• The Great Pyramid of Giza is located on the Giza Plateau. EPA
    The Great Pyramid of Giza is located on the Giza Plateau. EPA
  • The hidden passage discovered inside Egypt's Great Pyramid remains off-limits to travellers. AFP
    The hidden passage discovered inside Egypt's Great Pyramid remains off-limits to travellers. AFP
  • Diners at 9 Pyramids Lounge have unrivalled views of the three pyramids in the Giza Plateau. Photo: Orascom Pyramids Entertainment
    Diners at 9 Pyramids Lounge have unrivalled views of the three pyramids in the Giza Plateau. Photo: Orascom Pyramids Entertainment
  • An installation by Italian artist Lorenzo Quinn, entitled Together, faces the pyramids at the ancient Giza necropolis . Photo: Patrick Baz/ Art Degypte
    An installation by Italian artist Lorenzo Quinn, entitled Together, faces the pyramids at the ancient Giza necropolis . Photo: Patrick Baz/ Art Degypte
  • Tourists surround the Great Pyramid of Khufu (Cheops) at the Giza Pyramids necropolis. AFP
    Tourists surround the Great Pyramid of Khufu (Cheops) at the Giza Pyramids necropolis. AFP
  • A horse-drawn cart in front of the plateau in Giza. Reuters
    A horse-drawn cart in front of the plateau in Giza. Reuters
  • Travellers can book hotels close to the last intact ancient wonder of the world, with views of the pyramids guaranteed. Photo: Le Meridien Pyramids Hotel and Spa
    Travellers can book hotels close to the last intact ancient wonder of the world, with views of the pyramids guaranteed. Photo: Le Meridien Pyramids Hotel and Spa
  • An art installation, dubbed Dreams in Giza, at the Giza Plateau in October 2022 as part of Forever Now by Art d’Egypte. Photo: Patrick Baz / Art Degypte
    An art installation, dubbed Dreams in Giza, at the Giza Plateau in October 2022 as part of Forever Now by Art d’Egypte. Photo: Patrick Baz / Art Degypte
  • Aircraft at the Pyramids Air Show in August 2022. Reuters
    Aircraft at the Pyramids Air Show in August 2022. Reuters

Egypt’s Great Pyramid: Everything travellers need to know about visiting the ancient site


Hayley Skirka
  • English
  • Arabic

Built on the orders of the pharaohs thousands of years ago, the Great Pyramid of Giza continues to reveal its secrets.

On Thursday, scientists shared the discovery of a corridor inside the 4,500-year-old structure at an unveiling ceremony held at the Giza Plateau.

The previously hidden corridor is the latest discovery of the ScanPyramids project, a mission made up of heritage experts from Cairo University and the French Heritage Innovation Preservation Institute.

The secret corridor discovered inside the Great Pyramid of Giza. EPA
The secret corridor discovered inside the Great Pyramid of Giza. EPA

As Egypt’s most-visited attraction and the last remaining intact wonder of the ancient world, the great pyramids are shrouded in mystery with little consensus on how the giant structures were built.

The discovery of the concealed tunnel could lead to more findings on the construction of the pyramids, according to science journal Nature.

For curious travellers planning a trip to Egypt's pyramids, here's everything you need to know.

How do you get to Egypt's Great Pyramids?

There are plans to introduce electric buses to transport visitors through seven stations around the Giza Pyramids plateau. Photo: Orascom Pyramids Entertainment
There are plans to introduce electric buses to transport visitors through seven stations around the Giza Pyramids plateau. Photo: Orascom Pyramids Entertainment

The Great Pyramid of Giza — also known as the Pyramid of Cheops or Khufu — sits beside the pyramid of Khafre and the pyramid of Menkaure, which make up the Giza Plateau.

The pyramids are located on the western outskirts of Cairo, and the easiest way to reach the destination is by car — whether that's via taxi, Uber or a private driver.

Public transport is available via the metro, with the nearest station to the pyramids on Al Haram Road. From here, it’s a short taxi ride or local bus trip to the site.

Once on-site, tourists can walk around the ancient structures or hop on one of the first batch of e-buses designed to take visitors through seven stations around the plateau.

There are also hotel options in the vicinity of the Giza Plateau, where travellers spending the night can simply walk across the desert to the pyramids.

What’s inside the Great Pyramid of Giza?

