreigners, which moves pretty quickly. Just avoid going on Fridays—it’s a day off for Muslims, so it gets crowded. That doesn’t bother us, but we’ve learned the hard way. Though it made us laugh because it wasn’t the first time—we kept getting stopped by Muslim women who wanted to take photos with my wife, just because she’s blonde with blue eyes. They even noticed she has a birthmark in one eye! As for me, I have no idea why they wanted photos with me, especially with those women—it was pretty funny.

To start your visit, you usually go to the left, where the restroom building is.

For distances, the shortest route is to Khephren’s pyramid in the middle (before that, you’ll pass the lower temple of the same pyramid). Then, about 500 meters to the left or right, you’ll find the other two pyramids. We’re used to doing the full loop, including the tombs of nobles or close associates, so it usually takes us almost half a day—or even longer if there aren’t many people. We love "exploring" in detail. So, plan for around 3 to 4 km, including the walk back down after the visit and returning to the exit.

Finally, a great decision: no more camels or horses. Phew! We’ve witnessed some real cruelty from the owners toward these animals. Plus, being harassed by them, we’ve never given in. We also know what can happen with camels, so we pass. Our backs thank us for it.

Thoutmosis

Hello, how does visiting the pyramids go? Do we buy tickets, is the distance to cover significant? How is it done? On foot? Are there shuttles? Thanks

Hey Camarguais 😄 I recommend visiting them first thing in the morning to avoid the crowds, and especially to escape the scorching sun that’ll hit you right in the face 😅

Hello everyone, It’s not necessarily the same for everyone. It really depends on when the big tour buses arrive, with their waves of tourists—usually after breakfast or lunch. For the rest, like solo travelers or Egyptians, it’s always very early. Egyptians are used to getting up early, and even on holidays, it’s the same. So, there’s no magic trick—it’s all about luck. As for the temperature, it depends on the time of year. The best period is from late October to late March, but it can still vary a lot. In January, February, and early March, it can be cool, even very cool, with a lot of wind. In fact, in February 2018, in Cairo, it was the only time my wife got very sick because of the weather. You end up breathing in all kinds of stuff—even worse in Cairo. The result? Bronchitis, fever, the whole package. She was in bed for two weeks. Luckily, we had a very good doctor in Luxor, our home base, and she was well taken care of. We have Egyptian friends who caught the flu in the middle of July, so there are no hard rules. You just have to go with the flow and not overthink it. Have a great day! Thoutmosis

I never comment on Belgians—they’re too weird. 😂 Still, at 6 AM it’s way cooler than at 1 PM when the scorching sun beats down on your head.

Hello everyone, Those quirky Belgians , you must know at least a few. Maybe that’s why they’re so well-liked wherever they go. Anyway, this is the first time I’ve noticed this—our French friends, and we’ve got a bunch of them, really appreciate them. We hear from them almost every week, like right now during their trip to Aveyron—nearly every day! When I tell them Belgians are quirky, they’ll have a good laugh. Have a great day, Thoutmosis

Hello, how does visiting the pyramids go? Do we buy tickets, is the distance to cover significant? How is it done? On foot? Are there shuttles? Thanks

Hi. Yes, there’s a free shuttle that leaves from the parking lot next to the Sphinx entrance and stops at all the Pyramids, plus a stop for a panorama at the Panorama station. You can take it again, and it’s all very quick.

Hello everyone, I confirm, but I never use it—it’s way cooler on foot, and you meet other people more easily. Plus, you can take your time. That said, it’s definitely the best solution for people who have difficulty getting around. Have a great day! Thoutmosis

How long have these buses been around?

Hi, thanks for your reply. Have a great day

Hi, thanks for your reply. Have a great day

Hello everyone, I’ve never really paid attention to this since I never use them—I’m always on foot at over 70 years old (this Thursday, I’m heading to the Han Caves domain, and as usual, I’ll be walking the whole way). But given the number of big buses or smaller ones entering the site, I assume it’s because camels, horses, and carriages have been banned? Not a bad thing, all things considered, given how most owners treated their animals. Thoutmosis

Camels, horses, and carriages are still around on the Giza plateau. It’s been quite a few years since you last traveled to Egypt—buses have been there for a while now, so you should come back sometime soon...

