Cairo: Day Trip to the Pyramids of Giza, Memphis, and Saqqara

6 hours, from €77, entrance not specified. 4.4 out of 89 reviews. What Ramses tours promises, what remains open, and what is included in the price.

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Cairo: Day Trip to the Pyramids of Giza, Memphis, and Saqqara

★ 4.4(89 Reviews)
  • Hotel pickup included
  • German-speaking guide indicated
  • Free cancellation up to 24 hours before
  • Duration per provider: 6 hours

Six Hours from Cairo to the Pyramids and Saqqara

You start in Cairo and are on the road for six hours. The tour by Ramses tours takes you to the Giza Plateau to the Great Pyramid of Khufu, the Pyramid of Khafre, and the Pyramid of Menkaure, as well as the Sphinx; afterwards, you drive to Saqqara to the Step Pyramid of Djoser, about forty kilometers south. On the plateau, the paths between the structures and the viewpoints are part of the program. Memphis is in the tour title, but what the provider shows at this stop is not specified. You can book this excursion as a private tour; the provider does not offer a small-group option. The day is designed for travelers who want a compact impression of the Pyramids of Giza and the Step Pyramid of Saqqara.

Cairo: Day Trip to the Pyramids of Giza, Memphis, and SaqqaraCairo: Day Trip to the Pyramids of Giza, Memphis, and SaqqaraCairo: Day Trip to the Pyramids of Giza, Memphis, and SaqqaraCairo: Day Trip to the Pyramids of Giza, Memphis, and SaqqaraCairo: Day Trip to the Pyramids of Giza, Memphis, and Saqqara

Photos by the provider Ramses tours. They show the offer, not your day.

Provider
Ramses tours
Duration
6 hours
Start location
Cairo
Group type
bookable privately
Guide
live guide
German-speaking
yes
Hotel pickup
yes
Price
from €77
Rating
4.4 out of 89 reviews
Quality threshold
passed

What is included, what is not, and what the provider is silent about

The catalog distinguishes three states, and the third is the most important: no information does not mean excluded, but unresolved.

InclusionStatusWhat this means for you
Site ticket for the plateauno informationAsk before booking; it is about €11 per person.
Interior of a pyramidno informationThe norm. Khufu officially about €16 (1,000 Egyptian pounds).
Hotel pickupincludedIncluded, meeting point is your accommodation.
Lunchas an add-onIncluded.
Burial chambers and mastabasnowhere in the catalogIn the entire reviewed catalog, no offer sells access to a tomb on the plateau.
Cancellationfree up to 24 hours beforeProvider's statement in the catalog.
Site ticket for the plateau
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
as an add-on
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.

Price, Inclusions, and Tickets on the Day

The entry price is €77. Included are hotel pickup in Cairo, a German-speaking live guide, and free cancellation up to 24 hours before the date. The site ticket for the Giza Plateau officially costs 700 Egyptian pounds (about €11), is added on the day, and does not cover the interiors. The interiors of the Great Pyramid of Khufu and the Pyramid of Menkaure officially cost 1,000 and 280 Egyptian pounds respectively; whether the provider includes them in the itinerary is left open. Lunch is offered as an add-on. For Saqqara, there is a separate price list with several individual tickets and a combination ticket; the provider does not state amounts.

Price Comparison

Entry price of this tour against the four best-documented offers in the same category. The highlighted bar is this tour.

Cairo: Day Trip to the Pyramids of Giza…77 €
Cairo: Private Tour to Pyramids and G…51 €
Cairo: Grand Egyptian Museum, Pyramid…83 €
Cairo: City Tour with Female Guide…52 €
From Cairo: Tour to the Pyramids of Gi…62 €

Price alone says little. Read it together with the 'Site ticket' row in the comparison table: An offer without entrance is not cheaper, but calculated differently.

Figures in this chart as a table
RowCairo: Day Trip to the Pyramids of Giza…Cairo: Private Tour to Pyramids and G…Cairo: Grand Egyptian Museum, Pyramid…Cairo: City Tour with Female Guide…From Cairo: Tour to the Pyramids of Gi…
Entry price77 €51 €83 €52 €62 €

This Tour vs. Four Comparable Ones

All five come from the category 'Pyramid Tours from Cairo'. The column for this tour is highlighted; the other four are the best-documented in the category.

