Cairo: Giza Pyramids, Memphis, Sakkara & Dahshur Day Trip

Giza pyramids up close then dusty Memphis statues and quiet Dahshur

You’ll start your Cairo day trip with hotel pickup and head straight to the Giza Pyramids for that first jaw-dropping view. Wander ancient Memphis among toppled statues, snack on fresh falafel, climb sandy paths at Sakkara’s Step Pyramid, then end nearly alone at Dahshur’s Bent & Red Pyramids, where silence feels ancient too.

Step-by-step itinerary

Stops and time spent at each8 stops

1. Great Pyramid of Giza30m
2. Pyramid of Khafre30m
3. Pyramid of Menkaure30m
4. Great Sphinx of Giza30m
5. Saqqara1h
6. Memphis1h
7. Giza Plateau30m
8. Giza Pyramids1h

Explore Giza Pyramids and Ancient Sites

• Pickup from hotel in Cairo or Giza
• Visit Giza Pyramid Complex overview
• Explore Great Pyramid of Giza (Khufu Pyramid)
• Visit Pyramid of Khafre and Sphinx temple
• See Pyramid of Menkaure complex
• Tour Memphis City, see Ramses II statue and Alabaster Sphinx
• Explore Saqqara and Step Pyramid of Djoser
• Visit Dahshur, see Bent and Red Pyramids
• Return and drop off at hotel

The experience

It’s strange how the city just falls away as you drive out of Cairo: one minute there’s honking traffic and tea stalls, and then suddenly we’re rolling past low desert scrub. Our guide, Amr, had this gentle way of pointing things out without making it feel like a lecture. The first glimpse of the Giza Pyramids is… honestly hard to describe. They’re just there, massive and worn and kind of silent in a way I didn’t expect. The air smelled like sun-baked stone and camel sweat (not bad, just real), and I could hear kids laughing somewhere behind us. Amr told us about the workers’ village. I’d never thought about who actually built these things before.

I tried to take one of those classic pyramid photos but my finger was in the shot. Whatever. We wandered around Khufu’s pyramid for a while. The limestone blocks are rougher than they look in pictures: almost sharp if you brush your hand along them. The Sphinx looked smaller than I imagined but somehow more alive? There was a group of school kids posing for selfies and one little girl waved at me shyly. After that we drove to Memphis (the original one), where the statue of Ramses II is lying on its back under a dusty roof. The whole place smells faintly of old earth and maybe something floral from the gardens nearby.

Lunch was quick: falafel wraps from a roadside spot Amr swears by (he was right). Then Sakkara: the Step Pyramid rising out of yellow dust, with stray dogs dozing in the shade. It felt quieter here, less crowded than Giza. Amr explained how this was basically Egypt’s prototype for all later pyramids. At Dahshur, we saw the Bent Pyramid (honestly it looks like it’s shrugging at you from across the sand), and then the Red Pyramid with its weird pinkish glow in late afternoon light. There weren’t many people around. Just wind and distant voices carrying over the plateau.

I still think about that moment standing at Dahshur with sand in my shoes and nothing but sky ahead. You know when you realize you’re standing somewhere older than most stories? That hit me here more than anywhere else on this Cairo day tour.

What’s included

• Your day includes hotel pickup and drop-off anywhere in Cairo or Giza by private air-conditioned vehicle.
• an expert local guide who brings each site to life.
• all entry fees so you can skip ticket lines.
• bottled water along the way.
• plus all taxes and services taken care of so you can just focus on what’s around you.

Options for this experience

2 options

Includes car, tour guide and entry feesUp to 15 per booking · Guide in English, Spanish or Arabic · 08:00Lasts 8 hours; includes car, tour guide and entry fees, and pickup is included

Tour with LunchUp to 30 per booking · Guide in English, Spanish or Arabic · 08:00Includes lunch and pickup

You'll see the exact price of each option when you check availability.See dates and prices

Before you book

Lasts 8h, runs every day at 08:00, from US$ 90 per person, with a live guide in English, Spanish and Arabic, as a private tour and with free cancellation up to 24 h before.

Days and timesEvery dayDeparts at 08:00

Book up to2h before

AgesAdult (12 and older) · Child (6 to 11 years) · Infant (under 6): free

GroupPrivate

Live guideEnglish, Spanish and Arabic

Audio guideEnglish, Spanish and Arabic

Meeting point and pickupHotel pickup included.

Cancellation and refundsFree cancellation up to 24 h before the start. After that, no refund.

Paid on siteUS$ 10

Prices and times updated 5 days ago

Good to know

Low physical effortInfant seats availablePublic transport nearby

Operated by EMO TOURS EGYPT

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Top questions

What languages is the tour guided in?

Live guide in English, Spanish and Arabic.

Can children come?

Yes. Ticket types: Child (6 to 11 years); Infant (under 6): free.

How long does this Cairo day trip last?

The tour lasts about 8 hours including all stops from pickup to drop-off.

Is hotel pickup included for Giza Pyramids tours?

Yes, hotel pickup and drop-off in Cairo or Giza are included.

What sites are visited on this Cairo day tour?

You visit Giza Pyramids (including Khufu, Khafre, Menkaure), Memphis City, Sakkara (Step Pyramid), and Dahshur (Bent & Red Pyramids).

Are entry fees covered on this tour?

Yes, all entry fees for included sites are covered in your booking.

Is lunch provided during the tour?

No formal lunch is included but there is time to buy food locally during the tour.

Can infants join this Cairo pyramids day trip?

Specialized infant seats are available. Check suitability based on health recommendations.

Are transfers private or shared?

Your transfers are by private air-conditioned vehicle for comfort throughout the tour.