GetYourGuide
★ 4.8(12 Reviews)Hurghada: Cairo Pyramids, GEM & Citadel Day Trip by Bus
- Hotel pickup included
- German-speaking guide indicated
- Free cancellation up to 24 hours before
- Duration per provider: 1 day
A Day by Bus from Hurghada to the Pyramids and the GEM
Ranco Travel Egypt Hurghada offers this day trip as a bus ride from Hurghada. You will travel to the Giza Plateau and the Grand Egyptian Museum, located two kilometers away. On the plateau are the Great Pyramid of Khufu, the Pyramid of Khafre, the Pyramid of Menkaure, the Sphinx, and the viewpoints in between. The Sphinx is carved from the natural rock; visitors stand on the terrace above it, not beside its paws. The distance from Hurghada to the plateau is 473 kilometers, with a pure driving time of six hours; the tour lasts one day. A live guide accompanies the small group; private booking is not possible. Tours are conducted in German, English, French, Finnish, or Spanish; a German-speaking guide is indicated. Since mid-November 2025, the GEM is only accessible with a pre-booked time slot.
Photos by provider Ranco Travel Egypt Hurghada. They show the offer, not your day.
- Provider
- Ranco Travel Egypt Hurghada
- Duration
- 1 day
- Start location
- Hurghada
- Group type
- Small group
- Guide
- Live guide
- German-speaking
- Yes
- Hotel pickup
- Yes
- Price
- From €55
- Rating
- 4.8 out of 16 reviews
- Quality threshold
- Passed
What is included, what is not, and what the provider does not mention
The catalog distinguishes three states, and the third is the most important: no information does not mean excluded, but unclarified.
| Service | Status | What this means for you |
|---|---|---|
| Plateau area ticket | No information | Ask before booking; it is about €11 per person. |
| Interior of a pyramid | No information | The norm. Khufu officially about €16 (1,000 Egyptian pounds). |
| Hotel pickup | Included | Included; meeting point is your accommodation. |
| Lunch | Included | Included. |
| Burial chambers and mastabas | Nowhere in the catalog | In the entire reviewed catalog, no offer sells access to a tomb on the plateau. |
| Cancellation | Free up to 24 hours before | Provider's statement in the catalog. |
Plateau area ticket
- Status
- No information
- What this means for you
- Ask before booking; it is about €11 per person.
Interior of a pyramid
- Status
- No information
- What this means for you
- The norm. Khufu officially about €16 (1,000 Egyptian pounds).
Hotel pickup
- Status
- Included
- What this means for you
- Included; meeting point is your accommodation.
Lunch
- Status
- Included
- What this means for you
- Included.
Burial chambers and mastabas
- Status
- Nowhere in the catalog
- What this means for you
- In the entire reviewed catalog, no offer sells access to a tomb on the plateau.
Cancellation
- Status
- Free up to 24 hours before
- What this means for you
- Provider's statement in the catalog.
€55, Lunch, and the Open Questions about Entrance Fees
The entry price is €55, making it the cheapest in the category of pyramid tours from Hurghada; the range of offers goes up to €1,048. Included are lunch and hotel pickup. You can cancel free of charge up to 24 hours before departure. The provider leaves open whether the area ticket for the Giza Plateau and the interior of the Great Pyramid of Khufu are included in the price. Officially, the area ticket costs 700 EGP (about €11) and the interior 1,000 EGP (about €16). If they are not included, you pay these amounts on the day. Tipping is customary in Egypt, but not a surcharge for special service.
Price Comparison
Entry price of this tour against the four best-documented offers in the same category. The highlighted bar is this tour.
Price alone says little. Read it together with the 'Area ticket' row in the comparison table: An offer without entrance is not cheaper, but calculated differently.
Figures in this chart as a table
| Row | Hurghada: Cairo Pyramids, GEM & Cit… | Hurghada: Day Trip to Cairo with … | Hurghada to Cairo: Pyramids and Mus… | From Hurghada: Day Trip to the Highl… | Hurghada: Full-Day Trip to Cai… |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Entry price | 55 € | 239 € | 80 € | 65 € | 219 € |
This Tour vs. Four Comparable Ones
All five come from the category 'Pyramid Excursions from Hurghada'. The column for this tour is highlighted; the other four are the best-documented in the category.
| Hurghada: Kairo-Pyramiden, GEM & … | Hurghada: Tagesausflug nach Kairo mit Flug … | Hurghada nach Kairo: Pyramiden und Museum für … | Ab Hurghada: Tagesausflug zu den Highlights von … | Hurghada: Ganztägiger Ausflug nach Kairo mit dem … | |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Provider | Ranco Travel Egypt Hurghada | Book Tour Egypt (BTE) | FTS Travelss | Nice Tours | FTS Travelss |
| Price | from 55 € | from 239 € | from 80 € | from 65 € | from 219 € |
| Duration | 1 days | 16 to 17 hours | 1 days | 15 to 20 hours | 1 days |
| Group type | small group | group | small group | group | small group |
| German-speaking | yes | yes | yes | yes | yes |
| Area ticket | not specified | included | Add-on | included | included |
| Pickup | yes | yes | yes | yes | yes |
| Rating (reviews) | 4.8 (16) | 4.9 (3,361) | 4.8 (1,255) | 4.6 (7,111) | 4.8 (458) |
| Quality threshold | passed | passed | passed | passed | passed |
| Free cancellation until | 24 h | 24 h | 24 h | 24 h | not specified |
Hurghada: Kairo-Pyramiden, GEM & Zitadellen-Tagesausflug mit dem Bus
- Provider
- Ranco Travel Egypt Hurghada
- Price
- from 55 €
- Duration
- 1 days
- Group type
- small group
- German-speaking
- yes
- Area ticket
- not specified
- Pickup
- yes
- Rating (reviews)
- 4.8 (16)
- Quality threshold
- passed
- Free cancellation until
- 24 h
Hurghada: Tagesausflug nach Kairo mit Flug, Pyramiden, Sphinx und Museum
- Provider
- Book Tour Egypt (BTE)
- Price
- from 239 €
- Duration
- 16 to 17 hours
- Group type
- group
- German-speaking
- yes
- Area ticket
- included
- Pickup
- yes
- Rating (reviews)
- 4.9 (3,361)
- Quality threshold
- passed
- Free cancellation until
- 24 h
Hurghada nach Kairo: Pyramiden und Museum für Erstbesucher
- Provider
- FTS Travelss
- Price
- from 80 €
- Duration
- 1 days
- Group type
- small group
- German-speaking
- yes
- Area ticket
- Add-on
- Pickup
- yes
- Rating (reviews)
- 4.8 (1,255)
- Quality threshold
- passed
- Free cancellation until
- 24 h
Ab Hurghada: Tagesausflug zu den Highlights von Kairo und Gizeh
- Provider
- Nice Tours
- Price
- from 65 €
- Duration
- 15 to 20 hours
- Group type
- group
- German-speaking
- yes
- Area ticket
- included
- Pickup
- yes
- Rating (reviews)
- 4.6 (7,111)
- Quality threshold
- passed
- Free cancellation until
- 24 h
Hurghada: Ganztägiger Ausflug nach Kairo mit dem Flugzeug
- Provider
- FTS Travelss
- Price
- from 219 €
- Duration
- 1 days
- Group type
- small group
- German-speaking
- yes
- Area ticket
- included
- Pickup
- yes
- Rating (reviews)
- 4.8 (458)
- Quality threshold
- passed
- Free cancellation until
- not specified
The order follows the evidence, not the commission. All values come from the same catalog fields to make the columns comparable.
