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Tiring excursion to the Egyptian pyramids. Traveling from Hurghada to Cairo - a tourist guide How many from Hurghada to the pyramids

The Egyptian resort of Hurghada has, perhaps, the most advantageous tourist location. It is not that far from it to get to all the main tourist attractions. Of course, every self-respecting tourist vacationing in Hurghada should definitely go on an excursion to the Great Pyramids. Although this trip is quite long in time, it is worth it, because you will have a great opportunity to see the only completely preserved and not destroyed of all seven wonders of the world. The pyramids themselves are in Cairo. Therefore, the road there is not close. Many travelers, before going to Egypt on vacation, decide for themselves the question, from which resort is it more convenient to get to the pyramids? From Hurghada or Sharm El Sheikh? The answer here can only be unequivocal - of course, from Hurghada.

Since the road is long, you need to prepare in advance for the fact that the check-out from the hotel will be very early - at about 3-4 o'clock in the morning. I must say that this is absolutely not some kind of whim of travel agencies, it's just that the city authorities deliberately limit visits to the pyramids by a certain number of people per day. No more than 300 visitors are allowed into the territory per day. This is due to the fact that the humid air exhaled by a large number of people gives the atmosphere excessive humidity, due to which salts harmful to them are deposited on the walls of the pyramids. In this regard, the number of tickets sold per day is limited - 150 in the morning and 150 at lunch. Leaders of excursion groups, as a rule, agree in advance with cashiers and reserve the required amount for morning visits. Therefore, tourists traveling on their own to see the pyramids find it easier to purchase tickets in the afternoon.

When choosing the agency with which you would prefer to go to inspect the pyramids, do not strive for cheapness. This may not always be the best option. You must clearly understand that Egypt is an extremely hot country, and it will be very difficult for you to travel in a bus that is not equipped with air conditioning and comfortable seats. After all, a one-way trip takes about 6 hours, and you still have to go back and forth. The approximate price of such a trip is $ 60 per adult and $ 40 per child.

Since the excursion to the pyramids from Hurghada will take you about a day along with the road, think in advance what you will need to take with you. You should not take a bunch of unnecessary things with you, you only need to take - a headdress; light clothing, covering from dust and sun; photo camera or camcorder; something to drink and light sandwiches; insurance, documents and, of course, money.

If you come to inspect the pyramids in an organized group, then all your problems immediately disappear and you go to the long-awaited exhibits. But if you arrived on your own, then first of all go to the ticket office for tickets. It is likely that a surprise will await you - no more than two pyramids are allowed per day. Then you will have to come here again. For inspection of the Cheops pyramid, you will have to pay an amount equal to about 10 dollars. You will have to pay another dollar for the opportunity to take pictures. Inspection of other pyramids is somewhat cheaper, and you can inspect small pyramids for free.

So, closer to noon, the long-awaited pyramids will appear in front of your eyes. First of all, you will need to see the largest and most popular - the pyramids of Cheops, Khafren, Mikerin, Djoser and Sneferu. You will also certainly see the guardian of all the great pyramids - the figure of the Great Sphinx. Unfortunately, many tourists experience some disappointment at the sight of the pyramids. Much more is generally expected. But, on the other hand, you can take plenty of pictures against their majestic background and proudly show your friends wonderful pictures.

After examining the pyramids, you will certainly be taken to a perfume shop, then to a papyrus shop and finally to the famous Cairo Archaeological Museum. This is not surprising - they are all sponsored points. Perhaps the excursion to the Cairo Museum will be the most valuable of all that you will see in a day. Here you will truly plunge into the atmosphere of ancient Egypt, get acquainted with a huge number of unusually interesting exhibits, see golden masks, sarcophagi of the pharaohs and a lot of other wonderful things. Usually, when the Cairo Museum comes with its collection to other cities, people stand in kilometer-long lines to get into it. You will have a great opportunity to see this entire collection in its entirety and without any queue.

And yet - the trip from Hurghada to the pyramids is still very long and tiring. Try not to take small children with you or plan it at all. Do not buy such a tour from Egyptian travel agencies. They, as a rule, are never responsible for anything. Better to overpay, but go with your own tour operator. Then your trip will be more successful.

Tourists arriving on vacation in Egypt, as a rule, are interested in the pyramids much more than other local attractions. Against the background of all existing ancient buildings, the pyramid of Cheops is of particular interest.

Find out what is remarkable about it and what you need to remember when going on this kind of excursion.

During this excursion you will see at once three nearby pyramids of Ancient Egypt, namely:

  • Cheops;
  • Mekerin;
  • Khafre.

Among them, the pyramid of Cheops is the highest.

A memo of the ancient Egyptian civilization is located near the city, in the suburbs of Cairo. It is extremely difficult to establish the exact time of the construction of the pyramid: the data of numerous studies are very different from each other. The Egyptians themselves believe that construction work began in 2480 BC. and annually on 23 August this event is celebrated.

According to the assumptions of historians, about 100 thousand workers were simultaneously engaged in the construction of the pyramid. During the first decade of hard labor, a road was made for the delivery of stone blocks and the arrangement of underground structures was completed. The monument itself was erected for another 20 years.

The height and overall dimensions of the monument are truly impressive. Initially, the pyramid towered by about 147 m, but time did not spare the monument: as a result of the loss of the facing and filling with sand, the previously cited figure decreased to 137 m.

