Cairo: Private Tour to Giza Pyramids, Memphis, Saqqara & Lunch

7 hours, from €36, entrance not specified. 4.3 out of 209 reviews. What Best of Egypt Tours & Travel promises, what remains open, and what is included in the price.

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Cairo: Private Tour to Giza Pyramids, Memphis, Saqqara & Lunch

★ 4.3(208 Reviews)
  • Hotel pickup included
  • German-speaking guide available
  • Free cancellation up to 24 hours before
  • Duration per provider: 7 hours

Seven Hours from Cairo to Giza, Saqqara, and Memphis

This seven-hour excursion starts in Cairo and connects the Giza Plateau, Saqqara, and Memphis. On the Giza Plateau stand the three pyramids of Khufu, Khafre, and Menkaure, as well as the Great Sphinx; there are also viewpoints between the structures. The Sphinx is carved from the natural rock, not built from blocks. In Saqqara, the Step Pyramid of Djoser is the destination; Memphis is also on the route. A live guide accompanies the day; the provider lists Arabic, English, French, German, and Spanish as guide languages, and a German-speaking guide is available. This tour is designed for travelers who want to see the major pyramid sites around Cairo in one day without having to organize it themselves.

Cairo: Private Tour to Giza Pyramids, Memphis, Saqqara & LunchCairo: Private Tour to Giza Pyramids, Memphis, Saqqara & LunchCairo: Private Tour to Giza Pyramids, Memphis, Saqqara & LunchCairo: Private Tour to Giza Pyramids, Memphis, Saqqara & LunchCairo: Private Tour to Giza Pyramids, Memphis, Saqqara & Lunch

Photos from the provider Best of Egypt Tours & Travel. They show the offer, not your day.

Provider
Best of Egypt Tours & Travel
Duration
7 hours
Start location
Cairo
Group type
Group
Guide
Live guide
German-speaking
Yes
Hotel pickup
Yes
Price
From €36
Rating
4.3 out of 209 reviews
Quality threshold
Passed

What is included, what is not, and what the provider does not mention

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

ServiceStatusWhat 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.
LunchIncludedIncluded.
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
Included
What this means for you
Included.
Burial chambers and mastabas
Status
Nowhere in the catalog
What this means for you
In the entire reviewed catalog, no offer sells access to a tomb on the plateau.
Cancellation
Status
Free up to 24 hours before
What this means for you
Provider's statement in the catalog.

What the entry price covers and which official tickets are extra

The entry price from €36 includes lunch and hotel pickup. Compared to the 126 offers in the category, this is the tenth cheapest entry price. The provider says nothing about the site ticket for the Giza Plateau; officially it costs 700 Egyptian pounds, about €11. The interior of a pyramid is also not specified; if you want to enter the Great Pyramid of Khufu, you pay 1,000 Egyptian pounds (about €16) on site. For the Pyramid of Menkaure, the official price list states 280 EGP, but the site ticket is still required. Tipping is customary in Egypt, but it is not a surcharge for special service.

Price comparison

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

Cairo: Private Tour to Giza Pyramids…36 €
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: Private Tour to Giza 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 price36 €51 €83 €52 €62 €

This tour vs. four comparable ones

All five come from the category 'Pyramid tours from Cairo'. This tour's column is highlighted; the other four are the best-documented in the category.

Kairo: Private Tour zu Gizeh-Pyramiden, Memphis …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 …
ProviderBest of Egypt Tours & TravelSnefro TravelOceanAir TravelOceanAir TravelOceanAir Travel
Pricefrom 36 €from 51 €from 83 €from 52 €from 62 €
Duration7 hours4 to 8 hours7 to 8 hours8 hours8 hours
Group typegroupprivategroupgroupsmall group
German-speakingyesnoyesyesyes
Area ticketnot specifiedincludedincludedincludedincluded
Pickupyesyesyesyesyes
Rating (reviews)4.3 (209)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: Private Tour zu Gizeh-Pyramiden, Memphis, Sakkara & Mittagessen
Provider
Best of Egypt Tours & Travel
Price
from 36 €
Duration
7 hours
Group type
group
German-speaking
yes
Area ticket
not specified
Pickup
yes
Rating (reviews)
4.3 (209)
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 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: Private Tour to Giza P… (4.3)209 Reviews
Cairo: Private Tour to Pyramid… (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 Pyramid… (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: Private Tour to Giza P… (4.3)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 Pyramid… (4.7)
Reviews209 Reviews7,579 Reviews4,382 Reviews1,697 Reviews3,587 Reviews

