Pyramids & Grand Egyptian Museum tour from Alexandria Port

Giza Pyramids, the Great Sphinx, ancient papermaking, and Cairo's newest museum in one port day

A private guided tour from Alexandria port to Cairo covers the Giza Pyramids and Great Sphinx, a stop at the Papyrus Institute to see how ancient Egyptians made paper, lunch at a local restaurant, and entry to the Grand Egyptian Museum. A specialized guide speaks English, French, German or Arabic, and the tour includes an air-conditioned vehicle and return to your ship.

Step-by-step itinerary

Alexandria to Cairo and sightseeing

• Travel from Alexandria to Cairo
• Visit the Pyramids of Giza and Western Plateau
• See the Great Sphinx
• Travel to Papyrus Institute
• Discover papermaking at Papyrus Institute
• Travel to local restaurant
• Enjoy local cuisine
• Travel to Grand Egyptian Museum
• Explore Grand Egyptian Museum
• Return to ship

The Experience

You're docked in Alexandria with a full day ahead and no rental car. This tour picks you up at the port and drives you to Cairo, where a NASCO Tours guide meets you for the rest of the day. The route covers the Giza Pyramids (the only surviving Wonder of the Ancient World), and the Great Sphinx on the Western Plateau, with time to photograph both. From there you head to the Papyrus Institute to watch how ancient papermakers made the sheets that held hieroglyphics and royal records, then stop for lunch at a local restaurant before the final stop at the Grand Egyptian Museum, where the newest collection of Egyptian artifacts opened to the public. The tour wraps with a return to your ship.

The guide is a specialist in Egyptian history and speaks English, French, German or Arabic depending on which option you book. The vehicle is air-conditioned and seats your group privately, so the pace and the stops stay on your schedule. Lunch is included. All entry fees and taxes are built into the price. The full day runs roughly 12 hours from pickup to drop-off, which means you're traveling during the cooler morning and afternoon hours rather than the heat of midday.

What’s included

• Private air-conditioned vehicle for your group.
• specialized guide fluent in English, French, German or Arabic.
• entry to the Giza Pyramids, Great Sphinx, Papyrus Institute and Grand Egyptian Museum.
• lunch at a local restaurant.
• all fees and taxes.
• return transport to Alexandria port.

Good to know

Easy physical levelNot for heart conditions

Operated by NASCO Tours

Is this one for you?Book the private option if your ship's schedule is tight or if you want to move at your own pace through each stop without waiting for other groups. The fixed itinerary means all four major sites fit inside the port day, and the guide adjusts timing so you're back to the ship before it leaves.

Traveler reviews

4.92★★★★★★★★★★

13 verified traveler reviews

Read all the reviews ›

Top questions

How far is it from Alexandria port to the Giza Pyramids?

The drive from Alexandria to Cairo and the Giza Plateau is roughly 240 kilometers (150 miles), taking about three to four hours depending on traffic. Your guide travels with you the whole way and can answer questions about the route and what you're passing through.

What exactly happens at the Papyrus Institute?

The Papyrus Institute is a working demonstration space where you watch artisans make papyrus sheets using the same techniques ancient Egyptians used thousands of years ago. You see the papyrus plant being processed into fibers, then woven and pressed into paper, and you can buy finished pieces if you want to take one home.

Is the Grand Egyptian Museum different from the Egyptian Museum in downtown Cairo?

Yes. The Grand Egyptian Museum is a newer facility near the Giza Pyramids that opened recently and holds a major collection of Egyptian artifacts, including pieces from Tutankhamun's tomb and royal mummies. It's a separate museum from the older Egyptian Museum in central Cairo.

Can I choose what time the tour starts?

The tour departs from Alexandria port after your ship docks. Your guide and driver meet you at the port, and the timing works around your ship's schedule so you're back onboard before departure.

Is lunch included, and what kind of food is it?

Yes, lunch at a local restaurant is included in the tour price. The restaurant serves Egyptian cuisine. Your guide can tell you what's on the menu when you book or when you meet them at the port.

Do I need to be in good physical condition for this tour?

The tour is suitable for all fitness levels. You spend most of the day in an air-conditioned vehicle, though there is walking at the Pyramids, the Sphinx, the Papyrus Institute and the museum. If you have cardiovascular concerns, let your guide know when you book so they can adjust the pace.