The Pyramids, The Sphinx, and the Hassle!
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After our first CouchSurfing meeting and our first decent night sleep we decided to make a trip out to the Giza Pyramids this morning. We ended up meeting up with our new CS (CouchSurfing) friend Lindsey and her two friends on our way to the Nasser Metro Station. Instead of booking an organized “Pyramids Tour”, we decided that we would make an attempt to travel to the Pyramids for as CHEAP as possible.
Once inside the Nasser Metro Station we purchased our metro tickets for 1 EGP ($0.17USD). Yes, you can ride the subway here for a mere 17 cents! We switched trains at the Mubarak station and we were on our way to Giza! The trains can be a little awkward at times, but no more awkward than it is when we walk down the street together. We’ve taken the metro a few times now and we have yet to see one foreigner or “tourist” yet. They simply don’t take the metro, or if they do it’s extremely rare. Each time we get on the train young Egyptians stare, whisper, and even give me the thumbs up from time to time thinking that I’m married to how ever many women I’m traveling with. We laugh it off as we’ve found that almost any Egyptian that we’ve met so far has been extremely friendly.
We arrive at El Giza station where we exit the train and immediately we’re approached by a taxi driver. Since I had done my research prior to coming to Egypt, I had read that another traveler on one of the forums that I read regularly paid 20EGP for a taxi to the Giza Pyramids from El Giza Metro Station. First, I explain to him very clearly that we do not want to ride camels, horses, or any other foreign object into the Pyramids. We want to be taken directly to the main entrance.
I tell the taxi driver that we’re willing to pay 20EGP ($3.52 USD) total for 5 people to get to the Pyramids. He says no 30, I reply back 25 or nothing, and he whisks us along to the car. We pack in the car like sardines, no seatbelts available and he drives like all Egyptians. CRAZY! Flying through the streets of Giza we go, while cutting people off, passing cars on both sides squeezing through the middle of two lanes of traffic, and more.
Our driver begins to tell me that we need to stop off at the Government building to enter Giza. I say no, bring us to the main entrance. He makes a quick phone call, and what do you know we start to pass the horses and camels that are eating the trash on the sides of the streets. At this point I knew we were about to be taken advantage of. I say to the driver, bring us to the main entrance! Two seconds later I see a few guys in front of this horse/camel rental building making eye contact with our driver. Ha! He must think we’re stupid. I know that the guy approaching our car is the guy that just got off the phone with our driver! Sneaky b*stards…
The robed man approaches our car telling us to get out and we can ride camel to the Pyramids. I look at our driver and say no, I thought we talked about this already? Put the car in drive and bring us to the main entrance, NOW! The robed man starts blabbing his mouth about how he’s Mr. No Problem, but I’m a problem. Yeah, yeah, yeah. He was just angry because we knew what we we’re doing unlike most others that fall for this scam.
After our little argument, the driver is silent until we arrive at the main entrance. We get out of the car, collect the money and hand it to him before he speeds off. Ahh…we’re finally here!
In front of us stands the main entrance to the Pyramids.
We must have been asked about 40 times to take camel ride. Each time we reply back with a darker tone of voice saying “La Shukran!” or No, thank you. We each pay 60EGP ($10.57 USD) to enter the Pyramids (not the pyramids themselves, but the area where the Pyramids and Sphinx reside.
We were mesmerized as we walked into the plateau. We’re really at the Pyramids! It almost felt like a movie set in a way. We immediately started swapping each other cameras as we took the most “touristy” photos possible! Hey, when will we ever be back here again? Possibly never!
We walked around for about 2 hours exploring the grounds of the Giza plateau. After a while it got pretty annoying because the camel touts would come running towards you saying “Take a picture!”, where are you from, and then the sales pitch comes like we haven’t heard the same thing from the last 30 guys on our way up here. They are relentless!
All in all we had such a great time and we achieved our goal of getting to the pyramids the cheapest way possible. Was it somewhat of a hassle? Yes, but if you are direct and straight forward with your taxi driver you will get to where you want to be. Your best bet is to just explain to him that you want to get there for 20EGP and be sure that you explicitly tell him that you want to be dropped at the main entrance. He will talk and talk, you just keep repeating yourself. Main Entrance, Main Entrance, please! I really recommend traveling to Giza the way we did so feel free to contact me if you have any further questions.
On our way home from Giza we stopped into Abou Tarek, the most famous Koshary spot in Cairo. Even Anthony Bourdain visited this place when he visited Cairo! We ate a yummy bowl of Koshary for cents on the dollar and called it a day.
For more photos from our day check out our new photo album: Giza, Egypt
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Sounds like an amazing day, good for you for sticking to your guns and insisting you move onto the main entrance.
Yes, you HAVE to be direct and stern with them! The problem is, most travelers are intimidated by them and they don't have the guts to be firm. It will SAVE you. Trust me.
I found you from a column in the Sun Chronicle. love your blog.
Thanks Joan! Great to hear… Keep in touch.
YOU GO RYAN!!! STICK IT TO THE MAN!!! Even from this end the pyramids are fascinating…Thanks for sharing the magic!!!
