Cairo Day Trip from Sharm El Sheikh by Road: Giza & Museum
22 hours, shared coach for up to 40. Giza, Sphinx, museum, lunch, guide and tickets included, driving 6 to 7 hours each way.
The short answer
A shared 22-hour coach day trip from Sharm El Sheikh to Cairo, driving 6 to 7 hours each way, with a guided visit to Giza, the Sphinx, a museum and lunch.
- New
Snapshot
Good to know
- Destinations
- Sharm El Sheikh · Cairo · Giza Pyramids · Great Sphinx
- Includes
- Hotel pickup and drop-off in Sharm El Sheikh (Naama Bay, Sharks Bay, Nabq, Hadaba, Old Market) · Air-conditioned coach shared with other guests · Egyptologist guide in Cairo (English) · Entrance tickets: Giza Plateau and the museum · Lunch at a local restaurant
- Guide languages
- English
Best time to go
October to April has milder temperatures at Giza. In summer the plateau is very hot, and the early arrival helps somewhat.
- Egyptian tour operator working since 1988
- ETAA Licence 718, Category A, and IATA member
02Overview
A first look
This is a 22-hour day trip from Sharm El Sheikh to Cairo by road, in a shared air-conditioned coach with up to 40 guests. It leaves at 00:30, drives 6 to 7 hours to Cairo with a rest stop and checkpoints, then spends the day at the Giza Plateau, the Great Sphinx, a museum and lunch, and drives back that evening. Tickets, lunch, an Egyptologist guide and transfers are included. It is very long and tiring, and it suits travelers who want Giza without a flight.
Background
The facts
Cairo is about 500 km from Sharm El Sheikh by road, across Sinai and under the Suez Canal. The coach takes 6 to 7 hours each way, and the whole trip is about 22 hours.
Named in this entry
Giza Plateau·Great Sphinx·Cairo·Suez Canal·Sinai
Suited to
Is this for you?
Yes, if
- Travelers who want to see the pyramids from Sharm without flying and who accept a very long day.
Maybe not, if
- Anyone who dislikes long journeys, cannot sit for hours or has only the free Sinai stamp.
What lingers
- 01Overnight coach from Sharm El Sheikh to Cairo, 6 to 7 hours each way
- 02Giza Plateau with the three pyramids and the panorama point, with an Egyptologist guide
- 03The Great Sphinx with an English-speaking Egyptologist guide
- 04Museum visit, either the Grand Egyptian Museum or the National Museum of Egyptian Civilization
- 05Entrance tickets for Giza and the museum, plus lunch, included
- 06Air-conditioned coach shared with up to 40 guests, with no flights needed
Honest assessment
Real trade-offs from our experience managing this tour.
Highlights
- No flights needed
- Tickets, guide and lunch included
- Giza, the Sphinx and a museum in one day
Things to Consider
- 6 to 7 hours of driving each way
- Very little sleep, with a 00:30 start
Stop by stop
Detailed itinerary
- 1
The coach collects you at 00:30 from your hotel in Naama Bay, Sharks Bay, Nabq, Hadaba or the Old Market and picks up the rest of the group. Bring your passport with a full Egypt visa, because the free Sinai-only stamp does not cover Cairo. Have a neck pillow and a light blanket ready. Ask your hotel the evening before for a breakfast box to eat at the rest stop.
- 2
From about 01:00 to 08:00 the coach crosses Sinai and passes under the Suez Canal on its way to Cairo, a drive of 6 to 7 hours with a rest stop and checkpoints. Try to sleep, as the sightseeing starts as soon as you arrive. The coach is air-conditioned and carries bottled water.
- 3
At about 08:30 you reach the Giza Plateau, where your Egyptologist guide leads you around the three pyramids and to the panorama point. The tickets are included, but going inside a pyramid is extra. Camel and horse rides are also extra. Wear a hat, since there is little shade.
- 4
At about 10:45 you walk to the Great Sphinx, which sits close to the plateau. The guide explains what is known about who built it and why. From the viewing terrace you get a clear look at the face and body. It is often crowded, so give yourself a few minutes for photos.
- 5
At about 12:00 the group visits a museum, either the Grand Egyptian Museum or the National Museum of Egyptian Civilization. Our team confirms which one on booking. Entry is included, and the guide picks out the main objects. Comfortable shoes help, since these buildings are very large.
- 6
At about 14:30 the group has lunch at a local restaurant, included in the day. Drinks with the meal are not included and are paid at the table. Tell our team about any dietary needs at booking. It is the last proper rest before the long drive home.
- 7
From about 15:30 the coach drives back to Sharm El Sheikh, arriving around 22:30, with a rest stop and checkpoints on the way. Hotel drop-offs are in the late evening. After about 22 hours on the move you will probably sleep through much of the return.
The fine print
What's included – and what isn't
Included
- Hotel pickup and drop-off in Sharm El Sheikh (Naama Bay, Sharks Bay, Nabq, Hadaba, Old Market)
- Air-conditioned coach shared with other guests
- Egyptologist guide in Cairo (English)
- Entrance tickets: Giza Plateau and the museum
- Lunch at a local restaurant
- Bottled water on the coach
Not included
- Gratuities
- Ticket to go inside a pyramid
- Camel or horse ride at Giza
- Drinks with lunch
- Personal expenses
Field notes
From our Egyptologists
- 01
Bring a neck pillow and sleep on the outbound drive
- 02
Check your visa before the day, as the Sinai stamp does not cover Cairo
Before you go
What to pack & wear
Children & families
Children under 2 travel free, ages 2 to 11 pay half the adult price, and ages 12 and over pay the adult price. No minimum age is set, but the trip is about 22 hours with 6 to 7 hours on the coach each way. Parents should be sure a child can manage it.
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 does the price work for the road trip to Cairo?
The price is per person for a seat on a shared coach of up to 40 guests. It covers transfers, the coach, an Egyptologist guide, entrance tickets and lunch. Prices are provisional until our team confirms your request. Going inside a pyramid, camel rides and drinks are extra.02What time do we leave, and when do we get back?
Pickup is at 00:30 from hotels in Naama Bay, Sharks Bay, Nabq, Hadaba and the Old Market. The coach returns to Sharm at about 22:30, with drop-offs in the late evening. Our team confirms the times once your request is accepted. Plan for roughly 22 hours.03Can children come on this trip?
Children under 2 travel free, ages 2 to 11 pay half the adult price, and ages 12 and over pay the adult price. No minimum age is set, but it is a very long overnight day. Check that your child can sit for 6 to 7 hours each way.04Which visa do I need for Cairo?
You need a full Egypt visa, not the free Sinai-only stamp that you get on arrival at Sharm El Sheikh, because that stamp does not cover Cairo. Bring your passport on the day. If you only have the Sinai stamp, ask our team before booking.05How do I cancel, and what are the terms?
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 a flight option available for this trip?
Yes, there is a separate private day trip by air, which is shorter on the road but starts around 04:00. This trip is the road option: it is shared with up to 40 guests and has no flights. The coach, tickets and guide are all arranged by us.
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-SHM-010075
At a glance
- Departs
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