VIPTour Giza pyramids ,Saqqara step pyramids & Memphis Old City

The most useful feature here is the route: you see Egypt’s famous Giza Pyramids, then move backward through the story of pyramid building at Saqqara and Memphis. The Step Pyramid of Djoser gives you a clear look at an earlier stage of Egyptian architecture, before the smooth-sided pyramids became the familiar model.

I like the private air-conditioned car and the hotel pickup, especially in Cairo, where simply getting to the sites can take effort. I also like the chance to visit quieter Saqqara and Memphis instead of spending the whole day around Giza. The main caution is timing: although the tour is described as lasting about six hours, one booking finished in four hours, so you should confirm the schedule and planned stops before setting out.

Key points at a glance

• See three major archaeological areas: Giza, Saqqara, and Memphis are linked in one Cairo outing.
• Visit Egypt’s oldest pyramid: Saqqara’s Pyramid of Djoser shows how pyramid design developed.
• Use a private vehicle: Hotel pickup, air conditioning, bottled water, and drop-off are included.
• Expect extra entrance fees: Admission to Giza, Saqqara, Memphis, and any tombs is not included.
• Ask about the day’s format: The information describes both a private tour and a small group limited to 10.
• Plan for a six-hour window: Actual timing may be shorter, so confirm what is included before booking.

From Giza’s famous skyline to Saqqara’s first pyramid

This tour works best as a quick introduction to the main pyramid areas south and west of Cairo. You begin with the monuments everyone knows, then move to sites that explain how ancient builders reached that point.

At Giza, your guide takes you to the three major pyramids: Khufu, Khafre, and Menkaure. You also go to a viewpoint for a broad view of all nine pyramids at the Giza complex. That wider view matters. From close up, each pyramid feels like its own site. From the lookout, you can understand the scale of the royal cemetery in one glance.

The Giza stop is scheduled for about two hours, followed by roughly 30 minutes at the Great Sphinx. That is enough time for a focused visit, but not necessarily enough for every optional area or interior. Entrance tickets are not included, so budget for those separately and ask your guide which tickets are needed for the places you want to enter.

The Sphinx stop is free according to the tour details, but access to the wider Giza site is not included. The description of a sphinx’s mythical form is more general than practical, so your guide’s explanation will be especially useful here. Ask about the relationship between the Sphinx and the nearby pyramids, and how the monument fits into the royal complex.

Why Saqqara is the strongest part of the day

Saqqara is where this outing becomes more than a standard pyramid photo stop. It served as the cemetery for Memphis for thousands of years, and its wide archaeological area includes pyramids, tombs, and carved decoration.

The main prize is the Pyramid of Djoser, generally recognized as Egypt’s oldest pyramid. Its form is different from the smooth-sided pyramids at Giza. That difference helps you see pyramid building as a process, not a single finished idea that appeared overnight.

You are scheduled to spend about two hours at Saqqara. Use that time carefully. The pyramid itself is important, but the tombs of the nobles add another layer. Their wall carvings and painted scenes show details of ancient Egyptian life and religious practice in a way that a large stone pyramid cannot.

The tour may include entry into tombs, but tomb admission is not included in the basic price. One account of the outing described going down into two tombs, which can be a memorable part of the visit. Ask before arrival which tombs are open and which tickets you need. You may also want to ask how much time will be given to the tombs compared with the Step Pyramid.

The site is less crowded than Giza, which makes it easier to look closely and listen to your guide. It is also spread out, so the air-conditioned vehicle is useful between stops. You should still expect walking over uneven ground and time outdoors, although the supplied information does not give a detailed accessibility description.

Memphis and the giant statue at Mit Rahina

The final stop is ancient Memphis, now associated with Mit Rahina. Memphis was Egypt’s first capital, and the remaining site is quite different from Giza or Saqqara. You are not coming for another huge pyramid. You are coming to see fragments, statues, sphinxes, and museum displays connected to the old capital.

The visit is planned for about 45 minutes. That makes it the shortest stop, but it gives the day a useful ending. After seeing royal tombs and pyramids, you get a sense of the city that supported them.

The Memphis Museum is a place to see ancient art outside the setting of a modern display case. The site includes notable statues and sphinxes, including a large reclining statue of Ramesses II in the museum area. The supplied information does not promise every particular object, so let your guide shape the visit around what is open that day.

Because the stop is brief, do not expect a full museum tour. If Memphis matters greatly to you, ask at the start of the day if the schedule allows the full 45 minutes. A hurried visit could reduce it to a quick look before the return drive.

The car, pickup, and guide service

Pickup and drop-off are included from hotels in Cairo or Giza. This is a real advantage. You do not need to arrange a separate taxi to the Giza Plateau or work out the route to Saqqara yourself.

