GetYourGuide
★ 4.5(11 Reviews)Pyramids, Saqqara and Memphis Private Tour with Lunch
- Site ticket for the plateau included
- Hotel pickup included
- Free cancellation up to 24 hours before
- Duration according to provider: 7.5 hours
Private tour from Cairo: Giza Plateau and Saqqara, 7.5 hours
Ramses tours offers this day as a private tour; the entire tour is sold, not a place in a small group. Start is in Cairo, the tour lasts 7.5 hours. The provider calls it "Pyramids, Saqqara and Memphis". Stops listed are the Giza Plateau and Saqqara; what the title means by Memphis remains open in the description. On the Giza Plateau are the three pyramids of Khufu, Khafre, and Menkaure, the Sphinx, and the viewpoints in between. Also part of the site are the valley temple of Khafre's pyramid and the lower granite courses of Menkaure's pyramid, which come from Aswan. Then it goes about forty kilometers south to Saqqara to the Step Pyramid of Djoser. Access to the Giza Plateau is possible without queuing according to the provider; you can cancel free of charge up to 24 hours before.
Photos from the provider Ramses tours. They show the offer, not your day.
- Provider
- Ramses tours
- Duration
- 7.5 hours
- Start location
- Cairo
- Group type
- bookable privately
- Guide
- live guide
- German-speaking
- not specified
- Hotel pickup
- yes
- Price
- from €142
- Rating
- 4.4 out of 11 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 more to pay. |
| Interior of a pyramid | no information | The normal case. Khufu officially around €16 (1,000 Egyptian pounds). |
| Hotel pickup | included | Included, meeting point is your accommodation. |
| Lunch | included | Included. |
| Burial chambers and mastabas | nowhere in the catalog | In the entire reviewed catalog, no offer sells access to a tomb on the plateau. |
| Cancellation | free up to 24 hours before | Provider's statement in the catalog. |
Site ticket plateau
- Status
- included
- What this means for you
- Included in the price, nothing more to pay.
Interior of a pyramid
- Status
- no information
- What this means for you
- The normal case. Khufu officially around €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.
From €142: These items are included, others the provider leaves open
The entry price is from €142. Included are hotel pickup, lunch, a live guide, and the site ticket for the Giza Plateau. This ticket officially costs 700 Egyptian pounds, about €11; Ramses tours takes care of it for you. For Saqqara, the provider does not say whether entrance fees are included in the price. There is a separate ticket structure with several individual tickets that the Giza site ticket does not cover; which of these Ramses tours covers is left open. He also says nothing about the interior of a pyramid; the official price for the Khufu interior is 1,000 Egyptian pounds, about €16. Tipping is customary in Egypt and 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 "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 | Pyramids, Saqqara and Memphis Privat… | 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 | 142 € | 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.
| Pyramiden, Sakkara und Memphis Privattour mit … | 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 | Ramses tours | Snefro Travel | OceanAir Travel | OceanAir Travel | OceanAir Travel |
| Price | from 142 € | from 51 € | from 83 € | from 52 € | from 62 € |
| Duration | 7.5 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 | yes | yes | yes | yes | yes |
| Rating (reviews) | 4.4 (11) | 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 |
Pyramiden, Sakkara und Memphis Privattour mit Mittagessen
- Provider
- Ramses tours
- Price
- from 142 €
- Duration
- 7.5 hours
- Group type
- private
- German-speaking
- no
- Area ticket
- included
- Pickup
- yes
- Rating (reviews)
- 4.4 (11)
- 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 | Pyramids, Saqqara and Memphis… (4.4) | 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 Pyram… (4.7) |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Reviews | 11 reviews | 7,579 reviews | 4,382 reviews | 1,697 reviews | 3,587 reviews |
4.4 out of 11 reviews: a narrow basis
The average rating of 4.4 comes from 11 reviews. That is a narrow basis: it mainly says that previous guests were mostly satisfied, not that the impression is reliable. In the category of pyramid tours from Cairo, the tour ranks 56th out of 126 by documentation strength, and 59th by number of reviews. Four comparable offers have between 1,697 and 7,579 reviews and ratings between 4.7 and 4.9; this shows how thin the basis is here.
The day, stop by stop
The order follows the usual sequence. Each stop tells you what to expect there and the documented figures; everything else is in the data sheet.
Pickup at your accommodation
The provider picks you up; the duration of the tour counts from here, not from the gate.
Giza Plateau
The site itself: the three pyramids, the Sphinx, and the viewpoints in between. Private vehicles are not allowed up; you go by electric shuttle or on foot.
- 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 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 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 partly clad at the top. Its valley temple is included in the site ticket and is the shadiest place 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 (Step Pyramid of Djoser)
Forty kilometres 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)
- Site 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
Average daily maximum and minimum values per month. Two series, one axis; the points mark the hottest and coldest months.
Daily maximumDaily minimum
There is hardly any shade on the site itself; the values are normal outdoor values and not a forecast.
