Traveling from Hurghada to Cairo - a guide for tourists. A tiring excursion to the Egyptian pyramids. How long is it from Hurghada to the pyramids?

Tourists arriving on holiday in Egypt are usually interested in pyramids much more than other local attractions. Against the backdrop of all the existing ancient buildings, the Pyramid of Cheops is of particular interest.

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

During this excursion you will see three pyramids located next to each other. Ancient Egypt, namely:

• Cheops;
• Mekerina;
• Khafre.

Among them, the Cheops pyramid is the tallest.

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

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

The height and overall size of the monument are truly impressive. Initially, the pyramid rose to about 147 m, but time has not been kind to the monument: as a result of the loss of cladding and falling asleep with sand, the previously given figure decreased to 137 m.

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

The price of a trip to the pyramids depends on where you live and how you will get to 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 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.

Far? Naturally! And it’s good that you found out about this before the trip, and not after arriving in Egypt. In general, you will have to spend about a day traveling 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 shopping shops, mainly sponsored ones.

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

• bus tour from Hurghada – $50-70 per adult and $40-50 per 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! Don’t 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 presented you will change your mind.

There are no questions about the flight - you board the plane, wait a little, and now you are already at your destination. For tourists who choose bus tours, you 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 provide transfers mainly at night;
• secondly, you can’t count on traveling in a comfortable modern bus with powerful air conditioning. Of course, such vehicles have air conditioning, but they rarely “cope” with the local climate. During the trip, do not hesitate to ask the driver to increase the air conditioning power.

You will arrive in the suburbs of Cairo around 7-8 am. Here you will be asked to join 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 guide's stories, seeing the areas open to tourists, taking the desired number of pictures, you will go back to the hotel and get to your room late at night.

Description of the pyramid

The external design of the monument is very interesting and unusual. On the walls you can see many grooves of various sizes. When viewed from the right angle, the individual lines form an incredibly tall portrait of a man believed to be one of the deities of ancient Egyptian civilization. Around the main image there are several pictures and other design elements of a more modest size, namely:

• bird-plane;
• 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 painted shortly before the installation of the last stone.

The pyramid in question is not a simple stone monument, but a well-thought-out structure 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 10.5 x 5.3 m. The room is lined 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 product would not allow carrying the product later. There is a similar chamber in almost every pyramid. It was in such premises that the rulers found their final refuge.

Of the decorations and inscriptions inside the pyramid, the only thing worth noting is the portrait in the corridor through which you can get to the Queen’s chamber. Externally, 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 of the rock foundation, but was never completed. A narrow corridor about 120 m long leads to the unfinished cell. To connect the 1st and 2nd cells, a low (about 175 cm) 35-meter corridor was made. The next burial chamber of the Cheops pyramid is traditionally called the “queen’s chamber,” although according to ancient Egyptian custom, the wives of rulers found their final refuge in their own pyramids of more modest size.

The history 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, inside the pyramid lived an unknown creature with the body of a man and the face of a lion. And in the hands of this creature were the keys of Eternity. Only people who had undergone a series of purification procedures could see the “lion-faced” one. Only they received the magical Divine Name from the High Priest. And the person who learned the secret of the name was endowed with great magical power, not inferior to the power of the pyramid itself.

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

Inside the Cheops pyramid there is a vault above the pharaoh's chamber)

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

Pyramid of Cheops - tomb of the pharaoh

The internal structure of the pyramid is not limited to chambers and corridors alone. There are ventilation shafts and additional rooms. For example, in one of these rooms there is a table, and on it there is a book telling 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 still remains unknown.

The purpose of the underground structures located at the foot of the building has not been fully determined. Some of them were opened at different periods of time. 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 ship created by man. No nails were used to build the boat. Traces of silt found on the ship led to the conclusion that before the death of the pharaoh, the ship managed to sail 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 during 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 the pharaoh ruled and what he became famous for. There is no entertainment waiting for them inside the pyramid either.

If possible, avoid cooperation with local excursion companies: reviews from travelers indicate the extreme irresponsibility of such organizations. It is better to pay for the excursion at your travel agency. This way, you will overpay a little, but you can be sure that if necessary, you will have someone to file a claim with.

Try to find out as much information as possible about the tour guide. The best informants are hotel employees and guests. The qualifications of the guide on such trips are very important. With an inexperienced guide who barely speaks Russian, you will simply not be interested.

And one last word of advice: don’t expect anything extraordinary from your trip to the Cheops pyramid. Treat the excursion as one of the points on your route. Listen to the guide's stories, examine parts of the building open to travelers, and do a few beautiful photos and add a visit to the Cheops Pyramid to your personal travel bucket list.