Ticketed tourists are allowed inside the pyramids in the Giza Plateau, but there's not lots to see inside. Reuters
Ticketed tourists are allowed inside the pyramids in the Giza Plateau, but there's not lots to see inside. Reuters

Despite the discovery of the hidden corridor inside the Great Pyramid of Giza, travellers need to lower their expectations a little before visiting the historic tomb, as most parts of the inner sanctums of the historic structure remain off-limits to tourists.

What visitors can see is the King's Chamber, Queen's Chamber and Grand Gallery. The King's Chamber is where Khufu was believed to have been buried. The only item in the room is the monarch's sarcophagus, hollowed out of a block of granite. Despite there not being too much to look at, it's fascinating to see the towering pyramid's strong structure from within.

No photography is allowed inside the tomb and tourists should be aware that it gets rather hot as there is no air conditioning inside.. Venturing into the tomb is not recommended for anyone who has claustrophobia.

Can I climb to the top of the pyramids in Giza?

Travellers cannot climb to the tops of the pyramids.

While visitors used to be able to roam freely around the structures, authorities introduced a ban on the activity back in the 1950s, although it wasn't always enforced then. That's not the case today.

In 2016, teenage tourist Andrej Ciesielski received a lifetime ban from Egypt after posting photos and videos of his pyramid climb on social media.

In 2019, a law banning climbing on Egypt's antiquities was introduced, carrying with it penalties of at least one month in prison and fines of more than $6,000. Despite this, tourists often try to stand on the lower rows of the pyramid stones for photographs.

How much does it cost to visit the pyramids?

Prices to visit the Great Pyramid of Giza are a reasonable 240 Egyptian pounds ($7.8) for tourists, with students able to enter at half that price. It's worth noting that this rate doesn’t include access to the tombs — a separate entrance fee applies to enter inside any of the pyramids.

Tickets to the Great Pyramid cost Dh52.50, while Khafre and Menkaure tickets are Dh12 each.

When is the best time of year to visit the pyramids?

Tourists visit the Giza Plateau, home of the Great Pyramids of Giza, EPA / Khaled Elfiqi
Tourists visit the Giza Plateau, home of the Great Pyramids of Giza, EPA / Khaled Elfiqi

Open daily from 7am to 4pm, the pyramids are best seen from October to April, when the weather is not too warm. The site is open to tourists year-round, but travellers visiting in summer will want to avoid the mid-day heat.

What else can travellers see there?

The Sphinx is lit up in front of the Great Pyramids during the sound and light show at the Giza Pyramids plateau. EPA
The Sphinx is lit up in front of the Great Pyramids during the sound and light show at the Giza Pyramids plateau. EPA

After visiting the three pyramids and the nearby Great Sphinx of Giza, travellers who want to explore further can scout out the plethora of tombs, temple ruins and smaller-sized pyramid structures dotted around the desert plateau.

The 9 Pyramids Lounge is the only on-site restaurant and has built a name for itself as the place to dine if you want lunch served alongside Instagram-friendly vistas of Egypt's ancient treasures.

After the daytime viewing closes, the Giza Plateau comes alive with a night-time light show that illuminates the historic structures. Telling the tale of ancient pharaonic legends, it projects images on to rock faces and uses the pyramids as an awesome backdrop. Tickets cost about $20, but the show is also visible from several rooftops surrounding the site.

For great photo opportunities or an alternative light-show viewing without a steep price tag, try the nearby KFC and Pizza Hut, where a rooftop terrace offers picture-perfect vistas of the ancient wonders — accessible for the price of a piece of fried chicken.

The inside tip

Avoid riding camels around the Giza Plateau . AP Photo
Avoid riding camels around the Giza Plateau . AP Photo

Avoid riding the camels and donkeys that wander around the Giza Plateau. Not only are you likely to be asked to pay a hefty fare, but you will also be spending your tourism dollars for supporting activities using wildlife where the welfare of the animals cannot be verified.

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Test squad: Azhar Ali (captain), Abid Ali, Asad Shafiq, Babar Azam, Haris Sohail, Imam-ul-Haq, Imran Khan, Iftikhar Ahmed, Kashif Bhatti, Mohammad Abbas, Mohammad Rizwan(wicketkeeper), Musa Khan, Naseem Shah, Shaheen Afridi, Shan Masood, Yasir Shah

Twenty20 squad: Babar Azam (captain), Asif Ali, Fakhar Zaman, Haris Sohail, Iftikhar Ahmed, Imad Wasim, Imam-ul-Haq, Khushdil Shah, Mohammad Amir, Mohammad Hasnain, Mohammad Irfan, Mohammad Rizwan (wicketkeeper), Musa Khan, Shadab Khan, Usman Qadir, Wahab Riaz 

