GetYourGuide
★ 5.0(5 Reviews)Cairo: Pyramids, Memphis, Saqqara Day Trip
- Site ticket for the plateau included
- Hotel pickup included
- German-speaking guide indicated
- Free cancellation up to 24 hours before
Eight hours between Cairo, Giza, and Saqqara
This day trip starts in Cairo and lasts eight hours. Sun Pyramids Tours takes you to the Giza Plateau with the Great Pyramid of Khufu, the Pyramid of Khafre, and the Pyramid of Menkaure; the Pyramid of Khafre is the middle one of the three, and the Pyramid of Menkaure is the smallest. Also included are the Great Sphinx, carved from the natural rock, and the viewpoints in between. As another location, the title mentions Memphis. Then Saqqara with the Step Pyramid of Djoser is on the program, about forty kilometers south of Cairo. A guide accompanies the tour; the German-speaking guide is indicated. It can be booked as a private tour. The day is aimed at travelers who want to visit the Giza Plateau and the Saqqara complex in one day without having to worry about the route themselves.
Photos from the provider Sun Pyramids Tours. They show the offer, not your day.
- Provider
- Sun Pyramids Tours
- Duration
- 8 hours
- Start location
- Cairo
- Group type
- private bookable
- Guide
- live guide
- German-speaking
- yes
- Hotel pickup
- yes
- Price
- from €43
- Rating
- 5.0 out of 5 reviews
- Quality threshold
- not met
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 unresolved.
| Inclusion | Status | What this means for you |
|---|---|---|
| Site ticket plateau | included | Included in the price, nothing more to pay. |
| Interior of a pyramid | not included | Not included, can be arranged on site. |
| Hotel pickup | included | Included, meeting point is your accommodation. |
| Lunch | included | Included. |
| Tomb chambers and mastabas | nowhere in the catalog | In the entire catalog reviewed, no offer sells access to a tomb on the plateau. |
| Cancellation | free up to 24 hours before | Provider's statement in the catalog. |
Site ticket plateau
- Status
- included
- What this means for you
- Included in the price, nothing more to pay.
Interior of a pyramid
- Status
- not included
- What this means for you
- Not included, can be arranged on site.
Hotel pickup
- Status
- included
- What this means for you
- Included, meeting point is your accommodation.
Lunch
- Status
- included
- What this means for you
- Included.
Tomb chambers and mastabas
- Status
- nowhere in the catalog
- What this means for you
- In the entire catalog reviewed, 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.
What the entry price includes and what comes separately
The entry price starts at 43 euros; this places the tour at rank 25 of 126 in terms of price, among the cheapest 20 percent of pyramid tours from Cairo. Included are the site ticket for the Giza Plateau, lunch, and hotel pickup. The provider covers the site ticket: the official 700 Egyptian pounds, about 11 euros, you do not pay at the ticket office. Not included is the interior of a pyramid. For that, official prices apply: the interior of the Great Pyramid costs 1,000 Egyptian pounds, about 16 euros, the interior of the Pyramid of Menkaure costs 280 Egyptian pounds. Whether the entrance to Saqqara is included in the price is not stated by the provider; the Giza ticket is not valid there. Tipping is customary in Egypt, but not a surcharge for special service.
The price in comparison
Entry price of this tour against the four best-documented offers in the same category. The highlighted bar is this tour.
The price alone says little. Read it together with the line "Site ticket" in the comparison table: An offer without entrance is not cheaper, but calculated differently.
Figures in this chart as a table
| Row | Cairo: Pyramids, Memphis, Saqqara Day… | Cairo: Private Tour to Pyramids and G… | Cairo: Grand Egyptian Museum, Pyramide… | Cairo: City Tour with Female Guide… | From Cairo: Tour to the Pyramids of Gi… |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Entry price | 43 € | 51 € | 83 € | 52 € | 62 € |
This tour against four comparable ones
All five come from the category "Pyramid tours from Cairo". The column of this tour is highlighted; the other four are the best-documented in the category.
