Seeing the Pyramids from the outside is amazing, but there’s something about venturing inside which just feels that bit more adventurous. Many people will tell you there’s not much to see inside, and in some ways that’s true. There aren’t any elaborate artwork or dramatic pillars - this is one of those experiences which is all about the journey and not the destination.
But what a journey it is. You’re heading deep into an ancient tomb, via steep stairways and low passages. It’s hot and tight in places, but you never lose sight of the fact you’re inside the pyramid, and that’s a very cool feeling. We loved it, and ended up heading inside five different pyramids.
In this guide we’re going to share what each one is like to help you choose the right one for you, from the most adventurous to the easiest.
What it’s really like going inside the Pyramids
Which Pyramids you can go inside
There are only ever two pyramids open to go inside at Giza. One of these is always the Great Pyramid, Khufu’s, and then it alternates between Khafre’s Pyramid (the second largest) and the Pyramid of Menkaure (the third largest).
In addition to this, you can visit other pyramids located between 30-45 minutes from Giza, all of which you can go inside. The outer pyramids were actually our favourites, they are a lot quieter and the experience is more rustic and adventurous. There is also one pyramid tomb you can enter which is very easy, and suitable for anyone who can’t manage the steep slopes found in the Pyramids of Giza.
It’s worth noting that if you suffer from claustrophobia you may struggle in all but the step pyramid at Saqqara. Each pyramid has tight spaces, although some are much tighter than others - all of which we’ll detail below.
Going inside the Pyramids
Inside the Great Pyramid of Giza
Cost: 600 EGP (USD $20)
Difficulty: Moderate
Let’s start with the most famous pyramid of them all, and the one that most people will opt to go inside: the Great Pyramid of Giza.
For this reason it’s by far the most expensive option, and more expensive than the entry ticket to the whole pyramid complex.
You’ll start by climbing up a few large stone steps to reach the entrance on the northern face. You’ll then walk through a long passage (50m) with a reasonably high ceiling height.
At the end of the passage is where you’ll begin the climb. You’ll take a couple of stairs up to a narrow passageway which has a steep wooden ramp, with slats to make your footing easier.
There are handrails on both sides and the floor is not slippery. You’ll encounter two way traffic, and unless you visit first thing when the Pyramids open, it is likely to be pretty busy. Passing people isn’t the easiest, but you can shimmy on by. This is where it starts to get hot because there’s plenty of body heat!
The narrow passageway soon ends and you’ll enter the Grand Gallery.
You’ll have a break from hunching over, but you do keep going uphill. After climbing up a few metal rungs, you’ll start ascending a wooden ramp. It doesn’t take too long to climb the ramp, but it is pretty steep, so if you’re not used to walking up hills you might be out of breath.
Once you’re at the top you have another passageway to walk through. The ceiling height is relatively low and you’ll have to hunch.
It only takes a minute and then you’ll be standing inside the tomb itself.
By this point I was seriously hot, and dripping in sweat, but it was still exciting. I’d love to have gone in the early morning and had a chance to experience it without the crowds, but it was good fun nevertheless.
The tomb itself is a relatively large chamber with a very high ceiling. There is a large stone sarcophagus, which doesn’t have any of the ornate detail you’ll find on some in the Valley of the Kings. There will also be a tomb guardian inside making sure that people don’t step on it etc. We were allowed to photograph the chamber, but not film it, however rules on this kind of thing change regularly in Egypt.
The chamber is low lit, but you won’t need any additional light source, and to be honest, there isn’t anything to see. It’s all about using your imagination and picturing where you actually are, inside the ancient monument.
When you’re ready to leave, you just retrace your steps back the same way.
Inside Khafre’s Pyramid - the second largest pyramid at Giza
Cost: 100 EGP (USD $4)
Difficulty: Easy - moderate
Khafre’s Pyramid is the second largest pyramid at Giza, but it’s considerably cheaper to go inside. For that reason, if you don’t mind about not going inside the biggest pyramid, then you get a similar experience for 1/4 of the price.
Unfortunately, it is still incredible busy, as a lot of people want to take advantage of how much cheaper it is.
In terms of experience, you’ll start by walking to the entrance on the northern wall of the pyramid.
It’s one of the few pyramids where you don’t start by climbing up to the entrance. From the entrance you’ll begin heading downhill immediately.
It’s on the same wooden ramp with slats that you’ll find in every pyramid, but for the one at Saqqara. It’s a 35m climb down the narrow passage, where you’ll need to hunch due to the ceiling height. You have the same issue with two way traffic, and we did see some people turn around here because of claustrophobia. However, this passage is shorter than many of the others, so it’s a slightly easier option.
You then have a 10m passageway where you can actually stand upright, before a 35m climb uphill on another wooden ramp. For half this time you can stand up.
The final passage is 30m long and you can stand upright again. For me the whole walk through felt much quicker and easier than the Great Pyramid. It was also considerably less hot - whilst still being warm!
Once you’re inside the chamber you’ll see a sarcophagus again. Unlike the Great Pyramid, photos were being encouraged inside the sarcophagus itself, which felt a bit weird!
I didn’t enjoy the experience inside the tomb so much because of it. It was hard to get a look at the sarcophagus because people were posing for selfies inside it the whole time. We didn’t end up staying long. The only other notable thing inside the tomb was the graffiti by Giovanni Belzoni, who discovered the tomb in 1818.
On leaving the tomb you exit the same way you came in.