How Many People Have Judged?
Number of reviews per offer, with the rating in parentheses. A rating without its sample size is not information.
The quality threshold on this page is ten reviews. Anything below is not a judgment but a coincidence.
Figures in this chart as a table
| Row | Hurghada: Cairo Pyramids, GEM… (4.8) | Hurghada: Day Trip to Cai… (4.9) | Hurghada to Cairo: Pyramids… (4.8) | From Hurghada: Day Trip to t… (4.6) | Hurghada: Full-Day Trip … (4.8) |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Reviews | 16 Reviews | 3,361 Reviews | 1,255 Reviews | 7,111 Reviews | 458 Reviews |
4.8 out of 16 Reviews: A Narrow Base
The rating is 4.8, but only 16 guests have left a review. That is a narrow base. In the ranking of pyramid tours from Hurghada, this excursion ranks 22nd out of 36; this ranking is based on the strength of evidence, i.e., the number of reviews, not just the rating level. A 4.8 from 16 votes is a good first impression, but not a reliable judgment.
The Day, Stop by Stop
The order follows the usual sequence. Each stop tells you what to expect there and the documented figures; everything else is in the data sheet.
Pickup at your accommodation
The provider picks you up; the duration of the tour counts from here, not from the gate.
Giza Plateau
The site itself: the three pyramids, the Sphinx, and the viewpoints in between. Private vehicles are not allowed up; you go by electric shuttle or on foot.
- Area ticket foreigner (adult)700 EGPMinistry of Tourism and Antiquities
- Opening hours (official website)08:00–16:00Ministry of Tourism and Antiquities
- Ticket office closes before gate closes1 hourAltertümerverwaltung (Regelpraxis)
Great Sphinx
Carved from the natural rock, not built. The public stands on the terrace above, not beside the paws.
- Length73 mWikipedia (en): Great Sphinx of Giza
- Height20 mWikipedia (en): Great Sphinx of Giza
- Public accessFrom the east through the Valley Temple of Khafre up to the viewing terraceMinistry of Tourism and Antiquities (Giza Plateau)
Great Pyramid of Khufu
The largest of the three, from the outside. The interior is a separate ticket and is not included in almost any offer.
- Original height146.6 mWikipedia (en): Great Pyramid of Giza
- Interior visit foreigner (adult)1,000 EGPMinistry of Tourism and Antiquities (The Great Pyramid)
- Midday closure12:00–13:00Ministry of Tourism and Antiquities (Giza Plateau)
Pyramid of Khafre
The middle one, still partly clad at the top. Its valley temple is included in the area ticket and is the shadiest spot on the site.
- Original height143.5 mMinistry of Tourism and Antiquities (Pyramid Complex of Khafre)
- Remaining casingPolished limestone blocks at the topMinistry of Tourism and Antiquities (Pyramid Complex of Khafre)
- Valley temple included in area ticketIncludedMinistry of Tourism and Antiquities (Giza Plateau)
Pyramid of Menkaure
The smallest of the three, clad in granite from Aswan on its lower courses.
- Original height65 mMinistry of Tourism and Antiquities (Pyramid Complex of Menkaure)
- Interior visit for foreigners (adults)280 EGPMinistry of Tourism and Antiquities (Pyramid Complex of Menkaure)
- Cladding materialRed granite from Aswan instead of limestoneMinistry of Tourism and Antiquities (Pyramid Complex of Menkaure)
Grand Egyptian Museum (GEM)
The new museum, two kilometres from the plateau. Since mid-November 2025, entry is only possible with a pre-booked time slot.
- Distance from the Giza Plateau2 kmRESEARCH-BASE
- Galleries open9:00–18:00, Wed and Sat until 21:00GEM (amtlich)
- Fixed entry time slots sincemid-November 2025Ahram Online
Back to the starting point
The return journey is included in the stated duration. In Cairo traffic, it is the most unpredictable part of the day.
A stop in this list is a stop, not a promise about the duration of the stop.
Temperatures in Hurghada throughout the year
Average daily maximum and minimum values per month. Two series, one axis; the points mark the hottest and coldest months.
Daily maximumDaily minimum
There is hardly any shade on the site itself; the values are normal outdoor values and not a forecast.
