GetYourGuide
★ 4.6(63 Reviews)Cairo: The Essence of Egypt | Pyramids, Papyrus Art & Perfume
- Site ticket for the plateau included
- Free cancellation up to 24 hours before
- Duration according to provider: 4 hours
Four hours from Cairo: a half-day on the Giza Plateau
Snefro Travel offers this tour as a four-hour half-day from Cairo. It leads to the Giza Plateau; visited are the three pyramids of Khufu, Khafre, and Menkaure, the Great Sphinx, and the viewpoints between the structures. The Sphinx is carved from the bedrock, not built. The group is accompanied in English. The full offer name also mentions "Papyrus Art & Perfume," but the provider does not list separate stops for these. The provider advertises the tour as "skip the line." The half-day is intended as a compact introduction to the site, limited to the plateau.
Photos by the provider Snefro Travel. They show the offer, not your day.
- Provider
- Snefro Travel
- Duration
- 4 hours
- Start location
- Cairo
- Group type
- bookable as private
- Guide
- live guide
- German-speaking
- not specified
- Hotel pickup
- no information
- Price
- from €38
- Rating
- 4.6 out of 63 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 unclarified.
| Service | Status | What this means for you |
|---|---|---|
| Site ticket plateau | included | Included in the price, nothing further to pay. |
| Interior of a pyramid | not included | Not included, can be arranged on site. |
| Hotel pickup | as an add-on | Included, meeting point is your accommodation. |
| Lunch | not included | Not 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. |
Site ticket plateau
- Status
- included
- What this means for you
- Included in the price, nothing further to pay.
Interior of a pyramid
- Status
- not included
- What this means for you
- Not included, can be arranged on site.
Hotel pickup
- Status
- as an add-on
- What this means for you
- Included, meeting point is your accommodation.
Lunch
- Status
- not included
- What this means for you
- Not 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.
What the entry price includes and which tickets are added on site
The entry price is 38 euros. Included are the English-speaking guide and the site ticket for the plateau. The site ticket regularly costs 700 Egyptian pounds for foreign adults, about 11 euros; this amount is covered by the provider. So you do not pay it at the gate. Not included are lunch and a pyramid interior. Only 16 other offers in the category also do without lunch, and only 35 others explicitly exclude the interior. For the interior of the Great Pyramid, a separate ticket is available on site for 1,000 Egyptian pounds, about 16 euros. The interior of the Pyramid of Menkaure costs an additional 280 Egyptian pounds. Hotel pickup is only available as an add-on; the provider does not state its price. The booking can be cancelled free of charge up to 24 hours before.
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 "Site ticket" row in the comparison table: An offer without entrance is not cheaper, but calculated differently.
Figures in this chart as a table
| Row | Cairo: The Essence of Egypt | Pyramids,… | 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 price | 38 € | 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: Das Wesen Ägyptens | Pyramiden, Papyruskunst … | 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 | Snefro Travel | Snefro Travel | OceanAir Travel | OceanAir Travel | OceanAir Travel |
| Price | from 38 € | from 51 € | from 83 € | from 52 € | from 62 € |
| Duration | 4 hours | 4 to 8 hours | 7 to 8 hours | 8 hours | 8 hours |
| Group type | private | private | group | group | small group |
| German-speaking | no | no | yes | yes | yes |
| Area ticket | included | included | included | included | included |
| Pickup | not specified | yes | yes | yes | yes |
| Rating (reviews) | 4.6 (63) | 4.9 (7,579) | 4.7 (4,382) | 4.8 (1,697) | 4.7 (3,587) |
| Quality threshold | passed | passed | passed | passed | passed |
| Free cancellation until | 24 h | 24 h | 24 h | 24 h | 24 h |
Kairo: Das Wesen Ägyptens | Pyramiden, Papyruskunst & Parfüm
- Provider
- Snefro Travel
- Price
- from 38 €
- Duration
- 4 hours
- Group type
- private
- German-speaking
- no
- Area ticket
- included
- Pickup
- not specified
- Rating (reviews)
- 4.6 (63)
- 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 documentation 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, the rating in parentheses. A rating without its sample size is not information.
The quality threshold of this page is ten reviews. Anything below is not a judgment but a coincidence.
Figures in this chart as a table
| Row | Cairo: The Essence of Egypt | Py… (4.6) | 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 | 63 reviews | 7,579 reviews | 4,382 reviews | 1,697 reviews | 3,587 reviews |
4.6 out of 63 votes: a narrow base
The rating is based on 63 reviews. That is a narrow foundation. The smaller the number, the more cautiously you should read the average rating; the 4.6 is a hint, not proof. In the category, the tour ranks 29th out of 126, with the order based on documentation strength and not on the level of the rating. Counting only the number of reviews, it ranks 38th. All this does not speak against the tour, but it limits the weight of the rating.
The day, stop by stop
The order follows the usual sequence. Each stop states what you can expect there and the documented figures; everything else is in the data sheet.
Meeting point
You get to the meeting point yourself; the duration counts from there.
