Giza Pyramids & Sphinx Tour: Inside Pyramid Entry & Tombs

Summary

Walk ancient stones at Giza enter pyramids and meet the Sphinx

You’ll walk right into the Great Pyramid with an Egyptologist guide, explore ancient tombs filled with colorful hieroglyphics, snap photos at the Sphinx, and share a simple Egyptian lunch near Giza’s desert edge. Expect dusty hands, new stories to tell, and maybe a little awe that sticks with you long after you leave.

What’s the experience like?

I still remember how dusty Cairo felt on my skin that morning — then suddenly, there they were. The Giza Pyramids just sort of appeared out of the city haze as our driver pulled up. Hani, our guide (he called himself an Egyptologist but joked he was “just a pyramid nerd”), handed us cold water bottles before we even realized we were thirsty. I’d seen these shapes in books since I was a kid, but standing under the Great Pyramid made me feel small in a way I didn’t expect. There’s this smell — old stone and sun-baked sand, almost metallic.

We got to go inside the Great Pyramid itself (that’s part of the full experience option), which is honestly a bit claustrophobic but so worth it. The air gets cooler and heavier as you climb up those narrow passages. Hani pointed out some graffiti left by workers thousands of years ago; he said most people miss it because they’re too busy catching their breath. He laughed when I asked if he ever got tired of explaining hieroglyphics — “Never! But my wife does.”

Afterwards, we walked over to Menkaure’s pyramid and then the Sphinx. It’s smaller than you think but somehow stranger in person — its face is battered but still kind of proud. There were camels everywhere (you can ride them if you book that option), their bells jangling and kids chasing each other around in the dust. Lunch was included for us — grilled chicken, rice, salad — nothing fancy but it tasted good after all that sun. I’m still not sure how Hani managed to take such good photos of us without getting any tourists in the background.

The last thing we did was visit Marsa Ankh’s tomb to see those wild colors on the walls — reds and blues that haven’t faded after all these centuries. It was quiet down there; even my phone felt out of place so I just stood for a minute and tried to listen to what silence sounded like underground in Giza. I keep thinking about that moment when everything else was loud outside.

Step-by-step itinerary

Day 1 — Visit Giza pyramids and Sphinx

• Visit Giza pyramids and panoramic view
• Explore Great Pyramid of Giza
• See the second pyramid
• Visit Pyramid of Menkaure
• See the Great Sphinx of Giza

Top questions

Can you go inside the pyramids on this tour?

Yes, entry inside the Great Pyramid is included if you book the full experience option.

Is hotel pickup included for Giza Pyramids & Sphinx tour?

Yes, hotel pickup and drop-off are both included in your day trip from Cairo.

Do you visit any tombs besides the pyramids?

Yes, entry to Marsa Ankh tomb is included with the full experience booking.

Is lunch provided during this Giza day trip?

Yes, an authentic Egyptian lunch is included if you choose the all-inclusive option.

Are camel rides part of this tour?

A 30-minute camel ride is available if you book the all-inclusive option.

How long do you spend at each site?

You’ll spend about 2–3 hours total at the pyramids complex including all main sites.

Is this tour wheelchair accessible?

Yes, transportation options are wheelchair accessible throughout this tour.

What’s included

Your day includes hotel pickup and drop-off in an air-conditioned vehicle, bottled water along the way, entrance fees for Giza area sites if booked as all-inclusive, guided entry into both the Great Pyramid and Marsa Ankh tomb with your Egyptologist guide (full experience), an authentic Egyptian lunch if selected, plus a 30-minute camel ride for those who add that option before heading back to Cairo.