Figures in this chart as a table
| Row | Jan | Feb | Mar | Apr | May | Jun | Jul | Aug | Sep | Oct | Nov | Dec |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Daily maximum | 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 |
Best time to travel: mild winter months and hot summer months
The highs are 35 degrees from June to August, the lows 22 to 24 degrees. From May to September, highs remain between 32 and 35 degrees. It is noticeably cooler from December to February with 19 to 20 degrees during the day and 10 to 12 degrees at night. The tour lasts 7.5 hours and takes place during the day; the nightly lows therefore do not help. There is hardly any shade on the site; the values are normal outdoor values, not a forecast. The provider does not specify a start time.
The complete data sheet
Every piece of information that this project has documented about this tour, the places in its itinerary, 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's title | Pyramids, Saqqara and Memphis Private Tour with Lunch | GetYourGuide catalogue |
| Provider | Ramses tours | GetYourGuide catalogue |
| Product number | 492413 | GetYourGuide catalogue |
| Start location | Cairo | GetYourGuide catalogue |
| Duration | 7.5 hours | GetYourGuide catalogue |
| Multi-day | no | GetYourGuide catalogue |
| Starting price | 142 € | GetYourGuide, live retrieval |
| Starting price in local currency | approx. 8,398 EGP | Exchange rate 59.14 EGP per euro |
| Rating | 4.4 stars | GetYourGuide, live retrieval |
| Number of reviews | 11 | GetYourGuide, live retrieval |
| Project quality threshold | passed | Own rule: at least 4.0 with at least 10 reviews |
| Rank in category | 56 out of 126 in "Pyramid tours from Cairo" | Own evaluation, grade weighted by number of reviews |
| Plateau site ticket | included | GetYourGuide catalogue |
| Interior of a pyramid | no information | GetYourGuide catalogue |
| Access to a tomb | no offer in the catalogue sells that | Own evaluation of all 252 offers |
| Hotel pickup | included | GetYourGuide catalogue |
| Lunch | included | GetYourGuide catalogue |
| Type of guide | live guide | GetYourGuide catalogue |
| Guide languages | English, Arabic, French | GetYourGuide catalogue |
| German-speaking guide | no | GetYourGuide catalogue |
| Private booking possible | yes | GetYourGuide catalogue |
| Small group | no | GetYourGuide catalogue |
| Group type according to provider | Private group | GetYourGuide catalogue |
| Preferred entry | yes | GetYourGuide catalogue |
| Wheelchair accessible | no information | GetYourGuide catalogue |
| Free cancellation | yes | GetYourGuide catalogue |
| Cancellation deadline | 24 hours before start | GetYourGuide catalogue |
| Giza reference in catalogue | high | Own verification of catalogue fields |
| Supplier images | 5 photos | GetYourGuide catalogue |
| 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 the 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 | Ministry of Tourism and Antiquities |
| Ticket office closes before gate closes | 1 hour | Antiquities administration (standard practice) |
| Payment at ticket office | card only, no cash · Cashless sales since 2023; cash still needed for tips and small items | Daily News Egypt |
| Main entrance since 2025 | Great Gate on the Cairo–Fayoum desert road (southwest) · Replaces the old gate at Mena House; Sphinx Gate open but without ticket office | RESEARCH-BASE |
| Private vehicles on the plateau | forbidden since the 2025 reorganisation | 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 individual 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 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 midday | 12:00–13:00 | RESEARCH-BASE (site visit 2026-08-31) |
| Interior of the Great 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 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, also with system/SLR cameras · Requires permit: 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 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” – supported but not proven | Ministry of Tourism and Antiquities (The Great Sphinx) |
| Concept | the king with a lion's body, as a sign of his power | Ministry of Tourism and Antiquities (The Great Sphinx) |
| Sphinx Temple | immediately in front, next to the Valley Temple of Khafre | Ministry of Tourism and Antiquities (The Great Sphinx) |
| Construction sequence | the Valley Temple was finished before work on the Sphinx began · Result of archaeological analysis, not tradition | Ministry of Tourism and Antiquities (The Great Sphinx) |
| Facial features | striking resemblance to the statues of Khafre | Ministry of Tourism and Antiquities (The Great Sphinx) |
| Interpretation in the New Kingdom | manifestation of the sun god, called Horemakhet (“Horus in the Horizon”) · 18th Dynasty, c. 1550–1295 BC | Ministry of Tourism and Antiquities (The Great Sphinx) |
| Temple of Amenhotep II | built next to the Sphinx, dedicated to this god · Amenhotep II, c. 1427–1400 BC | Ministry of Tourism and Antiquities (The Great Sphinx) |
| Dream Stele | erected by Thutmose IV between the front paws · Thutmose IV, c. 1400–1390 BC; the research figure given by NOVA is 1401–1391 BC | Ministry of Tourism and Antiquities (The Great Sphinx) |
| Content of the Dream Stele | The young prince rests at noon in the shadow of the Sphinx; the god promises him kingship in a dream if he removes the sand | Kasia Szpakowska in conversation with NOVA (PBS) |
| Purpose of the stele | legitimisation of the succession and fulfilment of the royal core duty to maintain sacred buildings | Kasia Szpakowska in conversation with NOVA (PBS) |
| Condition in the New Kingdom | largely buried in sand, presumably only the head visible | Kasia Szpakowska in conversation with NOVA (PBS) |
| The Plateau in the New Kingdom | Court excursion 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 · Uncovered 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 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 documented · Presentation from June 2026 from the same group whose foundational work was withdrawn in August 2026 | Remote Sensing (MDPI), retraction notice 10.08.2026 |