Figures in this chart as a table
| Row | Jan | Feb | Mar | Apr | May | Jun | Jul | Aug | Sep | Oct | Nov | Dec |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Daily maximum | 22.2 °C | 23.5 °C | 26.2 °C | 29.9 °C | 33.7 °C | 36.3 °C | 37.4 °C | 37.5 °C | 35.3 °C | 32.1 °C | 27.8 °C | 23.8 °C |
| Daily minimum | 11.6 °C | 12.4 °C | 15.1 °C | 18.7 °C | 23.1 °C | 26.1 °C | 27.8 °C | 28 °C | 25.6 °C | 22.2 °C | 17.7 °C | 13.4 °C |
Night-time start and heat depending on the month
Pick-up between 1:30 and 2:30 a.m. puts you on the bus in the middle of the night. The chart of monthly temperatures in Hurghada shows: from November to February, highs stay at 22 to 28 degrees, from June to September they climb to 35 to 38 degrees. On the Giza Plateau there is hardly any shade; the values are normal outdoor values, not a forecast. If you travel in high summer, you will experience the daytime heat unprotected; in the cooler months, sightseeing is more pleasant.
The complete data sheet
Every piece of information this project has documented about this tour, the places in its programme, and the area covered by your ticket: 204 rows, each with its source. Collapsed because this is not a reading page, but fully present.
Download full table as CSV · 204 Rows
Show all 204 entries
| Item | Value | Source |
|---|---|---|
| The offer30 | ||
| Provider title | Hurghada: Cairo Pyramids, GEM & Citadel Day Trip by Bus | GetYourGuide catalogue |
| Provider | Ranco Travel Egypt Hurghada | GetYourGuide catalogue |
| Product number | 1301154 | GetYourGuide catalogue |
| Start location | Hurghada | GetYourGuide catalogue |
| Duration | 1 day | GetYourGuide catalogue |
| Multi-day | no | GetYourGuide catalogue |
| Entry price | 55 € | GetYourGuide, live retrieval |
| Entry price in local currency | approx. 3,253 EGP | Exchange rate 59.14 EGP per euro |
| Rating | 4.8 stars | GetYourGuide, live retrieval |
| Number of reviews | 16 | GetYourGuide, live retrieval |
| Project quality threshold | passed | Own rule: at least 4.0 with at least 10 reviews |
| Rank in category | 22 of 36 in 'Pyramid trips from Hurghada' | Own evaluation, score weighted by number of reviews |
| Plateau area ticket | not specified | GetYourGuide catalogue |
| Interior of a pyramid | not specified | GetYourGuide catalogue |
| Access to a tomb | no offer in the catalogue sells that | Own evaluation of all 252 offers |
| Hotel pickup | included | GetYourGuide catalogue |
| Lunch | included | GetYourGuide catalogue |
| Type of guide | live guide | GetYourGuide catalogue |
| Guide languages | German, English, French, Finnish, Spanish | GetYourGuide catalogue |
| German-speaking guide | yes | GetYourGuide catalogue |
| Private booking possible | no | GetYourGuide catalogue |
| Small group | yes | GetYourGuide catalogue |
| Group format according to provider | Small group | GetYourGuide catalogue |
| Preferred entry | yes | GetYourGuide catalogue |
| Wheelchair accessible | not specified | GetYourGuide catalogue |
| Free cancellation | yes | GetYourGuide catalogue |
| Cancellation deadline | 24 hours before start | GetYourGuide catalogue |
| Giza reference in catalogue | high | Own verification of catalogue fields |
| Provider images | 5 photos | GetYourGuide catalogue |
| Data status | 2026-09-03 | Own retrieval |
| Giza Plateau22 | ||
| Area ticket foreigners (adults) | EGP 700 · Students EGP 350; Egyptians EGP 60/30. Does NOT cover interiors | Ministry of Tourism and Antiquities |
| Area ticket students (foreigners) | EGP 350 | Ministry of Tourism and Antiquities |
| Opening hours (official website) | 08:00–16:00 · Official sources contradict each other (PDF from 2020: 07:00–17:00); ticket office closes one hour before closing | Ministry of Tourism and Antiquities |
| Ticket office closes before gate closes | 1 hour | Antiquities administration (standard practice) |
| Payment at ticket office | card only, no cash · Cashless sales since 2023; cash still needed for tips and small items | Daily News Egypt |
| Main entrance since 2025 | Great Gate on the Cairo–Fayoum desert road (southwest) · Replaces the old gate at Mena House; Sphinx Gate open but without ticket office | RESEARCH-BASE |
| Private vehicles on the plateau | banned since the 2025 reorganisation | RESEARCH-BASE |
| Electric shuttle | included in admission, hop-on/hop-off · Stops confirmed: Khufu, Khafre, Menkaure, Panorama Point, Sphinx | RESEARCH-BASE |
| Visitor operations | Orascom Pyramids Entertainment (OPE), 15-year contract since 2018 · Ticket revenue remains entirely with the state, plus 50% of project profit | Egyptian Streets |
| Visitors per year (operator figure) | 3,500,000 · Figure from 5 Jan 2026; target 5 million; no official per-site figure published | Middle East Observer |
| Visitors per day (derived) | 9,600 · Calculated from 3.5 million/year | Middle East Observer |
| UNESCO World Heritage since | 1979 · Part of 'Memphis and its Necropolis', No. 86 | UNESCO World Heritage Centre |
| Area of the World Heritage site | 16,358.52 ha | UNESCO / Wikidata |
| Length of the pyramid field (Abu Roash to Dahshur) | 30 km · Over two dozen pyramids depending on counting method | UNESCO World Heritage Centre |
| Great Pyramid of Khufu closed at noon | 12:00–13:00 | RESEARCH-BASE (site visit 2026-08-31) |
| Interior of the Great Pyramid (circulating figures) | EGP 400–1,500 · Three orders of magnitude circulate; daily quota ~300 in two windows (Hawass regulation after 1998) | RESEARCH-BASE (multiple sources, disputed) |
| Entry under 16 on Fri/Sat/holidays | only with ID or accompanied · Regulation from June 2022; current application unverified | Egypt Independent |
| Major concerts on the plateau since | 1978 · Around 15 documented major performances in five decades, almost yearly since 2021 | The National |
| First professional boxing match on the plateau | 2026-05-23 · Usyk vs. Verhoeven, T.K.o. round 11 | Saudi Press Agency |
