Ain Sokhna to Cairo: Pyramids, Citadel & Sphinx tour
The Great Pyramids and Sphinx rise from the desert plateau two hours from your ship.
A private tour from Ain Sokhna to Cairo combines the Giza Pyramids and Great Sphinx with the Saladin Citadel and Alabaster Mosque of Muhammad Ali, including a local lunch and stop at a Papyrus Institute. The 10-hour excursion departs and returns to your ship with an English, French or German-speaking guide and air-conditioned transport. Not recommended for travelers with poor cardiovascular health.
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Step-by-step itinerary
Explore Cairo's historic sites and pyramids
- Drive 2 hours from Ain Sokhna to Giza Plateau
- Visit the Great Pyramids and the Great Sphinx
- Explore Saladin Citadel and Alabaster Mosque
- Drive 2 hours back to Ain Sokhna hotel
The experience
The drive from Ain Sokhna to Cairo takes two hours through reclaimed desert and modern towns, giving you time to settle in before the tour begins. Your guide meets you at the ship and travels with you the whole way, speaking English, French, German or Arabic depending on your preference. The vehicle is air-conditioned and equipped with WiFi, so you can stay connected during the journey.
You start at the Giza Plateau, where the Great Pyramids of Khufu, Khafre and Menkaure stand as the only surviving wonder of the ancient world. The scale hits differently in person: the sheer mass of stone built for pharaohs millennia ago. From there you move to the Great Sphinx, the colossal half-lion, half-human figure that has guarded the desert sands for thousands of years. After time to explore and photograph, you head to the Saladin Citadel, a medieval fortress that dominates Cairo's skyline. Inside, the Alabaster Mosque of Muhammad Ali rises with towering minarets, and from the citadel's heights you get panoramic views of the entire city spreading below. A local lunch is included partway through the day, giving you a break before the final stop.
Before returning to Ain Sokhna, you visit a Papyrus Institute to see the ancient art of papermaking demonstrated and have time to browse for souvenirs. The drive back takes another two hours, and you arrive at your ship with the day's sights still fresh. All taxes, fees and transport are included in the price.
What’s included
- Private air-conditioned transport from Ain Sokhna to Cairo and back.
- English, French, German or Arabic-speaking guide for the full day.
- WiFi on board.
- local lunch.
- entry to the Giza Pyramids, Great Sphinx, Saladin Citadel and Alabaster Mosque.
- visit to the Papyrus Institute with souvenir shopping time.
- all taxes and fees.
Before you book
Prices and times updated today
Operated by NASCO Tours
Is this one for you?Book this if your ship docks at Ain Sokhna and you want to see the Pyramids, Sphinx, and Citadel in one day. The private vehicle keeps your group together while the 3-hour drive each way fits a port schedule.
Top questions
What languages is the tour guided in?
Live guide in English, French, German and Arabic.
Can children come?
Yes. Ticket types: Child (6 to 11 years): free; Infant (under 6): free.
How long is the drive from Ain Sokhna to Cairo?
The drive is two hours each way through reclaimed desert and modern towns, making the full tour 10 hours including time at each site and lunch.
Is lunch included in the tour?
Yes, a special local lunch is included during the day in Cairo.
What exactly is the Saladin Citadel?
The Saladin Citadel is a massive medieval fortress that has dominated Cairo's skyline for centuries. Inside you visit the Alabaster Mosque of Muhammad Ali and enjoy panoramic views of the entire city from its heights.
Do I get time to shop at the Papyrus Institute?
Yes, after seeing the ancient papermaking process demonstrated, you have time to browse and buy souvenirs before heading back to your ship.
Ain Sokhna to Cairo: Pyramids, Citadel & Sphinx tour
10h · EN · FR · DE +1 · at your hotel
from US$ 184 per person