Was it the ultimate adventure or an audacious act of disrespect that should be punished by law ? An Internet sensation was touched off this week by Russian photographer Vadim Makhorov and a group of his friends -- the group ignored regulations prohibiting the public from climbing on the Pyramids at Giza , Egypt , and came away with spectacular photos . The images from Makhorov and another photographer , Vitaliy Raskalov , were taken on top of the Pyramids from positions that avoided detection by guards . The photos have incited reactions ranging from envy and awe to indignation and concern for the preservation of the ancient wonders . In an email to CNN , Makhorov now explains his reasons for flouting the regulations , and issues an apology to Egypt and the world . Vadim Makhorov 's email to CNN . `` I 've always been drawn to Egypt . For as long as I can remember my dream was to get to the top of the Great Pyramid of Giza . `` When my friends and I arrived in Cairo the first thing we decided to do was to go and see the pyramids . We got there in the evening , just in time to witness the laser show . `` No words can express the fascination I felt when seeing my childhood dream come alive . Probably this very feeling made us climb onto the top of the Pyramid and see the the panorama of the whole complex , the desert and Cairo itself . `` It was already pitch black and nobody paid us any attention . We started climbing as fast and as soundless as we could . You have to be quite strong and agile to climb onto a meter-high block covered with dust . `` It was exhausting , but the thought that we were going to witness something spectacular pushed us forward . `` It took us around 20 minutes to get to the top . We were taken breathless by the view . `` What we saw from up there was the seventh wonder of the world . We tried to capture the beauty of the scenery in the photos , so that the others could also see this magnificent panorama . `` We , of course , were not the first who dared to climb the pyramid . `` The pyramid 's peak was filled with different inscriptions in many languages , some of them being hundreds years old . `` After enjoying the view for some time we started the descent . It turned out to be harder then climbing up . We were very lucky not to get [ caught ] . We would have been in serious trouble if we did . `` That 's why I would like to apologize for this ascension . We did n't want to insult anyone . We were just following the dream . ''
Russian media created sensation with pictures from top of the Pyramid . Vadim Makhorov asked how and why he did it . Said : ` ` I would like to prepare for this ascension . ''