heymo

It seems there is no end to the amount of questions I have before our trip!

I'm wondering about whether or not I should consider going inside the pyramids if it's available. I would not consider myself claustrophobic, and even though I'm slightly overweight, work out frequently. Could anyone share their experience, either good or bad?

thit_cho

While there is nothing to see inside the large pyramid at Giza (and that's what I assume you are referring to), why not enter -- it doesn't take long, and its interesting to see the inside (how precisely the stones fit). The corridor is narrow and you'll need to stoop, but its not particularly steep or very long. While its not nearly as interesting as the inside of the tombs in Luxor, I'm just not sure why you would travel that far and not venture into the pyramid.

heymo

I agree...my thought is to go ahead and go in any I can.It's a trip of a lifetime and I don't want to miss a single experience. But I have a male friend who I thought was fairly adventurous tell me there was no way I should even attempt it...he said it was too tight a quarters.

sandi

There's always the "why not, I'm here already." And though we didn't, others we met, said they wouldn't do it again "your back and legs will thank you." So it's up to you.

RBCal

I did it and was glad I did. One thing that surprised me was how hot it is. I thought since it was underground it would be cooler.
The first part of the descent is the worst. Once your get past it it is much easier. It is very claustrophobic but you will kick yourself later if you don't do it.

gail

I am somewhat claustrophobic but there was no way I was sitting on a plane for 12 hours and not going into a pyramid. Different ones are open different times. To get into the one we went into required walking up the rocky entrance with uneven rock stairs - I am not in great shape, but it was fine, if a little unbalanced feeling.

Once inside you could stand upright and walk along a passageway that was lit and wide enough for one lane of people in either direction. It slanted upward.

Then the passage to the actual burial chamber - you had to walk stooped over up some winding stairs in a very narrow space - not wide enough for 2 people. I went part way up and claustrophobia got the bettter of me - so my family went and I stayed inside pyramid at bottom of that passage. They reported top was equivalent of a flight of stairs up and dumped you into an empty room - then back down.

In my opinion you have to go inside the pyramid. There was something other-wordly about being inside, knowing the history and sensing the antiquity of it all. Before we went I had this draw that I had to touch a pyramid with my children. It was almost a spiritual experience to be inside - can't promise the same for you.

heymo

Thanks for your personal experiences with this. I know it may seem silly to ask other people whether you should or shouldn't do something, but that's what these forums are for, right?

I've wanted to see the pyramids since I was a kid, I just can't imagine NOT going in. Like you said Gail, just to be inside one, knowing the history is truly an experience in itself. I felt that way when I climed to the top of a Mayan pyramid in Belize, and again standing in front of the painting of the Last Supper in Milan.

jasher

Hello,

Personally, I'd give it a pass -- I went into the pyramid when I was in Egypt in March and it was extremely hot, humid, and claustrophobic, and there was nothing to see once you got inside. (Admittedly I might have felt differently if I hadn;'t been stuck behind a couple who were apparently trying to set a record for 'slowest ascent' -- by the time I got out of the tunnel my back was killing me from being hunched over for so long).

If you do go in, note that the guards won't let you take your camera, so you'll either have to leave it with them or station one of your party outside as a camera guard. And bring a torch -- when I got inside and turned mine on, all the tourists made a beeline for me as none of them had brought one.

Cheers,
Julian

heymo

I suppose the issue with the camera could be a problem...my husband and I are on a private tour. Not sure leaving it with a guard would be such a good idea. Good to know though...thanks Julian.

jasher

Hello,

I didn't want to leave my camera (a brand-new 20D) with the guards either, so my sister and I took turns going into the pyramid. I'm not quite sure why they won't let people take cameras inside, as there aren't any wall paintings which could be damaged by flashes, etc.

Cheers,
Julian

dssxxxx

I did and I wouldn't again.

You won't miss anything.

RBCal

"You won't miss anything"

Except for wondering the rest of your life what you missed.

heymo

dssxxxx- Might I be so bold as to ask why you didn't like it? You seem to have such a strong opinion about it I was curious...

Max69

Are children allowed to go inside?
My children will be 15 & 17.
Someone told me that kids were not allowed to go inside pyramids and that has me worried. I don't want them to miss out.
Has anyone heard such a thing?

gail

We were in Egypt in 2001 with our kids - then 12 and 15 - everyone went inside pyramid and everywhere else, including various tombs, Nile cruise, etc.

ShayTay

I chose not to go into the pyramid and spent my time examining the exterior of it, instead. From what my traveling companions said, I didn't miss anything, but that's the one question everyone asked when I got home: Did you go inside? As the others have said, you won't see much and will be uncomfortable, but it's an "experience" and will have to decide if it's one you want.

heymo

Thanks, ShayTay for your input. I think I will wait until I get there and make my decision at that time. I don't want to have something I will regret not doing!

gail

Just remember - you don't have to follow the passage way all the way in - you can wait or leave if you start to feel uncomfortable.

My only claustrophobic paranoid moment involved me thinking about what would happen in an earthquake, a thought that gave my family a great laugh since Egypt is not in a known earthquake area and the pyramids have been around for so many years, I think they are probably architecturally sound

sandi

gail -

That had been my thought - Earthquakes - and felt as you, "not in Egypt." Sure enough, and I still have the newspaper, there had been a small "rock 'n roll" in Egypt a day or two before we arrived. It was written up in the Jordanian paper from where we had been prior arriving Cairo.

Apparently, earthquakes do happen. But, like you, felt those darn pyramids had been there some 5,000 years, they'd still be standing... though you never know.

Max69

Thanks Gail.
That is a relief. It would have been awful if our kids had to stay outside after we travel across the ocean to get there.