Have a nice holiday!

Table – Transfer cost to Giza (Cairo)

Video – Cheops Pyramid Egypt

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 national museum. In addition, then you can stay in Giza until the evening and see the light and sound show at the Pyramids

As you know, the standard excursion program to Cairo from Hurghada or Sharm el-Sheikh only includes a visit to the Pyramids and the National Museum - you simply cannot do anything else in a few hours. And, in general, these objects do not have time to explore - I spent the whole day on them, from morning until late evening, and even then we were not able to fully enjoy cultural heritage Ancient Egypt. And, of course, few tourists get the chance to visit the night show at the Pyramids, or rather, the light and sound show, as the event is officially called. We specially planned the route so that we could see a magical spectacle, and then make the Middle East our own and leave for the airport...

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

That is, at first there were no signs of trouble. We had a cultural breakfast, packed our backpacks to leave them at the reception desk until the evening, and got into the elevator. There, the bellhop, one of those who hung around the hotel instead of cleaning, started small talk with us. In particular, he asked about our plans and where you were going. “Down,” I replied. “It’s clear that it’s down, what next?” "Downtown." “Where to where?” “All the same, to the downs,” I couldn’t resist. “Yeah, to their Down town,” the brother summed up the conversation. Indeed, the day before we came across a sign “down town 3 km”. Well, after almost three weeks of wandering around the Middle East, our nerves got worse...

Having handed over our room and finished with the formalities, we cheerfully rolled out into the street and headed towards Tahrir Square, hoping to get to the National Museum of Egypt in a few minutes - on foot it would have taken no longer than by subway, there was simply no point in going one stop, given how often (or rather infrequently) do trains run in the Cairo metro. In short, the road seemed like a piece of cake until we were almost run over by a fool who decided to leave the Misr Petroleum gas station by reversing through the entrance road. None of us expected a trick from that side, especially from a seedy, life-beaten Opelka, and we miraculously avoided death under the wheels. That is, the guidebook to Cairo claimed that the turn signals, brakes and side mirrors of the local driver are replaced by a horn, but it seemed to me that we had already adapted to the situation, and the peculiarities of traffic in Egypt would no longer surprise us, and so, it turned out, I was hasty with conclusions . Let me note, by the way, that the flow of Egyptian transport is not only dense, but also chaotic: any car can suddenly pull some 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 a motorcycle “lava” in Vietnam and a couple of times crossed all eight lanes of the Parisian Place Etoile, but the transport in Egypt amazed me, and rarely did we manage to calmly, without hassle and swearing, even cross the road along pedestrian crossings. At times it seemed that the most reasonable 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 hotels in the area interesting places, shops and cafes where you can eat inexpensively in Cairo, and not take unnecessary risks. If such a prospect does not suit you, I will give you useful advice: you should gather your balls into a fist and behave like local residents. Therefore, when preparing to cross, you need to raise your hand with your outstretched palm towards the approaching cars, letting them know that it’s time to slightly “hold your horses” and boldly stomp across the flow.

The views of the Nile from the Tahrir Bridge helped us forget about the absurd accident that almost snatched us from the ranks of passionate lovers of extreme travel. The panoramas there are capable, in my opinion, of dispelling the sadness of the most inveterate melancholic, and we could not tear ourselves away from them, because 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 how in the distance the sails of feluccas float against the background of skyscrapers, and suddenly a bus rushes past with a name painted on the side in Russian; This is a popular company in Russia that organizes tours to Egypt, and brought clients to take a look at Cairo. A 1-day excursion from Hurghada, naturally, does not imply a detailed acquaintance with the metropolis or at least stops for photography, so we see the faces of fellow citizens stuck to the glass, trying to enjoy in a few seconds the views that no one bothered us to calmly contemplate for almost half an hour. I immediately remembered how I myself traveled with a group along the standard route, how poorly the excursion program to Cairo was structured, how many interesting things we missed, how precious time was wasted then. Indeed, having left around 4 am, we managed to get to Cairo from Hurghada by eleven o’clock, and while we were making our way through the daytime traffic jams to the center, a lot of time was still ticking by. Due to the delay, the excursion to the Egyptian Museum took only 40 minutes, then the same amount was spent on lunch, and the kind travel agency allocated another three-quarters of an hour for us to explore the Pyramids. Around six in the evening, all participants in the trip were driven back to return to their hotels before the end of dinner. It turned out that in almost 24 hours the group was engaged in useful work for about 2 hours. Where, you ask, did the rest of the time go? It was spent on travel, on getting stuck in city traffic jams, on solving organizational issues and, of course, on the shops of Cairo. The excursion program was absolutely 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 for the “popyrus museum”, a gold store and a shop where you could buy Egyptian oils. We spent longer at each of the retail outlets than on the Giza plateau, where the Great Pyramids are located, and there was no alternative: an acquaintance recently went on vacation to 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 I did, with the same effect, of course. What do you think, a person flew about 3000 kilometers and spent six hours on a bus, how long does it usually take to get to Cairo, Sharm el-Sheikh and Hurghada to see the Pyramids or to buy banana “popyrus” and stinking oil?!