| Private photography at sites | free, including with system/SLR cameras · Requires permit: photo umbrellas, artificial light, equipment blocking paths | Ministry of Tourism and Antiquities |
| Milky Way over the plateau | not visible (brightest night sky worldwide in the Nile Delta) · Starry-sky photos over the pyramids are montages | Falchi et al., Science Advances 2016 |
| Air purification system in the King's Chamber since | September 2025 · Plasmacluster; aim: reduce humidity, protect walls | Egyptian Streets |
| Great Sphinx23 | ||
| Length | 73 m | Wikipedia (en): Great Sphinx of Giza |
| Height | 20 m | Wikipedia (en): Great Sphinx of Giza |
| Width | 19 m | Wikipedia (en): Great Sphinx of Giza |
| Material | carved directly from the bedrock · Not a built structure, but a sculpture in natural limestone | Ministry of Tourism and Antiquities (The Great Sphinx) |
| Time of origin | 4th Dynasty, c. 2613–2494 BC · Thus the oldest of the Egyptian colossal statues | Ministry of Tourism and Antiquities (The Great Sphinx) |
| Attribution | Reign of Khafre, c. 2558–2532 BC · The official wording is “the evidence points to” – attested but not proven | Ministry of Tourism and Antiquities (The Great Sphinx) |
| Iconographic idea | the king with a lion's body, as a sign of his power | Ministry of Tourism and Antiquities (The Great Sphinx) |
| Sphinx Temple | immediately in front, next to the Valley Temple of Khafre | Ministry of Tourism and Antiquities (The Great Sphinx) |
| Construction sequence | the Valley Temple was finished before work on the Sphinx began · Result of archaeological analysis, not tradition | Ministry of Tourism and Antiquities (The Great Sphinx) |
| Facial features | striking resemblance to the statues of Khafre | Ministry of Tourism and Antiquities (The Great Sphinx) |
| Interpretation in the New Kingdom | manifestation of the sun god, called Horemakhet (“Horus in the Horizon”) · 18th Dynasty, c. 1550–1295 BC | Ministry of Tourism and Antiquities (The Great Sphinx) |
| Temple of Amenhotep II | built next to the Sphinx, dedicated to this god · Amenhotep II, c. 1427–1400 BC | Ministry of Tourism and Antiquities (The Great Sphinx) |
| Dream Stele | erected by Thutmose IV between the front paws · Thutmose IV, c. 1400–1390 BC; the research figure given by NOVA is 1401–1391 BC | Ministry of Tourism and Antiquities (The Great Sphinx) |
| Content of the Dream Stele | The young prince rests at noon in the shadow of the Sphinx; the god promises him kingship in a dream if he removes the sand | Kasia Szpakowska in conversation with NOVA (PBS) |
| Purpose of the stele | legitimisation of the succession and fulfilment of the royal core duty to maintain sacred buildings | Kasia Szpakowska in conversation with NOVA (PBS) |
| Condition in the New Kingdom | largely buried in sand, presumably only the head visible | Kasia Szpakowska in conversation with NOVA (PBS) |
| The Plateau in the New Kingdom | Court's recreational area: hunting, chariot driving, archery, rest stops in the shade | Kasia Szpakowska in conversation with NOVA (PBS) |
| Dream Stele: material and size | Granite, just under four meters high, several tons · Only attested secondarily; according to a common interpretation, a reused lintel from the valley temple of Khafre | Kasia Szpakowska in conversation with NOVA (PBS) |
| Dream Stele: condition | about half of the text missing, crack from the twelfth line · Exposed in 1817 by Giovanni Battista Caviglia; thereafter accelerated weathering | Kasia Szpakowska in conversation with NOVA (PBS) |
| Public access | from the east through the valley temple of Khafre up to the viewing terrace · There is no walkable circular path on the north side of the pit; the closest distance is on the order of 30 to 50 m | Ministry of Tourism and Antiquities (Giza Plateau) |
| Access at paw level | official category "The Sphinx (Private Visits only + Site Opening Fee)" · Private booking outside operating hours with additional opening fee – not an invention of providers, but also not a regular ticket | Ministry of Tourism and Antiquities (The Great Sphinx) |
| Claim of a second, buried sphinx | not documented · Presentation from June 2026 from the same group whose foundational work was withdrawn in August 2026 | Remote Sensing (MDPI), retraction notice 10.08.2026 |
| UNESCO World Heritage since | 1979 | UNESCO World Heritage Centre |
| Great Pyramid of Khufu25 | ||
| Original height | 146.6 m · 280 cubits; the official site states 146.5 m | Wikipedia (en): Great Pyramid of Giza |
| Current height | 138.5 m · The missing eight meters are the removed casing and the pyramidion | Wikipedia (en): Great Pyramid of Giza |
| Base length | 230.33 m · 440 cubits | Wikipedia (en): Great Pyramid of Giza |
| Volume | 2,600,000 m³ | Wikipedia (en): Great Pyramid of Giza |
| Inclination angle | 51°50'40" · Corresponds to a seked of 5 1/2 palms | Wikipedia (en): Great Pyramid of Giza |
| Material | Limestone, mortar, granite | Wikipedia (en): Great Pyramid of Giza |
| Origin of the casing | Turah, south of Maadi, delivered by ship · The structure was once completely clad in high-quality limestone | Ministry of Tourism and Antiquities (The Great Pyramid) |
| Builder | King Khufu (Cheops), ca. 2589–2566 BC | Ministry of Tourism and Antiquities (The Great Pyramid) |
| Estimated construction time | 10 to 20 years · Official figure; exactly how it was built remains unresolved to this day | Ministry of Tourism and Antiquities (The Great Pyramid) |
| Tallest building in the world | for 3,800 years | Ministry of Tourism and Antiquities (The Great Pyramid) |
| Seven Wonders of the World | the only surviving one of the ancient seven wonders | Ministry of Tourism and Antiquities (The Great Pyramid) |
| Chambers | 3 chambers · One in the bedrock, two in the masonry – according to the ministry, no other pyramid has this | Ministry of Tourism and Antiquities (The Great Pyramid) |
| Sarcophagus | in the King's Chamber, still in place today | Ministry of Tourism and Antiquities (The Great Pyramid) |
