Cairo Half-Day Tour: Dahshur, Saqqara & Memphis Pyramids

Three pyramid sites in one morning, from the Red Pyramid to the world's oldest stone structure.

This half-day private tour from Cairo visits three major archaeological zones (Dahshur, Saqqara and Memphis) by private air-conditioned vehicle with a live guide in English, Spanish or Arabic. Hotel pickup and drop-off are included. You choose whether to add entry fees, lunch and on-site guide at checkout. The tour runs about five hours and stops at each location for roughly twenty minutes to explore the sites and optional craft workshops.

Step-by-step itinerary

Stops and time spent at each3 stops

1. Step Pyramid of Djoser30m
2. Dahshur1h
3. Memphis1h

Explore Dahshur, Saqqara, and Memphis

• Pickup from hotel in Cairo or Giza
• Visit Zoser (Step) Pyramid
• See Red and Bent Pyramids at Dahshur
• Explore Pyramid of Unas
• Visit Mastaba of Ti in Saqqara
• Tour Memphis City
• Drop off at hotel in Cairo or Giza

The experience

Your guide picks you up from your Cairo or Giza hotel and drives you south to Dahshur, where you see the Red Pyramid and the Bent Pyramid: two distinct structures from Egypt's early dynastic period that show how pyramid design evolved. From there the route continues to Saqqara, home to the Step Pyramid of Djoser, which the itinerary identifies as one of Egypt's oldest pyramids. You also visit the Pyramid of Unas and the Mastaba of Ti, an important tomb whose walls carry scenes of everyday life from ancient Egypt. The tour finishes with a stop in Memphis, Egypt's first capital, founded around 3100 BC.

Along the way, the itinerary includes twenty-minute stops at three craft locations: Paradise Perfumes & Flower Cotton (natural oils and soft Egyptian cotton), Key of Life Papyrus (papyrus-making demonstration and traditional artwork), and a local school where artisans hand-weave rugs. These are government-certified stops where you can buy souvenirs. A bottle of water is included throughout the day. If you add the lunch option at checkout, it is provided during the tour. If you add the on-site guide option, you get expert commentary at each location. If you choose the audio guide option instead, you navigate with recorded narration.

The private vehicle means no group waits or schedule changes: your driver adjusts the pace to the sites you want to linger at. Entry fees are optional at checkout, so you can book transport and the guide alone if you prefer, or bundle everything. Hotel pickup and drop-off are included in every option, and the vehicle is air-conditioned for the full journey.

What’s included

• Hotel pickup and drop-off from Cairo or Giza.
• private air-conditioned vehicle for the full journey.
• bottle of water.
• twenty-minute stops at three government-certified craft workshops (natural oils and cotton, papyrus-making, hand-woven carpets).
• entry fees if selected at checkout.
• live guide in English, Spanish or Arabic, or audio guide, depending on your option.
• lunch if selected at checkout.

Options for this experience

4 options

Car with driver and an audio guideGuide in English, Spanish or Arabic · 09:00Private car with driver, pickup is included

Car + GuideGuide in English, Spanish or Arabic · 09:00Car and guide, with pickup included

Tour + LunchGuide in English, Spanish or Arabic · 09:00Lunch is included in the tour, and pickup is included

Car, guide and entry feesGuide in English, Spanish or Arabic · 09:00Pickup is included

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

Before you book

Lasts 5h, runs every day at 09:00, from US$ 15 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 09:00

Book up to4h 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 is optional; you can also go straight to the meeting point. Ends back at the starting point.

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

Prices and times updated 6 days ago

Good to know

Low physical effortInfant seats availablePublic transport nearbyNot recommended during pregnancyNot recommended with heart problemsNot recommended with back problems

Operated by EMO TOURS EGYPT

Is this one for you?Book the Car + Guide option if you want expert commentary at each pyramid and site. Choose Car + Driver with audio guide if you prefer to explore at your own pace with recorded information. Add entry fees and lunch at checkout only if you want them: the transport and guide alone let you see all three zones without committing to a full package.

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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.

What are the Red Pyramid and Bent Pyramid at Dahshur?

The Red Pyramid and Bent Pyramid are two distinct structures at Dahshur that show how pyramid design changed during Egypt's early dynastic period. The Bent Pyramid, in particular, displays a visible change in angle partway up its sides, offering a rare glimpse into how ancient builders adapted their methods.

Is the Step Pyramid of Djoser at Saqqara really the oldest pyramid in Egypt?

The Step Pyramid of Djoser at Saqqara is identified in the itinerary as one of Egypt's oldest pyramids. Its distinctive stepped design sets it apart from the later smooth-sided pyramids, and it remains one of the most important structures at the Saqqara archaeological zone.

What happens during the twenty-minute stops at the craft workshops?

At each of the three government-certified stops (Paradise Perfumes & Flower Cotton, Key of Life Papyrus, and the Handmade Carpets school). You watch artisans at work and can purchase high-quality souvenirs. At the papyrus workshop, you see traditional papyrus-making and view artwork; at the perfume stop, you explore natural oils and Egyptian cotton; at the carpet school, you watch hand-weaving.

Can I book this tour with just transport and a driver, without entry fees or a guide?

Yes. The purchase options let you choose Car + Driver with audio guide, which includes the private vehicle and recorded narration at each site. You can also select Car + Guide for live commentary, or add entry fees and lunch separately at checkout. Every combination is available.

How long is the tour and what time does it start?

The tour runs about five hours from hotel pickup to drop-off. Your guide collects you from your Cairo or Giza hotel at the start. The exact pickup time depends on which option you book and your hotel location.

Is lunch included, and what about water?

A bottle of water is included in every option. Lunch is optional. You add it at checkout if you want it provided during the tour. The craft stops also give you opportunities to rest and refresh between sites.