Pyramid of Cheops Egypt. Excursion to the pyramids in Egypt From Hurghada to the pyramids

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.

www.flickr.com/m1key-me

Far from the Red Sea, colorful fish and All Inclusive, you will touch structures whose age is measured in millennia and 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.

www.flickr.com/atphotography

Usually a bus tour from Hurghada to Cairo departs after midnight, and by 9-10 am the bus, having been stuck in traffic jams on the Cairo streets, 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.

www.flickr.com/marwamorgan

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; studying living history is much more interesting. There is another argument for teenagers: in film « Transformers » : revenge of the fallen » Devastator destroys the Pyramid of Khafre, one of the pyramids from the Giza Plateau.

www.flickr.com/moodykell

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.

www.flickr.com/hmoong

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 is included in the excursion price, 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.

www.flickr.com/touncertaintyandbeyond

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.

www.flickr.com/future15

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.

www.flickr.com/132084522@N05

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.

www.flickr.com/discopalace

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.

www.flickr.com/jlascar

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

www.flickr.com/thegaffneys

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.

www.flickr.com/koadmunkee

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

For the vast majority of the inhabitants of our planet, Egypt is associated with the pyramids. Hundreds of thousands of tourists visit one of the Seven Wonders of the World every year. You will definitely remember this excursion for the rest of your life, and not only because of the ancient buildings. There are a number of not very pleasant moments for tourists, which it is better to know about in advance.

Excursion cost

The cost of a trip to Cairo depends on two factors: where you are coming from and what you are traveling with.

Closest way to get there:

• from Hurghada – 457 km
• from Taba you will have to cover a distance of 495 km
• Sharm El Sheikh – 576 km

A visit to this excursion is “minus a day” from your vacation. Excursion to Cairo" includes:

• visit to the Cairo Museum
• perfume museum
• sponsor shops (where would we be without them!)

The price may be affected by the type of transport. Bus trips are organized from Hurghada, and you can also get there by plane from Sharm El Sheikh. Prices in 2019 are as follows:

• From Hurghada - $60 ($40 for a 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

How tiring is the journey to Cairo?

You will set off at night (approximately around 1:00). The bus will have certain amenities, but climate control works more or less tolerably only in the European climate.

In the conditions of Egypt, where even at night in the season it is +25, the cabin will be hot, sweaty and humid. In some places you will have to poke the driver with a request to turn on the air conditioner at full power and catch the cold air with your face. In this situation, by 7-8 am you will reach the suburbs of Cairo, where you will join a caravan that, under armed guard, will proceed to the Egyptian pyramids.

Closer to noon, under the scorching sun, majestic pyramids will appear before your eyes. Unfortunately, in reality they are not at all so impressive, but the photographs turn out to be valid in any case.

After visiting the pyramids, you will definitely visit a couple of sponsorship points:

• perfume shop
• papyrus shop

The Cairo Museum is the most interesting and valuable in this excursion.

At the Cairo Museum you will plunge into the atmosphere of ancient Egypt. You will see a huge number of interesting exhibits, golden masks and sarcophagi of the pharaohs and much more.

When a museum comes to European cities with an exhibition, kilometer-long queues line up, but you will have the opportunity to visit the entire exhibition.

The excursion to the Egyptian pyramids is very grueling. It will be very difficult for children, because by the end of the day they will not be at all interested in which pharaoh ruled from 9 to 18 years old, but gained worldwide fame (his name was Tutanhot). Since 2018, excursions to Cairo from Hurghada can be booked on an individual basis. In this case:

• Russian-speaking guide will work only with your group
• separate transport
• the route and program will be slightly different for the better

It is better to buy a tour directly from your tour operator. It’s better to overpay a little, but reserve the right to cancel the insurance if problems arise or the quality of the trip is poor. Still, 500 km with an Egyptian driver at the wheel is no joke.

If possible, try to find out more information about the guide on the spot. Local traders will assure you that they have almost a purebred Russian as a guide, so it is better to ask tourists before your vacation or at the hotel. A good guide plays a very important role on such a long trip.

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 the 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, we didn’t have time to examine these objects - I spent the whole day on them, from morning until late evening, and even then we were not able to fully enjoy the cultural heritage of 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 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 do 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 sensible 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 interesting places, shops and cafes in the area of ​​the hotel where they can eat inexpensively in Cairo , and don’t take unnecessary risks. If this prospect does not suit you, I will give you some useful advice: you should gather your balls and behave like the locals. 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 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: we handed over the camera, but we 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 haven’t thought to stock up on a good guide to 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 lazy people 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 the famous wonder of the world is to 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 Arabic numerals look like 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. It is probably this factor that 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, I was not able to perfectly plan an independent excursion around 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. 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 Mykerinus, and then leisurely wandered back, fortunately 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 excursion around Cairo remained unfulfilled, and an extremely important one. 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 number was limited, so free and more or less clean places were 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 remember if not for a funny episode that happened 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. Nobody 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 Giza pyramids on your own, you need to take buses 355 and 357; the “intermediate” route 356 takes you to the air harbor. He was just waiting for us at the right place, we paid the last 4 pounds for 2 tickets and prepared to say goodbye with 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 run 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 appear, we became somewhat nervous. Fuel was added to the fire by a taxi driver who appeared from nowhere, who, smiling joyfully, started up 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, the hike 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. European cities will become exactly like Beirut or Cairo: dirt, hordes of Arabs, graffiti-covered houses, oases of cleanliness 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, if we put jokes aside, then, summing up the results of my independent trip to 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. To try means to get to Solovki on your own or to go from Irkutsk to Olkhon Island, that is, to have a little fun. After such preparation, the realities of 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 somehow became 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 anytime soon. The Emirates may be okay, but Jordan or Lebanon? Excuse me! As the classic said: “I don’t go here anymore...”