At the base of the pyramid is a square with a side of 230 m. According to averaged data, the construction of the monument took more than 2.3 million blocks, each weighing an average of 2500 kg.

The price of a trip to the pyramids depends on where you live and how you will get on the excursion. Those living in Cairo or Giza will not have any problems with the trip - the distance is short, you can also get there by bus. As for the popular Egyptian resorts, the fastest way to get to the pyramids is from Hurghada - the distance is about 457 km. Taba is a little further - about 495 km. The longest road will be for residents of Sharm el-Sheikh - about 576 km.

Long away? Naturally! And it's good that you found out about this before your trip, and not already upon your arrival in Egypt. In general, you will have to spend about a day on a trip to the pyramids and back.

As for the tour, in specialized agencies it is most often referred to as an "excursion to Cairo", and in addition to the famous pyramids, it includes visits to local museums and various trade shops, mostly sponsored.

The cost of the excursion also depends on how you are going to get to the Cheops pyramid. So, tourists are usually taken from Hurghada by bus. The guests of Sharm el-Sheikh and Taba have the opportunity to fly. Average prices are as follows:

  • bus tour from Hurghada - $ 50-70 for an adult and $ 40-50 for a child ticket;
  • by bus from Sharm el-Sheikh - $ 50-60, by plane - $ 170-190;
  • by bus from Taba - $ 50-70, by plane - $ 250-270.

Useful advice! You should not immediately discount the possibility of flying. First, familiarize yourself with the features of the road to the pyramids and back. It is possible that after studying the information provided, you will change your mind.

There are no questions about the flight - I got on the plane, waited a little, and now you are already at your destination. Tourists who choose bus tours need to know the following:

  • firstly, it is hot in Egypt at any time of the year. To prevent travelers from getting sick during a bus trip, travel agencies carry out transfers mainly at night;
  • secondly, you can hardly count on a trip in a comfortable modern bus with powerful air conditioning. Of course, these vehicles have air conditioners, but they rarely "cope" with the local climate. When driving, do not hesitate to ask the driver to increase the power of the air conditioner.

You will arrive in the suburbs of Cairo at about 7-8 a.m. Here you will be asked to get into the caravan and calmly, accompanied by local guards, proceed to your destination. You will reach approximately 10-11 o'clock in the morning.

After listening to the stories of the guide, looking at the areas open to tourists, taking the desired number of pictures, you will go back to the hotel and get to your room in the middle of the night.

Description of the pyramid

The external design of the monument is very interesting and unusual. Many grooves of various sizes can be seen on the walls. At the correct viewing angle, individual lines add up to an incredibly tall portrait of a man, presumably one of the deities of the ancient Egyptian civilization. Around the main image there are several pictures and other design elements of a more modest size, namely:

  • airplane bird;
  • interior plans;
  • trident;
  • texts with beautiful signs, etc.

On the northern part of the monument, you can see a beautiful image of a woman and a man with bowed heads. The painting was applied shortly before the installation of the last stone.

The pyramid in question is not a simple stone monument, but a well-thought-out building with an extensive system of corridors. The first of them has a length of about 47 meters - this is the so-called. "Big gallery". From here you can get to the Cheops chamber, which has a height of about 6 m and dimensions of 10.5x5.3 m. The room is covered with granite. There are no ornaments.

Here tourists are invited to look at the empty sarcophagus. It was brought here during the construction of the pyramid, because the dimensions of the item would not have allowed the item to be carried later. There is a similar chamber in almost every pyramid. It was in such premises that the rulers found their last refuge.

Of the decorations and inscriptions inside the pyramid, it is worth noting only the portrait in the corridor through which you can get into the Queen's chamber. Outwardly, the portrait looks like a photograph taken in stone.

In general, there are 3 chambers in the pyramid. The first burial chamber was cut out in the rocky base, but was never completed. A narrow corridor with a length of about 120 m leads to the unfinished cell. A low (about 175 cm) 35-meter corridor was made to connect the 1st and 2nd cells. The next burial chamber of the Cheops pyramid is traditionally called the “queen's chamber”, although according to ancient Egyptian custom, the wives of the rulers found their last refuge in their own pyramids of more modest size.

The story of the "queen's chamber" is very interesting. According to legend, in ancient times, the pyramid was the main temple of the so-called. Supreme Deity. Special religious ceremonies were held here, shrouded in darkness and secrets. According to legend, an unknown creature with a human body and a lion's face lived inside the pyramid. And the keys of Eternity were constantly in the hands of this creature. Only people who had gone through a series of cleansing procedures could see the "lion face". They alone received the magical Divine Name from the High Priest. And a person who knew the secret of the name was endowed with great magical power, not inferior to the power of the pyramid itself.

The main ceremony was held in the royal chamber. The initiate was tied to a ritual cross and placed in a large sarcophagus. While staying in it, the candidate fell into the space between the material and divine worlds, where knowledge that was inaccessible to mere mortals came to him.

Inside the pyramid of Cheops, the vault above the pharaoh's chamber)

Another corridor branches off from the previously mentioned corridor, leading directly to the pharaoh's chamber.

