Success! More and more travel providers are discontinuing camel and horse rides at the Egyptian pyramids

This positive change comes just weeks after Marriott Bonvoy announced it would no longer offer or promote such rides at the famous pyramids.

Aero Travels now joins more than 50 travel companies, including Marriott, Airbnb, Audley Travel, British Airways Holidays, easyJet holidays, Exodus Adventure Travels, Flash Pack, Hays Travel, Scott Dunn and Travel Republic, that have committed to a cruelty-free approach at the pyramids.

These decisions follow a wave of public pressure, in which more than 12,000 PETA supporters called for an end to the cruel exploitation of animals for tourism. Aero Travels acted swiftly – just one week after PETA called on its supporters to contact the company and urge it to stop profiting from the suffering of animals forced to carry tourists under the harsh desert sun.

PETA USA is now calling on Stubborn Mule Travel and On The Go Tours to follow the example of Aero Travels and remove horse and camel rides from their offerings.

PETA Asia's latest investigation at the Giza site has uncovered shocking cruelties: handlers were observed brutally beating camels and horses that were exhausted and injured, with no access to food, water, or shelter. Malnourished horses were observed rummaging through rubbish heaps, and dead animals were disposed of daily near the pyramids. Camels deemed too old or sick were taken to slaughterhouses where their throats were cut while they were still conscious. In a disturbing video, a camel can be seen kicking for several minutes after having its throat cut.

Decent holidaymakers would never dream of climbing onto the back of a horse or camel that is being cruelly mistreated at the Great Pyramids," says Yvonne Taylor, Vice President of Corporate Projects. "The resolute action taken by Aero Travels will benefit them among compassionate tourists who only wish to engage with companies that avoid these disgraceful rides. Those operators who are still profiting from animal cruelty in Egypt must follow suit immediately.

Horses are profoundly social animals that mourn the loss of their companions, while camels bond with one another by blowing air into each other's faces in greeting. Exploiting them for entertainment purposes is not only unethical but also unnecessary in an era of responsible tourism.

IG Wild beim Wild calls on all travel companies to make the same compassionate decision and end their involvement in this outdated and abusive industry. Animals are not tourist attractions — they deserve respect, not exploitation.