And the Great Sphinx, boat trips to the coral islands, a trip on a submarine or in an aquastor. A special highlight is the jeep ride through the desert, as well as the opportunity to see the starry sky, stars and planets through a telescope.

It is possible for tourists to see all the delights of the underwater world by diving into the underwater world with a mask and scuba gear to a depth of twenty meters. The underwater world is captivating with its uniqueness and exclusivity, which itself is unique in the Red Sea of ​​the northern hemisphere of the Planet. The purity and transparency of the water in the sea has been maintained for a long time, which is due to the absence of various rivers flowing into the Red Sea of ​​Egypt.

Tourists are offered a trip to the Arabian Nights Palace, which has long acquired the status of a legend. The palace was built in the style of Disneyland with an eastern bias. Every evening the palace hosts theatrical performances that have become classics of oriental style.

The presence of all kinds of attractions and monuments allows tourists to see a lot of tourist excursions, which can be visited both in groups and individually. Let's look at each of them similarly.

Excursion to Cairo

Excursion to Luxor

This excursion is carried out by leaving Hurghada by bus, but the journey will take more than 5 hours. This city is constantly growing and today its population has reached one million people. In ancient times, the capital of Egypt was located in this city. Luxor later received the nickname "City of Palaces". It is here that the Temple of Razmesa 2 is located, the temples of many pharaohs, including Hatshepsut, as well as the Columns of Memion. There is a museum and a temple in Luxor, which was built in ancient times during the time of Razmes III.

Approximate tour time: 05:00-22:00

Program: Colossi of Memnon, Temple of Hashepsut, Valley of the Kings, tombs, Temple of Karnak, Banana Island, lunch.

Excursion to Memphis, Saqqara, Dahshur

This excursion will introduce you to the two oldest necropolises of the ancient capital of Egypt, Memphis - Sakarra and Dahshur, which are historically no less significant than other famous sights of Egypt. Saqqara is 17 km away. south of Giza and was founded as a necropolis at the capital of the Old Kingdom of Memphis.

Approximate tour time: 01:00-22:00

Program: The step pyramid of Djoser, the “wrong” and northern pyramid of Dahshur, the ancient capital of Egypt - Memphis.

Memphis is the ancient capital of Egypt, one of the oldest cities in the world. Here you can see the remains of a giant sculpture of Pharaoh Ramses II, the temple of the embalming of the sacred bull Apis and an alabaster sphinx from the era of Amenhotep III. After Alexandria was founded, Memphis began to decline. Now the city is practically under a thick layer of silt; its excavation is hampered by the high groundwater level.

Dahshur is another necropolis of Memphis, located 10 km. south of Saqqara. There are two pyramids here - the so-called Inclined (broken) and Northern. The leaning pyramid got its name because of its appearance. At first they began to build it with an inclination of 55 degrees, but then, realizing that the pyramid would be unstable, they changed the angle of inclination and completed construction at a less acute angle - 44 degrees. The uniqueness of the pyramid is that part of its cladding has been preserved.

What to take with you: warm clothes, hat, comfortable shoes, sunscreen, water, pillow from the room, money.

Cairo + Alexandria (2 days)

Approximate tour time: 01:00-22:00

Hello! We had the opportunity to go on the “Utopia” excursion with our guide Mof Landius. Mof works excellently and with dignity, he does not chase quantity, he works efficiently! Organization of excursions 10 points out of 10! Everyone was given attention and everyone was given instructions. We swam in the open sea with a mask and fins (all provided on excursions) among many fish, and we were taken to the island of Utopia itself by a boat with a transparent bottom. We also had free time! Guys, a professional photographer will go with you on this excursion, from whom you can then order a photo. If you are used to comfort, if you want an exciting experience, then only Mof Landius is your place! You can find him on the Internet, via Viber or WhatsApp, or on Facebook! he will answer you immediately! EVERYTHING IS ONLY TO HIM! The prices will pleasantly surprise you!
09.02.19 Christina

21.01.19 Said

Hello.. If you are or will be on vacation in Hurghada, you can call me on this number +201064006810 or write to me on Viber or WhatsApp every day from 10 am to 9 in the evening.. I myself work as a guide on excursions to Luxor and Cairo and I can happily organize any excursion for you in Hurghada... My prices are reasonable... 35$ per person to Luxor.. 35$ Cairo.. Sea excursions 20$ on average... With us your vacation will be unforgettable
12.05.15 Tatiana

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 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 inspect 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 ones - the pyramids of Cheops, Khafre, Mikerin, Djoser and Sneferu. You will also certainly see the guardian of all large pyramids - the figure of the 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.