The 4.3 from 209 reviews and what it means

The 4.3 is the average of 209 reviews. In the category of pyramid tours from Cairo, this tour ranks 21st out of 126 by number of votes. The category itself sorts by evidence strength, i.e., how many reviews exist, not by rating; there it ranks 34th out of 126. A 4.3 is a solid result, but not a top score. For assessing the provider, the number of reviews matters more than the rating level. If you want to learn about reliability from reviews, you will find a more solid basis here than with offers with very few votes.

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.

  1. Pickup at your accommodation

    The provider picks you up; the tour duration 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 go by electric shuttle or on foot.

  3. Great Sphinx

    Carved from the natural rock, not built. Visitors stand 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 is not included in almost any offer.

  5. 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.

  6. Pyramid of Menkaure

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

  7. Saqqara (Step Pyramid of Djoser)

    Forty kilometres 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 throughout the year

Average daily maximum and minimum values per month. Two series, one axis; the points mark the hottest and coldest months.

Daily maximumDaily minimum
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

Cairo's climate chart: which months are suitable for this tour

The chart above shows Cairo's monthly temperatures. From June to August, daytime temperatures reach 35 degrees, dropping to 22–24 degrees at night. From November to February, highs range between 19 and 25 degrees; for this seven-hour tour, that is the more comfortable time. There is hardly any shade on the site, so even in the shoulder months you should plan for the midday heat: April reaches 28 degrees, May 32, September 33, and October 30. The provider does not specify a start time.

