Egypt Discovery
ExcursionAlexandria

Giza, Memphis and Saqqara in a Day from Alexandria: Private, Port or Hotel Pick-up

About 14 hours, private vehicle and Egyptologist guide, three ancient sites and lunch.

At a glance

Departs
Daily

The short answer

A private 14-hour road trip from Alexandria or its cruise terminal to the Giza Pyramids, the Sphinx, the Step Pyramid at Saqqara and the open-air museum at Memphis, with an Egyptologist guide and lunch.
  • New
  • Private

Snapshot

Good to know

Destinations
Alexandria · Giza · Pyramids of Giza · Great Sphinx · Saqqara · Step Pyramid of Djoser · Memphis
Includes
Private pick-up and drop-off at your Alexandria hotel or the cruise terminal · An air-conditioned vehicle and driver for your party only · A private English-speaking Egyptologist guide · Admission to Giza, Saqqara and Memphis · Lunch in a local restaurant
Guide languages
English

Best time to go

From October to April the temperatures are kinder for a day of walking outdoors. Summer afternoons are very hot.

  • Licensed Egyptian tour operator
  • Offices in Cairo, Luxor, Aswan, Hurghada, Marsa Alam and Sharm El Sheikh

02Overview

A first look

This is the fullest of our road trips from Alexandria to the Cairo area. You leave at 06:00, drive south for about three hours, and spend the day at three sites that show how Egyptian building changed over time: the Pyramids at Giza, the older Step Pyramid at Saqqara, and the remains of Memphis. It is a long day, with about 14 hours from pick-up to drop-off, so it suits travellers who are happy to spend time in a vehicle. Your party has its own guide and car, so you can set the pace together.

Background

The facts

Giza, Saqqara and Memphis lie on the west bank of the Nile south of Cairo, between three and four hours by road from Alexandria.

Named in this entry

Giza Plateau·Great Sphinx of Giza·Saqqara necropolis·open-air museum at Memphis·Colossus of Ramses II

Suited to

Is this for you?

Yes, if

  • Travellers in Alexandria who want a thorough tour of the Pyramids and the older sites nearby in one day.

Maybe not, if

  • Not recommended for small children, wheelchair users, or anyone who cannot manage a 14-hour day.

What lingers

  • 01The Great Pyramid, Khafre and Menkaure, and the Sphinx at Giza
  • 02Saqqara, for the Step Pyramid of Djoser and the courtyard in front of it
  • 03Memphis, where the colossal statue of Ramses II lies in the open-air museum
  • 04Three of Egypt's best-known ancient sites in a single day
  • 05An English-speaking private Egyptologist guide
  • 06A private air-conditioned vehicle and lunch at a local restaurant

Honest assessment

The honest pluses and minuses, as our own team sees them after running this trip.

Highlights

  • Giza, Saqqara and Memphis in one private day
  • Your own vehicle and guide
  • Lunch and three site tickets are included

Things to Consider

  • A 06:00 start and a return at about 19:45
  • Going inside the pyramids and extra Saqqara tombs costs more

Stop by stop

Detailed itinerary

  1. 1

  2. 2

  3. 3

  4. 4

  5. 5

  6. 6

  7. 7

The fine print

What's included – and what is left out

Included

  • Private pick-up and drop-off at your Alexandria hotel or the cruise terminal
  • An air-conditioned vehicle and driver for your party only
  • A private English-speaking Egyptologist guide
  • Admission to Giza, Saqqara and Memphis
  • Lunch in a local restaurant
  • Bottled water during the day

Not included

  • Gratuities for your guide and driver
  • What you drink with lunch
  • Anything you buy for yourself
  • Going inside the pyramids, and the additional tombs at Saqqara
  • Rides on camels or horses

Field notes

From our Egyptologists

  1. 01

    Wear shoes you can walk in on loose sand

  2. 02

    Carry small notes for tips and optional tickets

Before you go

What to pack & wear

Children & families

Children are welcome and count towards your party size. With about seven hours of driving and plenty of walking, this is a demanding day for young children. Please tell us their ages when you send your request.

These fares are a guide, as prices and departure move through the year. Do ask us and we will confirm the fare for the days you have in mind.

On the ground

Your route

1Alexandria2Giza

Asked & answered

Frequent questions

  1. 01Where does this trip begin and end?
    In Alexandria. You are collected at 06:00 from your hotel or the cruise terminal and brought back to the same place at about 19:45.
  2. 02How do I book?
    This trip is by request. You send us your dates and party size, and our team confirms availability and the final fare before any payment is taken.
  3. 03I am on a cruise. Is this trip realistic?
    It is a very long day, so only if your ship stays in port until late. Please give us your ship's name and all-aboard time with your request. We cannot guarantee a return time to the ship.
  4. 04Is lunch included?
    Yes, lunch at a local restaurant is included. Drinks with the meal and tips are not.
  5. 05Can we go inside the pyramids or the Saqqara tombs?
    Going inside the pyramids, and the additional tombs at Saqqara is not included and is paid for on the day. Your guide can tell you which are worth the extra cost for your party.
  6. 06What are the cancellation terms?
    Give us more than 72 hours' notice and you can keep 100% as credit towards a future holiday or have 100% refunded, less bank charges. Between 72 and 24 hours beforehand, keep 100% as credit or have 50% back. Within 24 hours, or if you don't turn up, nothing can be refunded or credited. Should we have to cancel, you won't lose a penny.

If plans change

Cancellation and refunds

What you receive back if you cancel depends on how far ahead of your holiday you let us know and the kind of holiday you book. See our current cancellation and refund terms

Continue reading

From the archives

Product ID: EXC-ALX-719528

You Might Also Like

Private Full-Day Alexandria Excursion with Egyptologist GuideAlexandria

Private Full-Day Alexandria Excursion with Egyptologist Guide

A full private day in Alexandria with your own Egyptologist guide and car. You go underground at the Catacombs of Kom el-Shoqafa, stand beside Pompey's Pillar, climb through the Citadel of Qaitbay on the harbour and finish in the Bibliotheca Alexandrina. Lunch is a fish meal by the sea. The day runs for about eight hours and starts from your Alexandria hotel or the cruise port.

From £68

Islamic Cairo in a Day from Alexandria: Citadel, Sultan Hassan and Khan el-KhaliliAlexandria

Islamic Cairo in a Day from Alexandria: Citadel, Sultan Hassan and Khan el-Khalili

A private day by road from Alexandria or its cruise terminal to medieval Cairo. You visit the Citadel of Saladin, the Mosque of Sultan Hassan and the Mosque of Ibn Tulun, then spend time in the Khan el-Khalili bazaar. A private Egyptologist guide is with you all day, and lunch is included. Allow about 13 hours from pick-up to drop-off.

From £122

Alexandria Food Walking Tour with a Local GuideAlexandria

Alexandria Food Walking Tour with a Local Guide

A private evening walk through Alexandria with a local guide who orders for you. You try ful and falafel at a counter that has served them for decades, liver sandwiches from a street stall, grilled fish near the harbour, then rice pudding and coffee in an old café. It takes about four hours on foot, with no vehicle.

From £35