Kairo: Tagesausflug zu Gizeh-Pyramiden, Memphis und …Kairo: Private Tour zu Pyramiden und Großer Sphinx …Kairo: Grand Egyptian Museum, Pyramiden …Kairo: Stadtführung mit weiblicher Führung zu …Ab Kairo: Tour zu den Pyramiden von Gizeh, Sphinx …
ProviderRamses toursSnefro TravelOceanAir TravelOceanAir TravelOceanAir Travel
Pricefrom 77 €from 51 €from 83 €from 52 €from 62 €
Duration6 hours4 to 8 hours7 to 8 hours8 hours8 hours
Group typeprivateprivategroupgroupsmall group
German-speakingyesnoyesyesyes
Area ticketnot specifiedincludedincludedincludedincluded
Pickupyesyesyesyesyes
Rating (reviews)4.4 (89)4.9 (7,579)4.7 (4,382)4.8 (1,697)4.7 (3,587)
Quality thresholdpassedpassedpassedpassedpassed
Free cancellation until24 h24 h24 h24 h24 h
Kairo: Tagesausflug zu Gizeh-Pyramiden, Memphis und Sakkara
Provider
Ramses tours
Price
from 77 €
Duration
6 hours
Group type
private
German-speaking
yes
Area ticket
not specified
Pickup
yes
Rating (reviews)
4.4 (89)
Quality threshold
passed
Free cancellation until
24 h
Kairo: Private Tour zu Pyramiden und Großer Sphinx mit Kamelritt
Provider
Snefro Travel
Price
from 51 €
Duration
4 to 8 hours
Group type
private
German-speaking
no
Area ticket
included
Pickup
yes
Rating (reviews)
4.9 (7,579)
Quality threshold
passed
Free cancellation until
24 h
Kairo: Grand Egyptian Museum, Pyramiden, Sphinx-Tour und Mittagessen
Provider
OceanAir Travel
Price
from 83 €
Duration
7 to 8 hours
Group type
group
German-speaking
yes
Area ticket
included
Pickup
yes
Rating (reviews)
4.7 (4,382)
Quality threshold
passed
Free cancellation until
24 h
Kairo: Stadtführung mit weiblicher Führung zu Pyramiden, Sphinx und Museum
Provider
OceanAir Travel
Price
from 52 €
Duration
8 hours
Group type
group
German-speaking
yes
Area ticket
included
Pickup
yes
Rating (reviews)
4.8 (1,697)
Quality threshold
passed
Free cancellation until
24 h
Ab Kairo: Tour zu den Pyramiden von Gizeh, Sphinx, Sakkara und Memphis
Provider
OceanAir Travel
Price
from 62 €
Duration
8 hours
Group type
small group
German-speaking
yes
Area ticket
included
Pickup
yes
Rating (reviews)
4.7 (3,587)
Quality threshold
passed
Free cancellation until
24 h

The order follows the evidence base, not 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.

Cairo: Day Trip to the Pyramids of G… (4.4)89 reviews
Cairo: Private Tour to Pyramids… (4.9)7.579 reviews
Cairo: Grand Egyptian Museum, … (4.7)4.382 reviews
Cairo: City Tour with Female… (4.8)1.697 reviews
From Cairo: Tour to the Pyramids… (4.7)3.587 reviews

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
RowCairo: Day Trip to the Pyramids of G… (4.4)Cairo: Private Tour to Pyramids… (4.9)Cairo: Grand Egyptian Museum, … (4.7)Cairo: City Tour with Female… (4.8)From Cairo: Tour to the Pyramids… (4.7)
Reviews89 reviews7,579 reviews4,382 reviews1,697 reviews3,587 reviews

Review Situation: 4.4 out of 89 Reviews

The rating of 4.4 comes from 89 reviews. This base is narrow; individual voices carry high weight. In the category of pyramid tours from Cairo, the tour ranks 31st out of 126 by number of reviews, and 33rd by evidence strength. The four comparison offers achieve 4.7 to 4.9 with 1,697 to 7,579 votes; the private camel ride tour has the broadest base with 7,579 votes and the highest rating. Such a broadly supported rating cannot be equated with the 4.4 from 89 votes; the tour is in the field, not at the top.

The Day, Stop by Stop

The order follows the usual itinerary. Each stop states what you can expect there and the documented figures; everything else is in the data sheet.

  1. Pickup at your accommodation

    The provider picks you up; the duration of the tour counts from here, not from the gate.

  2. Giza Plateau

    The site itself: the three pyramids, the Sphinx, and the viewpoints in between. Private vehicles are not allowed up; you travel by electric shuttle or on foot.

  3. Great Sphinx

    Carved from the bedrock, not built. The public stands on the terrace above, not next to the paws.

  4. Great Pyramid of Khufu

    The largest of the three, from the outside. The interior is a separate ticket and not included in almost any offer.

  5. Pyramid of Khafre

    The middle one, still partly clad at the top. Its valley temple is included in the site ticket and is the shadiest spot on the site.

  6. Pyramid of Menkaure

    The smallest of the three, clad in granite from Aswan on its lower courses.

  7. Saqqara (Pyramid of Djoser)

    Forty kilometers south, with the Step Pyramid of Djoser. Separate price list with up to seven individual tickets.

  8. Return to starting point

    The return trip is included in the stated duration. In Cairo traffic, it is the most unpredictable part of the day.

A place in this list is a stop, not a promise about the duration of the stop.

Temperatures in Cairo over 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
715233038Daily maximum, Jul: 35,0 °C35Daily maximum, Jan: 18,9 °C19Daily minimum, Aug: 24,3 °C24Daily minimum, Jan: 10,1 °C10JanFebMarAprMayJunJulAugSepOctNovDec

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
RowJanFebMarAprMayJunJulAugSepOctNovDec
Daily maximum18.9 °C20.5 °C23.8 °C28.1 °C32.2 °C34.6 °C35 °C34.9 °C33.4 °C30 °C24.9 °C20.5 °C
Daily minimum10.1 °C11 °C13.2 °C15.9 °C19.3 °C22.2 °C23.8 °C24.3 °C22.7 °C20 °C15.6 °C11.7 °C

Temperatures in Cairo and the best time to visit

The temperature chart shows long-term average values for Cairo, not a forecast. From December to February, highs stay at 19–20°C, lows at 10–12°C. From June to August, highs climb to 35°C, lows to 24°C; May reaches 32°C, September 33°C. On the site, which offers little shade, these values are directly noticeable. The months from November to February are the most suitable. The provider does not specify an exact start time.

