Cairo Pyramids Day Tour: Saqqara, Memphis & Dahshur

The Step Pyramid of Djoser is the earliest colossal stone building in the world, and you walk inside it.

A private day tour from Cairo visiting Saqqara, Dahshur and Memphis with a live guide, air-conditioned vehicle pickup and drop-off from your hotel, and entry fees included. The tour runs six to eight hours, usually starting around 8 AM. You choose whether to add lunch. Airport pickups from New Cairo, Nasr City, 6th of October or the new administrative capital are available for an extra fee.

Step-by-step itinerary

Stops and time spent at each5 stops

1. SaqqaraEntry included1h
2. Step Pyramid of Djoser2h
3. DahshurEntry included30m
4. MemphisEntry included30m
5. Colossus of Ramses II at Memphis30m

Visit Saqqara, Dahshur, and Memphis

• Pick up from requested location
• Visit Pyramid of Djoser at Saqqara
• Explore Step Pyramid complex and tombs
• Lunch break
• Visit Dahshur Pyramids (Red and Bent)
• Enter Red Pyramid (optional)
• Enter Bent Pyramid (optional)
• Visit ancient capital Memphis
• See Colossus of Ramses II statue
• See Alabaster Sphinx of Memphis
• Return to hotel

The experience

Six to eight hours covers three separate archaeological sites, each with its own history. The day starts with pickup from your Cairo or Giza hotel, then heads to Saqqara, where the Step Pyramid of Djoser sits at the center of a vast complex built around 2670 BC. This pyramid changed how the ancient world built. It was the first colossal stone structure ever made, and every pyramid that came after it was based on what Imhotep designed here. Your guide walks you through the complex itself, showing the Colonnaded Entrance, the Sed Festival complex, and the enclosure wall. If you want to go inside the pyramid or the Southern Tomb, that requires a separate ticket your guide can help arrange.

After lunch (included if you chose that option), the tour moves to Dahshur, about an hour south. The Red Pyramid and the Bent Pyramid sit here, both built between 2613 and 2589 BC. The Bent Pyramid is the only one in Egypt that still has its outer limestone layer intact and in good condition. You can enter it, though the passage is tight and challenging, so it is not for anyone with claustrophobia or mobility concerns. The Red Pyramid, also called the North Pyramid, was the first true smooth-sided pyramid in Egyptian history. Its reddish limestone came from the Tura Mountains near Cairo. Both are among the oldest and best-preserved pyramids in the country.

The final stop is Memphis, the ancient capital, where two monuments dominate: the Colossus of Ramses II, a limestone statue in a dedicated museum still in remarkable condition after nearly 3,300 years, and the Alabaster Sphinx, carved from Egyptian alabaster and possibly representing Queen Hatshepsut. Memphis was the center of power during the Old Kingdom and the home of the pharaohs who built the pyramids. From there, your driver takes you back to your hotel.

What’s included

• The tour includes pickup and drop-off from your Cairo or Giza accommodation.
• entry fees to Saqqara, Dahshur and Memphis.
• a live guide in English or Spanish.
• and bottled water. Lunch is available as an add-on depending on which option you select at checkout.

Options for this experience

3 options

Car+Guide OnlyGuide in English or Spanish · 08:00, 09:00 and 10:00Car and guide only, pickup is included.

Car+Guide+Entry FeesGuide in English or Spanish · 08:00, 09:00 and 10:00Car, guide and entry fees; pickup is included.

Car+Guide+Fees+LunchGuide in English or Spanish · 08:00, 09:00 and 10:00Car, guide, lunch and entry fees to the mentioned sights are included. Pickup is included.

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

Before you book

Lasts 6h–7h, runs every day at 08:00, 09:00 and 10:00, from US$ 60 per person, with a live guide in English and Spanish, as a private tour and with free cancellation up to 24 h before.

Days and timesEvery dayDepartures at 08:00, 09:00 and 10:00

Book up to4h before

AgesAdult (12 to 65 years) · Child (6 to 11 years) · Infant (under 6): free

GroupPrivate

Live guideEnglish and Spanish

Meeting point and pickupHotel pickup included.

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

Prices and times updated 9 days ago

Good to know

Low physical effortPublic transport nearbyNot recommended with heart problemsNot recommended with back problems

Operated by GEM Explore Egypt

Is this one for you?Book the Car+Guide+Entry Fees option if you want to control when and where you eat, or choose Car+Guide+Fees+Lunch if you prefer the meal arranged so you can focus on the sites without breaking to find food. The flexible start time means you can begin early to beat crowds at Saqqara or later if your hotel is far from Cairo. Just confirm the time when you book.

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Top questions

What languages is the tour guided in?

Live guide in English and Spanish.

Can children come?

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

What is the Step Pyramid of Djoser and why does the tour start there?

The Step Pyramid of Djoser, built around 2670 BC at Saqqara, is the earliest colossal stone building in the world. It was a fundamental breakthrough in Egyptian architecture. All later pyramids were based on its design. The tour begins here because it represents the foundation of pyramid building and sits within a large complex of temples, pavilions and thousands of tombs.

Can I go inside the pyramids at Dahshur?

Yes, you can enter both the Red Pyramid and the Bent Pyramid at Dahshur. The Bent Pyramid is the only one in Egypt that still has its outer limestone layer and is open inside, though the passages are narrow and physically demanding: do not enter if you have claustrophobia or health concerns affecting mobility. The Red Pyramid is also accessible.

What will I see at Memphis?

Memphis holds two major monuments: the Colossus of Ramses II, a huge limestone statue housed in a museum and still in excellent condition, and the Alabaster Sphinx, carved from Egyptian alabaster and possibly depicting Queen Hatshepsut. Memphis was the ancient capital and power center of the Old Kingdom, home to the pharaohs who commissioned the pyramids.

Does the tour include lunch and pickup from my hotel?

Pickup and drop-off from your Cairo or Giza hotel are included. Lunch is included only if you select the Car+Guide+Fees+Lunch option at checkout. The Car+Guide+Entry Fees option does not include it. Airport pickups from New Cairo, Nasr City, 6th of October or the new administrative capital are available for an additional fee per person.

How long is the tour and what time does it start?

The tour runs six to eight hours and usually starts around 8 AM, ending around 4 PM. Your guide can adjust the start time to suit your schedule, and the time spent at each site is flexible depending on your interests.

What is included in the tour?

The tour includes pickup and drop-off from your hotel, an experienced English or Spanish-speaking guide, entry fees to all three sites, and bottled water. Lunch is included only in the Car+Guide+Fees+Lunch option.