One of the most advertized tourist “things” around the pyramids is the Sound and Light laser show — a display of flashy laser pictures, lights, and excrutiatingly cheesy narration
The show is worthwhile, if only to see the pyramids and the sphinx lit dramatically against the night sky. But, you definitely have to cringe at bit at the hammy overacting of the English version. The show is produced in several languages, so I have no idea if the others are as stiffly done.
The show is performed three times daily, each in a different language, so be sure to choose the one that you understand. Actually, in restrospect, I would suggest going to the one you can’t understand…it might be just as fun!
| Monday | English | French | German |
| Tuesday | English | French | Italian |
| Wednesday | English | French | |
| Thursday | Arabic | English | Japanese |
| Friday | English | French | |
| Saturday | English | Spanish | |
| Sunday | French | German | Japanese |
The show is staged from the plateau, where they set up what seems like acres of chairs. Make sure to go early, or you’ll end up sitting in the back behind the busloads of tourists who will be whisked through the gates. This is especially important if you want to try to take pictures with a tripod, as we did. We ended up sitting behind a group of italian travelers, and couldn’t see a thing until we bullied out way to the edge of the row.
It gets surprisingly cold sitting there during the show, which starts with a monologue by the Sphinx, called the “father of terror”. It outlines the history of the pyramids, sphinx, and temples and how the mummification rituals were performed here before burial.
They have recently upgraded the show to include some spiffy laser pictures of the interiors of the pyramids, and it is worthwhile to brave the booming voices and melodramatic music to see the “light” part of the show.
After the show, we spent about half an hour giggling over the spectacle of it all, and vowed never to do that again. We almost missed out on the truly spectacular sound and light show at Abu Simbel (which shouldn’t be missed) because this one was just so…cheesy. I’m glad that we went, but be warned that this is not for serious art/culture buff.