Joel Varty
Riding camels toward the pyramids at Giza with beams of light hitting the tips

An Unexpected Trip to Egypt

Travelphotography

A customer insisted on an in-person onboarding in Egypt during the pandemic. What started as a business trip turned into camels at the pyramids, crawling into ancient tombs, and one of the most spiritually charged experiences of my life.

In August of 2021 we landed a customer in Egypt. They insisted on being on-boarded in person, which is not normal, especially with the pandemic still affecting travel significantly. My CEO Jon Voigt and I both ended up going. Luckily we were able to fly business class.

I'm glad I packed everything (including two suits!) in just my carry-on. Jon didn't get his luggage for a full day once we arrived.

We had an extra day to spend hanging around. Our hotel was right beside the pyramids at Giza, which was wild to see. Such a cool location, and a tourist trap if you aren't careful. We hired a guide and a van to drive us around.

The hotel pool with the Great Pyramid at dusk
The hotel pool with the Great Pyramid at dusk
The hotel grounds at night with the pyramid looming behind
The hotel grounds at night with the pyramid looming behind
Moonlight over the pyramids from the hotel garden
Moonlight over the pyramids from the hotel garden

That hotel is the same one many folks stayed at in the early 20th century. The photos and memorabilia really made you feel like you were some place special.

The Great Pyramid is everything you expect it to be. It was August, so very hot, but that meant very few other tourists.

At the base of the Great Pyramid
At the base of the Great Pyramid
All three pyramids from the desert
All three pyramids from the desert
With the Sphinx
With the Sphinx

My favourite part was riding camels out behind and seeing the structures from the desert side. When the beams of light hit the tips of the pyramid it felt like a direct connection to god somehow. Very spiritually charged place. I felt affected by it the whole time we were there and back at the hotel.

Jon and I on camels with the pyramids behind us
Jon and I on camels with the pyramids behind us
My camel wanted the spotlight
My camel wanted the spotlight

We travelled to the stepped pyramid at Saqqara on one of the first days that it was open as a park. It was nearly deserted except for the shooting of a music video promoting the place for TV. They had a fake dig all set up Indiana Jones style, which I found to be hilarious in the middle of the desert.

The Step Pyramid at Saqqara
The Step Pyramid at Saqqara
Ancient fluted columns at Saqqara
Ancient fluted columns at Saqqara
Stone passageway
Stone passageway
Hieroglyphics carved in stone
Hieroglyphics carved in stone

Jon and I crawled down into a deep tomb under the buildings beside the pyramid. Incredible wall art and an actual sarcophagus. Creepy, but worth going down. You really feel the weight of the years.

The entrance down into the tomb
The entrance down into the tomb
Painted wall reliefs still holding their colour
Painted wall reliefs still holding their colour
Detailed figures carved and painted into the walls
Detailed figures carved and painted into the walls
Standing next to wall art thousands of years old
Standing next to wall art thousands of years old
The sarcophagus deep underground
The sarcophagus deep underground
Jon and I doing our best to hold up the walls
Jon and I doing our best to hold up the walls

It was an unexpected trip. Once we got back to business (suits in 40 degree C heat!) it felt like a whole different place. What's funny is that even the locals have their own pet theories about how the pyramids were built.

Joel and Jon suited up for the customer meeting

I'm grateful just having been there to see them and feel the charged atmosphere around them.