Egypt is an amazing, incredible, once-in-a-lifetime, bucket list destination. It’s also confusing, intimidating, and kind of wild in a lot of ways! To make your experience a little easier and a lot more enjoyable, I’d like to put this on your radar: Take the VIP experiences that exist. One of the best VIP experiences? Definitely the VIP Pyramids Experience! Here is everything you need to know so you can decide for yourself if it’s worth your while on your own trip to Egypt.
General Admission to Giza Plateau and Sphinx
Whether you’re visiting Egypt for the first time or the 100th time, you’re probably visiting the Pyramids. And you should! They’re the only surviving Wonder of the Ancient World, and they’re arguably the most iconic, most famous, most recognizable monuments in the world. If you visited before April 2025, you will notice a vast difference in the experience now. It’s much more organized and less scammy (no scammers allowed within the complex–hooray!). However, it’s the most popular site in all of Egypt, so it’s still chaotic and crowded. You could be waiting in the ticket line, in the sun, for a very long time before you even get into the complex.
That’s where the VIP Experience is helpful. If you’re not into waiting in a scrum, you have the option to bypass it (more on the VIP Experience below). If you do choose to take the general admission route, the good news is, you will still see the Pyramids and Sphinx! The bad news is, you’ll be doing it on foot in the heat and blazing sun, so you may not want to spend as much time at each site as you normally would, and you will regret that later.
More here: The Best Tips for Visiting Egypt with a Baby
The Lounge
This is such a great benefit of the VIP Pyramids Experience. There is a beautiful, air conditioned lounge exclusively for VIP ticket holders. Upon arrival, you can indulge in a variety of juices, soft drinks, and coffee while you relax in cushy chairs and await your chariot (aka golf cart) to take you to the sites. We also hired a tour guide for our day, separately from the VIP Experience, and this is where we met her. We bypassed the crowded general admission entrance and rolled right up to the lounge entrance. No wait, no hassle, no crowds. It was so refined, especially after experiencing the previous Pyramids admission office on our first visit nearly three years prior. Believe me, this is a totally different vibe!
Read on: What It’s Like Taking a Baby on a Nile Cruise
Getting Around the Complex
Sure, you can walk around the complex. In the heat. With no shade. No breeze. Hope you left your cute shoes at home! Or, you could be chauffeured among the sites on an open-air gold cart, complete with chilled water available. This was a game changer for us, especially visiting with a wearable baby! The shade and breeze alone made this completely worthwhile for us. My daughter, on the other hand, thought it was a snooze. And I’m so glad!
Keep reading: What to Know Before You Visit Cairo
Highlights of the Experience
Because we had the benefit of mobility thanks to the golf cart, we were able to see everything, from the Great Pyramid to the Sphinx, in just couple of hours. We didn’t have to rush ourselves at any of the sites, giving us time to truly enjoy the experience and make positive memories. If you’ve visited the pyramids before April 2025, you’ll notice a massive difference in the general experience, too. No more private cars permitted, no scammers allowed! We got unhassled photos with Pyramids, Sphinx, camels, and more; we got to go inside the Great Pyramid; and we got to do it all without wishing we’d sprung for the VIP Experience.
Read next: The Ultimate List of Things You Can’t Do in Egypt
Luncheon
Think afternoon tea, Egyptian style. Your VIP Experience at the Pyramids will also include a lovely lunch of canapés, sandwiches, and sweet treats! The food was delicious, and there was plenty to share. You can choose to have the luncheon before or after your visit to the sites, depending on your VIP time slot and how hungry you are upon arrival. We began our experience at 11:00am, and came back to a lovely luncheon by 2:00pm.
Keep reading: The Best Things to Do in Three Days in Cairo
The Price
Here’s the catch: The general public can’t book the VIP Pyramids Experience. That’s how exclusive it is! You’ll have to go through a reputable travel agency like my favorite, Egypt Elite (I don’t even get a commission for referring you!). If your Egypt travel agency can’t book the VIP Pyramids Experience, you’re either out of luck or need to find a different agency (you’ll be glad you did, if you can).
The difference in price is significant, so that may be a determining factor. General admission is 700 EGP per person ($15 USD, as of December 2025). The VIP Pyramids experience is 6,240 EGP per person ($130 USD as of December 2025). Baby girl got in for FREE!
Essential info: Why You Should Go to Egypt with Egypt Elite
Want more? Check out my dedicated Egypt Page!
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