Okay, let’s ignore the fact that the Ancient Egyptians didn’t actually ride camels — the desert animals are still something that comes to mind when you picture those stately monuments.  For many, a trip to the Pyramids of Giza just wouldn’t be complete without a camel ride.  Unfortunately, if you want to ride a camel at the Pyramids, it isn’t as easy as just waiting in line, buying a ticket, and trotting away.  In fact, it can be downright infuriating.

Many camels aren’t treated well

To a certain extent, this is cultural — and I try very hard not to judge other cultures.  What’s normal for me may be looked at as utterly bizarre to someone else.  For example, Americans may be horrified to learn that people in some countries eat dogs, while people in other countries may be shocked to find out that Americans eat pigs.

I’m not saying that every Egyptian treats animals poorly.  Not by any stretch.  However, the condition and treatment of some animals in Egypt can be upsetting to certain tourists.  If you don’t want to ride a camel, then don’t.  I can totally understand why someone wouldn’t want to feel like they’re contributing to the “camel riding industry.” 

Want to ride a camel at the Pyramids?  It’s also transportation

You see that picture above?  It’s pretty far from the entrance, and walking across sand isn’t easy.  And in order to get good pictures of the Pyramids, you’re going to have to get some distance from them.

What most people do is head to an area called Panorama Point.  You can walk there on the road, or you could pay extra for your cab driver to take his car inside the complex.  He can wait for you and drive you along the road that runs around the perimeter.

I wouldn’t recommend heading out on foot in the heat unless you’re prepared.  If you want to get the necessary distance to take pictures, I think you’d probably want to to go across the sand so you can stop when you think you have a good angle, instead of being tied to the road.  And for me, riding a camel seems like a good fit.

Of course, if you choose to go this route, it wouldn’t hurt to look around for a camel you think is being treated well, and be sure to tell the owner that’s why you chose that camel.

Be specific, be specific, and be specific

So you’ve made your decision: You’re going to ride a camel at the Pyramids, but you aren’t sure where to begin.

There’s good news: there’s a ton of camels around.  You’ll be approached by quite a few people offering you rides.  This puts you in the driver’s seat.  It’s always easier to negotiate when there’s another camel and another owner just a few feet away.

As the title says, you want to be specific in what you’re paying for.  You want to ride a camel to a certain location, you want to take pictures while you’re on the camel, you want to get down and take pictures, you want to get back on the camel and be brought back to where you got on. 

The Internet is full of people complaining about being told later that the cost was only for the ride out, or that you didn’t pay to take pictures, and so on. 

There’s even a few reports of people being told by owners pretending to be completely surprised, making ridiculous claims of “I thought we were negotiating in dollars, not Egyptian pounds!” 

I don’t think anyone has seriously thought it was going to cost $300 for a couple of people to ride camels for half an hour.

I would just tell them you want to ride to Panorama Point.  You can even show them a couple of pictures of the area you mean, but they should be more than familiar with your request.

Now, you’ll likely see signs posted around the area saying something like “Camel Ride Government Price” with something like “500 LE” on it.  I don’t know who put these up, but my guess is that the camel owners paid someone to allow them.  You do not have to pay this much. 

How much you want to pay is up to you, but I think about 150 Egyptian Pounds per person is fair.  The same haggling tips I’ve given hold true here: If you don’t like the price, just walk away. 

The owner will come after you if he wants to accept your offer.  If not, there’s always another camel.

Some people have taken the more “hardcore” technique of recording their final statement of what they’re paying for and what the cost is — if you want to do that, feel free. 

Personally, I get the impression that by being specific, you’re letting the owner know that you’re aware of the common tricks and won’t fall for them.

Everything worked fine for me, although I was talked into giving a “tip” for the guy who actually led the camels out to the spot.  I think this is fair, as he wasn’t the owner and was the person doing the actual work.

A final note: Riding a camel isn’t like riding a horse.  It’s not comfortable, and you’re much higher up.  And be sure to hold on tight as the camel gets up and down.  Falling off would probably bring a quick end to your dream trip.

Note: Everything I say here is my own personal opinion, and may not work best for everyone. I’m far from an expert, so please just do whatever is best for you, and be sure to visit the TripAdvisor Forums to ask questions and do some more research!