The complete data sheet

Every piece of information this project has documented about this tour, the places in its program, and the area covered by your ticket: 213 rows, each with its source. Collapsed because this is not a reading page, but fully present.

Download full table as CSV · 213 Rows

Show all 213 entries
ItemValueSource
The offer30
Provider titleCairo: Day Trip to Giza Pyramids, Memphis and SaqqaraGetYourGuide catalog
ProviderRamses toursGetYourGuide catalog
Product number215649GetYourGuide catalog
Start locationCairoGetYourGuide catalog
Duration6 hoursGetYourGuide catalog
Multi-daynoGetYourGuide catalog
Starting price77 €GetYourGuide, live retrieval
Starting price in local currencyapprox. 4,554 EGPExchange rate 59.14 EGP per euro
Rating4.4 starsGetYourGuide, live retrieval
Number of reviews89GetYourGuide, live retrieval
Project quality thresholdpassedOwn rule: at least 4.0 with at least 10 reviews
Rank in category33 of 126 in "Pyramid Tours from Cairo"Own evaluation, grade weighted by number of reviews
Plateau site ticketnot specifiedGetYourGuide catalog
Interior of a pyramidnot specifiedGetYourGuide catalog
Access to a tombno offer in the catalog sells thisOwn evaluation of all 252 offers
Hotel pickupincludedGetYourGuide catalog
Lunchnot specifiedGetYourGuide catalog
Type of guidelive guideGetYourGuide catalog
Guide languagesEnglish, Arabic, Bulgarian, Bislama, Azerbaijani, Assamese, German, Frisian, Chinese, Italian, Japanese, Malay, Sangro, Uyghur, Urdu, Turkmen, Swedish, Samoan, Maltese, Kazakh, Czech, AmharicGetYourGuide catalog
German-speaking guideyesGetYourGuide catalog
Private booking possibleyesGetYourGuide catalog
Small groupnoGetYourGuide catalog
Group form according to providerPrivate group availableGetYourGuide catalog
Priority entryyesGetYourGuide catalog
Wheelchair accessiblenot specifiedGetYourGuide catalog
Free cancellationyesGetYourGuide catalog
Cancellation deadline24 hours before startGetYourGuide catalog
Giza reference in cataloghighOwn verification of catalog fields
Provider images5 photosGetYourGuide catalog
Data status2026-09-03Own retrieval
Giza Plateau22
Area ticket foreigners (adults)700 EGP · Students 350 EGP; Egyptians 60/30 EGP. Does NOT cover interiorsMinistry of Tourism and Antiquities
Area ticket students (foreigners)350 EGPMinistry 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 closingMinistry of Tourism and Antiquities
Ticket office closes before gate closes1 hourAntiquities administration (standard practice)
Payment at ticket officecard only, no cash · Cashless sales since 2023; cash still needed for tips and small itemsDaily News Egypt
Main entrance since 2025Great Gate on the Cairo–Fayoum desert road (southwest) · Replaces the old gate at Mena House; Sphinx Gate open but without ticket officeRESEARCH-BASE
Private vehicles on the plateaubanned since the 2025 reorganizationRESEARCH-BASE
Electric shuttleincluded in admission, hop-on/hop-off · Stops confirmed: Khufu, Khafre, Menkaure, Panorama Point, SphinxRESEARCH-BASE
Visitor operationsOrascom Pyramids Entertainment (OPE), 15-year contract since 2018 · Ticket revenue remains entirely with the state, plus 50% of project profitEgyptian Streets
Visitors per year (operator figure)3,500,000 · Figure from 5 Jan 2026; target 5 million; no official figure per site publishedMiddle East Observer
Visitors per day (derived)9,600 · Calculated from 3.5 million/yearMiddle East Observer
UNESCO World Heritage since1979 · Part of 'Memphis and its Necropolis', No. 86UNESCO World Heritage Centre
Area of the World Heritage site16,358.52 haUNESCO / Wikidata
Length of the pyramid field (Abu Roash to Dahshur)30 km · Over two dozen pyramids depending on counting methodUNESCO World Heritage Centre
Great Pyramid of Khufu closed at noon12:00–13:00RESEARCH-BASE (on-site visit 2026-08-31)
Interior of the Great Pyramid of Khufu (circulating figures)400–1,500 EGP · 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/holidaysonly with ID or accompanied · Regulation from June 2022; current application unverifiedEgypt Independent
Major concerts at the plateau since1978 · About 15 documented major performances in five decades, almost yearly since 2021The National
First professional boxing match at the plateau2026-05-23 · Usyk vs. Verhoeven, T.K.o. round 11Saudi Press Agency
Private photography at sitesfree, also with system/SLR cameras · Permit required: photo umbrellas, artificial light, equipment blocking pathsMinistry of Tourism and Antiquities
Milky Way over the plateaunot visible (brightest night sky worldwide in the Nile Delta) · Starry-sky photos over the pyramids are montagesFalchi et al., Science Advances 2016
Air purification system in the King's Chamber sinceSeptember 2025 · Plasmacluster; aim: reduce humidity, protect wallsEgyptian Streets
Great Sphinx23
Length73 mWikipedia (en): Great Sphinx of Giza
Height20 mWikipedia (en): Great Sphinx of Giza
Width19 mWikipedia (en): Great Sphinx of Giza