Pyramid of Cheops - the tomb of the pharaoh

The internal structure of the pyramid is not limited to the chambers and corridors alone. There are ventilation shafts and additional rooms here. For example, in one of these rooms there is a table with a book on it that tells about the development of events in the country and the main achievements of civilization during the construction of the monument. The purpose of many other rooms and passages remains unclear.

The purpose of the underground structures located at the foot of the building has not been fully determined either. Some of them have been opened at various times. So, for example, archaeologists who studied the pyramid in 1954 found a wooden boat in one of the underground chambers - this is the oldest known man-made ship. No nails were used to build the boat. The traces of silt found on the ship made it possible to conclude that before the death of the pharaoh, the ship managed to swim along the Nile.

When planning an excursion to the Cheops pyramid, remember: this is a very exhausting journey. It is recommended to go on such a tour only in relatively cool periods of the year: from October to April. If possible, do not take children. It is unlikely that little tourists will be interested in when he ruled and what the pharaoh became famous for. No entertainment awaits them inside the pyramid either.

If possible, avoid cooperation with local excursion companies: reviews of travelers indicate the extreme irresponsibility of such organizations. Better pay for the tour at your travel agency. So you will overpay a little, but you can be sure that on occasion you will have someone to make a claim.

Try to find out as much information as possible about the guide. The best informants are the hotel staff and guests. The qualification of a guide on such trips is very important. With an inexperienced guidebook, who can barely speak Russian, you will simply not be interested.

And the last parting word: do not expect something super-outstanding from a trip to the Cheops pyramid. Treat the excursion as one of the points of your route. Listen to the stories of the guide, see the parts of the building that are open to travelers, take some beautiful photos and add a visit to the Cheops pyramid to your personal travel credit.

Have a nice holiday!

Table - Cost of transfer to Giza (Cairo)

Video - Pyramid of Cheops Egypt

For the overwhelming majority of the inhabitants of our planet, Egypt is associated with the pyramids. Hundreds of thousands of tourists visit one of the Seven Wonders of the World every year. This excursion will surely be remembered by you for a lifetime, and not only because of the most ancient buildings. There are a number of unpleasant moments for tourists that it is better to know about in advance.

Excursion cost

The cost of a trip to Cairo depends on two factors: where you are coming from and on what.

Closest access:

  • from Hurghada - 457 km
  • from Taba you will have to cover a distance of 495 km
  • Sharm El Sheikh hotels - 576 km

A visit to this excursion is "minus a day" from your vacation. Excursion to Cairo "includes:

  • visit to the Cairo Museum
  • perfume museum
  • sponsor shops (where can we go without them!)

The mode of transport can affect the price. Bus trips are organized from Hurghada, then from Sharm El Sheikh you can get there by plane. Prices in 2019 are as follows:

  • From Hurghada - $ 60 ($ 40 for a child) by bus
  • From Sharm El Sheikh - $ 185 ($ 165) by plane and $ 55 ($ 45) by bus
  • From Taba - $ 65 ($ 45) by bus and $ 265 ($ 245) by plane

How exhausting the journey to Cairo is

You will set off at night (approximately at about 1:00). The bus will have certain conveniences, but the climate control works more or less tolerably only in the European climate.

In the conditions of Egypt, where even at night in the season +25, it will be hot, sweaty and humid in the cabin. In some places you will have to poke the driver with a request to turn on the air conditioner at full power and catch the cold air with your face. In such an environment, by 7-8 in the morning you will reach the suburbs of Cairo, where you will board a caravan, which will proceed to the Egyptian pyramids under armed guard.

Closer to noon, under the scorching sun, the majestic pyramids will appear in front of your eyes. Unfortunately, in reality, they are not at all so impressive, but the photos turn out to be valid anyway.

After examining the pyramids, you will definitely visit a couple of sponsored points:

  • perfume shop
  • papyrus shop

The Cairo Museum is the most interesting and valuable on this excursion.

In the Cairo Museum, you will plunge into the atmosphere of ancient Egypt. You will see a huge number of interesting exhibits, golden masks and sarcophagi of the pharaohs and much more.

When a museum arrives in European cities with an exhibition, kilometer-long queues line up, you will also have the opportunity to visit the entire exposition in its entirety.

The excursion to the Egyptian pyramids is very exhausting. It will be very difficult for children in it, since by the end of the day they will not be at all interested in what kind of pharaoh ruled from 9 to 18 years old, but gained worldwide fame (they called him Tutankhot). Since 2018, excursions to Cairo from Hurghada can be ordered individually. In this case:

  • Russian-speaking guide will work only with your group
  • separate transport
  • the route and the program will be slightly different for the better

It is better to buy a tour directly from your tour operator. It is better to overpay a little, but reserve the right to knock out insurance in case of problems or poor quality of travel arrangements. Still, 500 km with an Egyptian driver behind the wheel is no joke.

If possible on the spot, try to find out more information about the guide. Local merchants will assure you that they have almost purebred Russian as a guide, so it is better to ask tourists before your vacation or at your hotel. A good guide on such a long trip plays a very important role.

