Giza Pyramids & Sphinx Half-Day Tour with Private Guide

Four hours among three pyramids and the Sphinx, with a guide and transport sorted

A half-day tour of the Giza Pyramids and Sphinx from Cairo includes hotel pickup, private air-conditioned transport, and a guide who takes you through the Great Pyramids of Cheops, Khafre and Menkaure, then to the Valley Temple and a close-up view of the Sphinx. The tour starts at 8:00 am. Entry fees and lunch are available as add-ons depending on which option you choose at checkout.

Step-by-step itinerary

Stops and time spent at each

1. Pyramid of Khafre30m
2. Pyramid of Menkaure1h
3. Great Sphinx of Giza1h

Half-day tour of Giza Pyramids and Sphinx

• Pickup from hotel in Cairo or Giza
• Transfer to Giza Pyramids
• Visit Great Pyramids: Cheops, Chephren, Mykerinos
• Optional camel ride around pyramids (extra charge)
• Learn about Khufu and his necropolis
• Explore Khafre's pyramid complex and valley temple
• Explore Menkaure's pyramid complex and valley temple
• Visit Valley Temple and see the Great Sphinx
• Take photos with the Sphinx
• Transfer back to hotel

The experience

The tour begins with pickup from your Cairo or Giza hotel at 8:00 am and transfer by private air-conditioned vehicle to the Giza Pyramids plateau. Your guide leads you through the three main pyramid complexes: the Great Pyramid of Cheops, the Pyramid of Khafre with its intact mortuary temple and valley temple where priests mummified the pharaohs, and the Pyramid of Menkaure. You can walk around the monuments at ground level, and if you want to enter the pyramids or ride a camel around them, those are available for an extra charge.

The tour closes at the Valley Temple and the Great Sphinx of Giza, where you stand at close range with the limestone guardian. Your guide helps you frame photographs from different angles around the Sphinx before the transfer back to your hotel. The whole outing runs about four hours from start to finish.

What you bring depends on your option at checkout: the basic package includes the vehicle, driver and guide. You can add entry fees to the pyramid complexes, lunch at a local Egyptian restaurant, or both. Every option includes hotel pickup and drop-off, all transfers in the private vehicle, a guide on site (in English, Spanish or Arabic), and a bottle of water. Entry fees cover access to the basic areas of the complexes. The guide's knowledge of the pyramid construction, the pharaohs buried there and the temple layouts is what makes the monuments legible.

What’s included

• Hotel pickup and drop-off from your Cairo or Giza hotel.
• private air-conditioned vehicle for all transport.
• a guide on site in English, Spanish or Arabic (depending on your option).
• a bottle of water.
• entry fees to the pyramid complexes and Valley Temple (if you add that option).
• lunch at a local Egyptian restaurant (if you add that option).

Options for this experience

4 options

Car with driver and audio guide includedGuide in English, Spanish or Arabic · 09:00Car with driver only

Car and tour guide includedGuide in English, Spanish or Arabic · 09:00Car and tour guide included

Car, guide and basic entry fees includedGuide in English, Spanish or Arabic · 09:00Car, guide and basic entry fees included

Car, guide, entry fees and lunch includedGuide in English, Spanish or Arabic · 09:00Car, guide, basic entry fees and lunch included; lunch is koshari, an Egyptian dish made with rice, pasta, lentils, chickpeas, fried onions and a tomato-garlic sauce

You pick the guide language when booking.

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

Before you book

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.

Paid on siteUS$ 10

Prices and times updated 12 days ago

Good to know

Low physical effortInfant seats availablePublic transport nearby

Operated by Emo Tours Egypt

Is this one for you?Choose this tour if you want the three main pyramids and the Sphinx in a single morning without arranging transport or a guide yourself. The private vehicle and fixed 8:00 am start mean you're on the plateau early, before the midday crowds, and the guide's knowledge of the pharaohs and temple layouts turns the monuments into a coherent story instead of a collection of stones.

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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 three main pyramids I'll see on this tour?

The Great Pyramid of Cheops, the Pyramid of Khafre and the Pyramid of Menkaure make up the core of the Giza complex. Khafre's pyramid still has some of its original casing stones at the top, and its valley temple is where several statues of the pharaoh were discovered. Menkaure's pyramid is the smallest of the three, and its temple complex also yielded statues now in museums.

Can I go inside the pyramids, or do I just see them from outside?

You can walk around the pyramids at ground level as part of the tour. Entering inside the pyramids is available as an extra charge if you want to do it. Your guide can arrange that on the day.

What does the Sphinx look like up close?

The Great Sphinx of Giza is a limestone statue with a lion's body and the head of King Khafre, carved from bedrock on the plateau. You'll see it at the end of the tour near the Valley Temple, where you can photograph it from different angles and distances.

Is lunch included, or do I need to arrange my own food?

Lunch at a local Egyptian restaurant is available as an add-on when you choose your tour option at checkout. If you don't add it, you'll want to bring snacks or plan to eat before or after the tour. A bottle of water is included with every option.

What time does the tour start and how long does it take?

The tour starts at 8:00 am with pickup from your hotel and runs for about four hours total, including transport to and from the Giza plateau.

Do I need to arrange my own transport to the pyramids?

No. Hotel pickup and drop-off are included, and all transport on the day is by private air-conditioned vehicle, so you don't need to arrange a taxi or navigate to Giza yourself.