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.
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
Your driver and guide meet you in the lobby of your Cairo or Giza hotel at 08:00. Please tell us your hotel name when you book.
- 2
At about 09:00 you reach Dahshur, built for King Sneferu. The Bent Pyramid changes angle halfway up, and the Red Pyramid next to it is the first true smooth-sided pyramid. Your guide explains why the builders changed course. Going inside is extra and not part of the ticket; the passage is steep and narrow, so it suits only guests who are comfortable in tight spaces.
- 3
At about 11:00 you arrive at Saqqara, home of the Step Pyramid, the oldest large stone building in the world. You walk through the entrance colonnade and the courtyard, and your guide shows you how the design grew from a single flat tomb. Extra tombs here carry their own tickets.
- 4
Lunch is at about 13:00 at a local restaurant. Drinks are paid separately. Tell us about any food needs when you book.
- 5
At about 14:00 you visit Memphis, once the capital of ancient Egypt. Little of the city remains, but the museum holds a large fallen statue of Ramses II and a sphinx made of alabaster. It is an easy, flat stop.
- 6
You head back to the city at about 15:00. Traffic decides the exact time, and you are usually at your hotel between 15:00 and 16:00.
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
- 01
Bring a hat and sunscreen, because shade is scarce
- 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
Asked & answered
Frequent questions
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.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.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.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.05What is the cancellation policy?
More than 72 hours ahead, keep 100% as credit toward future travel or take a 100% refund, less bank charges. Between 72 and 24 hours, keep 100% as credit or take a 50% refund. Within 24 hours, or if you don't show up, there is no refund or credit. If we have to cancel, you lose nothing.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
Cancellation and refunds
If you cancel, your refund depends on how early you tell us and on the type of trip. Read our current cancellation and refund policy
Continue reading
From the archives
Last updated Product ID: EXC-CAI-159367
At a glance
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