Hell yeah melina! LOL Yeah they are amazing, that's for sure.
Oh, wow… why do I feel like one of those really stupid people who will end up forking out the big bucks to ride a camel that will probably step on me and kill me?
But you guys are amazing! Keep it up, I really enjoy reading this!!!
Yeah unfortunately most people do… that's why they try to force you to stop there first. Don't do it!
Awesome blog! Amazing pics!!
Thanks Shawna!!! We miss ya
Looks like a great day, my sister is going to Egypt in a couple of weeks and I am very jealous.
Well done for staying strong on the taxi ride.
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Great! Make sure you contact me if your sister thinks she might need any assistance. I know plenty of very trustworthy people here now. I know people who can bring you all over the place, and I even know a great guide for pyramids, egyptian museum, islamic cairo, etc. Get in touch.
hey there. My students want to know if the camels really spit!! hahah, Let us know :)
Elena
Haha. Not sure about the spitting we didn't happen to see any spitting going on.
you’re pictures are STUNNING.
Thanks!!!
Hey guys, you are awesome!! I am very impressed by your ability to navigate your way around and learn very quickly the tricks of the taxi drivers and people working in the tourism industry. I am impressed because I grew up in Egypt and this is just exactly how I do things when I go to Egypt. The key is to agree on things and firm the agreement BEFORE getting in a taxi or riding a camel, etc. I hope you will try dining on one of the floating restaurants on the Nile. There is one called “El-Saraya” in Zamalek. They have 4 restaurants (Italian, Lebanese, American, and I think local Egyptian). You would pay about 12 to 15 USD for a nice meal. The view and the weather are great, esp. after 5 pm. We’ll follow your news. Given how you’ve done on your first day, I think you will do very well. Oh, be careful in Khan El-Khaliliy: the place is very crowded, and there are plenty of pickpokets. If anyone annoys you, no matter who that is, make sure to say, “I will call the tourist police, or just police.” They know that they can get in a lot of trouble and will leave you alone. Have fun. My name is Dr. Ahmed Abdelal- a professor of communication Sciences and Disorders at BSC.
Dr. Ahmed Abdelel,
Thanks a bunch! I did a lot of research before we arrived here so I came pretty prepared to say the least. Thanks for the dinner tips, we might do that. We're on a budget so 12-15USD might be a little pricey! I don't know if we've paid more than $4 for food as of yet. LOL!
Yes we noticed that Khan el Khalili can make you very vulnerable to pickpockets. I had an incident where a little girl dropped something between my legs while I was sitting down and as she was leaning over my leg to pick it up I stuck my hands in my pockets quickly so it thwarted off her attack! LOL.
Thanks for checking in with us…
Check back often!
Thank you guys for responding so quickly. We'll be following your trour. I hope you are planning to write a book, and use these wonderful photos you are taking!
Amazing pictures.Looks like had another great day.Love Liz’s green outfit.Liz you are such a fashionista!
Thanks Ma! Liz hates those photos because she has her day pack over her shoulder under that robe so it makes it look like she has a huge butt in the photos! Haha.
This is so AWESOME. I’m a little overwhelmed with how to approach Egypt and what we want to see. Thank you for sharing how to get to the Main Entrance and what to expect. Posts like these are so helpful. <3
Thanks! Yeah you really just need to be direct and you'll be fine. You will be stared at and whispered about 24/7 just tune it out and smile if you'd like. We just walk and smile when we're exploring the city. You will never hear more car horns beeping, I promise. Our taxi driver says the horns is "egyptian music". LOL. Also make sure you haggle anything that you buy at a market, convenience store (water, soda, etc) or you will be charged up to 10 times the price. Literally.
Looks like an awesome place to see. Not too sure about the food though :)
Thanks anna! We're having a blast. Food is actually pretty good and you know me… I'm super picky!
Yes Anna the food has actually been really great so far. We have had traditional breakfast, lunch and tonight we will have traditional dinner and I havent had one complaint, but I also like mostly everything anyway!
Oh man, the taxi rides and camel pushers lol, but the pics are incredible, and that shot of the Kushari (or Koshary for us Americans)..thats just not fair lol
Nice work guys – great story…you said you had done your research on Egypt via another travel forum…I am trying to start doing my own research by reading some of the top travel blogs as well (yours included!)…any chance you remember which blog that was?
I do a lot of my research on Lonely Planets Thorn Tree Forums, Bootsnall, VirtualTourist Forums, Tripadvisor Forums, and more. Check out my links page to find out more of my resources.
Loving the camel picture!
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Thanks Ash. The photo opportunities in Egypt are simply endless!
Hey, definitely agree that you have to be stern on everything in Egypt. The bus is also an option to the pyramids. We took a public bus from under the overpass near the Hilton and it cost 2 EGP. Supposedly there are 50 piastre buses that end up near the Felfela Giza. But again, you must be firm, on the way back our bus driver wanted 5 EGP each, we gave him 2 and jumped out.
The food looks delicious…. can i have a bite… ;) My next trip will be to Egypt.. I wan tot go to thr Pyramids and to the Nile…