- TikToker Sam Mayfair filmed his journey inside the Bent Pyramid, south of Cairo
- He told MailOnline Travel that some scared visitors 'outright refused to enter' it
- READ MORE: Meet the 'real-life Tarzan' who swings through trees topless
Claustrophobic? You may want to look away now.
A traveller has filmed a spellbinding journey into the heart of an Egyptian pyramid – and it involves spaces so tight even Lara Croft would surely feel a bit edgy.
In a video posted to TikTok, Sam Mayfair revealed the inside of the Bent Pyramid, located in the royal necropolis of Dahshur, south of Cairo, to his 730,000 followers.
The 40-year-old Egyptology enthusiast, who has explored 'almost all the accessible pyramids', described the Bent pyramid as 'one of his favourites', saying it's worth the visit.
But he explains that some people are too scared even to attempt it, telling MailOnline Travel that some visitors 'outright refused to enter once they saw the first shaft down'.
In a video posted to TikTok, Sam Mayfair revealed the inside of the Bent Pyramid (above), located in the royal necropolis of Dahshur, south of Cairo, to his 730,000 followers
Sam (pictured) described the Bent Pyramid as 'one of his favourites', saying it's worth the visit. He said some people are too scared to attempt it, telling MailOnline Travel that some visitors 'outright refused to enter once they saw the first shaft down'
In the video, titled 'Everything you need to know about going inside a pyramid', Sam films himself climbing up a wooden staircase to a small shaft leading into the pyramid.
This, he says, is 'where the adventure begins'.
Sam reveals a 'steep' staircase which, he said, extends 85 metres (278 feet) into the ground. The traveller, who's 6ft 2in, says the shaft is just 1.5 metres (4.9 feet) high and 'is so small that you need to crawl through it'.
Sam says: 'I spent so long going down this tunnel that I thought I'd never get out.'
He eventually reached the bottom - 'only to be met with more stairs'. After a 10-metre climb, Sam discovers the first chamber of the pyramid, which he describes as 'awesome'.
He then climbs some more stairs to find a small tunnel, which he crawls through on all fours.
In the video, Sam reveals a 'steep' staircase which, he said, extends 85 metres (278 feet) into the ground (pictured)
Sam, who's 6ft 2in, says the shaft is just 1.5 metres (4.9 feet) high and 'is so small that you need to crawl through it'. He adds: 'I spent so long going down this tunnel that I thought I'd never get out'
In the video, Sam discovers the first chamber of the pyramid (pictured left), which he describes as 'awesome'. He describes the second chamber (pictured right) as 'very impressive'
He says: 'At this point, I guarantee you, you're going to be extremely sweaty and tired and you can hardly breathe.'
After manoeuvring through a series of tunnels, Sam discovers the pyramid's second chamber.
He says: 'Although the chamber is very impressive, you'll be overwhelmed with the smell of ammonia.' He attributes this smell of urine to animals that have lived in the pyramid in the past.
Sam takes the same route back and says he has to 'slide on his backside' to get out.
On the way, he discovers a 'ginormous' stone propped up by a plank of wood, which he notes is the 'only thing from stopping it from falling over, trapping you inside the pyramid'.
Sam told MailOnline Travel: 'The Bent Pyramid is probably one of the hardest ones and most claustrophobic. It is very physically demanding to reach the inside.'
He added that the tight spaces are 'difficult' to navigate. He said: 'If someone comes the other way, you just have to squeeze past each other. One of you stops and the other keeps going.'
In his video, Sam says: 'Eventually, you do make it out, and you feel a great sense of achievement.'
Sam reveals there are no emergency exits and says it's 'probably not' okay for claustrophobic people to enter
Sam takes the same route back and says he has to 'slide on his backside' to get out. He discovers a 'ginormous' stone propped up by a plank of wood (pictured right)
After completing the pyramid, Sam says: 'You feel a great sense of achievement'
He reveals there are no emergency exits and says it's 'probably not' okay for claustrophobic people to enter.
The inside is also dimly lit. And what happens if there's a power cut? Sam tells his followers: 'You're in the dark.'
Are there any dangers in exploring the pyramids? Sam said: 'There is always danger in exploring any ancient structure, especially one as old as a pyramid, but for me, that's all part of the journey into the unknown.'
For those apprehensive about venturing inside the pyramids, Sam said a 'good starter pyramid that's very easy to explore' is the Stepped Pyramid of Djoser inside the Saqqara necropolis, southwest of Cairo.
Meanwhile, he said the Pyramid of Teti, also part of the Saqqara necropolis, is ideal for those who want to 'challenge' themselves.
Asked if he would recommend exploring the pyramids to others, Sam said: 'It's not for everyone, but what an experience it is when you do!'
To see more from Sam, follow him on TikTok at www.tiktok.com/@sam.mayfair, or follow his Instagram account at www.instagram.com/sam.mayfair/?hl=en-gb.