Materialcarved directly from the existing bedrock · Not a built structure, but a sculpture in natural limestoneMinistry of Tourism and Antiquities (The Great Sphinx)
Time of origin4th Dynasty, c. 2613–2494 BC · Thus the oldest of the Egyptian colossal statuesMinistry of Tourism and Antiquities (The Great Sphinx)
AttributionReign of Khafre, c. 2558–2532 BC · The official wording is “the evidence points to” – supported but not provenMinistry of Tourism and Antiquities (The Great Sphinx)
Iconographic ideathe king with a lion's body, as a sign of his powerMinistry of Tourism and Antiquities (The Great Sphinx)
Sphinx Templeimmediately in front of it, next to the Valley Temple of KhafreMinistry of Tourism and Antiquities (The Great Sphinx)
Construction sequencethe Valley Temple was finished before work on the Sphinx began · Result of archaeological analysis, not traditionMinistry of Tourism and Antiquities (The Great Sphinx)
Facial featuresstriking resemblance to the statues of KhafreMinistry of Tourism and Antiquities (The Great Sphinx)
Interpretation in the New Kingdommanifestation of the sun god, called Horemakhet (“Horus in the Horizon”) · 18th Dynasty, c. 1550–1295 BCMinistry of Tourism and Antiquities (The Great Sphinx)
Temple of Amenhotep IIbuilt next to the Sphinx, dedicated to this god · Amenhotep II, c. 1427–1400 BCMinistry of Tourism and Antiquities (The Great Sphinx)
Dream Steleerected by Thutmose IV between the front paws · Thutmose IV, c. 1400–1390 BC; the research figure given by NOVA is 1401–1391 BCMinistry of Tourism and Antiquities (The Great Sphinx)
Content of the Dream SteleThe young prince rests at noon in the shadow of the Sphinx; the god promises him kingship in a dream if he removes the sandKasia Szpakowska in conversation with NOVA (PBS)
Purpose of the stelelegitimation of succession and fulfillment of the royal core duty to maintain sacred buildingsKasia Szpakowska in conversation with NOVA (PBS)
Condition in the New Kingdomlargely buried in sand, probably only the head visibleKasia Szpakowska in conversation with NOVA (PBS)
The Plateau in the New KingdomRoyal leisure grounds: hunting, chariot driving, archery, rest stops in the shadeKasia Szpakowska in conversation with NOVA (PBS)
Dream Stele: material and sizeGranite, just under four meters high, several tons · Only attested secondarily; according to a common interpretation, a reused lintel from the valley temple of KhafreKasia Szpakowska in conversation with NOVA (PBS)
Dream Stele: conditionabout half of the text missing, crack from the twelfth line · Uncovered in 1817 by Giovanni Battista Caviglia; thereafter accelerated weatheringKasia Szpakowska in conversation with NOVA (PBS)
Public accessfrom 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 mMinistry of Tourism and Antiquities (Giza Plateau)
Access at paw levelofficial category "The Sphinx (Private Visits only + Site Opening Fee)" · Private booking outside opening hours with additional site opening fee – not an invention of providers, but also not a regular ticketMinistry of Tourism and Antiquities (The Great Sphinx)
Claim of a second, buried sphinxnot substantiated · Presentation from June 2026 from the same group whose foundational work was withdrawn in August 2026Remote Sensing (MDPI), retraction notice 10.08.2026
UNESCO World Heritage since1979UNESCO World Heritage Centre
Great Pyramid of Khufu25
Original height146.6 m · 280 cubits; the official site states 146.5 mWikipedia (en): Great Pyramid of Giza
Current height138.5 m · The missing eight meters are the removed casing and the pyramidionWikipedia (en): Great Pyramid of Giza
Base length230.33 m · 440 cubitsWikipedia (en): Great Pyramid of Giza
Volume2,600,000 m³Wikipedia (en): Great Pyramid of Giza
Angle of inclination51°50'40" · Corresponds to a seked of 5 1/2 palmsWikipedia (en): Great Pyramid of Giza
MaterialLimestone, mortar, graniteWikipedia (en): Great Pyramid of Giza
Origin of the casingTurah, south of Maadi, delivered by ship · The structure was once completely clad in high-quality limestoneMinistry of Tourism and Antiquities (The Great Pyramid)
BuilderKing Khufu, ca. 2589–2566 BCMinistry of Tourism and Antiquities (The Great Pyramid)
Estimated construction time10 to 20 years · Official figure; exactly how it was built remains unresolved to this dayMinistry of Tourism and Antiquities (The Great Pyramid)
Tallest building in the worldfor 3,800 yearsMinistry of Tourism and Antiquities (The Great Pyramid)
Seven Wonders of the Worldthe only surviving one of the ancient Seven WondersMinistry of Tourism and Antiquities (The Great Pyramid)
Chambers3 chambers · One in the bedrock, two in the masonry – according to the ministry, no other pyramid has thisMinistry of Tourism and Antiquities (The Great Pyramid)
Sarcophagusin the King's Chamber, still in place todayMinistry of Tourism and Antiquities (The Great Pyramid)
Grand Gallerycorbelled ascent to the King's ChamberMinistry of Tourism and Antiquities (The Great Pyramid)
