Giza Pyramids, Saqqara & Memphis Day Tour: Three Ancient Sites

Three ancient capitals in one day: Giza's pyramids, Saqqara's oldest stone structures, Memphis's first kingdom

A full-day tour of Giza, Saqqara and Memphis combines the Great Pyramids and Sphinx with the Step Pyramid of Djoser and the ruins of Egypt's first capital. A local guide leads you through each site, explaining the architecture and history that shaped Egyptian civilization. Hotel pickup, entrance fees, bottled water and a local lunch are included. Optional camel rides are available at Giza.

Step-by-step itinerary

Stops and time spent at each

1. Giza Pyramids4h
2. Memphis3h

Explore Giza, Saqqara, and Memphis

• Visit Great Pyramids of Giza
• See the Sphinx at Giza Plateau
• Optional camel ride in desert
• Explore Step Pyramid of Djoser at Saqqara
• Visit ancient tombs and hieroglyphs
• Tour Memphis open-air museum
• See Ramses II statue and Alabaster Sphinx

The experience

Your guide meets you at your hotel and drives you to the Giza Plateau, where the Great Pyramids of Khufu, Khafre and Menkaure stand against the desert. You walk the ancient sands, stand before the Sphinx, and hear the stories behind these structures: how they were built, who commissioned them, what they meant to the people who raised them. If you want, you can book a camel ride across the plateau. The guide handles the pace and the details. Your job is to look, listen and photograph.

From Giza, you travel south to Saqqara, where the Step Pyramid of Djoser rises as the oldest stone pyramid in Egypt. This is where pyramid architecture began. The site that made Giza possible. You walk through ancient tombs, study the hieroglyphs carved into the walls, and see how the design evolved from mastabas into the stepped form that would later become the smooth-sided pyramids. Saqqara is less crowded than Giza and often feels like you have more room to move and think.

The final stop is Memphis, the first capital of ancient Egypt, now an open-air museum. You see the colossal statue of Ramses II lying on its side, the Alabaster Sphinx, and the remnants of temples and palaces that once governed the kingdom. This is where Egyptian civilization began: the administrative and religious heart before power moved north to Thebes. Lunch (a local dish called Koshari) is included before or after, depending on the day's schedule. Your guide then drives you back to your hotel.

What’s included

• Experienced local guide in your choice of language.
• hotel pickup and return in an air-conditioned vehicle.
• entrance fees to Giza, Saqqara and Memphis.
• bottled water throughout the day.
• local lunch (Koshari dish).

Before you book

Days and timesEvery dayDeparts at 06:00

Book up toStart time

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

GroupPrivate

Live guideEnglish, Spanish, French, German and Italian

Meeting point and pickupHotel pickup included.You can choose from 3 pickup points.

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

Prices and times updated 14 days ago

Good to know

Low physical effortStroller-friendlyPublic transport nearby

Operated by Regal Heritage Tours

Is this one for you?Pick this if you're based in Cairo and want to visit all three sites in one day: the included pickup and guide handle navigation and timing so you can focus on the sites themselves.

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Top questions

What languages is the tour guided in?

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

Can children come?

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

What are the Great Pyramids of Giza and why do people travel so far to see them?

The Great Pyramids are three massive stone tombs built for pharaohs Khufu, Khafre and Menkaure around 4,500 years ago. They are among the oldest and largest structures ever built, and the only one of the Seven Wonders of the Ancient World still standing. Visitors come to understand how they were constructed without modern machinery and to stand in front of something that has survived longer than any civilization that has come after it.

Is the Step Pyramid at Saqqara different from the pyramids at Giza?

The Step Pyramid of Djoser at Saqqara is the oldest pyramid in Egypt, built about 150 years before Khufu's Great Pyramid. It has a stepped, stacked appearance rather than smooth sides, and it marks the beginning of pyramid architecture: the point where architects first attempted to build in stone on this scale. Seeing Saqqara helps explain how the later pyramids at Giza came to exist.

What will I see at Memphis, and why was it important?

Memphis was Egypt's first capital and the religious and administrative center of the kingdom for centuries. The open-air museum there displays the colossal statue of Ramses II, the Alabaster Sphinx, and the ruins of temples and palaces. Walking through Memphis shows you where Egyptian civilization was governed and worshipped before power moved to other cities.

How long does this tour actually take, and what's included in the price?

The tour runs between three and eight hours depending on how much time you spend at each site and whether you add the optional camel ride. Hotel pickup and return, entrance fees to all three sites, bottled water, and a local lunch (Koshari) are included. Your guide speaks English, Spanish, Italian, French or another language, depending on availability.

Can I ride a camel at Giza, and is it part of the tour price?

Camel rides are available at Giza as an optional add-on. They are not included in the base tour price. A 30-minute camel ride can be booked when you reserve the tour or arranged with your guide on the day.