I assume that when we got to the rear of the Ritz Hotel, where the National Museum of Egypt is located, the poor fellows who had been driven past us were already being taken out. Did I really once jump through 56 halls in just over 40 minutes like this? Horror! Now we had three hours at our disposal, and we tried to use the time wisely.

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 interested, and even if you don’t know on which side the entrance to the museum is located, the motley crowd pouring into the gates of the park adjacent to the building will not let you stray from the course. Inside, there are metal detectors waiting for visitors, behind which there are cash registers. At the time of our arrival, the price of a ticket to the National Museum was 50 pounds, a discount for students allowed us to halve the figure. Next, with a ticket in hand, you can go straight to security control, or move to the left, where the luggage storage is; In the Egyptian Museum, all owners of photo and video equipment are now being asked to temporarily part with their property: filming inside has suddenly become prohibited. We still managed to cheat: they handed over the camera, but they were able to carry the camera - I won’t say how... Finally, when the visitors passed the last line of defense, another test awaited 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 most likely hire you in a tough manner. I don’t know whether it makes sense to spend money: even if you didn’t think to stock up good guide in Cairo, you can always join one of the tourist groups and listen to the guide’s story. Although this will be of little use, because of the chatter that we were treated to at one time, almost everything turned out to be nonsense, from murky episodes in the history of ancient Egypt to the incorrectly stated procedure for making the mummies of the pharaohs. And one more minus: as I already said, organized tourists are led around the museum at a brisk pace; they do not stand in one place for a long time. Because of this, there is no reason to maintain the general pace. We even successfully used this feature and did not worry if a group of rogues showed up to see interesting exhibits: we just had to wait a little while the guide made the charges start galloping again, and calmly continue contemplation. In this way, we studied all the valuable artifacts of Egyptian culture, significantly expanding our stock of impressions.

The highlight of the self-guided tour of the National Museum of Egypt was a visit to the room where the treasures found in Tutankhamun's tomb are displayed. Of course, the main attention there is drawn to the golden mask of the ruler, but, say, the fan and gloves of the pharaoh also wouldn’t hurt to appreciate.

Having completed the first of the things planned for the day, 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 sellers of various rubbish there were on the Giz plateau, but their prices were outrageous, and the assortment they presented left much to be desired. It’s good that the events of the previous days allowed us to thoroughly figure out where it is better to buy souvenirs in Cairo. In general, I recommend combing Mahmoud Bassioni Street, which runs from the back facade of the Egyptian Museum towards Talat Harb Square. After wandering around the shops there, we eventually chose the semi-basement shop “Memphis Bazaar”, whose prices were a) moderate; b) fixed, that is, there was no need to bargain. Moreover, its owner did not pester customers, as most Egyptians do, but, on the contrary, after greeting the guests, he modestly sat down in the corner to read a newspaper. This allowed us to calmly figure out which things to buy for whom, choose what we wanted and calculate the costs. Then the guy showed himself even better when he agreed to accept part of the payment in dollars - exchanging currency in Cairo is not a problem, at least at the same Mahmoud Bassioni, but the guy quoted a completely normal rate, and we considered the overpayment as his tip.

At the same time, I will say that in the neighborhood there are several local travel agencies offering travel around Egypt for every taste, including excursions to Alexandria, even multi-day cruises on the Nile. True, those who want to travel from Cairo to Luxor or Abu Simbel will have to fork out a lot: if getting to Alexandria accompanied by a guide costs almost $200, then I don’t want to think about what longer trips will cost. On the other hand, there are no other chances to get to the pyramids of Saqqara or the ruins of the ancient El-Fayoum from Cairo, only a taxi or a car with a driver for a hundred.