The complete data sheet

Every piece of information this project has documented about this tour, the places in its itinerary, and the area covered by its 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's titleCairo: Private Tour to Giza Pyramids, Memphis, Saqqara & LunchGetYourGuide catalogue
ProviderBest of Egypt Tours & TravelGetYourGuide catalogue
Product number487991GetYourGuide catalogue
Start locationCairoGetYourGuide catalogue
Duration7 hoursGetYourGuide catalogue
Multi-daynoGetYourGuide catalogue
Starting price36 €GetYourGuide, live retrieval
Starting price in local currencyapprox. 2,129 EGPExchange rate 59.14 EGP per euro
Rating4.3 starsGetYourGuide, live retrieval
Number of reviews209GetYourGuide, live retrieval
Project quality thresholdpassedOwn rule: at least 4.0 with at least 10 reviews
Rank in category34 of 126 in 'Pyramid tours from Cairo'Own analysis, score weighted by number of reviews
Plateau site ticketnot specifiedGetYourGuide catalogue
Interior of a pyramidnot specifiedGetYourGuide catalogue
Access to a tombno offer in the catalogue sells thisOwn analysis of all 252 offers
Hotel pickupincludedGetYourGuide catalogue
LunchincludedGetYourGuide catalogue
Type of guidelive guided tourGetYourGuide catalogue
Guide languagesArabic, English, French, German, SpanishGetYourGuide catalogue
German-speaking guideyesGetYourGuide catalogue
Private booking possiblenoGetYourGuide catalogue
Small groupnoGetYourGuide catalogue
Group format according to providernot specifiedGetYourGuide catalogue
Priority entrynoGetYourGuide catalogue
Wheelchair accessiblenot specifiedGetYourGuide catalogue
Free cancellationyesGetYourGuide catalogue
Cancellation deadline24 hours before startGetYourGuide catalogue
Giza reference in cataloguehighOwn verification of catalogue fields
Provider images5 photosGetYourGuide catalogue
Data status2026-09-03Own retrieval
Giza Plateau22
Area ticket foreigners (adults)EGP 700 · Students EGP 350; Egyptians EGP 60/30. Does NOT cover interiorsMinistry of Tourism and Antiquities
Area ticket students (foreigners)EGP 350Ministry 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 desert road Cairo–Fayoum (southwest) · Replaces the old gate at Mena House; Sphinx Gate open but without ticket officeRESEARCH-BASE
Private vehicles on the plateaubanned since the 2025 reorganisationRESEARCH-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 per-site figure 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 (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/holidaysonly with ID or accompanied · Regulation from June 2022; current application unverifiedEgypt Independent
Major concerts on the plateau since1978 · Around 15 documented major performances in five decades, almost annual since 2021The National
First professional boxing match on the plateau2026-05-23 · Usyk vs. Verhoeven, T.K.o. round 11Saudi Press Agency
Private photography at sitesfree, including with system/SLR cameras · Permits required for: 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 bedrock · Not a built structure but a sculpture in natural limestoneMinistry of Tourism and Antiquities (The Great Sphinx)
Date of creation4th 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)
Iconographythe king with a lion's body, as a sign of his powerMinistry of Tourism and Antiquities (The Great Sphinx)
Sphinx Templeimmediately in front, 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 stelelegitimisation of the succession and fulfilment of the royal core duty to maintain sacred buildingsKasia Szpakowska in conversation with NOVA (PBS)
Condition in the New Kingdomlargely sanded over, probably only the head visibleKasia Szpakowska in conversation with NOVA (PBS)
The Plateau in the New KingdomCourt's recreational area: 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 is missing, crack from the twelfth line · Exposed 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 minimum 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 operating hours with additional opening fee – not an invention of providers, but also not a normal ticketMinistry of Tourism and Antiquities (The Great Sphinx)
Claim of a second, buried sphinxnot documented · 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 tipWikipedia (en): Great Pyramid of Giza
Base length230.33 m · 440 cubitsWikipedia (en): Great Pyramid of Giza
Construction volume2,600,000 m³Wikipedia (en): Great Pyramid of Giza
Inclination angle51°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 building was once completely clad with high-quality limestoneMinistry of Tourism and Antiquities (The Great Pyramid)
BuilderKing Khufu (Cheops), 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 ships · 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 additionally required. In circulation are also 400 to 1,500 EGP – 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 side)07:00–17:00 · Seven days; the site side 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 tight 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
