| Author | Message | ||
     Mark Hoenisch (194.112.101.130) |
Hello everybody, i intend to visit egypt in march 2002. Its my first trip so i plan to make a roundtrip to get an overview. my greatest wish is to get inside the great pyramid. so my question: a) is it still possible to get inside the cheops pyramid and which rooms are open b) how can i get 2 tickets? is it very difficult or expensive? when i have to be where? :-) how many days i should reserve for organising tickets? thanks for your help Mark | ||
| Jon B (212.134.226.173) |
Hi Mark I visited the Great Pyramid in late September this year. Just get to the Giza Plateau for when it opens (around 8.00 am but sometimes later). You have to buy a general ticket for the whole area and then go to another small ticket office for a separate ticket for the GP. This office is opposite the North West corner. There would be no problem getting as many tickets as you want. Remmember to get a ticket as well for EACH camera you have with you. There is a limit each day on the number of visitors but it was no problem getting tickets when I was there. The Queens Chamber is closed as is the access to the lower Chamber. All other areas were open. None of these tickets are expensive and it's well worth it. Have a great time. Jon B | ||
| buzz (24.147.33.12) |
What I can add to this is, after you get your ticket wait like 1 1/2 hours before going inside the Great Pyramid. Most people as soon as they get their ticket rush to the pyramid. If you wait alittle, you will have less people inside with you. My last visit was in March....just get their early...you will have no problem getting 2 tickets. That reminds me...I'm due for another visit soon! | ||
| Jon B (212.126.156.162) |
It wasn't necessary to wait when I was there in September. There were so few tourists about that once a couple of coach parties had come and gone, I had the Great Pyramid to myself. A strange experience spending time in the King's Chamber totally alone and as the fan didn't seem to be working also in total silence. Sadly I wasn't able to get into the Descending Passage or the Queen's Chamber so looks like I'll have to make another visit as well. Jon B | ||
| Charlie Rigano (Charlie) (63.252.172.66) |
buzz, I did just what you suggested. Bought our tickets and waited an hour or more. I anticipated several hours of having the pyramid to ourselfs - my wife and I. I was getting into explaining everything about the pyramid to her when after a short time the caretakers (don't know what else to call them) decided they wanted to go home and kicked us out. Being annoyed and offering money didn't help this time. BTW, you have to pay to take a camera inside. Of course the lights are so low you can't take pictures without a flash and there are signs that say flashs are not allowed. I ignored the signs and used my flash, but I find the set-up really annoying. Charlie | ||
| Peter Vanderzwet (204.92.208.235) |
Why are flashes not allowed in pyramids? I can understand highly decorated mastabas, but there are no paints or anything that can be damged by light in the pyramids... | ||
| J.D. Degreef (213.177.158.60) |
Peter, Maybe because they could damage the surveillance cameras ? JD | ||
| Jon B (212.126.156.63) |
I have to say that I was not aware of the restriction on the use of flash in the Great Pyramid. But as I was on my own inside it is difficult to see who would have stopped me anyway. There was an attendant in the Pyramid of Khafre but again no problems with flash. Jon B | ||
| Charlie Rigano (Charlie) (209.255.146.102) |
I think I recall a sign about no flashes in all three major Giza pyramids. I don't recall them in any other pyramid. Since there is no paint inside, there is no reason they can't be used - unless they bother the crowds. But my experience is almost all of the visitors have no idea what they are looking at anyway. So I used them. The couple times someone told me to stop, I stopped until he was out of sight. Charlie | ||
| AJ (209.244.80.145) |
Flash can damage canvas paintings, or painted murals, but there is no reason to ban it inside the pyramids other than to 'entice' tourists into purchasing postcards, slides, etc., at the local gift shop. Sometimes they don't want you to take pictures you could, perhaps, and sell them to the media without paying whatever royalties. I have seen this in museums and the like all over the world. In any case, as with almost everything in life, it is all about money. :-) | ||
| Brent Benjamin (24.196.181.112) |
I have not had any difficulties using flash inside the Giza pyramids. Indeed, because of the sheer number of shots I was taking last trip in the QC alone, I went through two sets of fresh batteries in my flash (and I use Lithiums!). Of course, when I've shot, there haven't been others present. I could readily understand the annoyance of flashes to others in the GP's dim light, particularly those red-eye reducing rapid mini-burst ones. A flash going off near your direct eyeline in the darker KC could would be worse yet. Last year, our group (Andrew and others on the Guardians Trip) was fortunate to be able to visit the Cairo Museum after hours and use flash. (I won't say which person <A.B.> forgot his flash for this marvelous opportunity!) You never know what luck may befall you. As for royalties, I have never had that impression in Egypt. There are far too many people using low lux video cameras without problems. If royalties were of concern, no cameras would be permitted. The areas where cameras are not permitted are few (i.e., Nefertari's tomb). Further, in many areas, specific camera tickets are sold, giving you a license to photograph. If royalties were of concern, those would be required everywhere. If one is creative, is patient for the light, has the right equipment, and uses the right film and technique, flash requirements can be minimized. Regards, Brent | ||
