After lunch, which was included, we made it to the Giza Pyramids to tour the pyramids in the daylight!
Did you know there are actually 9 pyramids? The 3 main ones are for the Pharaohs, but there are 6 smaller ones for some of the Pharaohs’ wives.
We took some photos, but chose not to pay extra to go inside the Great Pyramid, since we had done that earlier in the day at the Step Pyramid.
However, we did choose to pay extra to ride camels. Our guide helped us with the transaction. We had a father and his young son as our guides with the camels. You can tell the son grew up around them as he was awesome at wrangling the camel. Meanwhile, I was absolutely terrified. There wasn’t much to hold onto (no reins) and my legs were too short for the stirrups. The entire time I felt like I was going to fall off.
They take you up on a hill overlooking the Pyramids so you can get those awesome photos. But it is quite the walk and I didn’t love riding the camel. So I chose to walk back. Not the smartest idea as it was extremely hot, I was wearing sandals walking through the Sahara Desert with no water. It was a good 30 min+ walk. Luckily the son took my camel and rode ahead to get water to bring back. I should have just ridden the camel. 🤣 You live and you learn.
When you get back to the plateau from your camel ride, it’s time to see the Sphinx! It’s so much smaller than I imagined, but it’s also still really big.
It has the body of a lion and it said the face of the Sphinx is thought to represent the Pharaoh Khafre, but recent theories suggest it’s actually Khufu. The jury is still out on it.
Admission Cost:
Entrance fee to the Giza Plateau (which includes the pyramids and the Sphinx) will run you E￡200, or about $7.50 USD. The cost to ride camels is negotiated with the camel handlers. Our guide did this for us. (I actually think he works with the same ones over and over and they have a predetermined price agreement together.)
They are open daily from 7:00 Am – 6:00 PM.
After narrowly avoiding heat stroke (I’m only slightly kidding,) we went back to the hotel for the night. After drinking some water, resting in the air conditioning, and a shower, I felt great! That evening, we ate dinner at one of the hotel restaurants, before calling it an early night. Tomorrow, we visit Alexandria!
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