But getting to the Cheops Pyramid on your own couldn’t be easier; you don’t even have to deal with taxi drivers. The smartest way to get to famous miracle light - get to the Midan Giza metro station and change to a bus there. Routes 355 and 357, which have a ring very close to the pyramids, are suitable. To avoid confusion, it would be good to find out what they look like Arabic numerals and prepare a cheat sheet in advance. We, for example, did not experience the slightest difficulty in identifying the required transport, because we knew what to look for. In short, the three looks like the letter “G” with a crown on top, the five is an almost familiar zero for us, slightly skewed, the Latin “V” means seven.

Alas, our knowledge about Cairo buses turned out to be too superficial: we were able to identify the approaching car, but we couldn’t board because we weren’t waving 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 step of the front door.

The fare was surprisingly high, 2 pounds versus the usual 50 piastres. This factor is probably what discourages Cairo residents from using the new buses, so after 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, covered with black stubble, whether the bus was going to Al Haaram - this is a long street along which you can get to the Egyptian pyramids in the shortest way - and gave the money only after his affirmative answer. Now the meeting with colossal buildings did not have long to wait...

Unfortunately, it is ideal to plan self-guided tour I didn’t succeed in 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 to do everything about everything. We still managed to double this time, because we approached the issue wisely: first we climbed as far as possible into the desert, right up to the pyramid of Mikerin, and then leisurely wandered back, since the tourist police first began to comb the surrounding area. 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 also a positive link in the approaching closure of the territory: the main crowd helped, sold and camels, which usually interfere with enjoying the views, had already lost faith in profit and set sail; The only reminders of the recent stay of the Egyptians were abandoned food packaging, tea bags, cigarette butts and other rubbish. While traveling around Jordan, I remember we constantly came across hints from the authorities that, they say, architectural monuments were destroyed by the Byzantines and Crusaders, as if the Arabs had nothing to do with it. I immediately asked my brother who, in his opinion, instilled in the Egyptian Arabs the custom of causing mischief at the Great Pyramids - the Romans, the Crusaders or the Byzantines? He had just begun to mutter about the difficult legacy of colonialism when he answered himself: “Probably 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 security blocked access, we did not go to the buses like other tourists: one more point of our tour of Cairo remained unfulfilled, and an extremely important one at that. Many people dream of visiting the light and sound show taking place near the Pyramids, but only a few actually see it: by the time it starts, the majority of tourists are already heading towards the resorts. Seeing how depopulated the area was, we changed our original plan and decided to have a quiet snack before buying tickets.

It is worth noting that, contrary to expectations, there were plenty of places to eat near the Pyramids in the area, 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 whose windows the Pyramids are clearly visible can also serve as a landmark: “Great Pyramid Inn” or its neighbor “Pyramids View Inn”.

It’s interesting that while we were looking for where to have dinner, local residents kept coming up with offers to watch a light and sound show from the windows of their houses for a little money. In addition, if we wanted to save money, it would be quite possible to watch the action from the windows of the cafe we ​​chose 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 the legal stalls you can see and hear much better than from afar. Plus, tickets to the Pyramid Sound and Light Show cost us a reasonable £60 (plus 35 coins for a video camera), not the crazy price of a trip to Petra.

What slightly marred our enjoyment of the show were the dirty chairs, which were also covered with rust and dust brought from the desert. It’s good that people came once or twice, and the numbers were gone, so free and more or less clean places found quickly. Still, I advise everyone who wants to attend the evening laser show at the Pyramids to take at least newspapers or a piece of foam rubber with them. Otherwise, the spectacle turned out to be excellent: they told us in detail and pictures how the Egyptian pyramids were built, showed the structure of the internal passages in their depths, demonstrated why the Solar Boat was needed, and how many centuries ago it carried the pharaohs to the afterlife. The creators of the play were especially successful with the talking Sphinx: thanks to skillful lighting, 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-language version, they showed us a completely different one. Well, we were not too upset: our independent journey through the countries of the Middle East was completed successfully, and ended on a positive note.

That is, it seemed to us then that the note would be major, but it turned out differently: we managed to leave from the Pyramids to the center of Cairo literally with a fight, having first fought our way through the rows of raging taxi drivers who stood at the exit from the territory in a real phalanx. They got in touch with the wrong people: they got the spoils of the little girl who was following, which we took advantage of, quickly hiding in the buildings. From there it was a matter of technology to get to the major highway lying to the east, and there waiting for us was bus 913 standing on the side of the road, which, as we knew, runs from the metro station to the pyramids. But we didn’t have to wait for its departure, since as soon as we appeared at the corner of Al Haaram Street, the already familiar 357th street appeared on the left. On it we returned to the city center without incident, and there would have been nothing to even remember if not for a funny episode that occurred near the university, where the Cairo Zoo is located. There, a whole crowd of people got into the salon, and when the first of those who boarded appeared at the door, I immediately understood what the words from the famous Soviet cartoon meant: “He worked as a crocodile at the zoo...”