| Kairo: Pyramiden, Memphis, Sakkara Tagesausflug | 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 … | |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Provider | Sun Pyramids Tours | Snefro Travel | OceanAir Travel | OceanAir Travel | OceanAir Travel |
| Price | from 43 € | from 51 € | from 83 € | from 52 € | from 62 € |
| Duration | 8 hours | 4 to 8 hours | 7 to 8 hours | 8 hours | 8 hours |
| Group type | private | private | group | group | small group |
| German-speaking | yes | no | yes | yes | yes |
| Area ticket | included | included | included | included | included |
| Pickup | yes | yes | yes | yes | yes |
| Rating (reviews) | 5.0 (5) | 4.9 (7,579) | 4.7 (4,382) | 4.8 (1,697) | 4.7 (3,587) |
| Quality threshold | failed | passed | passed | passed | passed |
| Free cancellation until | 24 h | 24 h | 24 h | 24 h | 24 h |
Kairo: Pyramiden, Memphis, Sakkara Tagesausflug
- Provider
- Sun Pyramids Tours
- Price
- from 43 €
- Duration
- 8 hours
- Group type
- private
- German-speaking
- yes
- Area ticket
- included
- Pickup
- yes
- Rating (reviews)
- 5.0 (5)
- Quality threshold
- failed
- 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 and not the commission. All values come from the same catalog fields so that the columns are 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 of this page is ten reviews. Anything below that is not a judgment, but a coincidence.
Figures in this chart as a table
| Row | Cairo: Pyramids, Memphis, Saq… (5.0) | Cairo: Private Tour to Pyramid… (4.9) | Cairo: Grand Egyptian Museum, … (4.7) | Cairo: City Tour with Female… (4.8) | From Cairo: Tour to the Pyramide… (4.7) |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Reviews | 5 reviews | 7,579 reviews | 4,382 reviews | 1,697 reviews | 3,587 reviews |
Five reviews: a narrow basis for the top rating
The indicated rating is 5.0 out of 5, but it is based on five reviews. So few votes do not support a quality statement. The category of pyramid tours from Cairo lists the tour at rank 59 of 126, in an order by evidence, not by rating alone. Considering only the number of reviews, it ranks 72nd. When evaluating the rating, you should therefore look at the number of votes and not just the score.
The day, stop by stop
The order follows the usual sequence. Each stop tells you what to expect there and the documented facts; 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.
- Site ticket foreigners (adults)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 next to 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 foreigners (adults)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 partially clad at the top. Its valley temple is included in the site 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 in site 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 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)
Saqqara (Pyramid of Djoser)
Forty kilometers south, with the Step Pyramid of Djoser. Separate price list with up to seven individual tickets.
- Distance from Cairo40 kmMinistry of Tourism and Antiquities (Saqqara)
- Area ticket foreigners (adults)600 EGPMinistry of Tourism and Antiquities (Saqqara)
- Opening hours08:00–16:00Ministry of Tourism and Antiquities
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 throughout the year
Mean 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 | 18.9 °C | 20.5 °C | 23.8 °C | 28.1 °C | 32.2 °C | 34.6 °C | 35 °C | 34.9 °C | 33.4 °C | 30 °C | 24.9 °C | 20.5 °C |
| Daily minimum | 10.1 °C | 11 °C | 13.2 °C | 15.9 °C | 19.3 °C | 22.2 °C | 23.8 °C | 24.3 °C | 22.7 °C | 20 °C | 15.6 °C | 11.7 °C |
Monthly chart: where the eight hours fall into the heat
The monthly chart shows the maximum and minimum values for Cairo. The hottest months are June, July and August with 35 degrees during the day and 24 degrees at night. May and September reach 32 and 33 degrees. If you spend the eight hours on the site during these months, you will experience the daytime heat, because the tour takes place during the day; the cool night values do not help on a day trip. The months November to March are mild with maximum values between 19 and 25 degrees and minimum values between 10 and 16 degrees. There is hardly any shade on the site. The values are normal outdoor values, not a forecast.