| Grand Gallery | corbelled ascent to the King's Chamber | Ministry of Tourism and Antiquities (The Great Pyramid) |
| Boat pits on the south side | 2 ships · Found dismantled; the first boat is now in the Grand Egyptian Museum | Ministry of Tourism and Antiquities (The Great Pyramid) |
| Interior visit foreigners (adults) | 1,000 EGP · Official amount; the site ticket is additionally required. In circulation are also 400 to 1,500 EGP – the ministry's figure is the reliable one | Ministry of Tourism and Antiquities (The Great Pyramid) |
| Interior visit students | 500 EGP | Ministry of Tourism and Antiquities (The Great Pyramid) |
| Opening hours (monument page) | 07:00–17:00 · Seven days; the site page of the same ministry states 08:00–16:00. The contradiction is official and unresolved | Ministry of Tourism and Antiquities (The Great Pyramid) |
| Midday closure | 12:00–13:00 · Only the Great Pyramid; documented in the project's research base | Ministry of Tourism and Antiquities (Giza Plateau) |
| Temporary closure | April 1, 1998 · Humidity inside had risen to 80 percent due to visitors | Zahi Hawass, Restoring the Great Pyramid |
| Water release per visitor | 20 g · Through breath and sweat; the moisture carries salts into the plaster and justifies the tight daily quota | Zahi Hawass, Restoring the Great Pyramid |
| Air purification system | since September 2025 in the King's Chamber and the chamber below · Plasmacluster technology; the system is located in the chambers, not in the Grand Gallery | Egyptian Streets / Ahram Online, September 2025 |
| ScanPyramids: Big Void | at least 30 m above the Grand Gallery · Muon radiography, published 2017 | Nature 2017 (ScanPyramids) |
| ScanPyramids: North Face Corridor | confirmed behind the chevron stones on the north side · Confirmed in 2025 by ground-penetrating radar, ultrasound, and resistivity measurement | Scientific Reports 2025 (North Face Corridor) |
| UNESCO World Heritage since | 1979 · As part of "Memphis and its Necropolis – the Pyramid Fields from Giza to Dahshur" | UNESCO World Heritage Centre |
| Pyramid of Khafre23 | ||
| Original height | 143.5 m · Only slightly lower than the Great Pyramid | Ministry of Tourism and Antiquities (Pyramid Complex of Khafre) |
| Current height | 136.4 m · 274 cubits | Wikipedia (en): Pyramid of Khafre |
| Base length | 215.25 m | Wikipedia (en): Pyramid of Khafre |
| Volume | 2,211,096 m³ | Wikipedia (en): Pyramid of Khafre |
| Inclination angle | 53°10' · Steeper than the Great Pyramid, which partially compensates for the height difference | Wikipedia (en): Pyramid of Khafre |
| Builder | King Khafre (Chephren), ca. 2558–2532 BC · A son of Khufu | Ministry of Tourism and Antiquities (Pyramid Complex of Khafre) |
| Location | built on slightly higher bedrock · Therefore it appears as tall as his father's – the official text explicitly calls this an intention | Ministry of Tourism and Antiquities (Pyramid Complex of Khafre) |
| Remaining casing | polished limestone blocks at the top · The only one of the three that still has casing at the top | Ministry of Tourism and Antiquities (Pyramid Complex of Khafre) |
| Origin of the casing | Turah, south of Maadi, by ship | Ministry of Tourism and Antiquities (Pyramid Complex of Khafre) |
| Core masonry | Blocks of local limestone | Ministry of Tourism and Antiquities (Pyramid Complex of Khafre) |
| Mortuary and valley temples | larger than those of all older pyramids · And among the best-preserved structures of the Old Kingdom | Ministry of Tourism and Antiquities (Pyramid Complex of Khafre) |
| Valley temple: construction | massive limestone blocks with granite facing, alabaster floors, monolithic granite pillars | Ministry of Tourism and Antiquities (Pyramid Complex of Khafre) |
| Valley temple: statue niches | symmetrically arranged, once filled with royal statues | Ministry of Tourism and Antiquities (Pyramid Complex of Khafre) |
| Most famous statue | Granodiorite seated figure with Horus falcon at the back of the head · Considered one of the masterpieces of ancient Egyptian art | Ministry of Tourism and Antiquities (Pyramid Complex of Khafre) |
| The Great Sphinx | officially part of Khafre's complex · Literally listed as a "colossal statue next to his valley temple" | Ministry of Tourism and Antiquities (Pyramid Complex of Khafre) |
| Statue discoveries | 1860 by Auguste Mariette, some from a shaft in the temple | Giza Project, Harvard University |
| Current location of the statues | documented inconsistently · The official site names the Egyptian Museum, while the Harvard find catalog lists most pieces with GEM inventory numbers | Giza Project, Harvard University |
| North-south axis relative to Khufu | about 0.5 arc minutes difference · Total station survey by Nell and Ruggles, December 2006 | Nell & Ruggles, Archaeoastronomy 25 (2012) |
| Right angles of the sides | more precise than the Great Pyramid · Same survey; the east-west axis is closer to true cardinal direction than the north-south axis for both | Nell & Ruggles, Archaeoastronomy 25 (2012) |
| Valley temple in the area ticket | included · Thus the nearest accessible interior space at the Sphinx and the shadiest spot in the open-air area | Ministry of Tourism and Antiquities (Giza Plateau) |
| Interior visit | not officially listed · The monument page does not show a ticket block; circulating figures range from 130 to 280 EGP. Do not treat as a price | Ministry of Tourism and Antiquities (Pyramid Complex of Khafre) |
| Claimed structures under the pyramid | not substantiated · The March 2025 press conference relied on a method whose foundational work was withdrawn on August 10, 2026; the authors dispute the withdrawal | Remote Sensing (MDPI), withdrawal notice 10.08.2026 |
| UNESCO World Heritage since | 1979 | UNESCO World Heritage Centre |
| Pyramid of Menkaure20 | ||
| Original height | 65 m · 125 cubits | Ministry of Tourism and Antiquities (Pyramid Complex of Menkaure) |