Walking around Cairo at night was not our first time, and we never experienced the slightest difficulty, despite all the stories that said otherwise. No one bothered us even when, loaded with things we had picked up at the hotel, we wandered under the overpass at Abdel Moniem Riad Square and looked for transport to Cairo airport. Ironically, to get to the pyramids Giza on your own, you need to take buses 355 and 357 to air harbor carries the “intermediate” route 356. He was just waiting for us at the right place, we paid the last 4 pounds for 2 tickets and prepared to say goodbye to the Egyptian capital.

The farewell, however, turned out to be crumpled: considering myself the smartest, I clarified in advance which terminal in Cairo Aeroflot flies from and found out that the first building is entirely occupied by Middle Eastern carriers, and Europeans use the second. Accordingly, at the right junction we left the belly of the bus, transferred to a free “foundling” and soon found ourselves in the middle of the hall in bewilderment: on the departure board at Cairo airport there were a lot of names, from Milan to Nairobi, but Moscow was missing. Leaving my things with my brother, I rushed to the information desk, where the stunned Japanese were already standing around, they were also interested in where the flight from Egypt to Russia had gone. We were all informed that at that time all Aeroflot flights from Cairo were carried out through the first terminal. I had to rush headlong outside and jump into the shuttle that was already leaving.

We had more than enough time, fortunately you can 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 transport to the first did not even appear, we became somewhat nervous. Fuel was added to the fire by a taxi driver who appeared from nowhere, who, smiling joyfully, started the usual organ-organ: “Veri chip, specially for u”, etc. We had heard all this many times already, so we didn’t believe a single word he said, including stories about how far it was from the bus stop to the airport. In fact hiking took only 10 minutes.

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

It seemed that he remained: five hours later, we, yawning, tumbled out of the arrival hall at Sheremetyevo, and a taxi driver immediately approached us and began to jabber: “Veri chip, specially for yu.” I blinked, the world went dark for a second, the encoding changed, and it became clear that the mustache was talking in Russian: “taxis are cheap to Moscow,” “just for you,” “guys, let’s go, I’ll take you inexpensively.” I closed my eyes again. Then he opened them again. Still, this was not a dream. We seem to have left the third world, but the third world has not gone away. There was no other reality...

P.S. After consulting, all members of the expedition unanimously decided to send a program for the re-education of the molesters to the Egyptian Ministry of Tourism. It is necessary to catch everyone who bothers the guests of the country and have a conversation with them with the following content: “If (and then bang with a stick on the ass) a tourist (bang with a stick on the ass) wants (with a stick on the ass) something (with a stick), then he will talk about it (with a stick) will definitely ask (with a stick). And then let the students repeat, like “specially for yu very chip”, everything at once and without hesitation: “If a tourist ...” and also hit them with a stick on the butt three or four times to reinforce the material. Yes, after all, I inherited a pedagogical streak...

Well, what could be said about the Middle East: we, one might say, visited the future of Europe, looking thirty years ahead. Exactly what Beirut or Cairo will become European cities: dirt, hordes of Arabs, houses painted with graffiti, oases of purity surrounded by fences in the form of luxury condominiums. You don’t have to look far for examples, since in Moscow the number of Central Asian faces per meter of territory is already off the charts. Or, St. Petersburg, which could very well turn into Cairo, especially if high-rise buildings are built along the embankments. The city government, after all, thought of issuing a permit for construction in the center of the Gazprom monstrosity, explaining its step by the need to attract substantial investments. Ha, what is the logical connection?! Many high-rise buildings have been built along the banks of the Nile, but has Egypt attracted much investment? And in general, they behave like deer in the tundra, right? It means they will see a four-hundred-meter phallus in the middle of the plain and decide to get closer to stare at the miracle, and then they will be attracted...

Okay, jokes aside, to sum it up independent travel Regarding 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, only one really major problem happened, with the crossing from Aqaba to Nuweiba. Well, the hotel chosen for the trip to Petra turned out to be crappy... We got out of all the other minor troubles without serious losses...

