2-Day Cairo and Alexandria Tour: Pyramids, Sphinx, Catacombs

2 days, from €147, entrance fees not specified. 5.0 out of 1 review. What OceanAir Travel promises, what remains open, and what is included in the price.

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2-Day Cairo and Alexandria Tour: Pyramids, Sphinx, Catacombs

★ 5.0(1 Reviews)
  • Hotel pickup included
  • Tour guide in German specified
  • Free cancellation up to 24 hours before
  • Duration per provider: 2 days

Two Days from Cairo: Giza Plateau and Alexandria, Without Your Own Transfers

You start in Cairo and have two days ahead. The program leads to the Giza Plateau with the Great Pyramid of Khufu, the Pyramid of Khafre, the Pyramid of Menkaure, and the Sphinx. The Pyramid of Khafre is the middle one and still has its casing at the top; the Pyramid of Menkaure is the smallest, with granite layers from Aswan. The Sphinx is carved from the bedrock, not built; viewpoints are between the structures. For a view of the Sphinx, you stand on the terrace above, not beside its paws. The title also mentions Alexandria and catacombs; which stops the provider makes there is left open. This tour is for travelers who don't want to tick off Cairo and Alexandria in one day and don't want to handle the organization themselves.

2-Day Cairo and Alexandria Tour: Pyramids, Sphinx, Catacombs2-Day Cairo and Alexandria Tour: Pyramids, Sphinx, Catacombs2-Day Cairo and Alexandria Tour: Pyramids, Sphinx, Catacombs2-Day Cairo and Alexandria Tour: Pyramids, Sphinx, Catacombs2-Day Cairo and Alexandria Tour: Pyramids, Sphinx, Catacombs

Photos from provider OceanAir Travel. They show the offer, not your day.

Provider
OceanAir Travel
Duration
2 days
Start location
Cairo
Group type
Small group
Guide
Live guide
German-speaking
Yes
Hotel pickup
Yes
Price
From €147
Rating
5.0 out of 1 review
Quality threshold
Not met

What's included, what's not, and what the provider doesn't say

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

InclusionStatusWhat it means for you
Site ticket for the plateauNo informationAsk before booking; it's 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.
Tomb 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 it means for you
Ask before booking; it's about €11 per person.
Interior of a pyramid
Status
No information
What it means for you
The norm. Khufu officially about €16 (1,000 Egyptian pounds).
Hotel pickup
Status
Included
What it means for you
Included; meeting point is your accommodation.
Lunch
Status
Included
What it means for you
Included.
Tomb chambers and mastabas
Status
Nowhere in the catalog
What it 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 it means for you
Provider's statement in the catalog.

Price from €147: What's included and which entrance fees are due on the day

The entry price starts at €147. Included are lunch, hotel pickup, and a live guide who leads in English, German, Spanish, or Italian. Cancellation is free up to 24 hours before. Whether the site ticket for the plateau is included in these services is not stated by the provider. The official plateau entrance fee of 700 Egyptian pounds, about €11, is due at the ticket office on the day. The interior of the Great Pyramid of Khufu is also a separate ticket: 1,000 Egyptian pounds, about €16, to be purchased on site. Whether the provider covers this interior in their price is left open. Tipping is customary in Egypt but is not treated as 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.

2-Day Cairo and Alexandria Tour: P…147 €
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
Row2-Day Cairo and Alexandria Tour: P…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 price147 €51 €83 €52 €62 €

