Dealing with Vendors at the Great Pyramids

It's hard to blame a bloke for wanting to make money off of the parade of visitors to Giza, and in fact, the vendors on the plateau do actually offer some interesting trinkets, opportunities to ride camels (or get your picture taken with one, if you don't want to actually climb aboard one), and cold drinks. The only real difficulty is extreme aggressiveness of their sales pitches. You'll enjoy your visit more if you try to take the vendors on your own terms.

How to Avoid Buying Things at the Pyramids

When you're approached by a vendor, your best bet is to ignore him, or brush him off. Don't try to be polite, don't try to engage him in conversation, don't tell him where you're from, and don't try to explain why you don't want what he's selling. Vendors at Giza know their banter in many different languages, and they're very good at it. They'll offer you free gifts "for luck" (don't take these gifts – the next step is to make you feel obliged to give them something for luck, like a dollar or two), or they'll have a cousin in the exact same city you were born in, what a coincidence!

A sharp "no thank you," regardless of what the vendor tells you, is your best bet, especially if you keep walking while you say it. If you get targeted by a particularly aggressive vendor and can't seem to shake him, raise your voice and say "Kifeya!" (Pronounce it 'kuh-FAY-uh'; it's Arabic for "enough!"). If you honestly look as though you're not in the slightest bit interested in buying things, vendors will usually take the hint and look for someone else to sell to. Don't worry about missing out on a great deal or a unique item; most of the vendors sell the same sorts of things.

How to Buy Things at the Pyramids

When you're ready for a camel ride or a souvenir, approach a vendor. A camel ride is good fun and the photos of you on a camel wearing "Lawrence of Arabia" headgear are priceless. Pictures of you on a camel are best taken close to the pyramids. As for post cards, scarab beetles, and other trinkets, there is a small ridge up the road from the pyramids themselves from which you can get a striking panoramic view of all three of the main pyramids. The best souvenir vendors sell their wares from this ridge.

Don't forget that all prices are negotiable, and bargaining is expected. Vendors and camel men will start the negotiation with incredibly high prices. Keep in mind that won't actually sell you something for a loss, so you can bargain them down as low as you have the time and energy for without feeling guilty. Bargaining is a game, and a fun one if you get into the spirit of it. If you aren't in the mood for the game, however, don't feel bad if you pay a higher price than someone else. As long as you stick within your personal budget for souvenirs (and there are many very affordable mementos available), you should feel free to cut off the negotiations whenever you cease to enjoy them.

Fortunately, due to renovation of the plateau currently underway, the swarm of agressive vendors may soon be a thing of the past. Meanwhile, the most important thing is that you don't let the vendors disrupt your visit to one of the most fascinating places on earth. Say no firmly, and yes playfully, and the vendors can be part of the great experience of Giza.

An off duty camel rests by Khufu's pyramid

Print Article

Email Article

View All Articles

How to subscribe to feeds