INFO

Visit www.wtatennis.com for more information

 

RACE CARD

6.30pm: Maiden (TB) Dh82,500 (Dirt) 1,200m

7.05pm: Maiden (TB) Dh82,500 (D) 1,900m

7.40pm: Handicap (TB) Dh102,500 (D) 2,000m

8.15pm: Conditions (TB) Dh120,000 (D) 1,600m

8.50pm: Handicap (TB) Dh95,000 (D) 1,600m

9.25pm: Handicap (TB) Dh87,500 (D) 1,400m

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Global Fungi Facts

• Scientists estimate there could be as many as 3 million fungal species globally
• Only about 160,000 have been officially described leaving around 90% undiscovered
• Fungi account for roughly 90% of Earth's unknown biodiversity
• Forest fungi help tackle climate change, absorbing up to 36% of global fossil fuel emissions annually and storing around 5 billion tonnes of carbon in the planet's topsoil

The Facility’s Versatility

Between the start of the 2020 IPL on September 20, and the end of the Pakistan Super League this coming Thursday, the Zayed Cricket Stadium has had an unprecedented amount of traffic.
Never before has a ground in this country – or perhaps anywhere in the world – had such a volume of major-match cricket.
And yet scoring has remained high, and Abu Dhabi has seen some classic encounters in every format of the game.
 
October 18, IPL, Kolkata Knight Riders tied with Sunrisers Hyderabad
The two playoff-chasing sides put on 163 apiece, before Kolkata went on to win the Super Over
 
January 8, ODI, UAE beat Ireland by six wickets
A century by CP Rizwan underpinned one of UAE’s greatest ever wins, as they chased 270 to win with an over to spare
 
February 6, T10, Northern Warriors beat Delhi Bulls by eight wickets
The final of the T10 was chiefly memorable for a ferocious over of fast bowling from Fidel Edwards to Nicholas Pooran
 
March 14, Test, Afghanistan beat Zimbabwe by six wickets
Eleven wickets for Rashid Khan, 1,305 runs scored in five days, and a last session finish
 
June 17, PSL, Islamabad United beat Peshawar Zalmi by 15 runs
Usman Khawaja scored a hundred as Islamabad posted the highest score ever by a Pakistan team in T20 cricket

Skoda Superb Specs

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Who's who in Yemen conflict

Houthis: Iran-backed rebels who occupy Sanaa and run unrecognised government

Yemeni government: Exiled government in Aden led by eight-member Presidential Leadership Council

Southern Transitional Council: Faction in Yemeni government that seeks autonomy for the south

Habrish 'rebels': Tribal-backed forces feuding with STC over control of oil in government territory

War and the virus
The five pillars of Islam

1. Fasting

2. Prayer

3. Hajj

4. Shahada

5. Zakat 

Manikarnika: The Queen of Jhansi

Director: Kangana Ranaut, Krish Jagarlamudi

Producer: Zee Studios, Kamal Jain

Cast: Kangana Ranaut, Ankita Lokhande, Danny Denzongpa, Atul Kulkarni

Rating: 2.5/5

The Breadwinner

Director: Nora Twomey

Starring: Saara Chaudry,  Soma Chhaya,  Laara Sadiq 

Three stars

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Engine: 2.0-litre 4cyl turbo

Power: 248hp at 5,200rpm

Torque: 400Nm at 1,750-4,000rpm

Transmission: 8-speed auto

Fuel consumption: 9.1L/100km

On sale: Now

Price: From Dh149,900

The specs: Aston Martin DB11 V8 vs Ferrari GTC4Lusso T

Price, base: Dh840,000; Dh120,000

Engine: 4.0L V8 twin-turbo; 3.9L V8 turbo

Transmission: Eight-speed automatic; seven-speed automatic

Power: 509hp @ 6,000rpm; 601hp @ 7,500rpm

Torque: 695Nm @ 2,000rpm; 760Nm @ 3,000rpm

Fuel economy, combined: 9.9L / 100km; 11.6L / 100km

Factfile on Garbine Muguruza:

Name: Garbine Muguruza (ESP)

World ranking: 15 (will rise to 5 on Monday)

Date of birth: October 8, 1993

Place of birth: Caracas, Venezuela

Place of residence: Geneva, Switzerland

Height: 6ft (1.82m)

Career singles titles: 4

Grand Slam titles: 2 (French Open 2016, Wimbledon 2017)

