Camel Ride at the Pyramids
A short camel ride along the desert edge at Giza to the panoramic viewpoint — the classic approach, arranged so nobody haggles.
About this experience
The camel ride at Giza has a reputation, and it is largely deserved: the plateau is one of the more persistent places in Egypt for touts, and an unarranged ride can turn into a negotiation halfway across the sand. Arranged properly, it is something else. A short ride along the desert edge takes you to the panoramic viewpoint where all three pyramids line up, on a route that is quieter than the road and has been used to approach Giza for as long as anyone has been coming here. Twenty to thirty minutes is genuinely enough — long enough for the view and the photographs, short enough to stay comfortable.
What to expect
Meeting the handler at an agreed point on the plateau, with the price already settled
Mounting while the camel is seated — it stands back legs first, so you lean back, then forward
A walk along the desert edge with the pyramids on one side and open sand on the other
Time at the panoramic point where all three pyramids align for photographs
Dismounting the same way, then continuing the visit on foot or by vehicle
Good to know before you go
- Everything is arranged and paid in advance through us — no negotiation on the sand, and no pressure for extras
- The mount and dismount are the unsteady moments; the handler holds the animal throughout
- Long trousers are far more comfortable than shorts, and closed shoes keep the sand out
- Not advised in pregnancy or with back or hip problems; a horse-drawn carriage is a gentler alternative
- If an animal looks thin or poorly kept, we do not use that handler — tell your guide and it will be changed on the spot
Good to know
Is a camel ride at the Pyramids worth it?
For most first-time visitors, yes — but keep it short. Twenty to thirty minutes along the desert edge to the panoramic viewpoint gives you the approach and the photographs without the ride becoming uncomfortable. Its reputation suffers mainly from unarranged rides that turn into haggling, which is avoided when it is booked in advance.
How much does a camel ride at Giza cost?
When arranged through us it is priced into your itinerary in advance, so there is no negotiation on the plateau and no pressure for extra payments partway round. Prices quoted on the sand to walk-up visitors vary enormously, which is the source of most complaints.
Are the camels at the Pyramids treated well?
It varies by handler, which is precisely why we work with specific ones. We do not use handlers whose animals are thin, sore or poorly equipped, and if you are unhappy with the condition of an animal, tell your guide and it will be changed immediately.
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