Cairo Giza Pyramids, Saqqara & Memphis Full-Day Private Tour

| | | | | |

The appeal here is the range: in one day, you move from the famous pyramids at Giza to Saqqara’s earlier Step Pyramid, then on to Memphis, Egypt’s former capital. I like that the private format gives your group room to explore at its own pace, and that lunch and hotel transfers are included in the price.

The main trade-off is the extra cost of admission: tickets for all three sites are not included, so your final spend will be higher than the advertised starting price. The schedule is also a full day, with traffic and weather able to shift the timing.

★★★★★

At a glance

Cairo Giza Pyramids, Saqqara & Memphis Full-Day Private Tour - At a glance
Cairo Giza Pyramids, Saqqara & Memphis Full-Day Private Tour - From Giza’s giants to Egypt’s first stone pyramid
Cairo Giza Pyramids, Saqqara & Memphis Full-Day Private Tour - A private car makes the long circuit easier
Cairo Giza Pyramids, Saqqara & Memphis Full-Day Private Tour - Giza Plateau: the day’s biggest names
Cairo Giza Pyramids, Saqqara & Memphis Full-Day Private Tour - Lunch provides a useful pause
Cairo Giza Pyramids, Saqqara & Memphis Full-Day Private Tour - Saqqara: an earlier chapter in pyramid building
1 / 6

  • Three very different stops: See Giza, Saqqara, and Memphis in one day, from the best-known pyramids to the Step Pyramid and an open-air museum.
  • Private transport: Travel in an air-conditioned vehicle with pickup and drop-off at a centrally located hotel in Cairo or Giza.
  • A guide in English or Arabic: Guided visits are included, but no individual guide’s name is provided.
  • Lunch is covered: A meal is included, which helps make a long day easier to manage.
  • Admission costs extra: Budget separately for entrance to Giza, Saqqara, and Memphis.
  • A flexible day, not a fixed stopwatch: The listed schedule can change with traffic and weather.

From Giza’s giants to Egypt’s first stone pyramid

Cairo Giza Pyramids, Saqqara & Memphis Full-Day Private Tour - From Giza’s giants to Egypt’s first stone pyramid

Giza is the headliner, and for good reason. The plateau brings together the Pyramids of Giza and the Great Sphinx, monuments so familiar from photographs that their scale can still catch you off guard. A guided visit helps give the stones context, while the private setup means you can ask questions and set the pace with your guide rather than follow a large group’s timetable.

After Giza, the day turns to Saqqara. Its Step Pyramid of Djoser is identified as Egypt’s first stone pyramid, making this stop a useful counterpoint to the monumental pyramids at Giza. You are not just seeing another ancient structure. You are visiting a site that helps explain the early development of pyramid building.

The final stop is Memphis, once Egypt’s capital and now an open-air museum. The large statue of Ramses II is among the site’s notable sights. Together, the three stops give you a broader day than a Giza-only outing, though seeing all of them means keeping an eye on the clock.

You can also read our reviews of more private tours in Cairo

A private car makes the long circuit easier

Cairo Giza Pyramids, Saqqara & Memphis Full-Day Private Tour - A private car makes the long circuit easier

The tour departs from Cairo or Giza and includes pickup and drop-off at centrally located hotels. The vehicle is described as a modern, air-conditioned model, with fuel, tolls, and parking covered. That matters on a day linking several sites: you can travel between them without arranging separate transport or working out each leg yourself.

A private tour is especially useful if you value a guide’s attention, want to ask questions as they come up, or prefer not to coordinate with a larger group. The description promises a personalized experience and flexibility to explore at your own pace. In practice, the overall schedule still has limits: three destinations, lunch, and a return by about 16:00 leave less room for an extended visit at every stop.

The listed departure is 09:00, with a request to arrive ten minutes early. The operator reconfirms pickup time in advance, so enter your hotel name and address when booking and check the confirmed time before the day. The schedule may change with traffic or weather, a sensible possibility when traveling between sites around Cairo.

Giza Plateau: the day’s biggest names

Cairo Giza Pyramids, Saqqara & Memphis Full-Day Private Tour - Giza Plateau: the day’s biggest names

The first listed stop is Giza, with arrival around 09:30. The guided visit covers the plateau’s pyramids and the Sphinx. This is the stop most likely to anchor your day, and it deserves time for both looking and listening. The guide can help turn the famous silhouettes into a more meaningful visit by explaining what you are seeing.

Keep in mind that admission to the Giza Pyramids is not included. The tour price covers the guide and transport, not access to the sites, so check current ticket costs before you go and include them in your budget. The supplied details do not specify which individual ticket options are available or what access each one permits.

A practical advantage of visiting with a guide is that you do not have to manage the whole experience alone. You can focus on the site and ask questions, while the guide leads the visit. The actual pace and time at Giza will depend on the day’s schedule and conditions, so if lingering here is your top priority, consider asking the operator how much time is planned before booking.

Lunch provides a useful pause

Cairo Giza Pyramids, Saqqara & Memphis Full-Day Private Tour - Lunch provides a useful pause

Lunch is scheduled around 12:00 and is included. That break divides the day into two parts and gives you a chance to rest before heading to the later stops. The one available account of the tour described the meal as delicious and well timed, and singled out the organization and guide as strengths. That is encouraging, though one account cannot guarantee the same meal or experience on every date.

The details do not name the restaurant or specify the menu, so contact the operator if you have dietary needs or want to know what is served. Don’t assume that drinks or personal extras are covered unless the operator confirms them.