The complete data sheet
Every piece of information that 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
| Item | Value | Source |
|---|---|---|
| The offer30 | ||
| Provider title | Cairo: Pyramids, Memphis, Sakkara Day Trip | GetYourGuide catalog |
| Provider | Sun Pyramids Tours | GetYourGuide catalog |
| Product number | 443827 | GetYourGuide catalog |
| Start location | Cairo | GetYourGuide catalog |
| Duration | 8 hours | GetYourGuide catalog |
| Multi-day | no | GetYourGuide catalog |
| Entry price | 43 € | GetYourGuide, live retrieval |
| Entry price in local currency | approx. 2,543 EGP | Exchange rate 59.14 EGP per euro |
| Rating | 5.0 stars | GetYourGuide, live retrieval |
| Number of reviews | 5 | GetYourGuide, live retrieval |
| Project quality threshold | not passed | Own rule: at least 4.0 with at least 10 reviews |
| Rank in category | 59 of 126 in "Pyramid Tours from Cairo" | Own evaluation, grade weighted by number of reviews |
| Plateau area ticket | included | GetYourGuide catalog |
| Interior of a pyramid | not included | GetYourGuide catalog |
| Access to a tomb | no offer in the catalog sells this | Own evaluation of all 252 offers |
| Hotel pickup | included | GetYourGuide catalog |
| Lunch | included | GetYourGuide catalog |
| Type of guide | live guide | GetYourGuide catalog |
| Guide languages | Arabic, English, Spanish, French, German, Portuguese, Italian | GetYourGuide catalog |
| German-speaking guide | yes | GetYourGuide catalog |
| Private booking possible | yes | GetYourGuide catalog |
| Small group | no | GetYourGuide catalog |
| Group type according to provider | Private group available | GetYourGuide catalog |
| Preferred entry | yes | GetYourGuide catalog |
| Wheelchair accessible | no information | GetYourGuide catalog |
| Free cancellation | yes | GetYourGuide catalog |
| Cancellation deadline | 24 hours before start | GetYourGuide catalog |
| Giza reference in catalog | high | Own verification of catalog fields |
| Provider images | 5 photos | GetYourGuide catalog |
| Data status | 2026-09-03 | Own retrieval |
| Giza Plateau22 | ||
| Area ticket for foreigners (adults) | EGP 700 · Students EGP 350; Egyptians EGP 60/30. Does NOT cover interiors | Ministry of Tourism and Antiquities |
| Area ticket for students (foreigners) | EGP 350 | Ministry of Tourism and Antiquities |
| Opening hours (official website) | 8:00 AM–4:00 PM · Official sources contradict each other (PDF from 2020: 7:00 AM–5:00 PM); ticket booths close one hour before closing | Ministry of Tourism and Antiquities |
| Ticket booth closes before gate closes | 1 hour | Antiquities administration (standard practice) |
| Payment at ticket booth | card only, no cash · Cashless sales since 2023; cash still needed for tips and small purchases | 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 booths | RESEARCH-BASE |
| Private vehicles on the plateau | banned since the 2025 reorganization | RESEARCH-BASE |
| Electric shuttle | included in admission, hop-on/hop-off · Confirmed stops: 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 figures 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 PM–1:00 PM | RESEARCH-BASE (on-site visit 2026-08-31) |
| Interior of the Great Pyramid of Khufu (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 for under-16s 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 · About 15 confirmed 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 · Permit required: photo umbrellas, artificial light, equipment that blocks 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 existing bedrock · Not a built structure, but a sculpture in natural limestone | Ministry of Tourism and Antiquities (The Great Sphinx) |
| Date of creation | 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” – supported but not proven | Ministry of Tourism and Antiquities (The Great Sphinx) |
| Iconography | 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 of it, 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 date 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 | legitimization of the succession and fulfillment of the king's core duty to maintain sacred buildings | Kasia Szpakowska in conversation with NOVA (PBS) |
| Condition in the New Kingdom | largely buried in sand, probably 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 is 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 opening hours with additional site opening fee – not an invention of providers, but also not a normal ticket | Ministry of Tourism and Antiquities (The Great Sphinx) |
| Claim of a second, buried sphinx | not substantiated · 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 says 146.5 m | Wikipedia (en): Great Pyramid of Giza |
| Current height | 138.5 m · The missing eight meters are the removed casing and the tip | Wikipedia (en): Great Pyramid of Giza |
| Base length | 230.33 m · 440 cubits | Wikipedia (en): Great Pyramid of Giza |