Boat pits on the south side2 boats · Found dismantled; the first boat is now in the Grand Egyptian MuseumMinistry of Tourism and Antiquities (The Great Pyramid)
Interior visit foreigners (adults)1,000 EGP · Official amount; the site ticket is also required. Amounts of 400 to 1,500 EGP are also in circulation – the ministry's figure is the reliable oneMinistry of Tourism and Antiquities (The Great Pyramid)
Interior visit students500 EGPMinistry 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 unresolvedMinistry of Tourism and Antiquities (The Great Pyramid)
Midday closure12:00–13:00 · Only the Great Pyramid; documented in the project's research baseMinistry of Tourism and Antiquities (Giza Plateau)
Temporary closureApril 1, 1998 · Humidity inside had risen to 80 percent due to visitorsZahi Hawass, Restoring the Great Pyramid
Water release per visitor20 g · Through breath and sweat; the moisture carries salts into the plaster and justifies the limited daily quotaZahi Hawass, Restoring the Great Pyramid
Air purification systemsince September 2025 in the King's Chamber and the chamber below · Plasmacluster technology; the system is located in the chambers, not in the Grand GalleryEgyptian Streets / Ahram Online, September 2025
ScanPyramids: Big Voidat least 30 m above the Grand Gallery · Muon radiography, published 2017Nature 2017 (ScanPyramids)
ScanPyramids: North Face Corridorconfirmed behind the chevron stones on the north side · Confirmed in 2025 by ground-penetrating radar, ultrasound, and resistivity measurementScientific Reports 2025 (North Face Corridor)
UNESCO World Heritage since1979 · As part of "Memphis and its Necropolis – the Pyramid Fields from Giza to Dahshur"UNESCO World Heritage Centre
Pyramid of Khafre23
Original height143.5 m · Only slightly lower than the Great PyramidMinistry of Tourism and Antiquities (Pyramid Complex of Khafre)
Current height136.4 m · 274 cubitsWikipedia (en): Pyramid of Khafre
Base length215.25 mWikipedia (en): Pyramid of Khafre
Volume2,211,096 m³Wikipedia (en): Pyramid of Khafre
Angle of inclination53°10' · Steeper than the Great Pyramid, which partially compensates for the height differenceWikipedia (en): Pyramid of Khafre
BuilderKing Khafre, ca. 2558–2532 BC · A son of KhufuMinistry of Tourism and Antiquities (Pyramid Complex of Khafre)
Locationbuilt on slightly higher bedrock · That is why it appears as tall as his father's – the official text explicitly calls this intentionalMinistry of Tourism and Antiquities (Pyramid Complex of Khafre)
Remaining casingpolished limestone blocks at the top · The only one of the three that still has casing at the topMinistry of Tourism and Antiquities (Pyramid Complex of Khafre)
Origin of the casingTurah, south of Maadi, by shipMinistry of Tourism and Antiquities (Pyramid Complex of Khafre)
Core masonryblocks of local limestoneMinistry of Tourism and Antiquities (Pyramid Complex of Khafre)
Mortuary and valley templeslarger than those of all older pyramids · And among the best-preserved buildings of the Old KingdomMinistry of Tourism and Antiquities (Pyramid Complex of Khafre)
Valley temple: constructionmassive limestone blocks with granite facing, alabaster floors, monolithic granite pillarsMinistry of Tourism and Antiquities (Pyramid Complex of Khafre)
Valley temple: statue nichessymmetrically arranged, once filled with royal statuesMinistry of Tourism and Antiquities (Pyramid Complex of Khafre)
Most famous statuegranodiorite seated figure with Horus falcon at the back of the head · Considered one of the masterpieces of ancient Egyptian artMinistry of Tourism and Antiquities (Pyramid Complex of Khafre)
The Great Sphinxofficially belongs to the Khafre complex · Literally listed as a “colossal statue next to his valley temple”Ministry of Tourism and Antiquities (Pyramid Complex of Khafre)
Statue discoveries1860 by Auguste Mariette, some from a shaft in the templeGiza Project, Harvard University
Current location of the statuesdocumented inconsistently · The official site names the Egyptian Museum, while the Harvard find catalogue lists most pieces with GEM inventory numbersGiza Project, Harvard University
North-south axis relative to Khufuabout 0.5 arc minutes difference · Total station survey by Nell and Ruggles, December 2006Nell & Ruggles, Archaeoastronomy 25 (2012)
Right angles of the sidesmore accurate than the Great Pyramid · Same survey; the east-west axis of both is closer to true cardinal than the north-south axisNell & Ruggles, Archaeoastronomy 25 (2012)
Valley temple in the area ticketincluded · Thus the nearest accessible interior space at the Sphinx and the shadiest spot on the open siteMinistry of Tourism and Antiquities (Giza Plateau)
Interior visitnot officially indicated · The monument page lists no ticket block; circulating figures range from 130 to 280 EGP. Do not treat as a priceMinistry of Tourism and Antiquities (Pyramid Complex of Khafre)
