Unmissable part of any holiday in Egypt (Pyramids at Giza)

Member Name: Neenawneenaw

Product:	Pyramids at Giza
Date:	17/03/09 (19 review reads)
Rating:

Advantages: There's a reason the great pyramid is a wonder of the world!

Disadvantages: Hassles of getting there and avoiding hawkers on camels!

After a packed week on a Nile cruise and suffering a little temple fatigue we arrived in Cairo at our super-posh hotel and sank into luxury. But however knackered we were, we only had a few days in Cairo and were determined to make the most of it. This, naturally, involves at least one visit to the pyramids at Giza.

Although 18km out of the centre of Cairo, the edges of this huge city are now encroaching on Giza. Neverthe less the pyramids cut an impressive figure. There are actually nine of them: Cheops 'Great Pyramid' 149m tall, Chephren's pyramid (almost as big), and a third pyramid (the baby of the three ). There are also several other smaller pyramids for wives and mothers of pharaohs.

The sheer scale of the great pyramid is amazing. It can be dizzying to look at from immediately below - rising high into the sky at a sharp angle. We went inside Cheops's pyramid, an unforgettable, atmospheric steep climb up a ramp to the burial chamber part-way up in the centre of the pyramid. Do not attempt if you suffer from claustrophobia or a heart condition!

We returned for a sound and light show in the evening a couple of days later. Definitely worth doing just for the visuals. The sound recording is an experience, though it's pretty much nonsense and dated too - but for Bond fans, it is exactly the same recording as appears near the beginning of The Spy Who Loved Me (so no wonder it's dated!).

The main downsides to the experience are:
1) getting there - Cairo is huge, chaotic and traffic-filled, so it takes an age from downtown
2) the hassle to buy photos/ride a camel etc - that you get at all sites in Egypt

That said, wouldn't have missed it for the world.

Summary: Simply magnificent!