During my stay in Egypt, I realized that it is not necessary to buy excursions to Cairo from travel agencies, since it is not difficult to get to the Pyramids on your own, as well as to visit the national museum. In addition, then you can stay in Giza until the evening and see the show of light and sound on the Pyramids

As you know, the standard excursion program to Cairo from Hurghada or Sharm el-Sheikh includes only a visit to the Pyramids and the National Museum - there is simply nothing more to do in a few hours. Yes, and these objects, in general, do not have time to inspect - I spent the whole day on them, from morning to late evening, and even then we did not manage to fully enjoy the cultural heritage of Ancient Egypt. And, of course, few tourists get the chance to attend the night show at the Pyramids, more precisely, the show of light and sound, as the event is officially called. We've specially designed the route so as to see a magical sight, and then turning the Middle East into a handle and leaving for the airport ...

The plan was good, but it almost ended in tragedy.

That is, at first nothing foreshadowed trouble. We had a cultural breakfast, packed our backpacks to leave them at the reception until the evening, and got into the elevator. There, a bellboy, one of those who loitered around the hotel, instead of cleaning, started a small talk with us. In particular, he inquired about our plans, where, they say, you are going. Down, I replied. "It's clear that it's down, and then what?" To downtown. "Where where?" “All the same, to the downs,” I couldn’t resist. “Yeah, in theirs down town,” the bratelnik summed up the conversation. We really came across the sign "down town 3 km" the day before. Well, after almost three weeks of wandering around the Middle East, our nerves got hooked ...

Having rented out the number and finished with the formalities, we briskly rolled out onto the street and spanked towards Tahrir Square, hoping to get to the National Museum of Egypt in a few minutes - it would have been no longer on foot than by the subway, there was simply no point in going one stop, considering how often (or rather infrequently) trains run in the Cairo metro. In short, the road seemed like a trifling matter until we were almost run over by a fool who decided to leave the Misr Petroleum gas station in reverse across the entrance road. None of us expected a catch from the other side, especially from a seedy, beaten by life "Opelka", and we miraculously escaped death under the wheels. That is, the guide to Cairo claimed that the local driver's turn signals, brakes and side mirrors were replaced by a beep, but it seemed to me that we had already adapted to the situation, and the peculiarities of the road traffic in Egypt would no longer surprise us, and now, it turned out, he was quick to draw conclusions ... Note, by the way, that the flow of Egyptian transport is not only dense, but also chaotic: any car can suddenly throw out some kind of trick, say, change lanes without warning or turn around in the middle of the road. For example, I confidently crossed the highways of Bangkok, withstood the attack of motorcycle "lava" in Vietnam and crossed all eight lanes of the Parisian Place Etoile a couple of times, but transport in Egypt amazed me, and rarely when we could calmly, without hassle and abuse, even on pedestrian crossings. Sometimes it seemed that the most sensible move for foreigners who did not want to say goodbye to life would be to stay in the quarter where fate had thrown them, that is, to find some interesting places, shops and cafes in the area of ​​the hotel where you can eat inexpensively in Cairo , and do not risk in vain. If this prospect does not suit you, I will give you useful advice: you should collect eggs in a fist and behave like local residents. Therefore, preparing for the transition, you need to raise your hand with an outstretched palm to the approaching cars, letting them know that it is time to slightly "hold the horses" and boldly stomp across the stream.

The views of the Nile from the Tahrir Bridge helped us forget about the ridiculous accident that almost pulled us out of the ranks of passionate lovers of extreme travel. The local panoramas are capable, in my opinion, to dispel the sadness of the most inveterate melancholic, and we could not tear ourselves away from them, for we were admiring the great river for the last time. And so, it means that we are standing over the waters of the Nile, looking at the feluc sails sailing in the distance against the background of skyscrapers, and suddenly a bus with a name in Russian painted on its side sweeps past; this is a popular Russian company that organizes tours to Egypt, brought clients to take a look at Cairo. A 1-day excursion from Hurghada, of course, does not imply a detailed acquaintance with the metropolis or at least stops for photographing, so we see the faces of fellow citizens stuck to the glass, trying to enjoy the views in a few seconds that no one bothered us to calmly contemplate for almost half an hour. I immediately remembered how I myself traveled with the group along the standard route, how ineptly the excursion program to Cairo was built, how many interesting things we missed, how precious time was wasted then. Indeed, having left at about 4 am, we managed to get to Cairo from Hurghada by eleven o'clock, and while we were making our way through daytime traffic jams to the center, there was still a lot of time. Due to the delay, the excursion to the Egyptian Museum took only 40 minutes, then it took the same amount for lunch, and another three quarters of an hour was given to us by the kind travel agency to inspect the Pyramids. At about six in the evening, all the participants in the trip were driven back to return to their hotels before the end of dinner. It turned out that for almost a day, the group was engaged in a useful business for about 2 hours. Where, you ask, did the rest of the time go? It was spent on moving, sticking out in city traffic jams, on solving organizational issues and, of course, on the shops of Cairo. The excursion program was precisely designed as if people had come to Egypt for shopping. The guides tried to shorten this visit to the National Museum and the Pyramids, and they spared no time on the "popyrus museum", a gold store and a shop where you could buy Egyptian oils. We were in each of the outlets longer than on the Giza plateau, where the Great Pyramids are located, and there was no alternative: a friend recently went to rest in Dahab, where kiting is best in Egypt, and, having decided to buy an excursion to Cairo, visited all those the same objects in the same sequence as me, with the same effect, of course. Do you think a person flew about 3000 kilometers and spent six hours on the bus, how long does it usually take to get to Cairo to Sharm el-Sheikh and Hurghada to see the Pyramids or to buy a banana "popyrus" and stinking oil ?!