| UNESCO World Heritage since | 1979 | UNESCO World Heritage Centre |
| Great Pyramid of Khufu25 | ||
| Original height | 146.6 m · 280 cubits; the official site states 146.5 m | Wikipedia (en): Great Pyramid of Giza |
| Current height | 138.5 m · The missing eight meters are the removed casing and the 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, 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 | 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 side) | 07:00–17:00 · Seven days; the site side 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 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, 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 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 buildings of the Old Kingdom | Ministry of Tourism and Antiquities (Pyramid Complex of Khafre) |
| Valley temple: construction | massive limestone blocks with granite casing, 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 discoveries | in 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 direction than the north-south axis | Nell & Ruggles, Archaeoastronomy 25 (2012) |
| Valley temple in the area ticket | included · Thus the nearest accessible interior space at the Sphinx and the shadiest spot on the open site | Ministry of Tourism and Antiquities (Giza Plateau) |
| Interior visit | not officially indicated · The monument page lists no 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 |
| Construction volume | 235,183 m³ · About one tenth of the Great Pyramid | Wikipedia (en): Pyramid of Menkaure |
| Inclination angle | 51°20'25" | Wikipedia (en): Pyramid of Menkaure |
| Builder | King Menkaure, c. 2532–2503 BC · Probably son of Khafre and grandson of Khufu | Ministry of Tourism and Antiquities (Pyramid Complex of Menkaure) |
| Base area 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 considerably 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 casing, 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, making the site accessible to visitors · The construction project became a research and interpretation 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 structure 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 area | 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 first Egyptian pyramid ever | 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 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, shows finds from the entire span of the site | Ministry of Tourism and Antiquities (Saqqara) |
| Site ticket foreigners (adults) | 600 EGP · Students 300 EGP | Ministry of Tourism and Antiquities (Saqqara) |
| Djoser Pyramid (interior visit) | 280 EGP · Students 140 EGP | Ministry of Tourism and Antiquities (Saqqara) |
| Serapeum | 340 EGP · Students 170 EGP | Ministry of Tourism and Antiquities (Saqqara) |
| Noble tombs and New Kingdom tombs | 400 EGP · Students 200 EGP | Ministry of Tourism and Antiquities (Saqqara) |
| Tomb of Mereruka | 200 EGP · Students 100 EGP | Ministry of Tourism and Antiquities (Saqqara) |
| South Tomb in the Djoser complex | 300 EGP · Students 150 EGP | Ministry of Tourism and Antiquities (Saqqara) |
| Combination ticket | 1,400 EGP · Students 700 EGP. Covers 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 100 EGP | 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 earlier | 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 |
| 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: Ticket Office Closing, Card Payment, Electric Shuttle
At the Giza Plateau, the ticket office closes one hour before the site. Opening hours are not consistently documented: 8:00 AM to 4:00 PM is mentioned, and an older version says 7:00 AM to 5:00 PM. Saqqara is open daily from 8:00 AM to 4:00 PM. Payment at the ticket office is by card only, not cash. Private vehicles are no longer allowed onto the plateau as of 2025; you take the electric shuttle or walk. Access is through the Great Gate on the Cairo-Fayoum desert road; the old gate at Mena House has been replaced.
Who the Private Tour Suits and Who Should Choose the German-Speaking Alternative
This tour is suitable for travelers who want a private guide and are comfortable with a guide speaking English, Arabic, or French. The provider lists the tour as wheelchair accessible. It is explicitly not suitable for travelers expecting a German-speaking guide. For them, the tour “From Cairo: Giza Pyramids, Sphinx, Saqqara and Memphis Tour” is an alternative; it offers a German-speaking guide and is available from €62.
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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 entry to the plateau included in this offer?
Yes. The site ticket for about €11 (700 Egyptian pounds) is included in the price.
How long does the tour actually take?
The catalog lists 7.5 hours. This duration 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 should be deducted.
Is there a German-speaking guide?
No German-speaking guide is listed for this offer.
Does this get me inside a pyramid?
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 (1,000 Egyptian pounds).
Is the rating for this offer meaningful?
Yes. 4.4 stars from 11 reviews is above the threshold of 4.0 with at least ten votes that this page uses.
Where can I find all the data for this tour?
In the data sheet on this page. It lists every detail about the tour, each destination, and the climate of the departure city, each with a source, and can be downloaded as a CSV.
GetYourGuide
Pyramids, Saqqara and Memphis Private Tour with Lunch
Dates, availability, and the latest version of inclusions are with the provider. This page reflects the catalog status, not this morning's 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 in each row.
- 1GetYourGuide: Pyramiden, Sakkara und Memphis Privattour mit Mittagessen abgerufen 2026-09-03Title, duration, inclusions, 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
- 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