| Base area | 102.2 × 104.6 m · 200 cubits | Wikipedia (en): Pyramid of Menkaure |
| Construction volume | 235,183 m³ · About one tenth of the Great Pyramid | Wikipedia (en): Pyramid of Menkaure |
| Inclination angle | 51°20'25" | Wikipedia (en): Pyramid of Menkaure |
| Builder | King Menkaure, c. 2532–2503 BC · Probably son of Khafre and grandson of Khufu | Ministry of Tourism and Antiquities (Pyramid Complex of Menkaure) |
| Base area compared | less than a quarter of the other two · The ministry cites, among other reasons, the limited space on the plateau | Ministry of Tourism and Antiquities (Pyramid Complex of Menkaure) |
| Casing material | Red granite from Aswan instead of limestone · Over 800 km transport route, and a much harder stone than limestone | Ministry of Tourism and Antiquities (Pyramid Complex of Menkaure) |
| Granite portion of the casing | only the lower quarter · The rest is limestone | Ministry of Tourism and Antiquities (Pyramid Complex of Menkaure) |
| Condition at the end of his reign | unfinished · Menkaure died before completion; many granite blocks were never smoothed | Ministry of Tourism and Antiquities (Pyramid Complex of Menkaure) |
| Mortuary and valley temples | planned as limestone with granite facing, executed in whitewashed mudbrick | Ministry of Tourism and Antiquities (Pyramid Complex of Menkaure) |
| Mortuary cult after his death | still practiced for about 300 years | Ministry of Tourism and Antiquities (Pyramid Complex of Menkaure) |
| Queen's pyramids | 3 pyramids | Ministry of Tourism and Antiquities (Pyramid Complex of Menkaure) |
| Satellite pyramid | none found · It is suspected that the largest of the three queen's pyramids originally had this role | Ministry of Tourism and Antiquities (Pyramid Complex of Menkaure) |
| Interior visit foreigners (adults) | 280 EGP · Official amount, area ticket also required | Ministry of Tourism and Antiquities (Pyramid Complex of Menkaure) |
| Interior visit students | 140 EGP | Ministry of Tourism and Antiquities (Pyramid Complex of Menkaure) |
| Opening hours (monument page) | 07:00–17:00 · Seven days | Ministry of Tourism and Antiquities (Pyramid Complex of Menkaure) |
| Announced casing project | January 2024, estimated at three years · The granite blocks lying on the ground were to be reattached | State Information Service (Review Commission Menkaure) |
| Decision of the review commission | unanimous rejection · Reason: the original position of no single block can be determined | State Information Service (Review Commission Menkaure) |
| Instead recommended | surveying, sorting the fallen blocks, excavation in the rubble slope, making the site accessible to visitors · The construction project became a research and outreach project – the current state remains | State Information Service (Review Commission Menkaure) |
| UNESCO World Heritage since | 1979 | UNESCO World Heritage Centre |
| Grand Egyptian Museum (GEM)23 | ||
| Full opening | 2025-11-01 · State ceremony 1.11.2025, public a few days later; partial opening Oct. 2024 | RESEARCH-BASE |
| Distance to the Giza Plateau | 2 km · 'about two kilometers' | RESEARCH-BASE |
| Site area | 500,000 m² | ArchDaily |
| Exhibition space | 81,000 m² · Al Jazeera mentions 24,000 m² of permanent exhibition; check which size is meant | ArchDaily |
| Architecture | Heneghan Peng Architects (competition 2002, >1,500 entries from 82 countries) | ArchDaily |
| Construction costs (reports) | 1,000,000,000 USD · 'around 1 billion USD', as reported | RESEARCH-BASE (reports) |
| Tutankhamun Gallery | 7,500 m² · Over 5,600 pieces, of which over 3,000 never before publicly shown; other sources cite ~5,000/5,398 | ArchDaily |
| Galleries open | 9:00–18:00, Wed+Sat until 21:00 · Grounds 8:30–19:00 (Wed+Sat until 22:00); last entry 1 hour before close | GEM (official) |
| Fixed entry time slots since | Mid-November 2025 · Trigger: 27,000 visitors in one day; optimal capacity 15,000–20,000 | Ahram Online |
| First Khufu solar boat | included in museum admission ('Khufu's Boats Museum') · The boat museum on the plateau no longer exists; moved in 2021 | GEM (official) |
| Second boat: recovered timbers | 1,700 pieces (approximately) · 1,343 transferred to the museum; reassembly publicly visible, ~4 years, 3+2 million USD from Japan | JICA |
| Free admission | Children under 6, visitors with disabilities | GEM (official) |
| Combo ticket with the plateau | does not officially exist · Do not adopt provider claims of 15–20% savings | GEM ticket page (full-text check 2026-08-31) |
| Time needed for main galleries | 3–4+ hours | RESEARCH-BASE |
| Red granite colossus of Ramses II in the atrium | 11 m, 75 t, since 2018 · Often confused with plateau areas | Wikipedia (Statue of Ramesses II) |
| Optimal daily capacity | 15,000 to 20,000 visitors · On average around 15,000; fixed time slots exist because 27,000 came in one day | Ahram Online / Egypt Independent, November 2025 |
| Crowds in the first weeks | on 7 November 2025 early closure at 13:30 | Ahram Online / Egypt Independent, November 2025 |
| Partial opening | October 2024 with twelve halls · The state ceremony for full opening followed on 1 November 2025 | ArchDaily (GEM) |
| Museum grounds open | 8:30–19:00, Wednesdays and Saturdays until 22:00 | Grand Egyptian Museum (official) |
| Last entry | one hour before the galleries close | Grand Egyptian Museum (official) |
| Address | Remayah Square on the Cairo–Alexandria Desert Road, access via Gate 2 | Grand Egyptian Museum (official) |
| Pieces in the Tutankhamun Gallery | over 5,600, of which over 3,000 never publicly shown before · Other reports cite around 5,000 or 5,398 – the range is part of the figure | ArchDaily (GEM) |
| Second Khufu boat: timbers transferred to the museum | 1,343 pieces · Out of approximately 1,700 recovered timbers from thirteen layers; around 90 Japanese specialists, led by Sakuji Yoshimura | JICA (second Khufu boat) |
| Hurghada and the Climate38 | ||