This tour vs. four comparable ones

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

2-tägige Kairo- und Alexandria-Tour: Pyramiden …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 …
ProviderOceanAir TravelSnefro TravelOceanAir TravelOceanAir TravelOceanAir Travel
Pricefrom 147 €from 51 €from 83 €from 52 €from 62 €
Duration2 days4 to 8 hours7 to 8 hours8 hours8 hours
Group typesmall groupprivategroupgroupsmall group
German-speakingyesnoyesyesyes
Area ticketnot specifiedincludedincludedincludedincluded
Pickupyesyesyesyesyes
Rating (reviews)5.0 (1)4.9 (7,579)4.7 (4,382)4.8 (1,697)4.7 (3,587)
Quality thresholdfailedpassedpassedpassedpassed
Free cancellation until24 h24 h24 h24 h24 h
2-tägige Kairo- und Alexandria-Tour: Pyramiden, Sphinx, Katakomben
Provider
OceanAir Travel
Price
from 147 €
Duration
2 days
Group type
small group
German-speaking
yes
Area ticket
not specified
Pickup
yes
Rating (reviews)
5.0 (1)
Quality threshold
failed
Free cancellation until
24 h
Kairo: Private Tour zu Pyramiden und Großer Sphinx mit Kamelritt
Provider
Snefro Travel
Price
from 51 €
Duration
4 to 8 hours
Group type
private
German-speaking
no
Area ticket
included
Pickup
yes
Rating (reviews)
4.9 (7,579)
Quality threshold
passed
Free cancellation until
24 h
Kairo: Grand Egyptian Museum, Pyramiden, Sphinx-Tour und Mittagessen
Provider
OceanAir Travel
Price
from 83 €
Duration
7 to 8 hours
Group type
group
German-speaking
yes
Area ticket
included
Pickup
yes
Rating (reviews)
4.7 (4,382)
Quality threshold
passed
Free cancellation until
24 h
Kairo: Stadtführung mit weiblicher Führung zu Pyramiden, Sphinx und Museum
Provider
OceanAir Travel
Price
from 52 €
Duration
8 hours
Group type
group
German-speaking
yes
Area ticket
included
Pickup
yes
Rating (reviews)
4.8 (1,697)
Quality threshold
passed
Free cancellation until
24 h
Ab Kairo: Tour zu den Pyramiden von Gizeh, Sphinx, Sakkara und Memphis
Provider
OceanAir Travel
Price
from 62 €
Duration
8 hours
Group type
small group
German-speaking
yes
Area ticket
included
Pickup
yes
Rating (reviews)
4.7 (3,587)
Quality threshold
passed
Free cancellation until
24 h

The order follows the documentation and not the commission. All values come from the same catalog fields to make columns comparable.

How many people have rated?

Number of reviews per offer, with the rating in parentheses. A rating without its sample size is not information.

2-Day Cairo and Alexandria… (5.0)1 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
Row2-Day Cairo and Alexandria… (5.0)Cairo: Private Tour to Pyramid… (4.9)Cairo: Grand Egyptian Museum, … (4.7)Cairo: City Tour with Female… (4.8)From Cairo: Tour to the Pyramid… (4.7)
Reviews1 Reviews7,579 Reviews4,382 Reviews1,697 Reviews3,587 Reviews

5.0 from one voice: a rating that carries no weight

The 5.0 sounds perfect but is based on exactly one review. A single voice can be coincidence; a rating on such a narrow basis is not a reliable quality judgment. In the category of pyramid tours from Cairo, this tour ranks 90th out of 126 by documentation strength, and 98th by number of reviews. The four comparison offers in the same category have between 1,697 and 7,579 reviews. A single 'very good' weighs less than a thousand individual judgments.

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.

  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 bedrock, not built. The public stands on the terrace above, not beside 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 with casing 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. 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 over the year

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

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

There is hardly any shade on the site itself; the values are normal outdoor values and not a forecast.

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

Cairo monthly temperatures: summer heat without shade, mild winters

The chart shows for Cairo a maximum and a minimum value for each month. From June to August, the maximum values are around 35 degrees, with minimums between 22 and 24 degrees. From November to March, the maximums remain lower at 19 to 25 degrees. On the Giza Plateau there is hardly any shade; if you take the tour in summer, you are directly exposed to these values. The provider does not specify a time of day for the itinerary. These are normal outdoor values, not a forecast for your visit day.

