Egypt Adventures: Part 1
15 October 2026 | Giza, Egypt
There are some places in the world you see in photographs, watch in documentaries and dream about visiting. But nothing quite prepares you for the moment you actually stand in front of them.
The Great Pyramids of Giza were one of those places for me.
I’d only just arrived in Egypt the day before, and already I was about to experience something I’d wanted to see for years.
And what an experience it turned out to be!
That first glimpse of the pyramids
I was on an organised small-group tour from Cairo when the pyramids first came into view.
I remember looking up and thinking, “Wow. Look at that!”
It was almost surreal. Like something out of a movie, except there I was, actually looking at the real thing.
You see pictures of the pyramids your whole life, but until you’re standing there, you don’t appreciate just how enormous they are.
And the thought that these incredible structures were built thousands of years ago, without the machinery we have today, is absolutely mind-boggling.
The Great Pyramid of Khufu is the only surviving one of the Seven Wonders of the Ancient World.
And there I was, standing right in front of it.
Sometimes I have to remind myself that this is actually my life now.
A camel ride with a rather spectacular backdrop!
Before heading inside the Great Pyramid, I decided that if I was going to visit Egypt, I was absolutely going to have a camel ride!
I mean, how often do you get the opportunity to ride a camel with the pyramids behind you?
The ride cost me US$15, plus another US$1 for the camel handler.
Was it touristy? Of course it was!
Did I care? Not one little bit.
There I was, on the back of a camel, with one of the most famous sights in the world behind me.
It’s one of those moments I’ll look back on and think, I’m so glad I did that.
And naturally, I had to get the photographs to prove it!
Going inside the Great Pyramid
Now, seeing the pyramids from the outside is one thing.
Actually going inside the Great Pyramid of Khufu is something else altogether.
The entrance ticket was an additional cost on top of my tour, but I wasn’t going all that way and missing the opportunity.
Inside, you’re walking through narrow stone passages, with steep sections leading towards the King’s Chamber.
And then there’s the chamber itself, surrounded by enormous granite blocks and containing the granite sarcophagus.
It’s difficult to comprehend the age of everything around you.
Thousands of years of history, and you’re standing right in the middle of it.
There aren’t glittering treasures or decorated walls waiting for you inside. The experience is much more about the extraordinary construction and the realisation of where you are.
For me, that was more than enough.
And that wasn’t even the whole day!
Our tour also took us to the magnificent Great Sphinx, the Step Pyramid at Saqqara and the ancient city of Memphis.
Each place had its own incredible history.
At Saqqara, I saw how different the Step Pyramid looks compared with those at Giza. Our guide explained how pyramid construction developed over time, and it was fascinating seeing those differences for myself.
Memphis had another wonderful collection of ancient remains, including the enormous statue of Ramses II.
We also enjoyed an excellent Egyptian buffet lunch.
Our guide, Amir Mounir, was fantastic. Knowledgeable, friendly and full of stories that made the ancient history come alive.
And then there was the Cairo traffic!
Honestly, the traffic deserves a story of its own. Cars, motorbikes and all sorts of vehicles seemed to make up their own road rules. I even spotted a horse standing in the back of a ute!
You couldn’t make some of this stuff up.
A few tips if you’re planning to visit
Having done the tour myself, here are a few things I’d recommend:
- Take a hat and sunscreen. I didn’t have either, and you really do need protection from the sun.
- Check what’s included in your tour. Entry to the Great Pyramid’s interior can cost extra.
- Wear comfortable, supportive shoes. There’s plenty of walking, and the passages inside the pyramid include steep, confined sections.
- Take some small cash. It’s handy for tips and optional activities such as camel rides.
- Don’t rush. Give yourself time to stand there and take in what you’re looking at.
I booked my small-group tour through Viator, operated by OceanAir Travels, covering Giza, the Sphinx, Saqqara and Memphis.
It was a fantastic way to experience several major ancient sites in one day, especially with a knowledgeable local guide explaining everything along the way.
Thinking of visiting the pyramids yourself?
Affiliate disclosure: This post may contain affiliate links. If you book through one of my links, I may earn a small commission at no additional cost to you.
Would I do it again?
Absolutely!
Egypt was somewhere I’d wanted to visit for such a long time, and standing in front of the Great Pyramids was every bit as extraordinary as I’d hoped.
From the moment I first spotted them to that camel ride and walking inside the Great Pyramid, it was a day I’ll never forget.
There’s something rather wonderful about reaching this stage of life and discovering that there are still so many new adventures waiting for you.
And the best part?
This was only the beginning of my Egyptian adventures.
Come along for the ride.