WATCH: Egypt bans German tourist for illegal pyramid climb

A young German has been banned for life from visiting Egypt after a video of his illegal climb up the ancient Great Pyramid of Giza went viral online, The Telegraph reported.

Egypt's antiquities ministry passed the 18-year-old's travel ban to German authorities in Cairo.

According to reports, Andrej Ciesielski from Munich scaled the 139-metre structure, also known as the Pyramid of Cheops, in January to take photos and videos, despite strict laws against doing so.

Mamdouh Eldamaty, Minister of Antiquities, said that an 'official notice' of Ciesielski's 'life ban'had been sent to the German embassy in Cairo, according to local news site Egyptian Streets.

The young man has said that he thought his climb 'would be fine, what with Egypt's dependence on tourists', adding that now he will not be able to return to the country where he found the people 'very kind.'

It is illegal to climb the nearly 5,000-year-old ancient monuments in Egypt, including the iconic pyramids, one of the seven wonders of the world which are a large draw for tourists from all over the world. This law is so as to protect the structures that are already being 'affected' due to 'human contact'

Those caught doing so face up to a three-years of jail time in the country.

Ciesielski had been warned he could be punishment for his actions, but said, "on balance I thought the photos would be worth it."

Talking about the controversial climb, he further said that some local people saw him when he was half way up, attracting the police's attention.

"They shouted something in Arabic I think but I didn't care and kept going while listening to music."

Although the 18-year-old did not receive a lengthy sentence and was allowed to continue his trip to Egypt following a brief arrest, he will not be allowed back for future visits.

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