| Construction 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 boats · 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 side) | 07:00–17:00 · Seven days; the site side of the same ministry says 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 of Khufu; 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 of Khufu | 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 |
| Construction volume | 2,211,096 m³ | Wikipedia (en): Pyramid of Khafre |
| Inclination angle | 53°10' · Steeper than the Great Pyramid of Khufu, which partially compensates for the height loss | 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 · That is why 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 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 finds | 1860 by Auguste Mariette, some from a shaft in the temple | Giza Project, Harvard University |
| Current location of the statues | contradictory records · The official site names the Egyptian Museum, while the Harvard find catalogue 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 of both is closer to true cardinal than the north-south axis | Nell & Ruggles, Archaeoastronomy 25 (2012) |
| Valley temple in the area ticket | included · Thus the nearest accessible interior at the Sphinx and the shadiest spot on the open site | 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 beneath the pyramid | not substantiated · The March 2025 press conference relied on a method whose foundational paper was withdrawn on 10 August 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 |
| Building 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 in comparison | 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 practised 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, opening up for visitors · The construction project became a research and education project – the current state remains | State Information Service (Review Commission Menkaure) |
| UNESCO World Heritage since | 1979 | UNESCO World Heritage Centre |
| Saqqara (Step Pyramid of Djoser)29 | ||
| Opening hours | 08:00–16:00 · Daily; checked 2026-08-31 | Ministry of Tourism and Antiquities |
| Ticket structure | several individual tickets (area, Step Pyramid, noble tombs, Mereruka, South Tomb, Serapeum) + combination ticket · The Serapeum is most often missing from packages | Ministry of Tourism and Antiquities |
| Covered by the Giza ticket? | no – own ticket required | Ministry of Tourism and Antiquities |
| Step Pyramid of Djoser | oldest monumental stone building in the world (3rd Dynasty) | UNESCO World Heritage Centre |
| Distance to Memphis | 4 km | Rome2Rio |
| UNESCO World Heritage since | 1979 · Part of World Heritage Site No. 86 | UNESCO World Heritage Centre |
| Distance from Cairo | 40 km · Southwest of the city | Ministry of Tourism and Antiquities (Saqqara) |
| Name origin | presumably from the god Sokar, the god of this necropolis | Ministry of Tourism and Antiquities (Saqqara) |
| Djoser Pyramid: Dating | c. 2686–2667 BC | Ministry of Tourism and Antiquities (Saqqara) |
| Djoser Pyramid: Height | 62.5 m | Wikipedia (en): Pyramid of Djoser |
| Djoser Pyramid: Base | 121 × 109 m | Wikipedia (en): Pyramid of Djoser |
| Djoser Pyramid: Volume | 330,400 m³ | Wikipedia (en): Pyramid of Djoser |
| Djoser Pyramid: Architect | Imhotep | Wikipedia (en): Pyramid of Djoser |
| Djoser Pyramid: Shape | six-stepped, four-sided – the very first Egyptian pyramid | Wikipedia (en): Pyramid of Djoser |
| Pyramid of Unas | oldest burial chamber of a pyramid decorated with texts · The Pyramid Texts were meant to protect the king on his journey to the afterlife | Ministry of Tourism and Antiquities (Saqqara) |
| Unas: Reign | c. 2375–2345 BC | Ministry of Tourism and Antiquities (Saqqara) |
| Serapeum | underground galleries with the burials of the Apis bulls · in use from the 18th Dynasty to the Ptolemaic period | Ministry of Tourism and Antiquities (Saqqara) |
| Apis bull | considered the embodiment of Ptah; there was only ever one at a time | Ministry of Tourism and Antiquities (Saqqara) |
| Tomb of Horemheb | built 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 Kings | Ministry of Tourism and Antiquities (Saqqara) |
| Monastery of Apa Jeremias | Coptic remains, in use until the 8th century AD | Ministry of Tourism and Antiquities (Saqqara) |
| Imhotep Museum | on site, displays finds from the entire span of the site | Ministry of Tourism and Antiquities (Saqqara) |
| Site ticket foreigners (adults) | EGP 600 · Students EGP 300 | Ministry of Tourism and Antiquities (Saqqara) |
| Djoser Pyramid (interior visit) | EGP 280 · Students EGP 140 | Ministry of Tourism and Antiquities (Saqqara) |
| Serapeum | EGP 340 · Students EGP 170 | Ministry of Tourism and Antiquities (Saqqara) |
| Noble tombs and New Kingdom tombs | EGP 400 · Students EGP 200 | Ministry of Tourism and Antiquities (Saqqara) |
| Tomb of Mereruka | EGP 200 · Students EGP 100 | Ministry of Tourism and Antiquities (Saqqara) |