I suppose that when we got to the rear of the Ritz Hotel, where the National Museum of Egypt is located, the poor fellows who were driven past us were already being taken out. Can it be that I once slipped through 56 halls in a little over 40 minutes like this? Horror! We now had three hours at our disposal, and we tried to make good use of the time.

As you know, there is no larger collection of Egyptian antiquities anywhere else in the world, so the Egyptian Museum is one of those must-see places in Cairo. Accordingly, there are a lot of people who want to, and even if you don't even know which side the entrance to the museum is on, the motley crowd pouring into the gates of the park adjacent to the building will not let you go astray. Inside the newcomers, metal detectors await, behind which the cash desks nest. At the time of our arrival, the price of a ticket to the National Museum was £ 50, a student discount that would cut the figure in half. Further, with a ticket in hand, you can go directly to the security control, or move to the left, where there is a luggage room; in the Egyptian Museum now all owners of photo and video equipment are asked to temporarily part with their property: it suddenly became forbidden to shoot inside. We still managed to cheat: we handed over the camera, but we were able to carry the camera - I won't say how ... Finally, when the visitors passed the last line of defense, another test awaits them: an attack by the guides. Hiring a guide at the National Museum of Egypt is not just easy, but super easy, the guide will rather hire himself in a tough manner. Does it make sense to spend money, I don't know: even if you haven't figured out to stock up a good guide to Cairo, you can always join one of the tourist groups and listen to the guide's story. Although there will be little sense in this, because of the chatter that we were once treated to, almost everything turned out to be nonsense, from the murky episodes of the history of ancient Egypt to the incorrectly stated procedure for making the mummies of the pharaohs. And one more disadvantage: as I already said, organized tourists are taken around the museum in a vigorous rhythm, they do not stay in one place for a long time. Because of this, there is no reason to maintain the overall pace. We even successfully used this feature and did not worry if a group of rotozeans showed up for interesting exhibits: we only had to wait a little while the guide made the wards gallop again, and calmly continue contemplation. Thus, we have studied all the valuable artifacts of Egyptian culture, significantly replenishing the stock of impressions.

The culmination of the tour of the National Museum of Egypt on its own was a visit to the room where the treasures found in the tomb of Tutankhamun are exhibited. Of course, the main attention there is attracted by the golden mask of the ruler, but, say, the pharaoh's fan and gloves will also be appreciated.

Having completed the first of the day's tasks, we were already preparing to get to the Pyramids, but in time we remembered that we had not yet stocked up on souvenirs. From experience, I knew how many traders of various rubbish on the Giza plateau, but the prices they expose are wild, and the range they presented leaves much to be desired. It is good that the events of the previous days allowed us to thoroughly find out where it is better to buy souvenirs in Cairo. In general, I recommend combing Mahmoud Bassioni, which runs from the rear façade of the Egyptian Museum towards Talat Harb. After wandering around the shops there, we ended up choosing the semi-basement store "Memphis Bazaar", whose prices were a) moderate; b) fixed, that is, you did not have to bargain. Moreover, its owner did not pester customers, as most Egyptians do, but, on the contrary, having greeted the guests, modestly sat down in the corner to read the newspaper. This allowed us to calmly figure out what things to buy for whom, choose what we want and calculate the costs. Then the uncle showed himself even better when he agreed to accept part of the payment in dollars - it is not a problem to exchange currency in Cairo, at least at the same Mahmoud Bassioni, but the man named a completely normal rate, and we considered his overpayment as a tip.

At the same time, I will say that several local travel agencies were found nearby, offering travel to Egypt for every taste, even excursions to Alexandria, even multi-day cruises along the Nile. True, those wishing to travel from Cairo to Luxor or Abu Simbel will have to fork out a lot: if it costs almost $ 200 to get to Alexandria accompanied by a guide, then you don't want to think about what will result in longer trips. On the other hand, there is no other chance to get to the pyramids of Saqqara or the ruins of the ancient El-Fayyum from Cairo, only a taxi or a car with a driver for a hundred.

But getting to the Cheops Pyramid on your own is nowhere easier, you don't even have to deal with taxi drivers. The smartest way to get to the famous wonder of the world is to get to the Midan Giza metro station and take a bus there. Routes 355 and 357 are suitable, in which the ring is very close to the pyramids. In order not to get confused, it would be good to find out what Arabic numerals look like and prepare a cheat sheet in advance. For example, we did not experience the slightest difficulty in identifying the required transport, because we knew what to look out for. In short, the three looks like the letter "G" with a crown at the top, the five is a zero, almost familiar to us, slightly skewed, the Latin "V" means a seven.

Alas, our knowledge about the Cairo buses turned out to be too superficial: we were able to identify the approaching car, but we could not sit down, because we were not waving our hands to the driver cheerfully enough. It's good that the interval between flights was only 15 minutes, and not, say, an hour, and the next attempt was successful. That is, the driver noticed us and slowed down slightly, giving potential passengers a chance to jump onto the front door step.

The fare was surprisingly high, £ 2 versus the usual 50 piastres. Probably, it is this factor that discourages the Cairo people from using the new buses, so in just half an hour we found free seats and were able to sit down. Oh yes, just in case, at the entrance, I asked the conductor overgrown with black stubble if the bus was going to Al Haar - this is the long street along which you can get to the Egyptian pyramids by the shortest route - and gave the money only after his affirmative answer. Now the meeting with the colossal buildings did not have to wait long ...