Claimed structures beneath the pyramidnot substantiated · The March 2025 press conference relied on a method whose foundational paper was withdrawn on 10 August 2026; the authors dispute the withdrawalRemote Sensing (MDPI), withdrawal notice 10.08.2026
UNESCO World Heritage since1979UNESCO World Heritage Centre
Pyramid of Menkaure20
Original height65 m · 125 cubitsMinistry of Tourism and Antiquities (Pyramid Complex of Menkaure)
Base area102.2 × 104.6 m · 200 cubitsWikipedia (en): Pyramid of Menkaure
Construction volume235,183 m³ · About one tenth of the Great PyramidWikipedia (en): Pyramid of Menkaure
Angle of inclination51°20'25"Wikipedia (en): Pyramid of Menkaure
BuilderKing Menkaure, c. 2532–2503 BC · Probably son of Khafre and grandson of KhufuMinistry of Tourism and Antiquities (Pyramid Complex of Menkaure)
Base area in comparisonless than a quarter of the other two · The ministry cites, among other reasons, the limited space on the plateauMinistry of Tourism and Antiquities (Pyramid Complex of Menkaure)
Casing materialred granite from Aswan instead of limestone · Over 800 km transport route, and a considerably harder stone than limestoneMinistry of Tourism and Antiquities (Pyramid Complex of Menkaure)
Granite portion of the casingonly the lower quarter · The rest is limestoneMinistry of Tourism and Antiquities (Pyramid Complex of Menkaure)
Condition at the end of his reignunfinished · Menkaure died before completion; many granite blocks were never smoothedMinistry of Tourism and Antiquities (Pyramid Complex of Menkaure)
Mortuary and valley templesplanned as limestone with granite facing, executed in whitewashed mudbrickMinistry of Tourism and Antiquities (Pyramid Complex of Menkaure)
Funerary cult after his deathstill practised for about 300 yearsMinistry of Tourism and Antiquities (Pyramid Complex of Menkaure)
Queen's pyramids3 pyramidsMinistry of Tourism and Antiquities (Pyramid Complex of Menkaure)
Satellite pyramidnone found · It is suspected that the largest of the three queen's pyramids originally had this roleMinistry of Tourism and Antiquities (Pyramid Complex of Menkaure)
Interior visit foreigners (adults)280 EGP · Official amount, area ticket also requiredMinistry of Tourism and Antiquities (Pyramid Complex of Menkaure)
Interior visit students140 EGPMinistry of Tourism and Antiquities (Pyramid Complex of Menkaure)
Opening hours (monument page)07:00–17:00 · Seven daysMinistry of Tourism and Antiquities (Pyramid Complex of Menkaure)
Announced casing projectJanuary 2024, estimated at three years · The granite blocks lying on the ground were to be reattachedState Information Service (Review Commission Menkaure)
Decision of the review commissionunanimous rejection · Reason: the original position of no single block can be determinedState Information Service (Review Commission Menkaure)
Instead recommendedsurveying, sorting the fallen blocks, excavation in the rubble slope, development for visitors · The construction project became a research and outreach project – the current state remainsState Information Service (Review Commission Menkaure)
UNESCO World Heritage since1979UNESCO World Heritage Centre
Saqqara (Djoser Pyramid)29
Opening hours08:00–16:00 · Daily; checked 2026-08-31Ministry of Tourism and Antiquities
Ticket structureseveral individual tickets (area, Djoser Pyramid, noble tombs, Mereruka, South Tomb, Serapeum) + combination ticket · The Serapeum is most often missing from packagesMinistry of Tourism and Antiquities
Covered by the Giza ticket?no – own ticket requiredMinistry of Tourism and Antiquities
Djoser Pyramidoldest monumental stone building in the world (3rd Dynasty)UNESCO World Heritage Centre
Distance to Memphis4 kmRome2Rio
UNESCO World Heritage since1979 · Part of World Heritage Site No. 86UNESCO World Heritage Centre
Distance from Cairo40 km · Southwest of the cityMinistry of Tourism and Antiquities (Saqqara)
Name originprobably from the god Sokar, the god of this necropolisMinistry of Tourism and Antiquities (Saqqara)
Djoser Pyramid: Datingc. 2686–2667 BCMinistry of Tourism and Antiquities (Saqqara)
Djoser Pyramid: Height62.5 mWikipedia (en): Pyramid of Djoser
Djoser Pyramid: Base area121 × 109 mWikipedia (en): Pyramid of Djoser
Djoser Pyramid: Volume330,400 m³Wikipedia (en): Pyramid of Djoser
Djoser Pyramid: ArchitectImhotepWikipedia (en): Pyramid of Djoser
Djoser Pyramid: Shapesix-stepped, four-sided – the first Egyptian pyramid everWikipedia (en): Pyramid of Djoser
Pyramid of Unasoldest burial chamber of a pyramid decorated with texts · The Pyramid Texts were meant to protect the king on his journey to the afterlifeMinistry of Tourism and Antiquities (Saqqara)
Unas: Reignc. 2375–2345 BCMinistry of Tourism and Antiquities (Saqqara)
Serapeumunderground galleries with the burials of the Apis bulls · in use from the 18th Dynasty to the Ptolemaic periodMinistry of Tourism and Antiquities (Saqqara)
Apis bullconsidered an embodiment of Ptah; there was always only one at a timeMinistry of Tourism and Antiquities (Saqqara)