| South Tomb in the Djoser complex | EGP 300 · Students EGP 150 | Ministry of Tourism and Antiquities (Saqqara) |
| Combination ticket | EGP 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 Pyramid | Ministry of Tourism and Antiquities (Saqqara) |
| Vehicle ticket | Car and taxi 25, minibus 50, coaster 75, bus EGP 100 | Ministry of Tourism and Antiquities (Saqqara) |
| Cairo and the Climate41 | ||
| Population (city) | 9,801,536 inhabitants · as of 2023 | Wikipedia (en): Cairo |
| Population (Greater Cairo) | 22,200,000 inhabitants | Wikipedia (en): Cairo |
| City area | 606 km2 | Wikipedia (en): Cairo |
| Area of Greater Cairo | 2,744 km2 | Wikipedia (en): Cairo |
| Elevation above sea level | 23 m | Wikipedia (en): Cairo |
| Latitude | 30.04 degrees | Wikipedia (en): Cairo |
| Longitude | 31.24 degrees | Wikipedia (en): Cairo |
| Founding of the Fatimid city | 969 AD · Earlier predecessor settlements (Babylon, Fustat) are significantly older | Wikipedia (en): Cairo |
| Nearest airport | CAI IATA | Wikipedia (en): Cairo International Airport |
| Airport to city centre | 20.7 km | OSRM routing on OpenStreetMap data |
| Road to Giza Plateau | 16.5 km | OSRM routing on OpenStreetMap data |
| Driving time to Giza Plateau | 18 min · free-flow time without traffic; in Greater Cairo realistically much longer | OSRM routing on OpenStreetMap data |
| Daily high January | 18.9 °C · Station Cairo Airport (CAI) | NOAA climate normals 1991-2020 via Wikipedia |
| Daily low January | 10.1 °C · Station Cairo Airport (CAI) | NOAA climate normals 1991-2020 via Wikipedia |
| February daily high | 20.5°C · Cairo Airport Station (CAI) | NOAA climate normals 1991-2020 via Wikipedia |
| February daily low | 11°C · Cairo Airport Station (CAI) | NOAA climate normals 1991-2020 via Wikipedia |
| March daily high | 23.8°C · Cairo Airport Station (CAI) | NOAA climate normals 1991-2020 via Wikipedia |
| March daily low | 13.2°C · Cairo Airport Station (CAI) | NOAA climate normals 1991-2020 via Wikipedia |
| April daily high | 28.1°C · Cairo Airport Station (CAI) | NOAA climate normals 1991-2020 via Wikipedia |
| April daily low | 15.9°C · Cairo Airport Station (CAI) | NOAA climate normals 1991-2020 via Wikipedia |
| May daily high | 32.2°C · Cairo Airport Station (CAI) | NOAA climate normals 1991-2020 via Wikipedia |
| May daily low | 19.3°C · Cairo Airport Station (CAI) | NOAA climate normals 1991-2020 via Wikipedia |
| June daily high | 34.6°C · Cairo Airport Station (CAI) | NOAA climate normals 1991-2020 via Wikipedia |
| June daily low | 22.2°C · Cairo Airport Station (CAI) | NOAA climate normals 1991-2020 via Wikipedia |
| July daily high | 35°C · Cairo Airport Station (CAI) | NOAA climate normals 1991-2020 via Wikipedia |
| July daily low | 23.8°C · Cairo Airport Station (CAI) | NOAA climate normals 1991-2020 via Wikipedia |
| August daily high | 34.9°C · Cairo Airport Station (CAI) | NOAA climate normals 1991-2020 via Wikipedia |
| August daily low | 24.3°C · Cairo Airport Station (CAI) | NOAA climate normals 1991-2020 via Wikipedia |
| September daily high | 33.4°C · Cairo Airport Station (CAI) | NOAA climate normals 1991-2020 via Wikipedia |
| September daily low | 22.7°C · Cairo Airport Station (CAI) | NOAA climate normals 1991-2020 via Wikipedia |
| October daily high | 30°C · Cairo Airport Station (CAI) | NOAA climate normals 1991-2020 via Wikipedia |
| October daily low | 20°C · Cairo Airport Station (CAI) | NOAA climate normals 1991-2020 via Wikipedia |
| November daily high | 24.9°C · Cairo Airport Station (CAI) | NOAA climate normals 1991-2020 via Wikipedia |
| November daily low | 15.6°C · Cairo Airport Station (CAI) | NOAA climate normals 1991-2020 via Wikipedia |
| December daily high | 20.5°C · Cairo Airport Station (CAI) | NOAA climate normals 1991-2020 via Wikipedia |
| December daily low | 11.7°C · Cairo Airport Station (CAI) | NOAA climate normals 1991-2020 via Wikipedia |
| Annual precipitation | 24.8 mm | NOAA climate normals 1991-2020 via Wikipedia |
| Annual mean of daily highs | 28.1°C | NOAA climate normals 1991-2020 via Wikipedia |
| Annual mean of daily lows | 17.5°C | NOAA climate normals 1991-2020 via Wikipedia |
| Highest recorded value | 47.8°C | NOAA climate normals 1991-2020 via Wikipedia |
| Lowest recorded value | 1.2°C | NOAA climate normals 1991-2020 via Wikipedia |
At the Giza Plateau: Great Gate, ticket office closing, card payment
At the Giza Plateau, the main entrance has been through the Great Gate on the desert road from Cairo to Fayoum since 2025. It replaces the old gate at Mena House. The ticket office closes one hour before the site closes, and payment is by card only. Private vehicles have not been allowed on the plateau since 2025; if you don't walk, you use the electric shuttle. The official opening hours of the plateau are 8 am to 4 pm; older sources say 7 am to 5 pm. In Saqqara, the entrances are also open from 8 am to 4 pm.