Unfortunately, I did not manage to ideally plan an independent excursion around Cairo: as it suddenly turned out, access to the Pyramids in winter closes at 16:00 and, therefore, we had a little more than an hour at our disposal for everything. We still managed to double this time, because we approached the issue efficiently: first we climbed as far as possible into the desert, right up to the Pyramid of Mikerin, and then slowly wandered back, since the tourist police first began to comb the surroundings. My brother managed to stand on the stones of the Cheops pyramid, as he wanted, but we could neither go inside the pyramids, nor visit the pavilion where the Solar Boat is located. I note that there was a positive link in the approaching closure of the territory: the main crowd helped, sold and the camels, who usually interfere with the enjoyment of the views, had already lost faith in profit and sailed away; only the abandoned food packages, tea bags, cigarette butts and other garbage reminded about the recent stay of the Egyptians. During a trip to Jordan, I remember, we constantly met hints from the authorities that, they say, the Byzantines and crusaders destroyed the monuments of architecture, like the Arabs and had nothing to do with it. I immediately asked my brother who, in his opinion, instilled in the Egyptian Arabs the custom of dirtying at the Great Pyramids - the Romans, the Crusaders or the Byzantines? He had barely begun to mumble about the heavy legacy of colonialism when he answered himself: "Perhaps this is the influence of the English occupiers." We laughed out loud for a long time, staring at each other ...

When the time for visiting the Pyramids expired, and the guards blocked access, we did not go, like other tourists, to the buses at all: one more point of our tour of Cairo remained unfulfilled, moreover, an extremely important one. Many people dream of visiting the show of light and sound, which takes place near the Pyramids, but only a few actually see it: at the time it starts, the bulk of the tourists are already scratching towards the resorts. Seeing how depopulated the area, we changed the original plan, and before buying tickets, we decided to have a quiet snack.

It is worth noting that, contrary to expectations, there were plenty of places to eat near the Pyramids around the district, and their prices were pleasing to the eye. To find cafes, you need to comb the block that the Sphinx is looking at; hotels, from the windows of which the Pyramids are perfectly visible: “Great Pyramid Inn” or its neighbor “Pyramids View Inn”, will also become a landmark.

It's interesting that while we were looking for where to dine, from the local residents every now and then there were offers to watch a light and sound show from the windows of their houses for a little money. In addition, if we had a desire to save money, it would be quite possible to contemplate the action from the windows of the cafe we ​​have chosen for a meal, without paying anyone a penny.

I still recommend not to cheat, and to attend the performance in a civilized manner, because from a legitimate partner you can see and hear much better than from afar. Plus, tickets to the Pyramid Sound and Light Show cost us a paltry £ 60 (plus 35 coins for a camcorder), not the insane amount of money the trip to Petra cost.

What slightly darkened our enjoyment of the show were the dirty chairs, in addition covered with rust and dust brought from the desert. It’s good that the people came once or twice, and they did it, so free and more or less clean places were found quickly. Nevertheless, I advise everyone who wants to visit the evening laser show at the Pyramids to bring at least a newspaper or a piece of foam with them. Otherwise, the spectacle turned out to be excellent: we were told in detail and pictures how the Egyptian pyramids were built, showed the structure of the inner passages in their depths, demonstrated what the Solar Boat was needed for, and how it carried the pharaohs to the afterlife many centuries ago. The creators of the play were especially successful with the talking Sphinx: thanks to the skillful illumination, it seemed as if his jaws were really moving. By the way, he spoke in German, because the schedule of the light and sound show had apparently changed, and instead of the expected English version, we were shown a completely different one. Well, we were not too upset: our independent journey through the countries of the Middle East ended successfully, and ended on a positive note.

That is, it seemed to us then that the note would be a major one, but it turned out differently: we managed to leave the Pyramids in the center of Cairo literally with a fight, making our way through the ranks of raging taxi drivers who stood at the exit from the territory with a real phalanx. They got in touch with the wrong ones: they got to pay for the nemchura who followed, which we took advantage of, quickly hiding in the building. From there, it was a matter of technology to get out onto a major highway lying to the east, and there we were already waiting for the bus 913, which, as we knew, runs from the metro station to the pyramids. But we didn't have to wait for his departure, since as soon as we appeared at the corner of Al Haaram Street, the three hundred and fifty-seventh already familiar to us appeared on the left. On it, we returned without incident to the city center, and there would have been nothing to even remember, if it were not a funny episode that happened near the university, where the Cairo zoo is located. There a whole crowd of people climbed into the salon, and when the first of those who sat down at the door, I immediately understood what the words from the famous Soviet cartoon meant: "He worked in the zoo as a crocodile ..."

It was not the first time for us to walk in Cairo at night, and we never experienced the slightest difficulty, despite all the stories that stated otherwise. No one bothered us even when we wandered under the flyover on the Abdel Moniem Riad square, loaded with things we had taken from the hotel, and looked for transport to Cairo airport. Ironically, in order to get to the pyramids of Giza on your own, you need to take buses 355 and 357, the “intermediate” route 356 is taking you to the air harbor. It was just waiting for us in the right place, we gave the last 4 pounds for 2 tickets and got ready to say goodbye with the Egyptian capital.