| Population | 214,247 inhabitants · Official 2023 estimate by the statistics authority CAPMAS; no separate 2017 census value in the city list. | CAPMAS via citypopulation.de |
| Latitude | 27.26 degrees | Wikipedia |
| Longitude | 33.81 degrees | Wikipedia |
| Elevation above sea level | 11 m | Wikipedia |
| Airport code | HRG IATA · Egypt's second-largest airport. | Wikipedia (Hurghada International Airport) |
| Airport to city centre | 5 km · 5 km southwest of the city centre El Dahar. | Wikipedia (Hurghada International Airport) |
| Road distance to Giza Plateau | 473 km · Depending on route, 450 to 473 km; Wikipedia cites approx. 455 km via the Hurghada–Sokhna–Cairo road. | Egypt Tours Plus |
| Driving time to Giza (one way) | 6 h · Around 6 hours each way with breaks; estimates range from 5 to 7 hours depending on traffic. | Discover Hurghada |
| Flight time to Cairo | 60 min · Nonstop approx. 60 to 75 min.; Egypt Tours Plus cites 1 hr 15 min. Flight distance approx. 400 km. | Prokerala flight time calculator |
| Pick-up window for bus day tour | 01:30–02:30 · Hotel pickup before sunrise; total tour 18 to 20 hours, return around 22–23. | Discover Hurghada |
| Departure for flight day tour | 07:00 · Sample itinerary: 7:00 departure, 9:30 at Giza Plateau, 18:00 return flight, 19:15 back in Hurghada. | Egypt Tours Plus |
| Annual precipitation | 7.9 mm | NOAA climate normals 1991–2020 via Wikipedia |
| Minimum water temperature | 21°C · Coldest month February/March. | Wikipedia (Hurghada climate table) |
| Maximum water temperature | 28°C · Warmest month August. | Wikipedia (Hurghada climate table) |
| Daily high in January | 22.2°C | NOAA climate normals 1991–2020 via Wikipedia |
| Daily high in February | 23.5°C | NOAA climate normals 1991–2020 via Wikipedia |
| Daily high in March | 26.2°C | NOAA climate normals 1991–2020 via Wikipedia |
| Daily high in April | 29.9°C | NOAA climate normals 1991–2020 via Wikipedia |
| Daily high in May | 33.7°C | NOAA climate normals 1991–2020 via Wikipedia |
| Daily high in June | 36.3°C | NOAA climate normals 1991–2020 via Wikipedia |
| Daily high July | 37.4°C | NOAA climate normals 1991-2020 via Wikipedia |
| Daily high August | 37.5°C | NOAA climate normals 1991-2020 via Wikipedia |
| Daily high September | 35.3°C | NOAA climate normals 1991-2020 via Wikipedia |
| Daily high October | 32.1°C | NOAA climate normals 1991-2020 via Wikipedia |
| Daily high November | 27.8°C | NOAA climate normals 1991-2020 via Wikipedia |
| Daily high December | 23.8°C | NOAA climate normals 1991-2020 via Wikipedia |
| Daily low January | 11.6°C | NOAA climate normals 1991-2020 via Wikipedia |
| Daily low February | 12.4°C | NOAA climate normals 1991-2020 via Wikipedia |
| Daily low March | 15.1°C | NOAA climate normals 1991-2020 via Wikipedia |
| Daily low April | 18.7°C | NOAA climate normals 1991-2020 via Wikipedia |
| Daily low May | 23.1°C | NOAA climate normals 1991-2020 via Wikipedia |
| Daily low June | 26.1°C | NOAA climate normals 1991-2020 via Wikipedia |
| Daily low July | 27.8°C | NOAA climate normals 1991-2020 via Wikipedia |
| Daily low August | 28°C | NOAA climate normals 1991-2020 via Wikipedia |
| Daily low September | 25.6°C | NOAA climate normals 1991-2020 via Wikipedia |
| Daily low October | 22.2°C | NOAA climate normals 1991-2020 via Wikipedia |
| Daily low November | 17.7°C | NOAA climate normals 1991-2020 via Wikipedia |
| Daily low December | 13.4°C | NOAA climate normals 1991-2020 via Wikipedia |
Great Gate: Ticket office closing time, card payment, shuttle
The main entrance has been the Great Gate on the desert road from Cairo to Fayoum since 2025. The ticket office closes one hour before the gate closes; the plateau is open from 8 a.m. to 4 p.m., although an older source says 7 a.m. to 5 p.m. Payment at the counter is by card only. Private vehicles are no longer allowed onto the plateau. The site ticket includes the electric shuttle to Khufu, Khafre, Menkaure, the panorama point, and the Sphinx, as well as the valley temple of the Khafre pyramid, the shadiest spot on the site. The Sphinx Gate is open but has no ticket counter.
When the bus day works and when the flight is the alternative
This tour is right for you if you want to combine a full bus day with the pyramids and the GEM and don't mind the long journey. It's not suitable if you dislike long bus rides; in that case, the “Hurghada: Cairo Day Trip by Flight, Pyramids, Sphinx and Museum” is the alternative. It lasts 16 to 17 hours, costs from €239, and is listed with a German-speaking guide. The pure flight time from Hurghada to Cairo is 60 minutes. If you rely on confirmed wheelchair accessibility, you won't get it from this provider; they say nothing about it.
Similar tours on this page
Six options that a reader of this page might actually waver between: same departure point first, then same destinations, then similar duration. Each card leads to the page with the same data sheet, not directly to the provider, so you can compare before booking.
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Hurghada: 2-tägige Kairo-Tour mit Pyramiden & GEM
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The order follows proximity to this tour, not commission. Reviews, prices and availability according to GetYourGuide, retrieved on 2026-09-03. Prices in euros; "from" is the provider's lowest entry price.
Frequently asked questions
Is the entrance to the plateau included in this offer?
The provider says nothing about it. It's around €11 (700 Egyptian pounds) per person; ask before booking.
How long does the tour really take?
The catalog says 1 day. This span is counted from the meeting point or hotel, not from the gate; in Cairo traffic, a good half to a full hour each way goes off that.
Is there a German-speaking guide?
Yes, the provider lists German as the guiding language. That is a promise from the provider, not a verified characteristic of the person on site.
Will I get into a pyramid with this?
