Discovery Tours Egypt
Day TourCairo

Saqqara, Memphis & Dahshur Day Trip from Cairo – Private, Step, Bent & Red Pyramids

8 hours, private vehicle and Egyptologist, tickets and lunch included, pick-up at 08:00.

At a glance

Departs
Daily

The short answer

An 8-hour private day trip from Cairo or Giza to the Bent and Red Pyramids at Dahshur, the Step Pyramid at Saqqara and the open-air museum at Memphis, with an Egyptologist guide, 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
Private pick-up and drop-off at Cairo or Giza hotels · Private air-conditioned vehicle and driver · Private Egyptologist guide (English) · Entrance tickets for Dahshur, Saqqara and Memphis · Lunch at a local restaurant
Guide languages
English

Best time to go

October to April has the best temperatures. In summer, the 08:00 start keeps you ahead of the worst heat.

  • Arranged by Discovery Tours Egypt, an Egyptian tour operator working since 1988 with six offices
  • Travel licence ETAA 718 (Category A); IATA accredited agent

02Overview

A first look

Before the Great Pyramid of Giza, Egypt's kings tried other shapes, and this day shows you where. A driver collects you at 08:00 from your hotel in Cairo or Giza. You drive south to Dahshur, where the Bent Pyramid and the Red Pyramid stand in open desert, then on to Saqqara and the Step Pyramid of Djoser. After lunch at a local restaurant you visit Memphis, the old capital, and see the fallen statue of Ramses II. You are back at your hotel between about 15:00 and 16:00. Your Egyptologist travels only with you, so you can slow down at the places you like. The ticket covers the sites but not entry inside the pyramids or the extra tombs at Saqqara, which are paid on the day if you want them. You can book online, and the booking is confirmed at once.

Background

The facts

Dahshur, Saqqara and Memphis lie on the west bank of the Nile south of Cairo, about 30 to 60 minutes from Giza by road. They hold the oldest pyramids and the ruins of Egypt's first capital.

Named in this entry

Cairo·Giza·Dahshur·Bent Pyramid·Red Pyramid·Saqqara·Step Pyramid of Djoser·Memphis

Suited to

Is this for you?

Yes, if

  • Travelers who want to see how pyramid building developed, away from the crowds at Giza.

Maybe not, if

  • Not for anyone who cannot walk on sand and uneven ground, or who wants to enter every pyramid without extra tickets.

What lingers

  • 01A private vehicle, driver and English-speaking Egyptologist for your party only
  • 02The Bent Pyramid and the Red Pyramid at Dahshur, usually far quieter than Giza
  • 03The Step Pyramid of Djoser and its courtyard at Saqqara
  • 04The open-air museum at Memphis and the fallen statue of Ramses II
  • 05Hotel pick-up and drop-off in Cairo or Giza

Honest assessment

Real trade-offs from our experience managing this tour.

Highlights

  • Quiet sites with room to move
  • Your own guide and vehicle, with a flexible pace
  • Tickets and lunch included

Things to Consider

  • Entry inside the pyramids is extra and the passages are tight
  • Little shade at the sites

Stop by stop

Detailed itinerary

  1. 1

  2. 2

  3. 3

  4. 4

  5. 5

  6. 6

The fine print

What's included – and what isn't

Included

  • Private pick-up and drop-off at Cairo or Giza hotels
  • Private air-conditioned vehicle and driver
  • Private Egyptologist guide (English)
  • Entrance tickets for Dahshur, Saqqara and Memphis
  • Lunch at a local restaurant
  • Bottled water

Not included

  • Gratuities
  • Drinks with lunch
  • Personal expenses
  • Entry inside the pyramids and the extra tombs at Saqqara

Field notes

From our Egyptologists

  1. 01

    Bring a hat and sunscreen, because shade is scarce

  2. 02

    Carry small cash for the optional tomb tickets at Saqqara

Before you go

What to pack & wear

Children & families

Children's prices are set from the ages you give when you book, and there is no minimum age. The day is about 8 hours with several hours of walking outdoors in the sun, so we suggest it mainly for school-age children. Interior passages in the pyramids are steep and tight and are not suited to small children.

