Camel rides at the pyramids at a glance
Camel rides are offered around the Giza plateau, usually as a short ride for photos or a longer route with the pyramids in view. They are optional. You do not need a camel to reach the monuments: since the new visitor system, electric shuttles carry visitors across the site.
There is no single fixed tariff that you can quote at the start of a ride, so the whole deal is between you and the operator. Ask for the total in EGP, for how many people and animals it covers, how long and how far the ride goes, and where it ends, before you get on. If you prefer to have all that settled in advance, Giza pyramids tours show the price and what is included before you pay.
Our picks: camel rides at the pyramids
Our take: booking the ride as part of a tour avoids negotiating on the plateau. The sunrise tour is the coolest time of day, the private tour includes lunch, and the most booked tour adds the plateau entry.
Hand-picked tours, booked through GetYourGuide. Prices are indicative starting prices in US dollars (as of October 2026). Tap a tour for live availability and the current price in your currency.
Sunrise at the pyramids with a camel ride and breakfast
- One-hour camel or horse ride
- English-speaking Egyptologist
- Breakfast
An early start for the cooler hours, with a one-hour camel or horse ride and breakfast. The plateau ticket depends on the option.
Check availability →
Private pyramids tour with a camel ride and lunch
- Private English-speaking guide
- Camel ride on the plateau
- Lunch
Your own guide and car, a camel ride on the plateau and lunch. The plateau entry depends on the option.
Check availability →Private pyramids and Sphinx tour with a camel ride
- Giza Plateau entry
- Egyptologist guide
- Camel ride, 10 or 30 minutes
The most booked private tour: plateau entry, an Egyptologist and a camel ride in one booking. The inside of the pyramids is extra.
Check availability →Camel rides and desert tours at the pyramids
Camel rides, sunset rides and tours that include one, with live prices and availability.
What to ask before you ride
Settle these points before you mount. A written note on your phone is better than a spoken promise.
| Question | Why it matters |
|---|---|
| What is the total in EGP? | A price per animal and a price per person are different things. Ask for the full amount for your group. |
| How many people and animals? | Group prices are not per-person prices. Check what the amount covers. |
| How long, how far, where does it end? | Fix the duration, the route and the return before you start. |
| Are photos and tips extra? | Photo help and tips are common extras. Ask whether they are included. |
| Does the ride include the plateau ticket? | The plateau ticket (EGP 700 for foreign adults, EGP 350 for students, 2026) is a separate cost. |
For most visitors who want a ride, the simplest route is to settle everything in advance, or to choose a booked option where the total is shown before payment.
Where the animals work now
Since April 2025 the plateau has a new entrance on the Fayoum Highway south of the pyramids, and camel and horse operators were moved into designated areas. Confirm your meeting point with the operator before you ride. Do not follow someone who says a gate is closed without checking at the official ticket control.
If a person approaches you before you have decided to ride, a clear no is enough. Do not accept a photo or a lead rope as a favour, as a payment may be asked for afterwards.
Animal welfare
In October 2025 the organisation PETA published allegations of thin animals, untreated wounds, beatings and too little water and shade, and asked for an end to tourist animal transport. This is the view of an animal protection group, not a survey of all operators.
The redesign of the plateau had better treatment of animals as one of its goals. That does not by itself show that every operator meets a welfare standard, and a high price is not a guarantee. Look at the animal: water, shade and a calm handler are signs you can see yourself. You decide whether to ride at all.
See the plateau without an animal
Use the shuttle
Electric shuttles move visitors across the plateau. The shuttle is part of the plateau ticket.
Pyramids tickets →Take a guided tour
A guided half-day or full-day tour covers the pyramids and the Sphinx with transport arranged.
Giza tours →Visit the Sphinx on foot
The Sphinx is part of the normal plateau visit. Walk, take photos and keep your day flexible.
The Great Sphinx →Camel ride at the pyramids: frequently asked questions
How much does a camel ride at the pyramids cost?
There is no single fixed tariff to quote. Agree the total in EGP for your group, the duration and the route before you get on, and ask whether photos and tips are extra.
Do I need a camel to see the pyramids?
No. Electric shuttles carry visitors across the plateau, so a ride is an optional extra.
Is the plateau ticket included in a camel ride?
Do not assume so. The plateau ticket costs EGP 700 for foreign adults and EGP 350 for students in 2026. Ask what the ride price covers.
Is a camel ride safe for the animals?
Animal protection groups have raised concerns about thin animals, wounds and too little water and shade. Look at the animal, ask about water and shade, and decide for yourself.
Where do camel operators wait now?
Since the new visitor system, they work in designated areas. Ask at the ticket control or with your guide where to find them.
Is this website the official source for camel rides?
No. This is an independent guide. Operators set their own terms, so confirm every detail before you ride.