Construction volume2,211,096 m³Wikipedia (en): Pyramid of Khafre
Inclination angle53°10' · Steeper than the Great Pyramid, which partially compensates for the height lossWikipedia (en): Pyramid of Khafre
BuilderKing Khafre (Chephren), ca. 2558–2532 BC · A son of KhufuMinistry of Tourism and Antiquities (Pyramid Complex of Khafre)
Locationbuilt on slightly higher bedrock · Therefore it appears as high as his father's – the official text explicitly calls this an intentionMinistry of Tourism and Antiquities (Pyramid Complex of Khafre)
Remaining casingPolished limestone blocks at the top · The only one of the three that still has its 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 structures 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 statuescontradictory records · 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 precise 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 chambers 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
Inclination angle51°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 much 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)
Mortuary 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 (Step Pyramid of Djoser)29
Opening hours08:00–16:00 · Daily; checked 2026-08-31Ministry of Tourism and Antiquities
Ticket structureseveral individual tickets (area, Step Pyramid, nobles' 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
Step Pyramid of Djoseroldest 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 originpresumably 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 very first Egyptian pyramidWikipedia (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 the embodiment of Ptah; there was only ever 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, displays finds from the entire span of the siteMinistry of Tourism and Antiquities (Saqqara)
Site ticket foreigners (adults)600 EGP · Students 300 EGPMinistry of Tourism and Antiquities (Saqqara)
Djoser Pyramid (interior visit)280 EGP · Students 140 EGPMinistry of Tourism and Antiquities (Saqqara)
Serapeum340 EGP · Students 170 EGPMinistry of Tourism and Antiquities (Saqqara)
Noble tombs and New Kingdom tombs400 EGP · Students 200 EGPMinistry of Tourism and Antiquities (Saqqara)
Tomb of Mereruka200 EGP · Students 100 EGPMinistry of Tourism and Antiquities (Saqqara)
South Tomb in the Djoser complex300 EGP · Students 150 EGPMinistry of Tourism and Antiquities (Saqqara)
Combination ticket1,400 EGP · Students 700 EGP. 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 100 EGPMinistry 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
Elevation 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 olderWikipedia (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
February daily high20.5°C · Cairo Airport Station (CAI)NOAA climate normals 1991-2020 via Wikipedia
February daily low11°C · Cairo Airport Station (CAI)NOAA climate normals 1991-2020 via Wikipedia
March daily high23.8°C · Cairo Airport Station (CAI)NOAA climate normals 1991-2020 via Wikipedia
March daily low13.2°C · Cairo Airport Station (CAI)NOAA climate normals 1991-2020 via Wikipedia
April daily high28.1°C · Cairo Airport Station (CAI)NOAA climate normals 1991-2020 via Wikipedia
April daily low15.9°C · Cairo Airport Station (CAI)NOAA climate normals 1991-2020 via Wikipedia
May daily high32.2°C · Cairo Airport Station (CAI)NOAA climate normals 1991-2020 via Wikipedia
May daily low19.3°C · Cairo Airport Station (CAI)NOAA climate normals 1991-2020 via Wikipedia
June daily high34.6°C · Cairo Airport Station (CAI)NOAA climate normals 1991-2020 via Wikipedia
June daily low22.2°C · Cairo Airport Station (CAI)NOAA climate normals 1991-2020 via Wikipedia
July daily high35°C · Cairo Airport Station (CAI)NOAA climate normals 1991-2020 via Wikipedia
July daily low23.8°C · Cairo Airport Station (CAI)NOAA climate normals 1991-2020 via Wikipedia
August daily high34.9°C · Cairo Airport Station (CAI)NOAA climate normals 1991-2020 via Wikipedia
August daily low24.3°C · Cairo Airport Station (CAI)NOAA climate normals 1991-2020 via Wikipedia
September daily high33.4°C · Cairo Airport Station (CAI)NOAA climate normals 1991-2020 via Wikipedia
September daily low22.7°C · Cairo Airport Station (CAI)NOAA climate normals 1991-2020 via Wikipedia
October daily high30°C · Cairo Airport Station (CAI)NOAA climate normals 1991-2020 via Wikipedia
October daily low20°C · Cairo Airport Station (CAI)NOAA climate normals 1991-2020 via Wikipedia
November daily high24.9°C · Cairo Airport Station (CAI)NOAA climate normals 1991-2020 via Wikipedia
November daily low15.6°C · Cairo Airport Station (CAI)NOAA climate normals 1991-2020 via Wikipedia
December daily high20.5°C · Cairo Airport Station (CAI)NOAA climate normals 1991-2020 via Wikipedia
December daily low11.7°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

