Saqqara, Memphis and Dahshur: Private Day from Cairo
About 8 hours, private guide and vehicle, three ancient sites south of Cairo and lunch.
At a glance
- Departs
- Daily
The short answer
A private 8-hour day from your Cairo or Giza hotel to Dahshur, Saqqara and Memphis, with a private Egyptologist guide, vehicle, site tickets and lunch.
- New
- Private
Snapshot
Good to know
- Destinations
- Cairo · Giza · Dahshur · Bent Pyramid · Red Pyramid · Saqqara · Step Pyramid of Djoser · Memphis
- Includes
- Pick-up and drop-off at your Cairo or Giza hotel, for your party only · An air-conditioned vehicle with a driver · A private English-speaking Egyptologist guide · Admission to Dahshur, Saqqara and Memphis · Lunch in a local restaurant
- Guide languages
- English
Best time to go
October to April is the most comfortable for walking in the open desert. In summer the heat builds fast, so the morning start matters.
- Licensed Egyptian tour operator
- Offices in Cairo, Luxor, Aswan, Hurghada, Marsa Alam and Sharm El Sheikh
02Overview
A first look
Most visitors go straight to Giza and never see where pyramid building began. This day takes you south of Cairo to the earlier sites, where the shapes are rougher and the crowds far thinner. You start at Dahshur with the Bent and Red Pyramids, move on to Saqqara and the Step Pyramid, and finish at Memphis, once the capital of the Old Kingdom. The vehicle and guide are yours alone, so the pace is set by your party. You are collected from your Cairo or Giza hotel at 08:00 and back by mid to late afternoon.
Background
The facts
Dahshur, Saqqara and Memphis lie south of Cairo on the west bank of the Nile, between about 25 and 40 kilometres from the city centre. They hold some of Egypt's earliest pyramids.
Named in this entry
Ramses II
Suited to
Is this for you?
Yes, if
- Travellers who want the older pyramids and a quieter day than Giza, with a guide to themselves.
Maybe not, if
- Not suited to wheelchair users, or to anyone who finds walking on sand in the sun difficult.
What lingers
- 01Two of Sneferu's pyramids at Dahshur, the Red and the Bent
- 02The Step Pyramid of Djoser and the courtyard around it at Saqqara
- 03The fallen statue of Ramses II at the Memphis open-air museum
- 04A private Egyptologist guide who speaks English
- 05Your own air-conditioned vehicle, collected from and returned to your hotel
- 06Lunch in a local restaurant, with the main site tickets already paid
Honest assessment
The honest pluses and minuses, as our own team sees them after running this trip.
Highlights
- Three sites in one day, with fewer crowds than Giza
- Private guide and vehicle
- Lunch and main site tickets included
Things to Consider
- Hardly any shade once you are out among the monuments
- Entry inside the pyramids and extra tombs is not included
Stop by stop
Detailed itinerary
- 1
- 2
- 3
- 4
- 5
- 6
The fine print
What's included – and what is left out
Included
- Pick-up and drop-off at your Cairo or Giza hotel, for your party only
- An air-conditioned vehicle with a driver
- A private English-speaking Egyptologist guide
- Admission to Dahshur, Saqqara and Memphis
- Lunch in a local restaurant
- Drinking water during the day
Not included
- Tips for your guide and driver
- What you drink with lunch
- Anything you buy for yourself
- Tickets to go inside the pyramids or the extra-ticket tombs at Saqqara
Field notes
From our Egyptologists
- 01
Bring a hat even in winter, as the desert sun is strong
- 02
Ask your guide to explain why the Bent Pyramid changes angle
Before you go
What to pack & wear
Children & families
Children are welcome and count towards your party size. The day has about three hours of driving and a fair amount of walking on sand and rough ground, so it suits children who are happy to walk and listen. Please tell us their ages when you book.
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
Asked & answered
Frequent questions
01Where does this excursion start and finish?
At your hotel in Cairo or Giza. Your driver collects you at 08:00 and brings you back to the same hotel in the mid to late afternoon.02How do I book, and does the price change with group size?
You book online and your place is confirmed straight away. The fare is per person and falls as the party grows, because the vehicle and guide are shared between more of you. The booking page shows the fare for the number of travellers you choose.03Can I go inside the pyramids?
Entry inside the pyramids is not included, and we cannot promise it on the day, as access at each site is decided by the authorities. The extra-ticket tombs at Saqqara are also not included. Your guide can tell you what is open on your date.04What is the difference between this and a day at Giza?
These sites are older and far quieter. You see the early experiments in pyramid building that led up to Giza, and you spend more time on foot in open desert than in a queue.05Is lunch included?
Yes, lunch in a local restaurant is included. What you drink with it, and anything else you order for yourself, is paid for on the spot.06What if I need to cancel?
You are refunded in full if you cancel three or more days before the excursion. Between three days and 24 hours before, half the fare is refunded. After that, or if you miss your pick-up, there is no refund.
If plans change
Plans change? We make it easy.
- More than 72 hours before your tour: keep the full amount as credit towards a future holiday with us, or take a refund.
- Between 72 and 24 hours beforehand: hold on to the whole amount as credit, or have part of it refunded.
- Within 24 hours of the tour, or if you don't turn up, we're unable to offer a refund or credit.
- Should we ever have to cancel, because of the weather or anything else beyond our control, you won't lose a penny.
Credit stays valid for 12 months from your original travel date and can go towards any tour, cruise or stay with us.See the complete terms for cancelling and refunds
Continue reading
From the archives
Product ID: EXC-CAI-159367
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