Saqqara: an earlier chapter in pyramid building

Cairo Giza Pyramids, Saqqara & Memphis Full-Day Private Tour - Saqqara: an earlier chapter in pyramid building

The afternoon portion is listed as a guided visit beginning around 14:00, but the schedule does not assign exact times to Saqqara and Memphis separately. The experience description places Saqqara after Giza and before Memphis, so expect the afternoon to cover both, with the exact pacing subject to change.

Saqqara is home to the Step Pyramid of Djoser, described as Egypt’s oldest pyramid and the first stone pyramid in Egypt. For anyone interested in how the country’s monumental architecture developed, this is a compelling contrast with Giza. The Step Pyramid is not simply a smaller version of the better-known pyramids; its place in the early story of pyramid building is what makes the visit distinctive.

Admission to Saqqara is extra. Since the tour’s appeal depends on seeing several sites, it is worth deciding beforehand whether you plan to enter all three. The operator says the separate fees give you flexibility about which sites to explore in depth, but the overall day still needs to fit its return schedule.

Memphis: an open-air museum to finish

Memphis was the ancient capital of Egypt, and the tour visits its open-air museum. One of the stated highlights is the large statue of Ramses II. It is a different kind of stop from Giza and Saqqara: rather than focusing on a plateau of pyramids, you are visiting a museum setting with impressive statues.

Admission to Memphis is also excluded. The available information does not give a detailed breakdown of the exhibits or the length of the visit, so think of this as a guided stop within a wider day rather than a long, self-directed museum visit. If Memphis is a particular interest, ask the operator how much time the schedule usually allows there.

What the price covers, and what it doesn’t

The advertised starting price is from $51.59, while the listed package option is priced from US$56.05. Treat those figures as a starting point rather than the full cost of the day. The price includes a professional English- or Arabic-speaking guide, round-trip hotel transfers, air-conditioned transport, lunch, fuel, tolls, and parking.

The main extra is admission to Giza, Saqqara, and Memphis. Accommodation, personal expenses, and tips are also excluded. Add the entrance fees for the sites you intend to visit before comparing this tour with alternatives. A lower headline price may not mean a lower total if tickets are not included.

For the right person, the value is in having the route, transport, guide, and lunch arranged together. You are paying for a private, guided day that links three major ancient sites, not simply a car ride to Giza. If you want to visit only one site, or prefer to arrange transport yourself, this package may be more than you need.

Who will get the most from this day

I’d consider this tour if you have one day for the major sites around Cairo and want a guide to connect them. It suits people who like a structured plan but still value a private setting, as well as families or small groups who would rather travel together than coordinate separate rides.

It is also a strong option if Saqqara and Memphis matter to you, not just the pyramids at Giza. Seeing all three offers a broader sense of Egypt’s ancient sites in one outing. The limit is time: if you want a slow, detailed visit at every stop, a day with three destinations may feel hurried. Ask the operator about usual visit lengths before deciding.

The activity has no age limit. Children aged zero to two are free if they do not need a separate seat, and children aged ten and older pay the adult rate. The tour is listed as wheelchair- and stroller-accessible, but that does not explain conditions at each archaeological site. If you need specific access arrangements, confirm them with the operator before booking.

Practical details before you go

Wear comfortable clothes and shoes suited to the day’s weather, and bring sunglasses, a cap or hat, and valid ID. Pets are allowed, though it is still wise to confirm any practical arrangements with the operator. Larger bags count as two pieces, and the operator may refuse a booking if the group or luggage exceeds the vehicle’s capacity, with no refund in that case.

Your voucher is valid only for the date and time shown, and you can present it on your phone. Confirmation is expected within minutes; if it does not arrive, contact customer support. You can cancel for a full refund up to 24 hours before the activity date, using the destination’s local time.

Should you book it?

Book this tour if you want Giza, Saqqara, and Memphis in one organized day, with a private guide, hotel transport, and lunch included. Its strongest selling points are the range of sites and the convenience of having the day’s main logistics handled for you.

Think twice if you want to spend a long time at each site, or if you are watching your total budget closely. Admissions are extra, the schedule can shift, and the afternoon has to cover both Saqqara and Memphis. For a first visit with limited time, though, this is a practical way to see more than the Giza icons alone.

Ready to Book?

Cairo Giza Pyramids, Saqqara & Memphis Full-Day Private Tour

5.0

“Well-Organized and Amazing Experience! This day tour to the Giza Pyramids, Saqqara, and Memphis was perfectly organized! The company ensured everyt…”

December 19, 2024

FAQ

Where does the tour pick me up?

Pickup and drop-off are available at centrally located hotels in Cairo and Giza. Enter your hotel name and address when booking; the operator will reconfirm the pickup time.

What time does the tour leave and return?

The listed departure is 09:00, and the expected return is around 16:00. Arrive ten minutes before departure. Traffic and weather can affect the schedule.

Are entrance fees included?

No. Admission to Giza, Saqqara, and Memphis is not included.

Is lunch included?

Yes, lunch is included. The supplied details do not specify the restaurant or menu.

What languages does the guide speak?

The guide is listed as English- or Arabic-speaking. No individual guide’s name is provided.

Is the tour private?

Yes. It is described as a private day tour with a personalized experience.

Can children join the tour?

Yes. There is no age limit. Children aged zero to two are free if they do not occupy a separate seat, and children aged ten and older are charged the adult rate.

Is the tour wheelchair- and stroller-accessible?

The activity is listed as wheelchair- and stroller-accessible. If you need particular arrangements at the sites or in the vehicle, confirm those details with the operator before booking.

Not for you? Here's more nearby things to do in Cairo we have reviewed