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 its ticket: 184 rows, 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
ItemValueSource
The offer30
Provider title2-day Cairo and Alexandria tour: Pyramids, Sphinx, CatacombsGetYourGuide catalog
ProviderOceanAir TravelGetYourGuide catalog
Product number965339GetYourGuide catalog
Start locationCairoGetYourGuide catalog
Duration2 daysGetYourGuide catalog
Multi-dayYesGetYourGuide catalog
Starting price147 €GetYourGuide, live retrieval
Starting price in local currencyapprox. 8,694 EGPExchange rate 59.14 EGP per euro
Rating5.0 starsGetYourGuide, live retrieval
Number of reviews1GetYourGuide, live retrieval
Project quality thresholdNot passedOwn rule: at least 4.0 with at least 10 reviews
Rank in category90 out of 126 in "Pyramid tours from Cairo"Own evaluation, grade weighted by number of reviews
Plateau area ticketNo informationGetYourGuide catalog
Interior of a pyramidNo informationGetYourGuide catalog
Access to a tombNo offer in the catalog sells thatOwn evaluation of all 252 offers
Hotel pickupIncludedGetYourGuide catalog
LunchIncludedGetYourGuide catalog
Type of guideLive guideGetYourGuide catalog
Guide languagesEnglish, German, Spanish, ItalianGetYourGuide catalog
German-speaking guideYesGetYourGuide catalog
Private bookingNoGetYourGuide catalog
Small groupYesGetYourGuide catalog
Group format according to providerSmall groupGetYourGuide catalog
Preferred entryYesGetYourGuide catalog
Wheelchair accessibleNoGetYourGuide catalog
Free cancellationYesGetYourGuide catalog
Cancellation deadline24 hours before startGetYourGuide catalog
Giza reference in catalogHighOwn check of catalog fields
Provider images5 photosGetYourGuide catalog
Data status2026-09-03Own retrieval
Giza Plateau22
Area ticket for foreigners (adults)700 EGP · Students 350 EGP; Egyptians 60/30 EGP. Does NOT cover the interiorsMinistry of Tourism and Antiquities
Site ticket for students (foreigners)350 EGPMinistry of Tourism and Antiquities
Opening hours (official website)08:00–16:00 · Official sources contradict each other (PDF from 2020: 07:00–17:00); ticket office closes one hour before closingMinistry of Tourism and Antiquities
Ticket office closes before the gate1 hourAntiquities administration (standard practice)
Payment at the ticket officecard only, no cash · Cashless sales since 2023; cash is still needed for tips and small purchasesDaily News Egypt
Main entrance since 2025Great Gate on the Cairo–Fayoum desert road (southwest) · Replaces the old gate at Mena House; Sphinx Gate open but without ticket officeRESEARCH-BASE
Private vehicles on the plateauforbidden since the 2025 reorganisationRESEARCH-BASE
Electric shuttleincluded in the entrance fee, hop-on/hop-off · Confirmed stops: 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's figure)3,500,000 · Figure from 5 Jan 2026; target 5 million; no official figure per site publishedMiddle East Observer
Visitors per day (derived)9,600 · Calculated from 3.5 million/yearMiddle East Observer
UNESCO World Heritage since1979 · Part of 'Memphis and its Necropolis', No. 86UNESCO World Heritage Centre
Area of the World Heritage site16,358.52 haUNESCO / Wikidata
Length of the pyramid field (Abu Roasch to Dahschur)30 km · Over two dozen pyramids depending on counting methodUNESCO World Heritage Centre
Great Pyramid of Khufu closed at midday12:00–13:00RESEARCH-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 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 confirmed major performances in five decades, almost yearly 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 the sitesfree, also with system/SLR cameras · Permit required: photo umbrellas, artificial light, equipment that blocks the wayMinistry 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 the natural limestoneMinistry of Tourism and Antiquities (The Great Sphinx)
Time of origin4th Dynasty, c. 2613–2494 BC · Thus the oldest of the Egyptian colossal statuesMinistry of Tourism and Antiquities (The Great Sphinx)
AttributionReign of Khafre, c. 2558–2532 BC · The official wording is 'the evidence points to' – evidenced, 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 of it, next to the Valley Temple of KhafreMinistry of Tourism and Antiquities (The Great Sphinx)
Construction sequencethe Valley Temple was finished before work on the Sphinx began · Result of archaeological analysis, not of 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 to the throne and fulfilment of the king's core duty to maintain sacred buildingsKasia Szpakowska in conversation with NOVA (PBS)
Condition in the New Kingdomlargely covered in sand, probably only the head visibleKasia Szpakowska in conversation with NOVA (PBS)
The plateau in the New Kingdomexcursion grounds of the court: hunting, chariot driving, archery, resting places in the shadeKasia Szpakowska in conversation with NOVA (PBS)
Dream Stele: material and sizegranite, just under four metres high, several tonnes · Only secondarily attested; according to a widespread interpretation, a reused lintel from the mortuary temple of KhafreKasia Szpakowska in conversation with NOVA (PBS)
Dream Stele: Conditionabout half of the text is missing, crack from the twelfth line · Uncovered in 1817 by Giovanni Battista Caviglia; afterwards 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 in the order of 30 to 50 mMinistry of Tourism and Antiquities (Giza Plateau)
Access at paw levelofficial category "The Sphinx (Private Visits only + Site Opening Fee)" · Private booking outside opening hours with additional 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 proven · 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 handbreadthsWikipedia (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), c. 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)EGP 1,000 · 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 studentsEGP 500Ministry 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 unit is located in the chambers, not in the Ascending PassageEgyptian 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), c. 2558–2532 BC · A son of KhufuMinistry of Tourism and Antiquities (Pyramid Complex of Khafre)
Locationbuilt on slightly higher bedrock · That is why it appears as 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 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 earlier 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 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 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 catalog 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 of Khufu · same survey; the east-west axis of both is closer to true cardinal direction 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 listed · the monument page does not include a ticket block; circulating figures range from 130 to 280 EGP. Do not treat as a priceMinistry of Tourism and Antiquities (Pyramid Complex of Khafre)
Claimed structures beneath the pyramidnot substantiated · the March 2025 press conference relied on a method whose foundational work was retracted on 10 August 2026; the authors dispute the retractionRemote Sensing (MDPI), retraction 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 Pyramid of KhufuWikipedia (en): Pyramid of Menkaure
Inclination angle51°20'25"Wikipedia (en): Pyramid of Menkaure
BuilderKing Menkaure, ca. 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, 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)
Funerary cult after his deathpractised for about 300 more yearsMinistry of Tourism and Antiquities (Pyramid Complex of Menkaure)
Queens' pyramids3 pyramidsMinistry of Tourism and Antiquities (Pyramid Complex of Menkaure)
Satellite pyramidnone found · it is suspected that the largest of the three queens' 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, ordering the fallen blocks, excavation in the rubble slope, making the site accessible to 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
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 settlements (Babylon, Fustat) are significantly olderWikipedia (en): Cairo
Nearest airportCAI IATAWikipedia (en): Cairo International Airport
Airport to city center20.7 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 the greater Cairo area, realistically much longerOSRM routing on OpenStreetMap data
January daily high18.9°C · Cairo Airport station (CAI)NOAA climate normals 1991-2020 via Wikipedia
January daily low10.1°C · Cairo Airport station (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 Great Gate: card payment, ticket office closing time, and shuttle instead of private cars

