To visit the pyramids in ginza/egypt march 1st. People say it is cold inside. Request advise in regards to dress while touring the Great Sphinx, pyramids, cairo as well as luxor/aswan, etc during the very end of this february and early march-first week. thank you. jdg

Cold? I thought I would suffocate from the heat and I was there in December. They only open one pyramid at a time. The walkway is only about 3 feet high(one meter) so you will have to hunch over as you walk in. Once you get in it's very stuffy and there is absolutely nothing to see. But if you just want the experience of going into a pyramid then get there early to get a ticket and go for it.

In Cairo you will need a light jacket at night but during the day I think you'll be comfortable. Ladies should always cover knees, shoulders and cleavage. I don't recommend sandals because sand and rocks can get into your shoes. I wore gray pants and I was sorry because they got so sandy. It would be better to wear lighter colors if possible.

PS If you would like to read weather stats here is a good site:

www.weatherbase.com

I agree with P_M - never ever heard anyone refer to the pyramids as cold inside. In fact most are surprised to find they are as warm and humid as they are.

Personally, I vote to go inside the Red Pyramid in Dashure if you have the option. The Giza (or Ginza) ones are too expensive, too popular, can't take a camera, and plan on having someone butt in your face and someones face in your butt. <oh my!>

Humid and musty are the words that come to mind - not cold.

And I agree about the Red Pyramid. We were the only ones in it and it was pretty neat!

It's also crazy hot inside the Valley of the Kings tombs. I always thoguht when you dug down deep into the earth it was cold, like caves. Definitely not so!

It is not cold inside, hot and humid. Going inside the Red Pyramid is great, we were the only ones there. We also went into the Khafre's Pyramid at Giza and were the only ones in it also. We couldn't take a camera in either of the pyramids. In February (we went in 2006) we needed a light jacket in Cairo and on the Nile cruise.

Julie

Sooo not cold, you emerge wringing wet from sweat. Especially the great pyramid where you're nose to rump climbing in a steady line of tourists - very humid situation!

very helpful. thank you

LAleslie, I would have thought the same, it would be cool like caves. But when you have a lot of people in a confined space w/o ventilation, that spells hot and humid. I could only stay in there a few minutes, it was so hard to breathe.

One other thing for the OP to consider. If you have any clausterphobia at all you might want to nix this. As several of us have mentioned, the walkway is very small and you will walk quite a distance in this space. Just something to consider in case this is a concern for you.

Enjoy your trip.

An enterprising Egyptian man was making a bit of money selling scraps of cardboard to the tourists so they could fan themselves in one of the Valley of the Kings tombs.
Take one of those Chinese fans that folds up really tiny-- you can get them at Cost Plus.
I had my umbrella for shade, and I was popular with a few overheated folks.
Do go into one of the pyramids. It's a weird walk down all hunched over, but just take a deep breath and keep walking down the ramp/steps.
When you reach the chamber you will be able to stand up. Coming back up isn't as bad since you can see and you know where you are going and how far it is.

When we went the Great Pyramid was like a sauna. The attendant inside directed us to sit down against the wall and after a few minutes we cooled down from the hike up the ramp and got accustomed to the heat and had a pleasant sauna-like experience. The Red Pyramid was awful. The smell of ammonia was overpowering and we tasted it for several hours afterwards. I am curious whether anyone has experienced anything similar.

Can you now take cameras into the Red Pyramid in Dashure?

johlh - Technically no, but probably yes. Your guide may say no because of the technicality, but usually it only takes a tip at the doorway to get the guard to look the other way.

I think I'll pass and not go in a pyramid.. a bit too squeezy for my liking.