You climb onto the camel in near-darkness and set off across the desert plateau west of the pyramids. As the sun lifts, the silhouettes of Khufu, Khafre, and Menkaure sharpen against the sky and the sand turns warm gold. The pace is slow and steady, good for first-time riders, and your handler leads while your guide frames the shots you will actually want to keep. Some mornings there is hot tea by a small fire. The pyramids sit on the horizon here rather than overhead, which is what keeps the whole ride quiet and private.