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 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 bedrock, 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 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 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 the 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)
- Casing materialRed granite from Aswan instead of limestoneMinistry of Tourism and Antiquities (Pyramid Complex of Menkaure)
Back to the 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
Average daily maximum and minimum temperatures 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 |
Season and time of day on the shadow-poor plateau
The diagram above this section shows highs of 35°C and lows around 24°C for June to August. From December to February, highs range between 19 and 20°C. These are normal outdoor values, not a forecast. There is hardly any shade on the plateau, and the tour lasts four hours. The provider does not specify a start time. Especially in the summer months, the time of day at which the tour takes place is crucial.
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: 184 lines, each with its source. Collapsed because this is not a reading page, but fully present.
Download full table as CSV · 184 Rows
Show all 184 entries
| Item | Value | Source |
|---|---|---|
| The offer30 | ||
| Provider's title | Cairo: The Essence of Egypt | Pyramids, Papyrus Art & Perfume | GetYourGuide catalog |
| Provider | Snefro Travel | GetYourGuide catalog |
| Product number | 473578 | GetYourGuide catalog |
| Start location | Cairo | GetYourGuide catalog |
| Duration | 4 hours | GetYourGuide catalog |
| Multi-day | no | GetYourGuide catalog |
| Starting price | 38 € | GetYourGuide, live retrieval |
| Starting price in local currency | approx. 2,247 EGP | Exchange rate 59.14 EGP per euro |
| Rating | 4.6 stars | GetYourGuide, live retrieval |
| Number of reviews | 63 | GetYourGuide, live retrieval |
| Project quality threshold | passed | Own rule: at least 4.0 with at least 10 reviews |
| Rank in category | 29 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 that | Own evaluation of all 252 offers |
| Hotel pickup | not specified | GetYourGuide catalog |
| Lunch | not included | GetYourGuide catalog |
| Type of guide | live guide | GetYourGuide catalog |
| Guide languages | English | GetYourGuide catalog |
| German-speaking guide | no | GetYourGuide catalog |
| Private booking possible | yes | GetYourGuide catalog |
| Small group | no | GetYourGuide catalog |
| Group format according to provider | Private group available | GetYourGuide catalog |
| Preferred entry | yes | GetYourGuide catalog |
| Wheelchair accessible | not specified | GetYourGuide catalog |
| Free cancellation | yes | GetYourGuide catalog |
| Cancellation deadline | 24 hours before start | GetYourGuide catalog |
| Giza reference in catalog | high | Own check of catalog fields |
| Provider images | 5 photos | GetYourGuide catalog |
| Data status | 2026-09-03 | Own retrieval |
| Giza Plateau22 | ||
| Area ticket foreigners (adults) | 700 EGP · Students 350 EGP; Egyptians 60/30 EGP. Does NOT cover interiors | Ministry of Tourism and Antiquities |
| Area ticket students (foreigners) | 350 EGP | 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 time | 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 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 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: 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 figure per site 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 World Heritage site | 16,358.52 ha | UNESCO / Wikidata |
| Length of pyramid field (Abu Roasch to Dahschur) | 30 km · Over two dozen pyramids depending on counting method | UNESCO World Heritage Centre |
| Khufu Pyramid closed at noon | 12:00–13:00 | RESEARCH-BASE (site visit 2026-08-31) |
| Interior of Khufu Pyramid (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/holidays | only with ID or accompanied · Regulation from June 2022; current application unverified | Egypt Independent |
| Major concerts at the plateau since | 1978 · Around 15 documented major performances in five decades, almost yearly since 2021 | The National |
| First professional boxing match at the plateau | 2026-05-23 · Usyk vs Verhoeven, T.K.o. round 11 | Saudi Press Agency |
| Private photography at sites | free, also with system/SLR cameras · Permit required: photo umbrellas, artificial light, equipment blocking pathways | 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) |
| Iconography | the king with a lion's body, as a sign of his power | Ministry of Tourism and Antiquities (The Great Sphinx) |
| Sphinx Temple | directly 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 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 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 | recreation area for the court: hunting, chariot driving, archery, resting places in the shade | Kasia Szpakowska in conversation with NOVA (PBS) |
| Dream Stele: material and size | granite, just under four metres high, several tons · Only secondarily attested; according to a widespread interpretation, a reused lintel from the mortuary 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; afterwards 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 minimum 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 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 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 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 with 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 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 emission 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 Ascending Passage | 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 intentional | Ministry of Tourism and Antiquities (Pyramid Complex of Khafre) |