Tomb of Horemhebbuilt here as a general, never used as a king · After his accession to the throne, he had a second tomb built in the Valley of the KingsMinistry of Tourism and Antiquities (Saqqara)
Monastery of Apa JeremiasCoptic remains, in use until the 8th century ADMinistry of Tourism and Antiquities (Saqqara)
Imhotep Museumon site, shows finds from the entire span of the siteMinistry of Tourism and Antiquities (Saqqara)
Site ticket foreigners (adults)EGP 600 · Students EGP 300Ministry of Tourism and Antiquities (Saqqara)
Djoser Pyramid (interior visit)EGP 280 · Students EGP 140Ministry of Tourism and Antiquities (Saqqara)
SerapeumEGP 340 · Students EGP 170Ministry of Tourism and Antiquities (Saqqara)
Noble tombs and New Kingdom tombsEGP 400 · Students EGP 200Ministry of Tourism and Antiquities (Saqqara)
Tomb of MererukaEGP 200 · Students EGP 100Ministry of Tourism and Antiquities (Saqqara)
South Tomb in the Djoser complexEGP 300 · Students EGP 150Ministry of Tourism and Antiquities (Saqqara)
Combination ticketEGP 1,400 · Students EGP 700. Covers the grounds, Imhotep Museum, noble tombs, New Kingdom tombs, Mereruka and Mehu – not the Serapeum and not the Djoser PyramidMinistry of Tourism and Antiquities (Saqqara)
Vehicle ticketCar and taxi 25, minibus 50, coaster 75, bus EGP 100Ministry of Tourism and Antiquities (Saqqara)
Cairo and the Climate41
Population (city)9,801,536 inhabitants · as of 2023Wikipedia (en): Cairo
Population (Greater Cairo)22,200,000 inhabitantsWikipedia (en): Cairo
City area606 km2Wikipedia (en): Cairo
Area of Greater Cairo2,744 km2Wikipedia (en): Cairo
Altitude above sea level23 mWikipedia (en): Cairo
Latitude30.04 degreesWikipedia (en): Cairo
Longitude31.24 degreesWikipedia (en): Cairo
Founding of the Fatimid city969 AD · Earlier predecessor settlements (Babylon, Fustat) are significantly earlierWikipedia (en): Cairo
Nearest airportCAI IATAWikipedia (en): Cairo International Airport
Airport to city centre20.7 kmOSRM routing on OpenStreetMap data
Road to Giza Plateau16.5 kmOSRM routing on OpenStreetMap data
Driving time to Giza Plateau18 min · free-flow time without traffic; in Greater Cairo actually significantly longerOSRM routing on OpenStreetMap data
Daily high January18.9 °C · Station Cairo Airport (CAI)NOAA climate normals 1991-2020 via Wikipedia
Daily low January10.1 °C · Station Cairo Airport (CAI)NOAA climate normals 1991-2020 via Wikipedia
Daily high in February20.5°C · Cairo Airport Station (CAI)NOAA climate normals 1991–2020 via Wikipedia
Daily low in February11°C · Cairo Airport Station (CAI)NOAA climate normals 1991–2020 via Wikipedia
Daily high in March23.8°C · Cairo Airport Station (CAI)NOAA climate normals 1991–2020 via Wikipedia
Daily low in March13.2°C · Cairo Airport Station (CAI)NOAA climate normals 1991–2020 via Wikipedia
Daily high in April28.1°C · Cairo Airport Station (CAI)NOAA climate normals 1991–2020 via Wikipedia
Daily low in April15.9°C · Cairo Airport Station (CAI)NOAA climate normals 1991–2020 via Wikipedia
Daily high in May32.2°C · Cairo Airport Station (CAI)NOAA climate normals 1991–2020 via Wikipedia
Daily low in May19.3°C · Cairo Airport Station (CAI)NOAA climate normals 1991–2020 via Wikipedia
Daily high in June34.6°C · Cairo Airport Station (CAI)NOAA climate normals 1991–2020 via Wikipedia
Daily low in June22.2°C · Cairo Airport Station (CAI)NOAA climate normals 1991–2020 via Wikipedia
Daily high in July35°C · Cairo Airport Station (CAI)NOAA climate normals 1991–2020 via Wikipedia
Daily low in July23.8°C · Cairo Airport Station (CAI)NOAA climate normals 1991–2020 via Wikipedia
Daily high in August34.9°C · Cairo Airport Station (CAI)NOAA climate normals 1991–2020 via Wikipedia
Daily low in August24.3°C · Cairo Airport Station (CAI)NOAA climate normals 1991–2020 via Wikipedia
Daily high in September33.4°C · Cairo Airport Station (CAI)NOAA climate normals 1991–2020 via Wikipedia
Daily low in September22.7°C · Cairo Airport Station (CAI)NOAA climate normals 1991–2020 via Wikipedia
Daily high in October30°C · Cairo Airport Station (CAI)NOAA climate normals 1991–2020 via Wikipedia
Daily low in October20°C · Cairo Airport Station (CAI)NOAA climate normals 1991–2020 via Wikipedia
Daily high in November24.9°C · Cairo Airport Station (CAI)NOAA climate normals 1991–2020 via Wikipedia
Daily low in November15.6°C · Cairo Airport Station (CAI)NOAA climate normals 1991–2020 via Wikipedia
Daily high in December20.5°C · Cairo Airport Station (CAI)NOAA climate normals 1991–2020 via Wikipedia
Daily low in December11.7°C · Cairo Airport Station (CAI)NOAA climate normals 1991–2020 via Wikipedia
Annual precipitation24.8 mmNOAA climate normals 1991–2020 via Wikipedia
Annual mean of daily highs28.1°CNOAA climate normals 1991–2020 via Wikipedia
Annual mean of daily lows17.5°CNOAA climate normals 1991–2020 via Wikipedia
Highest recorded value47.8°CNOAA climate normals 1991–2020 via Wikipedia
Lowest recorded value1.2°CNOAA climate normals 1991–2020 via Wikipedia