The main entrance to the Giza Plateau has been the Great Gate on the desert road between Cairo and Fayoum since the 2025 reorganization; it replaces the old gate at Mena House. The ticket office closes one hour before the site closes. Payment at the counter is by card only, not cash. The official website lists opening hours from 8 am to 4 pm; an older official PDF lists 7 am to 5 pm, so the sources contradict each other. The Sphinx Gate is open but has no ticket counter. Private vehicles are not allowed onto the plateau; the electric shuttle with stops at Khufu, Khafre, Menkaure, the panoramic point, and the Sphinx is included in the site ticket.

Who the two-day tour suits and when a one-day tour is better

This tour is right for travelers who want to join a small group and do not expect a private booking. It is not suitable for people with limited mobility, as the provider states it is not wheelchair accessible. If you only have one day for the pyramids, the tour “Grand Egyptian Museum, Pyramids, Sphinx Tour and Lunch” offers a shorter option: 7 to 8 hours, from 83 euros, with an explicitly German-speaking guide.

Similar tours on this page

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

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  6. 2 Tage 1 Nacht Paket in Kairo und Luxor

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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?

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

How long does the tour actually take?

The catalog says 2 days. This period is counted from the meeting point or hotel, not from the gate; in Cairo traffic, allow a good half hour to a full hour each way.

Is there a German-speaking guide?

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

Will 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 around 16 euros (1,000 Egyptian pounds).

Is the rating of this offer meaningful?

No. 5.0 stars from only 1 review is not enough for a judgment, regardless of how high the score is.

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

2-day Cairo and Alexandria tour: Pyramids, Sphinx, Catacombs

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

Sources

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

  1. 1
    GetYourGuide: 2-tägige Kairo- und Alexandria-Tour: Pyramiden, Sphinx, Katakomben 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 from Egyptian pounds to euros, 59.14 EGP per euro. Amounts are rounded down because "from" indicates a lower limit.
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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
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    UNESCO World Heritage Centre abgerufen 2026-08-31
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    UNESCO / Wikidata abgerufen 2026-08-31
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    Egypt Independent abgerufen 2026-08-31
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    The National abgerufen 2026-08-31
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    Saudi Press Agency abgerufen 2026-08-31
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    Egyptian Streets abgerufen 2026-08-31
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    Wikipedia (en): Great Sphinx of Giza abgerufen 2026-09-03
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    Wikipedia (en): Great Pyramid of Giza abgerufen 2026-09-03
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    Nature 2017 (ScanPyramids) abgerufen 2026-09-03
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    Wikipedia (en): Pyramid of Khafre abgerufen 2026-09-03
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    Wikipedia (en): Pyramid of Menkaure abgerufen 2026-09-03
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    Wikipedia (en): Cairo abgerufen 2026-09-03
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    Wikipedia (en): Cairo International Airport abgerufen 2026-09-03
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    NOAA-Klimanormalen 1991-2020 via Wikipedia abgerufen 2026-09-03
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    RESEARCH-BASE abgerufen 2026-08-31
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    UNESCO World Heritage Centre abgerufen 2026-09-04
  44. 44
    Egypt Independent abgerufen 2026-08-31
  45. 45
    NOAA-Klimanormalen 1991-2020 via Wikipedia abgerufen 2026-09-03