The farewell, however, turned out to be crumpled: considering myself the smartest, I specified in advance which terminal Aeroflot flies from in Cairo and found out that the first building is entirely occupied by Middle Eastern carriers, while the Europeans use the second. Accordingly, at the right junction we left the belly of the bus, switched to a free "foundling" and soon found ourselves in the middle of the hall in perplexity: a lot of names appeared on the departure board of the Cairo airport, from Milan to Nairobi, only Moscow was absent. Leaving my things to my brother, I rushed to the information desk, where the stunned Japanese were already stuck out, they were also interested in where the flight from Egypt to Russia had gone. We were all informed that at that time all Aeroflot's flights from Cairo were carried out through the first terminal. I had to rush out at breakneck speed and jump into the shuttle that was already leaving.

We had more than enough time, since it was possible to get from the center of Cairo to the airport in less than an hour, and there seemed to be no reason to fuss. However, when several buses left for the second terminal, and the transport to the first did not even think to appear, we got a little nervous. Fuel was added to the fire by a taxi driver who came from nowhere, who, smiling happily, started the usual barrel organ: "Veri chip, specially for yu", etc. We’ve heard all this many times already, so we didn’t believe a word he said, including the stories about how far from the bus stop to the airport. In fact, the hike took only 10 minutes.

It was already the eighteenth day of travel in the Middle East when we finally took off. The third world is left behind ...

It seemed as though we had stayed: five hours later, yawning, we tumbled out of the arrival hall at Sheremetyevo, and a taxi driver immediately came to us and began to tell us: "Veri chip, special for yu". I blinked, the world went out for a second, the encoding changed, and it became clear that the barbel was talking in Russian: "a taxi is cheap to Moscow", "just for you", "guys, let's go, I'll take it inexpensively." I closed my eyes again. Then he opened them again. Yet it was not a dream. We kind of left the third world, but the third world hasn't gone anywhere. There was no other reality ...

P.S. After some consultation, all the members of the expedition unanimously decided to send a reeducation program to the Egyptian Ministry of Tourism. It is necessary to catch everyone who bothers the guests of the country and conduct a conversation with them of the following content: “If (and then bang in the ass with a stick) a tourist (bang in the ass with a stick) wants (with a stick in the ass) something (with a stick), then he is talking about it (with a stick) will definitely ask (with a stick). And then let the educated repeat, as "specially for yu veri chip", everything at once and without hesitation: "If a tourist ..." and also a stick on their ass three or four times to fix the material. Yes, I still inherited a pedagogical streak ...

Well, what could be said about the Middle East: we can say that we have been to the future of Europe, looking thirty years ahead. European cities will become exactly like Beirut or Cairo: dirt, hordes of Arabs, houses painted with graffiti, oases of purity surrounded by fences in the face of elite condominiums. You won't have to go far for examples, since in Moscow the number of Central Asian physiognomies per meter of territory is already off the charts. Or here, Petersburg, which may well turn into Cairo, especially if high-rise buildings are set up along the embankments. After all, the city government thought of issuing a building permit in the center of Gazprom's monstryatina, explaining its step by the need to attract solid investments. Ha, what's the logical connection ?! There are many high-rise buildings built along the banks of the Nile, but has Egypt attracted much investment? And in general, they behave like deer in the tundra, right? They will see, then, a four-hundred-meter phallus in the middle of the plain and decide to get closer to look at a miracle, then they will be attracted ...

Okay, if we put jokes aside, then, summing up the results of an independent trip to the countries of the Middle East, I can say that things worked out much better than expected. During the three and a half weeks of the trip, there was only one really big trouble, with the crossing from Aqaba to Nuweiba. Well, also the hotel chosen for the trip to Petra turned out to be shoddy ... We got out of all the other minor troubles without serious losses ...

Nevertheless, the trip did not give me much pleasure, nor did my brother. All the way we had to fight against Arab stupidity, with Arab greed, with Arab laziness, with Arab non-obligation. Only the purely Russian habit of enduring various adversities saved us from a nervous breakdown. I highly recommend before going on a trip to the Middle East, at least a little staggering in your home country, so to speak, for conditioning. To try means to get to Solovki on your own or to go from Irkutsk to Olkhon Island, that is, take a little dare. After such preparation, the realities of the Arab countries will become clearer and the shock will not be so strong. As a last resort, you can do as we do, making time for jokes. If it became somehow completely unbearable, one of us mockingly asked: “Halyo, mister! Howayu? ", And the second answered him:" Taxi! Baksheesh!"

Still, I don't think I will soon want to repeat my trip to the Middle East. Emirates, maybe it's okay, but Jordan or Lebanon? Dismiss! As the classic said: "I don't come here anymore ..."

Despite a series of revolutions, tourists prefer to travel around Egypt on their own. Having arrived on a voucher once and having traveled around most of the country on excursion tours, you begin to easily navigate the area. Moreover, the territory of the state is not that big. You can see all the famous sights in about 7-10 days along with the road.

Are the pyramids of Giza open to tourists?

The situation in Egypt today remains fairly calm. Foreigners in any city are respected and not touched, even in the capital you can move freely, armed with a phone with the Internet and Google maps. Well, you need to have a bargaining currency in Egyptian pounds with you. Of course, it is better to keep documents and money "closer to your heart" in order to avoid unforeseen situations.