Inside the Red Pyramid
Cost: Free with general entry
Difficulty: Moderate to hard
You’ll need to travel 45 minutes outside of Giza to reach the Red Pyramid, but you’ll be richly rewarded if you do.
Not only will you find a much, much quieter complex, but the experience going inside the Red Pyramid is much more rustic than the Pyramids of Giza.
You’ll begin by climbing for 150m up a stone staircase to reach the entrance. You’ll then begin your descent. It’s steeper and the ceiling is lower than any of the Pyramids at Giza.
The wooden ramp is the same, but you don’t get a break in the ceiling height halfway through, it’s low to the very end. If you have a backpack you’ll want to put it on your front or you won’t fit down the tunnel!
As with the Pyramids at Giza there is two way traffic, but there are considerably less people, so it’s not so much of an issue. It is however, just as hot as the Great Pyramid and by the time we finished descending we were already dripping in sweat - although I was foolishly wearing a jumper!
Clothes-wise for both the Red and Bent Pyramids, we’d recommend wearing something that is cool and also that you don’t mind getting dusty as you need to crouch much more.
After reaching the bottom of the ramp, you’ll walk through a short tunnel before reaching a chamber with a good ceiling height. You’ll then pass through another short tunnel before arriving at a series of wooden staircases heading uphill.
After climbing them you’ll have one more short passage at head height before you reach the tomb. Unlike the Pyramids at Giza the chamber is very small and there is no sarcophagus. It’s basically a pile of rubble after being raided in the past.
Once you’re ready, you head back the same way. It’s harder going up, not just because it’s steep, but because it’s a less comfortable hunch when heading uphill.
You can read more about visiting the Dahshur Pyramids in our detailed guide.
Inside the Bent Pyramid
Cost: Free with general entry
Difficulty: Hard
The Bent Pyramid is all your Indiana Jones fantasies come true. This is by far the most exciting pyramid to enter in our opinion, but it’s also the most tiring.
We felt so lucky to be able to go inside the Bent Pyramid at all, because it has been closed for decades and we met an Egyptologist who had made 50 trips to Egypt and it was the first time he’d seen it open!
You’ll start by climbing several staircases up to the entrance of the tomb. This is fun in itself because you get some great views.
You then reach the entrance and it’s a long way down into the depths of the pyramid, where you guessed it, it’s stifling hot.
It’s steeper and has a lower ceiling than Red Pyramid. I bumped my head three times because I couldn’t quite get the right level of hunch for long enough.
The descent lasts for 200m, but it felt like longer simply because you had to crouch so much!
As you descend, you see the light of the outside world get further and further away and I remember thinking a power cut here would be the stuff of horror movies! However, it feels really exciting and I loved the fact you are allowed to go down at all, and without a guide!
Once you’ve completed the steep descent you’ll have several staircases to climb, the ceiling height is high here, so uncrick your back because the lowest section is yet to come.
The first tunnel at the top of the stairs is low, but you can walk through hunched. The second was so low so that I ended up crawling on my hands and knees.
I am sure it didn’t last long, but it felt longer due to the hard stone floor!
After this you’ll reach a passage with a high ceiling before you climb the last few stairs up into the tomb. Again there is no sarcophagus, but it’s not entirely empty! You will find a colony of tiny bats roosting on the walls. Happily they’re just roosting on the walls, not flying around the chamber!
I love bats, but I think after all the crouching and tight spaces arriving to a room of flapping bats would be too much!
Once you’re ready to leave, it’s the hardest exit route of any of the Pyramids. The first bit is fine, but the climb out is steep and the low ceiling is tricky. I alternated between climbing up hunched and simply crawling. I’ll admit to needing to stop a couple of times and rest on the slats.
Soon enough you’ll see daylight again and can celebrate venturing through such an incredible pyramid.
Inside the Pyramid of Djoser (step pyramid)
Cost: 100 EGP (USD $4)
Difficulty: Very easy
If you have any trouble with steep slopes or claustrophobia, this is the one for you. You’ll have to venture 30 minutes outside of Giza, but the trip combines perfectly with a visit to the Red and Bent Pyramids, which are only 12km away.
Going inside the step pyramid is very easy. After walking down a couple of wide well maintained stairs to the entrance, It’s just a flat 50m walk to the tomb.
The ceiling is at head height and the way is paved. You’ll reach a large grand tomb, but there is no sarcophagus.
It’s well lit and quite unlike any of the pyramids experiences mentioned above. If you’re looking for an adventure you will be underwhelmed, but if you’d like to see inside a pyramid and shudder at the enclosed spaces in the ones mentioned above, then this is a great option.
Where to stay in Giza
Guardian Guesthouse
Few hotels in the world have a view that can rival Guardian Guesthouse. Situated just metres from the entrance to the pyramid complex, the best rooms here have head on Sphinx views, with the pyramids behind it. Sunset from the room is simply magical and you can even get a free glimpse of the sound and light show in the evening from the hotel rooftop.
It’s also one of the few places in Giza that is almost entirely away from the car horns and engine noise of Giza, as it’s tucked away beside the Sphinx, which is completely dead when it’s closed. The rooms are dated, but clean and comfy enough.
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Marriott Mena House
The Marriott Mena is what pyramid dreams are made of. This historic hotel is situated within walking distance of the entrance to the Pyramids and has hosted some of the most famous people in the world, including US Presidents, movie stars, writers and musicians.
The view from the grounds are spectacular, with Khufu’s and Khafre’s pyramids overlooking the green oasis of Mena House.
If you’ve got the budget, this is the place to stay in Giza.
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