giza pyramid complex on foot
Yes, it is quite possible to explore the Giza pyramid complex on foot. It is also possible to avoid the crowd and take good pictures if you plan smartly. Initially, I was skeptical but then I came across a blog which motivated me to go ahead with my plan. So, here I am sharing my experience and some tips for the people willing to explore the complex on foot.
Dating back to 2500 BC, the Pyramids are the oldest of the Seven Wonders of the Ancient World, and the only one to remain largely intact. The complex consists of The Great Pyramid of Giza (the biggest one aka Pyramid of Khufu) , Pyramid of Khafre and Pyramid of Menkaure. The Sphinx lies on the East of the Pyramids and in addition there are some small pyramids known as Queen Pyramids. Pyramids were built to store the remains of the deceased Pharaohs. Sphinx is a mythical creature with body of a lion and head of a human. The Great Sphinx is one of the world’s largest and oldest statues.
I stayed at Pyramids Loft which offered a stunning view of the Pyramids and provided a quick commute to the complex.
The ticket counter opens at 8 am and the tourist buses start to reach the complex by 10 am. To avoid the crowd, you need to be there when the gates open. The weather is pleasant in the early hours which adds up to the whole experience. There is a single ticket for visiting the whole complex which covers all the Pyramids, the Sphinx and the desert around them. However, you’ll need separate tickets to enter the pyramids.
After entering through the main gate, take left towards the Temple of The Sphinx. Majority of people head straight ahead to the Pyramid of Khufu, but that is what you want to avoid. You’ll probably be among the few taking this route, so, you’ll get ample time to explore The Sphinx peacefully.
After having explored The Sphinx, take the exit on the left and start walking towards the Pyramid of Khafre (the middle one). There will be people offering you camel rides on the way. They can be very persuasive, politely decline.
Halfway to the Pyramid of Khafre, turn left and head towards the hills to the left of the Queen Pyramids. From the hills, you’ll get a panoramic view of the complex. It is important to understand that you can visit the Pyramids even when the sun is high as you can avoid the sun by standing in the shadows. But visiting the open hills once the sun is up would be unbearable. So, it is better to cover the hills first and then head towards the Pyramids. Once you reach the hills, just sit and enjoy the view of the Pyramids with the city of Giza in the background. It is probably the best sight you’ll see in Egypt.
After enjoying the view, trace back to visit the queen pyramids and then move on to explore the rest of the Pyramids. On your way back, you might come across men posing as police officers, asking for extra charges to visit the desert. They’re just fishing for some extra bucks. As I mentioned earlier, a single ticket is required for the whole complex. So, try to avoid such cons.
Even with the hoard of people that you will now find around the pyramids, you will get enough space and time to capture good images. As a rule, climbing the pyramids is not permitted. However, there is a spot on the Great Pyramid where you can climb a few blocks and take pictures.
Exploring the whole complex will take you about 3-4 hours depending on the time you spend at each site. Be sure to carry a bottle of water, some snacks and a scarf to beat the heat.