Opening Hours, Card Payment, and Shuttle on the Plateau

For Giza, the official website states 8 am to 4 pm, while an older official PDF says 7 am to 5 pm. The ticket office closes one hour before the site closes. At the ticket office, only card payments are accepted; cash is not taken. Private vehicles have not been allowed on the plateau since the 2025 reorganization. You can use the electric shuttle, which is included in the entrance fee and operates on a hop-on/hop-off basis. Saqqara is open daily from 8 am to 4 pm. The main entrance to Giza is the Great Gate on the desert road; the Sphinx Gate has no ticket office.

Who This Tour Is For and Who It Isn't

This tour is suitable if you want to focus on Giza and Saqqara. It is not the right choice if you want to include a museum such as the Grand Egyptian Museum in your excursion. In that case, the comparison list “Cairo: Grand Egyptian Museum, Pyramids, Sphinx Tour and Lunch” with seven to eight hours and from €83 is the appropriate option. If you use a wheelchair, the provider does not indicate whether the tour is suitable.

Similar Tours on This Page

Six options that a reader of this page might actually be deciding 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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  5. Kairo: Pyramiden, Memphis, Sakkara Tagesausflug

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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 fee to the plateau included in this offer?

The provider does not specify. It amounts to around €11 (700 Egyptian pounds) per person; ask before booking.

How long does the tour actually take?

The catalog states 6 hours. This duration is counted from the meeting point or hotel, not from the gate; in Cairo traffic, allow a good half hour to a full hour each way.

Is there a German-speaking guide?

Yes, the provider lists German as the guiding language. This is a promise from the provider, not a verified attribute of the person on site.

Will I get inside a pyramid with this?

The offer does not specify, which is the case for 175 out of 252 offers. You purchase 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. 4.4 stars from 89 reviews is above the threshold of 4.0 with at least ten votes that this page uses.

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 destination, and the climate of the departure city, each with a source, and can be downloaded as a CSV.

GetYourGuide

Cairo: Day Trip to Giza Pyramids, Memphis, and Saqqara

Dates, availability, and the latest version of the services are listed with the provider. This page reflects the catalog status, not the status as of this morning.

Sources

Every figure on this page comes from one of these sources. The main text does not cite them to keep it readable; the data sheet lists the source in each row.

  1. 1
    GetYourGuide: Kairo: Tagesausflug zu Gizeh-Pyramiden, Memphis und Sakkara abgerufen 2026-09-03Title, duration, services, languages, cancellation policy, stars, number of reviews, and starting price.
  2. 2
    Kursdatensatz des Projekts, partners/fx.json abgerufen 2026-09-03Conversion of Egyptian pounds to euros, 59.14 EGP per euro. Amounts are rounded down because “from” indicates a lower limit.
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    Daily News Egypt abgerufen 2026-08-31
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    RESEARCH-BASE abgerufen 2026-08-31
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    Egyptian Streets abgerufen 2026-08-31
  8. 8
    Middle East Observer abgerufen 2026-08-31
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    UNESCO World Heritage Centre abgerufen 2026-08-31
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    UNESCO / Wikidata abgerufen 2026-08-31
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    Egypt Independent abgerufen 2026-08-31
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    The National abgerufen 2026-08-31
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    Saudi Press Agency abgerufen 2026-08-31
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    Egyptian Streets abgerufen 2026-08-31
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    Wikipedia (en): Great Sphinx of Giza abgerufen 2026-09-03
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    Wikipedia (en): Great Pyramid of Giza abgerufen 2026-09-03
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    Nature 2017 (ScanPyramids) abgerufen 2026-09-03
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    Wikipedia (en): Pyramid of Khafre abgerufen 2026-09-03
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    Wikipedia (en): Pyramid of Menkaure abgerufen 2026-09-03
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    Rome2Rio abgerufen 2026-08-31
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    Wikipedia (en): Pyramid of Djoser abgerufen 2026-09-03
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    Wikipedia (en): Cairo abgerufen 2026-09-03
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    Wikipedia (en): Cairo International Airport abgerufen 2026-09-03
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    NOAA-Klimanormalen 1991-2020 via Wikipedia abgerufen 2026-09-03
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    RESEARCH-BASE abgerufen 2026-08-31
  47. 47
    UNESCO World Heritage Centre abgerufen 2026-09-04
  48. 48
    Egypt Independent abgerufen 2026-08-31
  49. 49
    Rome2Rio abgerufen 2026-09-04
  50. 50
    NOAA-Klimanormalen 1991-2020 via Wikipedia abgerufen 2026-09-03