Career prize money: $13,928,719

Dust and sand storms compared

Sand storm

  • Particle size: Larger, heavier sand grains
  • Visibility: Often dramatic with thick "walls" of sand
  • Duration: Short-lived, typically localised
  • Travel distance: Limited 
  • Source: Open desert areas with strong winds

Dust storm

  • Particle size: Much finer, lightweight particles
  • Visibility: Hazy skies but less intense
  • Duration: Can linger for days
  • Travel distance: Long-range, up to thousands of kilometres
  • Source: Can be carried from distant regions
The biog

First Job: Abu Dhabi Department of Petroleum in 1974  
Current role: Chairperson of Al Maskari Holding since 2008
Career high: Regularly cited on Forbes list of 100 most powerful Arab Businesswomen
Achievement: Helped establish Al Maskari Medical Centre in 1969 in Abu Dhabi’s Western Region
Future plan: Will now concentrate on her charitable work

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2.30pm: Maiden (PA) Dh 40,000 (D) 1,000m
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4pm: Sheikh Mansour bin Zayed Al Nahyan Cup Prestige Handicap (PA) Dh 100,000 (D) 1,200m
Winner: Jawaal, Fernando Jara, Majed Al Jahouri.

4.30pm: Handicap (TB) Dh 40,000 (D) 1,200m
Winner: Manhunter, Ryan Curatolo, Mujeeb Rahman.

Mercer, the investment consulting arm of US services company Marsh & McLennan, expects its wealth division to at least double its assets under management (AUM) in the Middle East as wealth in the region continues to grow despite economic headwinds, a company official said.

Mercer Wealth, which globally has $160 billion in AUM, plans to boost its AUM in the region to $2-$3bn in the next 2-3 years from the present $1bn, said Yasir AbuShaban, a Dubai-based principal with Mercer Wealth.

Within the next two to three years, we are looking at reaching $2 to $3 billion as a conservative estimate and we do see an opportunity to do so,” said Mr AbuShaban.

Mercer does not directly make investments, but allocates clients’ money they have discretion to, to professional asset managers. They also provide advice to clients.

“We have buying power. We can negotiate on their (client’s) behalf with asset managers to provide them lower fees than they otherwise would have to get on their own,” he added.

Mercer Wealth’s clients include sovereign wealth funds, family offices, and insurance companies among others.

From its office in Dubai, Mercer also looks after Africa, India and Turkey, where they also see opportunity for growth.

Wealth creation in Middle East and Africa (MEA) grew 8.5 per cent to $8.1 trillion last year from $7.5tn in 2015, higher than last year’s global average of 6 per cent and the second-highest growth in a region after Asia-Pacific which grew 9.9 per cent, according to consultancy Boston Consulting Group (BCG). In the region, where wealth grew just 1.9 per cent in 2015 compared with 2014, a pickup in oil prices has helped in wealth generation.

BCG is forecasting MEA wealth will rise to $12tn by 2021, growing at an annual average of 8 per cent.

Drivers of wealth generation in the region will be split evenly between new wealth creation and growth of performance of existing assets, according to BCG.

Another general trend in the region is clients’ looking for a comprehensive approach to investing, according to Mr AbuShaban.

“Institutional investors or some of the families are seeing a slowdown in the available capital they have to invest and in that sense they are looking at optimizing the way they manage their portfolios and making sure they are not investing haphazardly and different parts of their investment are working together,” said Mr AbuShaban.

Some clients also have a higher appetite for risk, given the low interest-rate environment that does not provide enough yield for some institutional investors. These clients are keen to invest in illiquid assets, such as private equity and infrastructure.

“What we have seen is a desire for higher returns in what has been a low-return environment specifically in various fixed income or bonds,” he said.

“In this environment, we have seen a de facto increase in the risk that clients are taking in things like illiquid investments, private equity investments, infrastructure and private debt, those kind of investments were higher illiquidity results in incrementally higher returns.”

The Abu Dhabi Investment Authority, one of the largest sovereign wealth funds, said in its 2016 report that has gradually increased its exposure in direct private equity and private credit transactions, mainly in Asian markets and especially in China and India. The authority’s private equity department focused on structured equities owing to “their defensive characteristics.”

Director: Laxman Utekar

Cast: Vicky Kaushal, Akshaye Khanna, Diana Penty, Vineet Kumar Singh, Rashmika Mandanna

Rating: 1/5

Updated: March 03, 2023, 1:59 PM