| J.D. Degreef (213.177.133.34) |
Maybe ten years ago, on the BBC's science programme, "Tomorrow's World", they showed an experiment where pigments classically used in paint were subjected to flashes for months, with no visible effects ! JD | ||
| Jimbo (62.189.178.145) |
The first time I visited Egypt (Nov 99), there were guards standing at the entrance of the GP going through peoples bags and taking their cameras away in much the same fashion as at the entrance to Tutankhamun's tomb. Fortunately for me, the guard went through my bag and couldn't find my camera. He then asked me outright if I had a camera to which I gambled on saying no, he then let me straight in. I'm fortunate enough to have a number of pics from inside now. | ||
| Peter Vanderzwet (204.92.208.235) |
Jimbo, hrmm, they let me in with a video camera and conventional camera w/flash. They never gave me a problem. I even payed the guards for another guy to enter the pyramid with his camera (only an extra 10 LE). | ||
| Jimbo (62.189.178.145) |
Looks like I was lucky then. Mind you they did charge me to use the toilets on the sphinx end of the necropolis. Very cunning, they let people in and charge them to get out ! Mind you that was my first trip there, the innocence of ignorance eh ! | ||
| Charlie Rigano (Charlie) (63.252.172.1) |
Jimbo, There are a number of places in Egypt where you have to pay to take a camera inside. The GP is one. You get the camera ticket when you buy the entrance ticket. They go through the bags to make sure the number of cameras and camera tickets match. I think the best job in Egypt is the woman who takes care of the toilets (the WC) at the Giza Boat Museum. I found they will let you in to use the toilets without paying to see the boat. Anyway this woman has been there at least since my first trip in 95 (I think). There is always a line and she gets 1 or 2 pounds per person. I'm sure she lives in a big house. Charlie | ||
| Peter VanderZwet (24.150.203.16) |
Jimbo, on my first day on the plateau I ended up buying two purfume bottles for $50.00 US. LOL! The guy attached himself to me the moment I got on the plateau, led me around on his self-guided tour and made me feel guilty for not visiting his "shop" and "family", who just happened to sell purfume for extraordinary prices.  I think everyone gets sucked in once or twice on their first trip. | ||
| Jimbo (62.189.178.145) |
I remember a tale from an old travelling mate of mine who stayed in Luxor on his first (and only) Egypt trip while travelling the globe a few years ago. He decided one day to visit the local camel market. He took a cab bound for the market only to find very little when he got there. The trusty driver simply 'forgot' to tell him that the market finishes by lunchtime (it was mid afternoon by then). On the return trip he was taken on an 'alternative' route that conveniently passed a tea shop owned by an Uncle or something that also doubled as a papyrus factory. When eventually getting back to the hotel (minus papyrus, he managed to resist), my mate had been foolish enough not to abide by the golden rule of agreeing a price before he went. He was stung for £150 Egyptian !! To top it all off he ate something that night that didn't agree with him. What a fine day eh !! | ||
| Peter Vanderzwet (24.150.203.16) |
Wow, I've probably taken 100 cabs in Cairo and I've never had a problem like that. One night Andrew, Brent and I took a cab back to the Mena House from the Sphinx area. When we got back we realised that Andrew forgot his jacket in the cab. All of us assumed it was a goner but when I hitched a cab the next day it happened to be the same guy and he happily gave me the jacket back (without my asking). | ||
| Nicole B. Hansen (217.52.3.12) |
There are some very honest taxi drivers, and some unscrupulous ones. A good experience I had once was when I left my mobile phone in the taxi. After discovering I left it, I bought a phone card, and headed back to where I had originally gone, because I had seen a phone card phone there and I thought I would call the phone so the driver would realize it was there. On my way, I found the driver where he had dropped me off. He had come back and was waiting for me to give me the phone back. | ||
| Karen (203.25.148.63) |
I have just got back from Egypt and when I went up to Giza plateau on 20th December, the Cheops Pyramid wasn't open...however, the Chephren pyrmid was...however, its a steep humid decent and not for the claustrophobic amongst us.. | ||
| Charlie Rigano (Charlie) (209.255.146.176) |
Karen, I always thought Khafre's Pyramid interior is spacious compared to Khufu's. All those long passages through which you can walk upright. Unless of course you descent face to butt with a thousand tourists. Charlie | ||
| Eric (12.83.75.149) |
I'm planning to visit here in May and would like to see the interior of the GP. Will it be difficult to get in then? Has anyone been there in the most recent past? Is there any way to get tickets ahead of time as I will be part of a tour and may not be able to be there at 8am. Any other suggestions or tips are more than welcome. Thank you. |