At the Giza Plateau Ticket Office: Card Payment, Hours, Shuttle

At the Giza Plateau, the ticket office closes one hour before the site closes. The official website lists opening hours from 8 am to 4 pm; an older official source differs with 7 am to 5 pm. The main entrance is the Great Gate on the desert road from Cairo to Fayoum. Payment at the ticket office is card only. Since 2025, private vehicles are no longer allowed on the plateau; an electric shuttle is included in the site ticket and operates on a hop-on-hop-off basis.

Who This Tour Suits and Who Should Choose the Alternative

This tour suits you if you want to see the Pyramids of Giza, Saqqara, and Memphis in one day and don't insist on a very high rating. It is explicitly not suitable if you take the title "Private Tour" literally or expect a small group: this tour cannot be booked privately, and the provider also does not offer small-group booking. If you prefer a higher rating and significantly more reviews, you'll find an alternative in "Cairo: Grand Egyptian Museum, Pyramids, Sphinx Tour with Lunch"; it stands at 4.7 out of 4,382 reviews. However, its starting price is significantly higher at 83 euros.

Similar Tours on This Page

Six offers that a reader of this page might actually waver between: same departure point first, then same destinations, then similar duration. Each card leads to the page with the same data sheet, not directly to the provider, so you can compare before booking.

  1. Ab Kairo: Tour zu den Pyramiden von Gizeh, Sphinx, Sakkara und Memphis

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  2. Kairo: Luxusabenteuer zu Pyramiden, Memphis, Sakkara und Dahschur

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  3. Kairo: Tagesausflug zu Gizeh-Pyramiden, Memphis und Sakkara

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  4. Pyramiden, Sakkara und Memphis Privattour mit Mittagessen

    7.5 hoursRamses tours

    4.411 reviews

    • Plateau entry included
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  5. Kairo: Pyramiden, Memphis, Sakkara Tagesausflug

    8 hoursSun Pyramids Tours

    5.0only 5 reviews

    • German-speaking guide
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    • Hotel pickup
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  6. Kairo: Pyramiden, Memphis, Sakkara, Dahschur und Basar Tagestour

    8 hoursSun Pyramids Tours

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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 entrance to the plateau included in this offer?

The provider says nothing about this. It's about 11 euros (700 Egyptian pounds) per person; ask before booking.

How long does the tour actually take?

The catalog says 7 hours. This span is counted from the meeting point or hotel, not from the gate; in Cairo traffic, a good half to full hour is lost each way.

Is there a German-speaking guide?

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

Will I get into a pyramid with this?

The offer says nothing about this, which is the case for 175 out of 252 offers. You buy the ticket on site; for the Great Pyramid of Khufu, the official price is about 16 euros (1,000 Egyptian pounds).

Is the rating of this offer meaningful?

Yes. 4.3 stars from 209 reviews is above the threshold of 4.0 with at least ten votes that this page applies.

Where can I find all data on this tour?

In the data sheet on this page. It lists every detail about the tour, each destination, and the climate of the starting city, each with a source, and can be downloaded as a CSV.

GetYourGuide

Cairo: Private Tour to Giza Pyramids, Memphis, Saqqara & Lunch

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

from 36 €
View

Sources

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

  1. 1
    GetYourGuide: Kairo: Private Tour zu Gizeh-Pyramiden, Memphis, Sakkara & Mittagessen 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.
  3. 3
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  5. 5
    Daily News Egypt abgerufen 2026-08-31
  6. 6
    RESEARCH-BASE abgerufen 2026-08-31
  7. 7
    Egyptian Streets abgerufen 2026-08-31
  8. 8
    Middle East Observer abgerufen 2026-08-31
  9. 9
    UNESCO World Heritage Centre abgerufen 2026-08-31
  10. 10
    UNESCO / Wikidata abgerufen 2026-08-31
  11. 11
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  13. 13
    Egypt Independent abgerufen 2026-08-31
  14. 14
    The National abgerufen 2026-08-31
  15. 15
    Saudi Press Agency abgerufen 2026-08-31
  16. 16
  17. 17
  18. 18
    Egyptian Streets abgerufen 2026-08-31
  19. 19
    Wikipedia (en): Great Sphinx of Giza abgerufen 2026-09-03
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  24. 24
    Wikipedia (en): Great Pyramid of Giza abgerufen 2026-09-03
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  27. 27
  28. 28
    Nature 2017 (ScanPyramids) abgerufen 2026-09-03
  29. 29
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  31. 31
    Wikipedia (en): Pyramid of Khafre abgerufen 2026-09-03
  32. 32
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  35. 35
    Wikipedia (en): Pyramid of Menkaure abgerufen 2026-09-03
  36. 36
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  38. 38
    Rome2Rio abgerufen 2026-08-31
  39. 39
  40. 40
    Wikipedia (en): Pyramid of Djoser abgerufen 2026-09-03
  41. 41
    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
  45. 45
  46. 46
    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