When you’re in Cairo, don’t miss visiting the camel market at Berqash and seeing all the beautiful colored camels. The Route of the Tour You will be taken to the Souqal-Gamaal, a camel market in Cairo, before daybreak on Friday morning. Hundreds of camels were brought through the shifting sands from Libya, Sudan, Somalia, and Aswan, only to wind up pulling at the pyramids or dangling by their hooves in a slaughterhouse.
Its largest camel market in Egypt, 35 kilometers northwest of Cairo, on the outskirts of the western desert, is a stark contrast to Cairo city life. It is Egypt’s largest of its kind, and individuals from all walks of life, as well as traders, flocked there to purchase reasonably inexpensive and guaranteed healthy meat.

Foreign visitors from all over the globe visit this famous market because they want to view the greatest gathering of camels after seeing the Pharaonic ruins (the ship of the desert).
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Reviews of Camel Market at Berqash
- You have to experience this! Catherine: The camel market at Berqash was one of the highlights of my visit to Cairo. When I read about it, I knew I had to go. It all seemed so chaotic. The camels are mainly sold for their meat, so keep this in mind if you are a vegetarian. I had a driver with a guide to get there. The drive through the countryside to get there was also worth it. Ladies..take a scarf to wear, dust is being kicked up everywhere.
- The easier way to Get there by bus or car from the city center ! by Belal: Camel Market at Birqash is Just a 45 minute (60km) drive away from Cairo, take a bus from Tahrir station, that goes to Nazlet el Mansoriah (the ring Road). Down the stairs, you will find cars waiting for riders to go to the market Market ticket for foreigners = 50 EGP / free for Egyptians
- Go whenever, doesn’t need to be Friday: Theotherbart111: We grabbed a cab and asked to be taken to the camel market in Birqash. Two hours later, our driver found it. The trip there was as interesting as the market itself. We went on an off day, I think it was Saturday.We were the only people there. There are so many Camels, and you need to get a ticket for entrance. Rouge camels periodically try to bust out, be careful. Everyone was very nice, but we were respectful and offered cigarettes and chat to break the ice. Overall: a must if you’re in the area.
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A great experience: tmm01: Camel market at Berqash Tour. Got up early on a Friday to travel the hour journey out of Cairo. It was a beautiful morning, even saw a rainbow over the pyramids. We have a trusted taxi driver that we use a lot so travel was easy. I would not recommend going on a tour as their prices are extortionate. A taxi return from Cairo is about 200 le, or £10 GBP. We paid for our driver’s time as he waited for us. Entrance we had to pay 80le £4, for entry and a photography ticket. But it’s worth every penny. Everyone there is very welcoming, they want the tourists to be there and they kept an eye on us when the camels escaped. We can speak a little Arabic which helps. The sights and sounds are amazing. How the auctioneer knows who is bidding is quite astounding. The animals are certainly not pets and are treated quite harshly by U.K. standards. Watching them force animals into trucks was a bit unnerving at times. Watch out at all times as camels do escape, so you might see one making a run for it. Highly recommend. As two females, we felt very welcome and safe. Men came to speak to us, welcoming us. The women there did come up begging but we told them no. It is certainly a family affair, sons learning from their fathers how to trade. If time is short on your stay in Cairo, you could go to the camel market first and then go to the pyramids in a day. Highly recommend. Be aware there are no toilets, etc there.
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