The attitude towards the situation in Egypt can be expressed as follows: “ You will not lose money in Egypt if you do not give it yourself". This is the most difficult thing for a Russian tourist not to empty his own wallet on his own, under the influence of some magical charm. This is especially true for Russians, and for Russian women who, for some inexplicable reason, lose not only green bills, but also their heads ... In general, if you cannot control your emotions and easily succumb to hypnosis, then it is better to go to Crimea.

At first glance, it only seems that the Pyramids of Giza are on the border of the worlds. In fact, upon arrival in Egypt, everything becomes very clear. The scheme of movement in the city is a thousand times simpler than in the Moscow Metro) The great difficulty is not so much traveling through Egypt as through the territory of Giza, where the pyramids are located. There is something to compare with when the excursion was previously accompanied by a travel agency. There are disadvantages and huge advantages to independent travel, which are all in order.

How to get on your own to the pyramids of Giza in Egypt

So, you are in Egypt or have arrived at one of the resorts on the Red Sea. Suppose Makadi, from Sharm el-Sheikh will be farther, as well as from Luxor or Aswan (where only ours will not be brought), you can by plane or by bus. The algorithm is the same: from any point in Egypt you need to get to Cairo.

You can book a hotel in Cairo near the pyramids of Giza. Then you can reach the sights on foot or contemplate them from the window. Hotels near the Giza plateau.

By plane

Local airlines are EgyptAir. You can buy tickets online on the carrier's website: http://www.egyptair.com/. English language. Travel time, depending on the city, from 30 minutes (Hurghada) to 1 hour (Sharm, Luxor).

We book a ticket, print it out, arrive at the airport - Domestic Airlines terminal. In any case, you can show your ticket and ask the airport security. Check-in is also 40 minutes before departure.

You need to have a passport with a valid visa with you. It is recommended to purchase a local Vodafone, Mobinil or Etisalat SIM card.

Also write down the telephone numbers of the Russian consulate in, which, however, very rarely answer and only in the morning. In case of unforeseen situations:

  1. In order not to get lost in Egypt, like any other country, you need to have a phone with the Internet and a charger with you. The battery can be restored at any cafe for a small fee (about $ 0.5 -1 in Egyptian pounds equivalent). If you come across gruff staff, it's free.
  2. Knowledge of elementary English and Arabic key phrases is desirable:
  • Isa otobIs whether Ahramat fi Giza - you need a bus to the pyramids of Giza.
  • Ana mahteg (mahtega - feminine) otobis rakam eli Ahramat fi Giza - What bus number do I need to the pyramids of Giza.
  • Rakam eh? - What number?
  • BickEm? - how much? (price)

3. Arrive at Cairo airport, take a taxi at the exit immediately to the pyramids of Giza or the hotel. Or you can take the nearest public transport stop in Cairo. It will be a metro, bus or shuttle. Since the airport is located in the Heliopolis area, you can take a taxi to the nearest bus stop. The cost for foreigners is about $ 10. From there, take the metro to the station Giza.

4. The area with the pyramids is located at the very edge on the opposite side of the city. Please note that a trip around Cairo can take several hours: traffic jams, transport breakdowns, etc. Water can be bought at any stall or shop.

5. The entrance to the pyramids closes at 17.00, so it is better to plan a flight to Cairo earlier in the morning.

By bus

Travels between cities are carried out in Egypt by companies:

  • Go Bus. https://gobus-eg.com/ Phone: 19567 for calls from Egypt.
  • Hi Jet. http://highjet-eg.com/en/about-us Phone: 16108 for Egypt.

Buses leave every 40 minutes. You can check the departure time by phone in English. Tickets cost from 50 to 150 Egyptian pounds (from $ 8 to $ 20).

There is a Go Bus stop in Medinet Nasr and Tahrir Square. From there you can take a taxi, which will be very expensive, to the pyramids - from $ 30 or more, depending on the driver's hatefulness. You can also take the metro to Giza. Stops are nearby. You can see it on google maps. Select direction to. You can walk from the station to the pyramids. Ask the local "Akhramat" and the locals will be sure to show you the direction.

Entrance to the pyramids of Egypt

The entrance to the pyramids is through the police post. If the trip is carried out on a tour, then after checking the documents, entry to the observation deck is allowed, then tourists pass next to and go down to the Sphinx. Ticket prices at the box office are in Egyptian pounds. If they demand a high price, complain to the police at the entrance.

In other words - in Egypt, tourists are deceived, read: "earn on foreigners", at every step. By the way, the Egyptians also trade in their own stores. This is alien to the European mentality, but bargaining is one of the games of trade in the East, sometimes turning into a theatrical performance. For an independent travel, it is recommended to know as much information as possible, read the reviews of tourists and not go to provocations.

Benefits of self-travel to Giza

There are a lot of positive aspects in trips to the pyramids and po:

How to go to the pyramids, with a group from a hotel or on an individual tour, is up to travelers. Independent travel always gives a lot of impressions, a close acquaintance with another culture, the discovery of new opportunities and an unforgettable experience. All this is valid only with the knowledge of basic words in the English language, courage and desire to discover new boundaries.

Vera Vladi

Cairo, Egypt, 2016