Cairo day trip from Sharm el Sheikh: Pyramids, museum and Sphinx

Three pyramids, a sphinx carved from a limestone hill, and over 100,000 artifacts in a single day.

A full-day excursion from Sharm el Sheikh to Cairo by flight includes pickup from your hotel, a guided tour of either the Grand Egyptian Museum or the Ancient Egyptian Museum, lunch, visits to the Giza pyramids of Cheops, Chephren and Mykerinus, and the Great Sphinx, with return flights and transfers in air-conditioned vehicles. The guide speaks your choice of language and answers questions throughout. A Nile boat trip and visits to the Papyrus Museum or Essential Oils Factory are available as paid add-ons if time allows.

Step-by-step itinerary

Cairo Excursion and Sightseeing

• Pick up from hotel at 4am
• Meet Egyptological tour guide
• Visit Grand Egyptian Museum or Ancient Egyptian Museum
• Enjoy lunch
• Visit pyramids of Cheops, Chephren, and Mykerinus
• Explore the Great Sphinx and nearby temple
• Optional visit to Papyrus Museum and Essential Oils Factory
• Optional visit to Cairo Bazaar or Khan el-Khalili Market
• Return to Sharm el Sheikh hotel

The experience

You're picked up from your Sharm el Sheikh hotel around 4am for the flight to Cairo. Once you land, an air-conditioned vehicle takes you to the museum you selected during booking: either the Grand Egyptian Museum, the world's largest archaeological museum with over 100,000 artifacts, or the Ancient Egyptian Museum in Tahrir Square. Your guide spends two hours walking you through the most important pieces, explaining the high-quality tomb goods and answering your questions. After lunch, the day shifts to the open air.

The pyramids of Giza come next: Cheops, Chephren and Mykerinus, the last three standing. You explore the terrain on foot, or you can arrange to ride horseback or camel across the plateau. The tour ends at the Great Sphinx, the largest and most preserved sphinx in existence: a human head on a lion's body, carved from the limestone hill that once supplied stone for the Cheops pyramid. The scale of both the pyramids and the sphinx becomes real only when you stand in front of them.

On the return to Sharm el Sheikh in the late evening, there's time to stop at Khan el-Khalili, the medieval Cairo bazaar recently added to the UNESCO World Heritage List, or at Cairo Festival City, a massive air-conditioned shopping mall with international brands and restaurants. You're back at your hotel after a 16- to 18-hour day. If you want a Nile felucca boat ride, that's a separate fee. The Papyrus Museum and Essential Oils Factory visits depend on how much daylight remains.

What’s included

• Hotel pickup in Sharm el Sheikh and return transfer in an air-conditioned vehicle.
• round-trip flights to Cairo.
• admission to your chosen museum (Grand Egyptian Museum or Ancient Egyptian Museum).
• lunch.
• visits to the three Giza pyramids and the Great Sphinx.
• a guide in your selected language.
• three bottles of mineral water per person during the day tour.

Options for this experience

3 options

(GEM) without occurrencesGuide in 7 languages · 03:00, 03:30, 04:00 and 06:00Grand Egyptian Museum (GEM): Explore the Grand Egyptian Museum (GEM), the pyramids and the Sphinx (entrance fees are not included in the price). Pickup is included

Small group tour that includes admission feesGuide in 7 languages · 03:00, 03:30, 04:00 and 06:00This option covers entrance fees (pyramid area, Sphinx, lunch, transfers, old museum). Pickup is included

Entry to the GEM MuseumGuide in 7 languages · 03:00, 03:30, 04:00 and 06:00This option covers entrance fees (Pyramid Area, Sphinx, Lunch, Transfers, Grand Egyptian Museum) (GEM). Pickup is included

You pick the guide language when booking.

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

Before you book

Days and timesEvery dayDepartures at 03:00, 03:30, 04:00 and 06:00

Book up to5h before

AgesAdult (12 and older) · Child (2 to 11 years) · Infant (under 2)

GroupUp to 25

Live guideEnglish, Spanish, French, German, Italian, Arabic and Russian

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 or if the minimum number of travelers isn't reached. If that happens, you're offered another date or a refund.

Prices and times updated yesterday

Good to know

Easy physical levelWheelchair accessibleAccessible transportStroller friendlyInfant seats availablePublic transport nearby

Operated by Book Tour Egypt

Is this one for you?Book this if you're staying in Sharm el Sheikh and want pyramids, the Sphinx, and the Egyptian Museum in one day with early hotel pickup. Choose the camel or horseback option at checkout if you prefer exploring Giza on animal rather than on foot.

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Top questions

What languages is the guide in?

Live guide in English, Spanish, French, German, Italian, Arabic and Russian.

Can children come?

Yes. Ticket types: Child (2 to 11 years); Infant (under 2).

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's the difference between the Grand Egyptian Museum and the Ancient Egyptian Museum?

The Grand Egyptian Museum is the world's largest archaeological museum with over 100,000 artifacts and represents the state-of-the-art collection. The Ancient Egyptian Museum is located in Tahrir Square. You choose which one during booking.

Can I ride a camel or horse at the pyramids, or do I have to walk?

You can explore the Giza plateau on foot, horseback or camel. It's your choice once you arrive at the site.

How early do I need to be ready for pickup?

Pickup happens around 4am from your Sharm el Sheikh hotel so you can catch the morning flight to Cairo.

Is the Nile boat trip included in the tour?

A felucca boat ride on the Nile is available as a paid add-on for a fee, arranged with the tour group on the day.

What happens if we don't have time for Khan el-Khalili or the Papyrus Museum?

Khan el-Khalili and the Papyrus Museum visits depend on how much time remains in the day after the pyramids and Sphinx. The itinerary is flexible based on the group's pace.