However, the trip did not bring much pleasure to either me or my brother. All the way we had to fight against Arab stupidity, against Arab greed, against Arab laziness, against Arab unnecessaryness. Only the purely Russian habit of steadfastly enduring various adversities saved us from a nervous breakdown. I strongly recommend that before planning a trip to the Middle East, you at least wander around a little in your native country, so to speak, to harden yourself. Trying means getting to Solovki on your own or going from Irkutsk to Olkhon Island, that is, having a bit of a dash. After such preparation the reality Arab countries will become clearer and the shock will not be so strong. As a last resort, you can do what we do and find time for jokes. If it became somehow completely unbearable, one of us would mockingly ask: “Halyo, Mister! Howayu?”, and the second one answered him: “Taxi! Baksheesh!"

Still, I don’t think I’ll want to repeat my trip to the Middle East any time soon. The Emirates may be okay, but Jordan or Lebanon? Excuse me! As the classic said: “I don’t go here anymore...”

The Egyptian resort of Hurghada has, perhaps, the most advantageous tourist location. It is not too far away to reach 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 the seven wonders of the world. The pyramids themselves are located 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 - from Hurghada, of course.

Since the road is long, you need to prepare in advance for the fact that departure from the hotel will be very early - approximately 3-4 o’clock in the morning. It must be said 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 to a certain number of people per day. No more than 300 visitors per day are allowed into the territory. This is due to the fact that the moist air exhaled by a large number of people adds excessive humidity to the atmosphere, due to which harmful salts 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 number for morning visits. Therefore, it is easier for tourists traveling independently to visit the pyramids to purchase tickets in the afternoon.

When you choose the agency with which you would prefer to go to explore the pyramids, do not strive for cheapness. This won't always be the case 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 return back. The approximate price for 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 including travel, think in advance about what you will need to take with you. You shouldn’t take a bunch of unnecessary things with you, you only need to take a hat; light clothing that protects from dust and sun; camera or video camera; something to drink and light sandwiches; insurance, documents and, of course, money.

If you come to view the pyramids in an organized group, then all your problems will immediately disappear and you will go to the long-awaited exhibits. But if you arrived on your own, then first of all go to the box office to buy tickets. It is likely that a surprise will await you - you are allowed to inspect no more than two pyramids per day. Then you will have to come here again. To view the Cheops Pyramid you will have to pay approximately $10. You will have to pay an extra dollar for the opportunity to take photographs. Inspecting other pyramids costs a little less, but you can inspect small pyramids for free.

So, closer to noon, the long-awaited pyramids will appear before your eyes. First of all, you will need to examine the largest and most popular pyramids - the pyramids of Cheops, Khafre, Mikerin, Djoser and Sneferu. You will also definitely see everyone's watchman great pyramids– figure Great Sphinx. Unfortunately, many tourists experience some disappointment when they see the pyramids. As a rule, much more is expected. But, on the other hand, you will be able to take plenty of photographs against their majestic background and proudly show your wonderful pictures to your friends.

After visiting 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 sponsorship points. Perhaps an excursion to the Cairo Museum will be the most valuable thing you will see in a day. Here you will truly plunge into the atmosphere of ancient Egypt, get acquainted with a huge number of extremely interesting exhibits, see golden masks, sarcophagi of the pharaohs and many other wonderful things. Usually, when the Cairo Museum comes to other cities with its collection, people stand in kilometer-long queues to get into it. You will have a great opportunity to see this entire collection in its entirety and without any queue.

