2-Day Ancient Egypt and Old Cairo Tour: Pyramids, Memphis, Museum

Two days, four millennia: from the Sphinx to a thousand-year-old bazaar.

A 2-day private tour of Cairo that covers both ancient Egyptian monuments and UNESCO-listed Old Cairo, with a qualified Egyptologist guide, air-conditioned minivan transport and entrance fees to the exterior areas of the Giza Pyramids. Day one visits the three main pyramids at Giza, the Sphinx, the Step Pyramid complex at Saqqara, and the Colossus of Ramses II at Memphis. Day two explores the Egyptian Museum, the Citadel of Saladin with its Alabaster Mosque, the Hanging Church and Ben Ezra Synagogue in Old Cairo, and ends at the Khan al-Khalili bazaar. Lunches and interior pyramid entry fees are optional add-ons at checkout.

Step-by-step itinerary

Day 1: Giza, Memphis and Saqqara tour

• Visit Great Pyramid of Cheops
• See Pyramid of Chephren
• See Pyramid of Mycerinus
• Camel ride near pyramids
• Visit Valley Temple of Chephren
• See the Sphinx
• Explore Step Pyramid complex of Zoser
• Visit Pyramid of Teti
• See Nobleman's tomb
• View Colossal statue of Ramses II
• See huge alabaster Sphinx in Memphis
• Lunch break

Day 2: Cairo museum and Old Cairo tour

• Visit Egyptian Museum
• Tour Alabaster Mosque at Cairo Citadel
• Explore Hanging Church
• Visit Synagogue of Ben Ezra
• See Church of Abu Serga
• Lunch break

The experience

You arrive in Cairo with limited time and no appetite for piecing together a multi-stop itinerary on your own. This tour solves that: a private minivan picks you up, a guide who specializes in ancient Egypt rides with you for both days, and the route holds together without gaps. Day one moves through the monuments of the Old Kingdom: the three main pyramids at Giza (Cheops, Chephren and Mycerinus), the Sphinx, and the Valley Temple of Chephren, then south to Saqqara, where the Step Pyramid complex of Zoser stands as Egypt's oldest stone structure, and on to Memphis, the ancient capital, where a colossal statue of Ramses II and an alabaster Sphinx anchor an open-air museum.

Day two shifts to Cairo's Islamic and Coptic heritage. The Egyptian Museum holds hundreds of thousands of artifacts: the scale alone justifies the hours spent there. Afterward, the Citadel of Saladin rises above the city, its Alabaster Mosque a study in Ottoman religious architecture. Old Cairo's narrow streets hold the Hanging Church, built partly over a Roman fortress and considered one of the world's oldest churches, alongside the Ben Ezra Synagogue and the Church of Abu Serga. The day closes at Khan al-Khalili, a bazaar that has stood for more than a thousand years, where the narrow lanes and vendor stalls are the texture of medieval Cairo itself.

A 25-minute camel ride circles the Giza Pyramids on day one. Entrance fees to the exterior areas of all pyramid sites are included. If you want to enter the interiors of the pyramids, the Solar Boat Museum or the Royal Mummy Room, those are separate fees you can add at checkout. Dress code applies on day two: knees and shoulders must be covered for entry to the Citadel, the Hanging Church and the synagogue. The guide speaks English, Spanish, Italian, German and one additional language. Lunches are optional. Vegetarian meals are available if you request them when booking.

What’s included

• Qualified Egyptologist guide in English, Spanish, Italian, German or another language.
• air-conditioned minivan transport for both days.
• entrance fees to the exterior areas of the Giza Pyramids, Saqqara and Memphis.
• 25-minute camel ride around the Giza Pyramids.
• hotel pickup and drop-off.

Options for this experience

3 options

Tour and LunchesGuide in 5 languages · 08:00Tour with lunches: The guide, transportation and lunches are included. The camel ride and entry tickets are not included. Pickup is included

Tour, Lunches, CamelGuide in 5 languages · 08:00Tour with lunches and a camel ride: The guide, transportation, lunches and camel ride are included. Entry tickets are not included. Pickup is included

All Inclusive TourGuide in 5 languages · 08:00Pickup is included

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

Before you book

Lasts 2d, runs every day at 08:00, from US$ 94 per person, with live guides in 5 languages, as a private tour and with free cancellation up to 24 h before.

Days and timesEvery dayDeparts at 08:00

Book up to12h before

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

GroupPrivate

Live guideEnglish, Spanish, German, Italian and Arabic

Meeting point and pickupHotel pickup included.You can choose from 38 pickup points.

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

Prices and times updated 5 days ago

Good to know

Moderate physical effortStroller-friendly

Operated by Tree of Life Day Tours

Is this one for you?Book the All Inclusive option if you want lunches handled both days and one fewer decision to make between sites; the Tour and Lunches option suits a tighter budget; the tour alone works if you prefer to eat where and when you choose. Interior pyramid entry fees are optional, so you decide at checkout whether to add them based on your interest and energy on the day.

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Top questions

What languages is the tour guided in?

Live guide in English, Spanish, German, Italian and Arabic.

Can children come?

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

What's the difference between the tour options at checkout?

The tour alone includes the guide, transport and exterior pyramid entry; the All Inclusive option adds lunches both days; Tour and Lunches is the middle choice. Interior pyramid entry fees (Giza interiors, Solar Boat Museum, Royal Mummy Room) are separate add-ons available regardless of which option you pick.

Do I need to be fit to do this tour?

The tour requires at least a moderate level of physical fitness. Day one involves walking around the pyramid complexes at Giza and Saqqara and exploring Memphis. Day two includes walking through the Egyptian Museum and the streets of Old Cairo. The camel ride is optional within the itinerary.

What exactly is the Hanging Church?

The Hanging Church is one of the oldest churches in the world, built partly suspended over a Roman fortress in Old Cairo. It is named for the way its nave hangs above the fortress walls beneath it, and it holds icons and architectural details that date back centuries.

Can I skip any of the stops on this tour?

The itinerary is fixed as a private tour, so the route and stops are set. If a particular site does not interest you, discuss it with the operator when booking. They may be able to adjust the day's plan.

What should I wear for the second day?

Knees and shoulders must be covered for entry to the Citadel, the Hanging Church, the Ben Ezra Synagogue and the Church of Abu Serga. No shorts or sleeveless tops are allowed. Comfortable walking shoes are advisable for the streets of Old Cairo and the bazaar.

Is the Egyptian Museum visit included in all options?

Yes. The Egyptian Museum is part of day two for all three options. Entrance to the museum is included. The difference between options is whether lunches and the camel ride are added.