The offer says nothing about it, which is the case for 175 of 252 offers. You buy the ticket on site; for the Great Pyramid of Khufu, the official price is around €16 (1,000 Egyptian pounds).
Is the rating of this offer meaningful?
Yes. 4.8 stars from 16 reviews is above the threshold of 4.0 with at least ten votes that this page sets.
Where can I find all the data for this tour?
In the data sheet on this page. It lists every detail about the tour, each place visited, and the climate of the departure city, each with a source, and can be downloaded as a CSV.
GetYourGuide
Hurghada: Cairo Pyramids, GEM & Citadel Day Trip by Bus
Dates, availability, and the latest version of services are with the provider. This page reflects the catalog status, not the status as of this morning.
Sources
Every number on this page comes from one of these sources. The text doesn't name them to keep it readable; the data sheet lists the source in each row.
- 1GetYourGuide: Hurghada: Kairo-Pyramiden, GEM & Zitadellen-Tagesausflug mit dem Bus abgerufen 2026-09-03Title, duration, services, languages, cancellation policy, stars, number of reviews, and starting price.
- 2Kursdatensatz des Projekts, partners/fx.json abgerufen 2026-09-03Conversion of Egyptian pounds to euros, EGP 59.14 per euro. Amounts are rounded down because 'from' is a lower bound.
- 3Ministry of Tourism and Antiquities abgerufen 2026-08-31
- 4Altertümerverwaltung (Regelpraxis) abgerufen 2026-08-31
- 5Daily News Egypt abgerufen 2026-08-31
- 6RESEARCH-BASE abgerufen 2026-08-31
- 7Egyptian Streets abgerufen 2026-08-31
- 8Middle East Observer abgerufen 2026-08-31
- 9UNESCO World Heritage Centre abgerufen 2026-08-31
- 10UNESCO / Wikidata abgerufen 2026-08-31
- 11RESEARCH-BASE (Ortstermin 2026-08-31) abgerufen 2026-08-31
- 12RESEARCH-BASE (mehrere Quellen, umstritten) abgerufen 2026-08-31
- 13Egypt Independent abgerufen 2026-08-31
- 14The National abgerufen 2026-08-31
- 15Saudi Press Agency abgerufen 2026-08-31
- 16Ministry of Tourism and Antiquities abgerufen 2026-08-31
- 17Falchi et al., Science Advances 2016 abgerufen 2026-08-31
- 18Egyptian Streets abgerufen 2026-08-31
- 19Wikipedia (en): Great Sphinx of Giza abgerufen 2026-09-03
- 20Ministry of Tourism and Antiquities (The Great Sphinx) abgerufen 2026-09-03
- 21Kasia Szpakowska im Gespraech mit NOVA (PBS) abgerufen 2026-09-03
- 22Ministry of Tourism and Antiquities (Giza Plateau) abgerufen 2026-09-03
- 23Remote Sensing (MDPI), Ruecknahmehinweis 10.08.2026 abgerufen 2026-09-03
- 24Wikipedia (en): Great Pyramid of Giza abgerufen 2026-09-03
- 25Ministry of Tourism and Antiquities (The Great Pyramid) abgerufen 2026-09-03
- 26Zahi Hawass, Restoring the Great Pyramid abgerufen 2026-09-03
- 27Egyptian Streets / Ahram Online, September 2025 abgerufen 2026-09-03
- 28Nature 2017 (ScanPyramids) abgerufen 2026-09-03
- 29Scientific Reports 2025 (North Face Corridor) abgerufen 2026-09-03
- 30Ministry of Tourism and Antiquities (Pyramid Complex of Khafre) abgerufen 2026-09-03
- 31Wikipedia (en): Pyramid of Khafre abgerufen 2026-09-03
- 32Giza Project, Harvard University abgerufen 2026-09-03
- 33Nell & Ruggles, Archaeoastronomy 25 (2012) abgerufen 2026-09-03
- 34Ministry of Tourism and Antiquities (Pyramid Complex of Menkaure) abgerufen 2026-09-03
- 35Wikipedia (en): Pyramid of Menkaure abgerufen 2026-09-03
- 36State Information Service (Pruefkommission Mykerinos) abgerufen 2026-09-03
- 37RESEARCH-BASE abgerufen 2026-08-31
- 38RESEARCH-BASE abgerufen 2026-08-31
- 39ArchDaily abgerufen 2026-08-31
- 40RESEARCH-BASE (Berichte) abgerufen 2026-08-31
- 41GEM (amtlich) abgerufen 2026-08-31
- 42Ahram Online abgerufen 2026-08-31
- 43GEM (amtlich) abgerufen 2026-08-31
- 44JICA abgerufen 2026-08-31
- 45GEM Ticketseite (Volltextprüfung 2026-08-31) abgerufen 2026-08-31
- 46Wikipedia (Statue of Ramesses II) abgerufen 2026-08-31
- 47Ahram Online / Egypt Independent, November 2025 abgerufen 2026-09-03
- 48ArchDaily (GEM) abgerufen 2026-09-03
- 49Grand Egyptian Museum (amtlich) abgerufen 2026-09-03
- 50JICA (zweite Cheops-Barke) abgerufen 2026-09-03
- 51CAPMAS via citypopulation.de abgerufen 2026-09-04
- 52Wikipedia abgerufen 2026-09-04
- 53Wikipedia (Hurghada International Airport) abgerufen 2026-09-04
- 54Egypt Tours Plus abgerufen 2026-09-04
- 55Discover Hurghada abgerufen 2026-09-04
- 56Prokerala Flugzeitrechner abgerufen 2026-09-04
- 57NOAA-Klimanormalen 1991-2020 via Wikipedia abgerufen 2026-09-04
- 58Wikipedia (Klimatabelle Hurghada) abgerufen 2026-09-04
- 59Ministry of Tourism and Antiquities abgerufen 2026-09-04
- 60UNESCO World Heritage Centre abgerufen 2026-09-04
- 61Egypt Independent abgerufen 2026-08-31
- 62Wikipedia abgerufen 2026-09-04
- 63NOAA-Klimanormalen 1991-2020 via Wikipedia abgerufen 2026-09-03