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

For the vast majority of the inhabitants of our planet, Egypt is associated with the pyramids. It is not surprising that hundreds of thousands of tourists visit one of the seven wonders of the world every year, and Egyptian travel agencies earn hundreds of thousands of dollars by organizing excursions to the pyramids. This excursion trip will definitely be remembered for the rest of your life, and not only because you will see ancient buildings. Unfortunately, there are still a number of things that are not very pleasant for tourists that you should know about in advance if you plan to visit the pyramids during your vacation.
About the pyramids
In Egypt by 2008, there were 138 pyramids of different sizes and types. Judging by historical documents, up to 100 thousand people took part in the construction of the largest Egyptian pyramids! It is difficult to imagine so many people at one construction site, so other sources claim that the Egyptian pyramids were built by aliens, because at that time, humanity simply could not build such grandiose structures. Egyptian pyramids are scattered along the Nile coast, but all tourists are taken to the necropolis of Giza, where the world's most famous pyramids of Cheops, Chephren and Mikerin are located.
Excursion cost
The cost of an excursion to the Egyptian pyramids depends on two factors: where you are coming from and what you are driving on. The closest way to the Egyptian pyramids is from Hurghada - 457 km, from Taba you will have to cover a distance of 495 km, and from Sharm El Sheikh - 576 km. Surprised it's so far away? It’s good that you find out about this before your trip, and not upon arrival... Because visiting the pyramids is “minus a day” from your vacation, because you will have to go all the way to Cairo. In general, an excursion to the pyramids is called by travel agencies as an “excursion to Cairo” with a visit to the Cairo Museum and the Museum of Perfumery and sponsor shops.
The price of an excursion can be affected not only by the distance, but also by the type of transport. If almost all travel agencies travel from Hurghada by bus, then you can also get from Sharm El Sheikh to Cairo by plane. This is how much a tour costs Egyptian pyramids of the most popular resorts:
Cost of excursions to Cairo to the Egyptian pyramids:
From Hurghada - $60 ($40 for 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
You shouldn't smile when you see an airplane with price tags on it. When you read what awaits you on the road, you will understand why the plane is in demand.
Road to the Egyptian Pyramids If you don't have an extra $200 for a plane and opt for a bus, here's what you need to keep in mind. So that tourists do not die on the road from exhaustion during the day's journey through the desert, you will set off at night (approximately around one in the morning). If you are waiting for a five-star bus with good air conditioning, then it is more realistic to count on a bus that, of course, has certain amenities, but climate control can only work more or less tolerably in the European climate. In the climate of Egypt, where even at night in the +25 season the bus will be hot, sweaty and humid. In some places you can poke the driver to turn up the air conditioner and catch the cold air with your face, but you know that this is dangerous to health? In approximately this situation, by 7-8 in the morning you will reach the suburbs of Cairo, where you will join a caravan that, under guard, will proceed to the Egyptian pyramids. You will be there by 11 am.
After completing the entire program of the day (more about it below), you will set off on the return journey, which will go much faster because you will be exhausted and sleep almost the entire way. You will arrive at the hotel well after midnight.
Egyptian pyramids and more... Towards noon, under the scorching sun, majestic pyramids will appear before your eyes. Tips and recommendations
The Egyptian pyramids are a very grueling excursion. It will be very difficult for children, so plan your plans with this in mind. By the end of the day, children will not be at all interested in which pharaoh ruled from 9 to 18 years old, but gained worldwide fame (his name was Tutanhot).

The distance from Moscow to Cairo is 2900 kilometers, from Novosibirsk - 4900, and from Hurghada - only 456 kilometers. So a holiday in Hurghada is a great opportunity to see the preserved wonder of the world - the Egyptian pyramids, because it is in the vicinity of Cairo that they are located.

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Far from the Red Sea, colorful fish and All Inclusive you will touch structures whose age is measured in thousands of years, you will see the treasures of Ancient Egypt. You may remember the paragraph from your school history curriculum about the pyramids and the use of slave labor - in Giza, a picture from a school textbook will come to life.

Excursion schedule and cost

There are two ways to Cairo: seven hours by bus, or 45 minutes by plane. Let's be honest: even by plane, the journey will take several hours, because you need to get to airport in Hurghada, go through all the formalities, fly, and then get from Cairo airport to the pyramids. Be prepared to spend at least 12 hours on the road.

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Usually bus tour It leaves from Hurghada to Cairo after midnight, and by 9-10 am the bus, after standing in traffic jams on the streets of Cairo, arrives at the pyramids. Options are possible: some excursions begin with a visit to the Egyptian National Museum, or with a cruise on the Nile. In most cases, these three parts are included in the mandatory program. Some tour operators include a visit to the perfume museum or papyrus production workshop, or other attractions in Cairo. Travelers return to Hurghada by midnight.

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If time permits, take a two-day excursion by bus: it is less tiring, and there are many times more impressions, because in two days you can also get to Alexandria, or wander around Cairo to your heart’s content.

The cost of the excursion in 2017 is 60-80 dollars per person. The price for a two-day excursion also depends on the cost of the hotel, starting from $120.

Flying to the pyramids by plane costs 3-4 times more, and traveling by bus costs from $200.

Organizational aspects

You should not travel to Cairo with preschool children and primary schoolchildren, it will be difficult for them to spend so much time on the bus. But for schoolchildren who are studying or are already familiar with the history of Ancient Egypt, it will be interesting to see with their own eyes what they read about in the textbook, to study living history much more interesting. There is another argument for teenagers: in the film « Transformers » : revenge of the fallen » Devastator destroys the Pyramid of Khafre, one of the pyramids from the Giza Plateau.

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There are different guides- someone enthusiastically recalls an Egyptologist with an excellent knowledge of Russian, and many tourists who bought a cheap excursion at a street excursion bureau sadly state that their guide spoke Russian with difficulty and could not answer the travelers’ questions.

Things that are best to take with you are a camera, sunscreen, a hat, comfortable shoes and water. You can buy water on the spot if you can negotiate a price, but it’s better to take it with you.

