Giza Pyramids Camel Ride + Baksheesh Trap
The Giza Pyramids attract every layer of Egyptian tourist scam simultaneously. The most common: (1) camel/horse touts who quote $5, ride you 200m, then demand $50 to bring you back, (2) fake "official guides" or "tourism police" who demand baksheesh at every step, (3) "special access" offers to restricted areas that don't exist, (4) "photograph fees" for landmarks visible from public roads. The Egyptian Tourism Ministry issues periodic warnings but the scams evolve faster than enforcement.
How the scam works
- 1You approach the Pyramids entrance. Camel + horse touts swarm you: "Sir, camel to the Sphinx, $5 only!"
- 2You accept. Tout leads you 200-500m out into the desert away from the entrance
- 3At the "turnaround point", the tout stops the animal and says: "OK sir, now $50 for the return ride"
- 4If you refuse: he may leave the animal for you to walk back (in 40°C heat) OR summon "friends" who arrive with more demands
- 5Aggressive variant: fake "tourist police" in casual clothes approach + demand "fine" for entering "restricted" area
- 6Photography variant: after taking your camel photo, tout demands $10-30 for "photography permission"
Red flags — how to spot it early
- ⚠Anyone approaching you at the entrance offering "special deal"
- ⚠Prices quoted verbally in USD (real prices are in Egyptian Pounds — EGP)
- ⚠Being led anywhere away from the main pyramid complex
- ⚠Camel/horse handlers refusing to give a fixed round-trip price BEFORE mounting
- ⚠Anyone in casual clothes claiming to be "tourism police" — real Egyptian Tourist Police wear brown uniforms + carry ID badges
How to avoid it
- Buy tickets ONLY at the official Giza Plateau ticket office. Adult ticket: EGP 700 (~$14.50). Sound + Light show separate.
- REFUSE all camel/horse offers at the entrance. If you want a camel ride: book through your hotel or a licensed tour operator (Memphis Tours, IntoTours) at fixed price $20-40 for a proper 60-min guided ride.
- Ignore ALL unsolicited "guides" — hire a certified guide through your hotel or Egypt Tourism Authority at $30-60/day.
- Photography is FREE inside the site. Anyone demanding "photo fees" is scamming — walk away.
- Carry small denominations (EGP 5, 10, 20) for legitimate baksheesh (tipping) at bathrooms + minor site attendants ONLY. Not for "fake police" or aggressive touts.
If it happens to you
- →Camel trap: refuse to pay the inflated return fee. Say loudly "I will walk back to the entrance and report you to Tourist Police." Most touts back down.
- →If truly stranded: walk toward the pyramid complex where other tourists + security are visible. Don't follow the tout further into the desert.
- →Fake police: demand to see uniformed ID. If they can't produce it, walk to the main entrance + find real Tourist Police (brown uniforms).
- →Report to Egyptian Tourism Police: 126 or +20 2 2390 6028. Complaints logged even if enforcement is slow.
- →Post on Reddit r/egypt + TripAdvisor Egypt forum — public visibility forces the ministry to respond.
Documented in the wild
- ·Consistent reporting on r/travel + TripAdvisor + Lonely Planet since 2005
- ·Egyptian Tourism Ministry has run periodic "Clean Pyramids" enforcement campaigns 2016 + 2020 + 2023
- ·Camel scam variant featured in Netflix "Dark Tourist" (2018) — global visibility increased traveller awareness
Frequently asked
How much SHOULD a camel ride at the pyramids cost?
Legitimate 60-minute guided camel ride booked through hotel or licensed tour: $20-40 fixed round-trip price. Anything under $10 verbally quoted at the entrance is the setup for the scam. Get the price in writing before mounting.
Is the Giza Pyramids ticket price hidden?
No — clearly posted at the official ticket office. Adult: EGP 700 (~$14.50). Includes Great Pyramid exterior + Sphinx + all three pyramid complex. Great Pyramid interior: extra EGP 900. Sound + Light show: separate EGP 350. All prices in EGP at the official window.
What do REAL Tourist Police look like at Giza?
Brown uniforms with white belts + shoulder-boards showing rank. Carry visible ID badges. English signage on their uniform patches. Located at the main entrance + roving in the plateau. Anyone in plainclothes claiming to be "police" is not — walk away or find real uniformed officers.
Can I visit the Pyramids independently or need a tour?
Absolutely independently. Uber from central Cairo (EGP 200-400). Buy ticket at the gate. Walk the plateau at your own pace 2-4 hours. No tour required. Tours ADD value for context but the scam pressure at entry is manageable if you refuse ALL touts firmly.