Who this day trip suits and who it doesn't
This day trip suits travelers who want to see Giza and Saqqara in one day and are satisfied with the exterior view of the pyramids. It is expressly not intended for travelers who want to visit the interior of the Great Pyramid. The provider gives no information on wheelchair accessibility. If you prefer a broader base of reviews, you can choose the tour "From Cairo: Giza Pyramids, Sphinx, Saqqara and Memphis Tour"; it has a similar combination of sites, 3,587 reviews, a duration of eight hours, and a designated German-speaking guide.
Similar tours on this page
Six offers that a reader of this page might actually be torn 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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The order follows the proximity to this tour, not the 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?
Yes. The site ticket of about 11 euros (700 Egyptian pounds) is included in the price.
How long does the tour actually take?
The catalog says 8 hours. This period is counted from the meeting point or hotel, not from the gate; in Cairo traffic, a good half hour to a full hour each way is lost to that.
Is there a German-speaking guide?
Yes, the provider lists German as the guiding language. That is a promise by the provider and not a verified attribute of the person on site.
Will I get into a pyramid with this?
No, the interior is not included.
Is the rating of this offer meaningful?
No. 5.0 stars from only 5 reviews is not enough for a judgment, regardless of how high the score is.
Where can I find all the data on this tour?
In the data sheet on this page. It lists every detail about the tour, each site visited, and the climate of the departure city, each with a source, and can be downloaded as a CSV.
GetYourGuide
Cairo: Pyramids, Memphis, Saqqara Day Trip
Dates, availability, and the latest version of the services are with the provider. This page reflects the catalog status, not the status of this morning.
Sources
Every figure on this page comes from one of these sources. The running text does not name them to keep it readable; the data sheet lists the source in each row.
- 1GetYourGuide: Kairo: Pyramiden, Memphis, Sakkara Tagesausflug 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, 59.14 EGP per euro. Amounts are rounded down because "from" is a lower limit.
- 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
- 37Ministry of Tourism and Antiquities abgerufen 2026-08-31
- 38Rome2Rio abgerufen 2026-08-31
- 39Ministry of Tourism and Antiquities (Saqqara) abgerufen 2026-09-03
- 40Wikipedia (en): Pyramid of Djoser abgerufen 2026-09-03
- 41Wikipedia (en): Cairo abgerufen 2026-09-03
- 42Wikipedia (en): Cairo International Airport abgerufen 2026-09-03
- 43OSRM-Routing auf OpenStreetMap-Daten abgerufen 2026-09-03
- 44NOAA-Klimanormalen 1991-2020 via Wikipedia abgerufen 2026-09-03
- 45Ministry of Tourism and Antiquities abgerufen 2026-09-04
- 46RESEARCH-BASE abgerufen 2026-08-31
- 47UNESCO World Heritage Centre abgerufen 2026-09-04
- 48Egypt Independent abgerufen 2026-08-31
- 49Rome2Rio abgerufen 2026-09-04
- 50NOAA-Klimanormalen 1991-2020 via Wikipedia abgerufen 2026-09-03