Camels, horses, and carriages are still present on the Giza plateau. It must’ve been quite a few years since you last traveled to Egypt—buses have been around for a while now. You should come back sometime...

I can confirm because I was there in 2025, and yes, the carriages and camels are still there for tourists’ enjoyment. An animal that’s well-treated by its owner will do its "job" without any health issues, which would be detrimental to its career. What about those illegal cockfights that are still happening in Belgium?

Cockfighting is a global thing, and there are competitions with champion fighting roosters. And so many other animal-related contests... Have a good afternoon!

Cockfighting is global, and there are competitions with champion fighting roosters. And so many other competitions involving animals... Have a good afternoon.

Thanks, but nothing new for me—I’ve worked with animals and in my Latin culture, which I still practice. My post about cockfighting was aimed at the person concerned in Belgium.

Hello everyone, Thanks for the clarification—like usual in Egypt, plans change as often as shirts! Last time in 2022, it was supposed to be banned, and when we were there in 2018 (I already noticed the buses and even thought it was absurd), so they must’ve caved to pressure and reversed the decision. Too bad for the animals. Thoutmosis

In 2018, are you sure about that? 🤔 Too bad about the animals—you’re all over the place with what you write.

Don’t pay any attention to Ms. Manondugard—she’s kind of an unintentional troll.

Don’t pay any attention to Mme Manondugard—she’s kind of an unintentional troll.

The *cagole* (sassy southern French girl) is telling you a few things, like how one minute you agree with me and say so, and the next you think the opposite and call me a troll. 😤 Poor little cliché victim you are (you’re gonna hit me with all of them about myself). 😏 Back to the topic you’re *intentionally* trolling , yes, the camels are well treated because they’re their owners’ livelihood (just like my horses, who, before spending hours on trail rides, got a bucket of carrots, pellets, apples, and spent their nights roaming free for kilometers, munching on fatty reeds, salt marshes, a bit of alfalfa, and lots of affection and kisses). 😊

And to save you from pulling out another cliché about how late my reply is, the *cagole* is settling scores with her exes in South America, where there’s a 7-hour time difference. 😜

You know the saying: love means teasing! [:P]

You know the saying: spare the rod, spoil the traveler! [:P]

You know that little morning treat that really relaxes you? 😂

Don't pay any attention to Mrs. Manondugard, she's a kind of unintentional troll.

Hello everyone, I do know when we're going to Egypt, and yes, some are certain about the mistreatment of animals. I'm not saying it's all of them or the opposite—you have to read carefully. I didn’t say they all do it, but enough to notice it more than once when you're there. To convince you, go visit some hospitals in Cairo and Luxor, the most important ones, and you’ll see what some "owners" do to their animals—horses, donkeys, camels, and more. You won’t come back unshaken, or maybe it just doesn’t affect you. I’ve seen enough to know what humans are capable of. No offense to some, but I always say it like it is—both the good and the bad—but that seems to bother others. Here, it feels like it’s becoming more and more like *Le Routard*, doesn’t it? Thoutmosis

Hello everyone, I’ve noticed some changes on this site for a while now—it’s starting to feel more and more like *Le Routard*. But you’ll never see me attacking anyone here. Have a great day! Thoutmosis

Hello everyone, I do know when we're going to Egypt, and yes, some are certain about the mistreatment of animals. I'm not saying it's all of them or the opposite—you have to read carefully. I didn’t say they all do it, but enough to notice it more than once when you're there. To convince you, go visit some hospitals in Cairo and Luxor, the most important ones, and you’ll see what some "owners" do to their animals—horses, donkeys, camels, and more. You won’t come back unscathed, or maybe it just doesn’t affect you. I’ve seen enough to know what humans are capable of. No offense to some, but I always say it like it is—good and bad—and that bothers others. Here, it seems like it’s becoming more and more like Routard? Thoutmosis

That’s called exchanges—a bit of the opposite of groupthink (and forums are here for that too).

I think it’s been a long time since you last traveled to Egypt. The Rough Guide—oh my god, I just read a few posts and there’s so much redundant forum advertising.

Sorry for hijacking this thread—my apologies to everyone for the personal message.

Hi Thoutmosis, I got your message about "Transport from Aswan to Abu Simbel and back" but I can’t reply to you. I’ll try again in a few days using another method. Again, my apologies. Willy