| Preserved casing | polished limestone blocks at the top · The only one of the three that still has its 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 earlier 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 housing 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 the Khafre complex · literally listed as a "colossal statue beside 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 of Khufu · 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 Area Ticket | included · thus the nearest accessible interior space 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) |
| Alleged Structures Beneath the Pyramid | not substantiated · the March 2025 press conference relied on a method whose foundational work was retracted on 10 August 2026; the authors dispute the retraction | Remote Sensing (MDPI), retraction 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 of Khufu | Wikipedia (en): Pyramid of Menkaure |
| Inclination Angle | 51°20'25" | Wikipedia (en): Pyramid of Menkaure |
| Builder | King Menkaure, ca. 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, and a much harder stone than limestone | Ministry of Tourism and Antiquities (Pyramid Complex of Menkaure) |
| Granite Proportion of the Casing | only the lower quarter · the rest is limestone | Ministry of Tourism and Antiquities (Pyramid Complex of Menkaure) |
| Condition at End of 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) |
| Funerary 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 required additionally | 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, ordering the fallen blocks, excavation in the rubble slope, making accessible for 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 |
| 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 |
| Greater Cairo Area | 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 settlements (Babylon, Fustat) are significantly older | Wikipedia (en): Cairo |
| Nearest airport | CAI IATA | Wikipedia (en): Cairo International Airport |
| Airport to city center | 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 |
| January daily high | 18.9°C · Cairo Airport station (CAI) | NOAA climate normals 1991-2020 via Wikipedia |
| January daily low | 10.1°C · Cairo Airport station (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 Great Gate: ticket counters, card payment, and electric shuttle
Since 2025, the main entrance has been the Great Gate on the desert road between Cairo and Fayoum. The ticket counter closes one hour before the gate closes. According to one source, the plateau is open from 8 am to 4 pm; according to an older source, from 7 am to 5 pm. Payment at the counter is by card only; cash is not accepted. Private vehicles have been banned since the 2025 reorganization. On the plateau, the electric shuttle operates and is included in the site ticket; it stops at Khufu, Khafre, Menkaure, the Panorama Point, and the Sphinx.
Who the half-day tour is right for and when the alternative is better
The tour is right if you accept the tour language mentioned above and want to see the plateau from the outside in four hours. It can be booked privately, but it is not designated as a small group; if you expect a fixed small group, you won't get a commitment. It is not right if you need a designated German-speaking guide. In that case, choose the tour “Cairo: City Tour with Female Guide to Pyramids, Sphinx, and Museum”; it lasts eight hours, costs from 52 euros, and specifies a German-speaking guide. The provider says nothing about wheelchair accessibility; clarify that before booking.
Similar tours on this page
Six offers 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.
Kairo: Pyramiden, Sphinx und Kamelritt, mit ATV-Option
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Kairo: Tour zu den Pyramiden von Gizeh und dem Grand Egyptian Museum mit Tickets
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Kairo: Private Tour zu den Pyramiden von Gizeh mit Kamelritt und Mittagessen
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4.7204 reviews
- German-speaking guide
- Hotel pickup
- Free cancellation until 24 h before
from 56 €Go to page
Von Kairo oder Gizeh: Private Tour zu Gizeh-Pyramiden und Sphinx
4 hoursEmo Tours Egypt
4.644 reviews
- Plateau entry included
- Hotel pickup
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from 73 €Go to page
Kairo: Morgen-Kamelritt, Pyramidentour & lokales Frühstück.
4 hoursSun Pyramids Tours
4.816 reviews
- German-speaking guide
- Hotel pickup
- Free cancellation until 24 h before
from 40 €Go to page
Kairo: Abendessen mit Blick auf das Große Ägyptische Museum und die Pyramiden
4 hoursSun Pyramids Tours
3.5only 4 reviews
- German-speaking guide
- Hotel pickup
- Free cancellation until 24 h before
from 40 €Go to page
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?
Yes. The site ticket for about 11 euros (700 Egyptian pounds) is included in the price.
How long does the tour actually take?
The catalog states 4 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?
No German-speaking guide is specified for this offer.
Will I get inside a pyramid with this?
No, the interior is not included.
Is the rating for this offer meaningful?
Yes. 4.6 stars from 63 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 stop, and the climate of the departure city, each with its source, and can be downloaded as a CSV.
GetYourGuide
Cairo: The Essence of Egypt | Pyramids, Papyrus Art & Perfume
Dates, availability, and the latest version of services are provided by the operator. This page reflects the catalog status, not today's morning status.
Sources
Every figure on this page comes from one of these sources. The text does not cite them to keep it readable; the data sheet lists the source for each line.
- 1GetYourGuide: Kairo: Das Wesen Ägyptens | Pyramiden, Papyruskunst & Parfüm 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" indicates 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
- 37Wikipedia (en): Cairo abgerufen 2026-09-03
- 38Wikipedia (en): Cairo International Airport abgerufen 2026-09-03
- 39OSRM-Routing auf OpenStreetMap-Daten abgerufen 2026-09-03
- 40NOAA-Klimanormalen 1991-2020 via Wikipedia abgerufen 2026-09-03
- 41Ministry of Tourism and Antiquities abgerufen 2026-09-04
- 42RESEARCH-BASE abgerufen 2026-08-31
- 43UNESCO World Heritage Centre abgerufen 2026-09-04
- 44Egypt Independent abgerufen 2026-08-31
- 45NOAA-Klimanormalen 1991-2020 via Wikipedia abgerufen 2026-09-03