Indicative rates only – pricing and departure fluctuate. Please enquire for live rates on your specific dates.

On the ground

Your route

1Cairo2Giza

Asked & answered

Frequent questions

  1. 01How is this private trip priced?
    The price is per person, and it falls as the group grows, because the vehicle, driver and guide are shared. It covers the transfers, the Egyptologist, the site tickets and lunch. The price shown when you choose your group size is what you pay.
  2. 02How do I book this trip?
    You book online by choosing your date and group size, and the booking is confirmed instantly. Please give us your hotel name so the driver knows where to find you.
  3. 03Can we go inside the pyramids?
    Entry inside the pyramids is not included in the price. Where an interior is open, it is a separate ticket paid on the day, and the passages are steep and narrow. Your guide can tell you on the day what is open and whether it is worth the effort.
  4. 04How is this different from the Giza Pyramids tour?
    Giza has the three famous pyramids and the Sphinx. This trip goes south to the earlier pyramids, where you see the Step Pyramid, the Bent Pyramid and the Red Pyramid. The sites are quieter and the story is about how the builders learned. Many guests do both on separate days.
  5. 05What is the cancellation policy?
    If you cancel three days or more before the trip, you get a full refund. If you cancel less than three days but more than 24 hours before, half is refunded. After that, or if you miss the pick-up, there is no refund.
  6. 06Is this trip private, or will others join us?
    It is private. Only your own party rides in the vehicle, and the Egyptologist guides only you. The maximum party is 12 people, and you can ask the guide to spend longer at the places you enjoy most.

If plans change

Plans change? We make it easy.

  • More than 72 hours before your tour: keep the full amount as credit toward future travel with us, or take a refund.
  • Between 72 and 24 hours: keep the full amount as credit, or take a partial refund.
  • Within 24 hours of the tour, or if you don't show up, we're unable to offer a refund or credit.
  • If we ever have to cancel, for weather or anything beyond our control, you lose nothing.

Credit is valid for 12 months from your original travel date and can be used on any tour, cruise or stay with us.Read our full cancellation and refund policy

Continue reading

From the archives

Product ID: EXC-CAI-159367

You Might Also Like

Egyptian Museum Half-Day Tour, CairoCairo

Egyptian Museum Half-Day Tour, Cairo

Visit the Egyptian Museum in Tahrir Square with a private Egyptologist; standard museum entrance and central Cairo hotel transfer are included. The guided visit lasts about three hours. We are a licensed Egyptian tour operator and our Egyptologist tailors the route to the museum’s current displays, prioritizing Tutankhamun material when it is on public display. We don't run large coach groups; we keep numbers small and the Egyptologist stays with your party for the full visit. Unlike many half-day bus tours, we handle tickets and passport photocopies to minimise queue time. The museum's galleries can be crowded and some rooms are compact; an early start reduces waits.

From $76

Fayoum Oasis and Wadi El Rayan Day Trip from CairoCairo

Fayoum Oasis and Wadi El Rayan Day Trip from Cairo

A private day trip by road from Cairo to the Fayoum oasis, with a private English-speaking guide and a driver. You stop at a viewpoint over Lake Qarun, spend the middle of the day at the two lakes and the waterfalls of Wadi El Rayan, have lunch, and finish at the old wooden waterwheels of Fayoum city. The Wadi El Rayan entry fee is paid at the gate.

From $101

Cairo’s Old Treasures: Egyptian Museum, Islamic Cairo & Khan el‑KhaliliCairo

Cairo’s Old Treasures: Egyptian Museum, Islamic Cairo & Khan el‑Khalili

See the Egyptian Museum, Islamic Cairo and Khan el‑Khalili with a Cairo‑based Egyptologist and private car. We don't run group bus tours; we travel by private car and normally start at the museum to avoid the busiest afternoon hours. Standard site entrance fees are included unless stated otherwise. Your Egyptologist highlights key objects in the Egyptian Museum and then guides you through medieval streets and market passages in Islamic Cairo, explaining architecture and social history. Trade-offs: Khan el‑Khalili is lively and congested, with limited shade and uneven cobbles; comfortable shoes and sun protection are essential. We arrange hotel pickup and bottled water.

From $140