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An inflatable pillow may come in handy on the bus.(someone takes a pillow from the hotel). In winter, a warm jacket will be useful, especially if you plan to stay in Cairo overnight.

Lunch included excursion cost, but a strategic reserve, in case you want to have a snack, will not hurt - next to the pyramids, merchants offer mainly souvenirs and water.

The choice of location for lunch depends on the tour operator, usually a restaurant either on the banks of the Nile or overlooking the pyramids.

Sergey, 36 years old, writes in his review:

« The road from Hurghada was scary, but everything turned out to be quite comfortable, the bus was air conditioned, the road was smooth, we had pillows, so we managed to sleep on the way there and take a nap on the way back » .

Pyramids of Giza and Great Sphinx

The ancient Egyptians considered Giza the valley of death, but now it is the busiest place in Egypt. Tourists from all over the world are ready to endure a long journey for the sake of the pyramids; at the foot of the majestic structures you will meet like-minded people from all over the world: from Japan, China, the USA and Europe, even from Australia.

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You'll get around three main pyramids: Cheops, Khafre and Mikerin. In 2017, entry into the Cheops pyramid was allowed, but Only 300 tickets are sold daily, 150 of them in the morning, and another 150 in the evening. Only the most persistent lovers of Egyptology get there.

Tour groups can visit the Pyramid of Khafre. If it is important for you to visit the pyramid, check with the organizers in advance whether the visit is included in the program, and if not, whether you can pay for admission on the spot. The Pyramid of Mikerin, accessible in previous years, is closed to tourists in 2017.

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Around the main three pyramids there are more than a hundred smaller pyramids and temples.

In ancient times, the pyramids were covered with gold, but now the basalt lining is preserved only on the top of the Khafre pyramid, and all the gold from the pyramids was stolen by the French conquerors in the 19th century.

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Great Sphinx- ruler of the Nile and guardian of the pyramids, located at the pyramid of Khafre. The ancient Egyptians believed that the fertility of the fields depended on his mercy. Ancient sculptors gave the Sphinx a resemblance to Pharaoh Khafre. After restoration, which ended in November 2014, tourists are allowed to get close to the sphinx.

Review from Victoria, 25 years old:

« You definitely need to visit the pyramids, whether from Hurghada or from Sharm el-Sheikh itself, otherwise why go to Egypt at all! Bring plenty of water and something for breakfast. Don't be tempted to take a photo on a camel for free - getting off it can cost a hefty sum » .

Egyptian National Museum in Cairo

Egyptian Museum is located in the center of Cairo, on the way there there is an opportunity to observe the life of the metropolis. The museum is not crowded, but when the exhibits stored in it are brought to other countries, those who dream of seeing them are ready to spend the night in line just to see them. So take this opportunity, you can look in Cairo at sarcophagus and mask of Pharaoh Tutankhamun, mummies of other Egyptian pharaohs and other Egyptian treasures.

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Taking photographs in the museum is prohibited, even with a mobile phone. The caretakers are vigilant, and you can easily find high-quality photos of the exhibits on the Internet. So it’s better to see more in the allotted time. See « All » will not succeed - in the collection of the Egyptian Museum there are no less than one hundred and sixty thousand exhibits, reflecting five thousand years of the country's history.

Entrance to the hall with the mummies of the pharaohs is for an additional fee, which for tourists is 100 Egyptian pounds.

Olga, 37 years old, says:

« Stunning place, impressive collection of ancient artifacts. To explore the museum briefly, two hours is enough, but to wander around in style - even a day will not be enough. Before entering the museum, the guide gave us headphones so that we could hear his explanations, so we could have a good time. No wonder it took so long to travel from Hurghada » .

Additional objects

At the end of a busy day, the excursion arrives at Cairo museum or workshop, where local artisans demonstrate papyrus making technology or create perfume compositions.

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Some tour operators offer to visit Citadel and Alabaster Mosque of Muhammad Ali, or for an additional fee go on a walk along the Nile (cost is about $10).

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If you have chosen a two-day excursion, it is possible to go on evening cruise on the Nile, or admire music and light show at the foot of the pyramids.

Bring long sleeves on your excursion to the pyramids, a shawl is suitable for women so as not to get sunburned while walking through the pyramids.

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In Cairo, do not take anything from merchants, even if they swear that it is free. Deception of tourists is an important source of income for local residents.

Don't try to take pictures on a camel, if you really want to, ask someone to back you up so you can get off. Or get ready to pay for this « service » .

Sep 25, 2015 Kate