The Pyramids of Giza

as viewed from Abu Sir

The last remaining Ancient Wonder of the World, the three main pyramids (ranging from 62 metres to 146.5 metres) and the six minor pyramids dating back 4,000 years are truly a remarkable sight.

I get the Metro to El Giza and take a microbus up Pyramid Way. Entry is E£60/30 for adults/students and is open 8am – 4pm (winter time only).

Touts offering donkey/ horse, carriage and camel rides abound and i find it easier just to plug into my MP3 player and ignore their pleas.

The Great Pyramid of Khufu (Cheops) is the oldest and largest of the structures. It is possible to enter inside, but tickets cost E£100/E£50 and only 300 tickets are sold a day. There are three smaller pyramids alongside to the left of the causeway. To the north of the pyramid is the ugly construction which holds probably the World’s oldest boat. A complete eyesore.

not difficult to spot the eyesore?

Camelman in front of the great Pyramid

The Pyramid of Khafre (Chephren) still bears some of the original limestone casing. There is a funerary temple located on the east which costs E£25/15 to enter, although it is currently closed.

check out the leftover limestone at the top


The Pyramid of Menkaure (Mycerinus) was originally 66.5 metres. A 16th century caliph spent 8 months trying to destroy it. Restoration means that entry is currently not possible. Again, three small pyramids lie alongside.

even the smallest of the three main pyramids looks pretty damn big

The purpose of the Sphinx is unknown.



Although there are just a handful of international tourists at the site, there are plenty of Egyptian tourists, who blatantly ignore the signposts which state clearly both in English and Arabic not to climb on the walls. The plentiful security guards simply look on in their usual bored manner. Indeed one security guard invites me to climb up the smaller pyramid.

For photographic purposes a visit in the early morning is best, although it’s difficult to get an original angle on either the Sphinx or pyramids which you haven’t seen like a billion times.

To be honest i prefer Dahshur as a pyramid viewing centre. There is something rather tacky about Giza with its touristic bric-a-brac and camel/horse/donkey rides.

I did try to tempt Ying over to see the pyramids with me, but she tells me she has seen them in Las Vegas. They are brighter and newer too.