Memphis, Saqqara & Dahshur pyramids tour from Cairo: Skip Giza

Three pyramid fields in one morning, none of them Giza

A private half-day tour from Cairo visiting Memphis, Saqqara, and Dahshur with a qualified Egyptologist guide, hotel pickup and drop-off included. The tour covers the Pyramid of Djoser (the Step Pyramid, built in the 27th century BC), the Bent Pyramid and Red Pyramid at Dahshur where the first true pyramid was constructed, and the ruins of Memphis, the ancient capital of Egypt located 20 km south of Giza. Lunch is available as an add-on. Live guides speak English, Spanish or Arabic.

Step-by-step itinerary

Explore Memphis, Saqqara, and Dahshur

• Pickup from hotel in Cairo or Giza
• Visit Memphis ancient capital ruins
• See the Sphinx of Memphis
• Explore Saqqara burial grounds
• Tour the Pyramid of Djoser
• Visit the Pyramid of Teti
• Travel to Dahshur pyramids
• See the Bent Pyramid and Red Pyramid
• Return to hotel

The experience

The guide picks you up from your Cairo or Giza hotel and drives south to Memphis, the capital of Old Kingdom Egypt. The site sits near Mit Rahina, 20 km from Giza, and holds the Sphinx of Memphis (a stone carving believed to date between 1700 and 1400 BC) along with the statue of Ramses II and scattered ruins that once anchored an empire. From there the tour moves to Saqqara, the necropolis that served Memphis for centuries.

At Saqqara you walk the Pyramid of Djoser, the Step Pyramid, a 6-tier structure built in the 27th century BC during the Third Dynasty for Pharaoh Djoser. It is the earliest colossal stone building in Egypt. The tour also includes the Pyramid of Teti, a smooth-sided pyramid that holds pyramid texts and is surrounded by satellite pyramids and queens' pyramids with their funerary temples. Then the route continues south to Dahshur, where King Senefru, founder of the Fourth Dynasty, built the first true pyramid. You see both the Bent Pyramid and the Red Pyramid before returning to your hotel.

The tour runs five hours total and moves by private vehicle with a qualified Egyptologist guide. Hotel pickup and drop-off, entrance fees, transport, taxes and all handling charges are included. You can add lunch at checkout. The guide speaks English, Spanish or Arabic depending on the option you choose.

What’s included

• Hotel pickup and drop-off from addresses across Cairo and Giza.
• entrance fees to all three sites.
• private vehicle transport.
• qualified Egyptologist guide.
• all taxes, fees and handling charges.
• lunch available as an add-on.

Options for this experience

4 options

Car and driver onlyGuide in English, Spanish or Arabic · 9 departure times: the first at 07:00, the last at 12:30Car and driver only: lunch at Koshary and entry fees not included, tour guide not included. Pickup is included.

Car, driver and tour guideGuide in English, Spanish or Arabic · 14 departure times: the first at 07:00, the last at 13:30Car, driver and tour guide, entry fees not included. Pickup is included.

Everything included, best seller 1Guide in English, Spanish or Arabic · 10 departure times: the first at 07:00, the last at 13:00Car, driver, guide and main entry fees. Pickup is included.

Everything included, best seller 2Guide in English, Spanish or Arabic · 9 departure times: the first at 07:00, the last at 13:00Car, driver, guide, ticket and lunch in a village (Egyptian food, vegetarian or non-vegetarian). Pickup is included.

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 day14 departure times: the first at 07:00, the last at 13:30

Book up toStart time

AgesAdult (4 to 80 years) · Child (1 to 3 years)

GroupPrivate

Live guideEnglish, Spanish and Arabic

Meeting point and pickupHotel pickup included.

Cancellation and refundsFree cancellation up to 24 h before the start. After that, no refund.It may be canceled due to bad weather. If that happens, you're offered another date or a refund.

Prices and times updated yesterday

Good to know

Low physical effort

Operated by Hesham Egypt tour guide

Is this one for you?Pick this if you want to see lesser-known pyramids at Saqqara and Dahshur instead of only Giza, with an Egyptologist guide providing context at each of the three sites.

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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 (1 to 3 years).

What happens if it rains?

It may be canceled due to bad weather. If that happens, you're offered another date or a refund. Free cancellation up to 24 h before the start.

What is the Pyramid of Djoser and why is it significant?

The Pyramid of Djoser, also called the Step Pyramid, is a 6-tier stone structure built in the 27th century BC during the Third Dynasty for Pharaoh Djoser. It is the earliest colossal stone building in Egypt and stands at Saqqara, the necropolis that served the ancient capital Memphis.

How far is Memphis from Cairo, and what will I see there?

Memphis lies 20 km south of Giza near the modern town of Mit Rahina. The site holds the Sphinx of Memphis, a stone carving from between 1700 and 1400 BC, and the statue of Ramses II, along with ruins of the ancient capital of Old Kingdom Egypt.

What pyramids are at Dahshur?

Dahshur holds the Bent Pyramid and the Red Pyramid, both built by King Senefru, founder of the Fourth Dynasty. The Red Pyramid at Dahshur was the first true pyramid constructed in Egypt.

Does the tour include lunch?

Lunch is available as an add-on at checkout. It is not included in the base tour price.

How long is the tour, and what time can I be picked up?

The tour runs five hours total. Multiple departure times are available. You can choose the one that fits your schedule when you book.