The vehicle is air-conditioned and bottled water is included. Cairo can be tiring even on a short sightseeing day, so having a private car between sites gives you a place to cool off and reset. The tour is also described as private, with only your group participating, while another part of the information says the small group is limited to 10 people. That wording is inconsistent. Confirm at booking if you expect a fully private vehicle and guide.

The guide can make a major difference, particularly at Saqqara and Memphis, where the ruins do not explain themselves as clearly as the Giza pyramids. Ahmed is identified as a driver who helped with ticket problems and a cash shortage. Rania is identified as a guide who handled a Giza and Saqqara outing. Hesham is the named Egypt tour guide and provider.

The practical lesson is simple: keep your tickets, cash, and phone secure, and ask for help promptly if something goes wrong. The tour information does not say that card payment is available everywhere, so do not assume you can buy every ticket electronically.

How the $20 price works in practice

At $20 per person, this is an unusually low starting price for a private-car tour with hotel pickup, a guide, bottled water, and transportation between four major stops. The value is strongest if you want the route arranged for you and do not want to negotiate separate taxis.

The price does not include admission tickets. You will need to pay separately for the sites listed as having admission fees, including Giza, Saqqara, and Memphis. Entry into tombs or pyramid interiors may also require additional tickets. That can make the final cost noticeably higher than the advertised rate.

There is also a stated $30 additional charge for airport hotels and hotels in Nasr City, 6th of October City, and the New Settlement area. Check the pickup address carefully before booking. The standard rate may not apply to those locations.

The tour includes taxes, fees, and handling charges, but that does not mean site entrance is covered. I would treat the $20 as the service and transport price, then confirm the entrance budget before you go.

Six hours on paper, less time in practice

The planned schedule adds up to roughly five hours and 15 minutes at the sites: two hours at Giza, 30 minutes at the Sphinx, two hours at Saqqara, and 45 minutes at Memphis. With driving time and hotel pickup, the stated duration of about six hours makes sense.

Still, one booking was completed in about four hours despite being described as a full-day tour. That is the biggest practical concern in the available information. A shorter outing may suit you if you have a flight, a dinner reservation, or only one free morning. It is less suitable if you want a slow look at tomb carvings, time inside a pyramid, and a relaxed Memphis visit.

At pickup, confirm four points:

• The expected departure and return time
• Which entrance tickets are required
• How long you will spend at each site
• Whether the tour is fully private or capped at 10 people

The tour details say you should return to your hotel around 5:00 p.m., but timing can change with traffic, ticket lines, and the pickup location. Do not schedule an important connection too tightly after the tour.

What the day feels like on the ground

The route gives you contrast. Giza is the grand opening, with the biggest monuments and the most familiar views. Saqqara is more about discovery, with its older pyramid, tomb interiors, and scattered archaeological remains. Memphis finishes the day with statues and evidence of a former capital.

You will likely spend part of the day walking, standing outdoors, and getting in and out of the vehicle. The tour description says most people can participate, but it does not provide detailed information about wheelchair access or mobility support. If stairs, narrow tomb passages, or uneven surfaces are a concern, ask the provider before reserving.

A small-group or private format also helps with questions. You can ask your guide to explain what you are seeing instead of simply following a large flag through the site. At Saqqara, request time for both the Step Pyramid and the decorated tombs. At Memphis, ask what remains of the old city and what you are looking at in the museum.

One account also included a stop at a carpet manufacturing plant. That stop is not part of the stated itinerary, so you should not assume it will be included. If you prefer a strictly archaeological day, ask about unscheduled shopping or factory visits before departure.

Who should book this pyramid tour

I would recommend this tour to a first-time Cairo visitor who wants the main pyramid sites in one organized outing. It also suits you if hotel pickup matters, you prefer an air-conditioned car, or you have limited time and want to avoid arranging transport to Saqqara and Memphis yourself.

It is a particularly good fit for anyone curious about how Egyptian pyramids developed. Giza supplies the famous monuments, while Saqqara provides the architectural change that gives them context.

Families may appreciate the private format and the ability to move at their own pace, though child pricing applies only when sharing with two paying adults. Adults who want a long, slow archaeological visit should confirm the timing first. The low price is attractive, but it should not be mistaken for an all-inclusive day.

I would be more cautious if you are staying in one of the areas with the extra $30 pickup charge, if you need a fully private guide and vehicle with no ambiguity, or if you have only four hours available and expect every scheduled stop to receive its full time.

Cancellation and booking basics

You can cancel for a full refund up to 24 hours before the start time. Cancellations or changes made within 24 hours are not refunded or accepted, and the cutoff uses local time.

Confirmation is provided when you book. Most people can participate, but detailed accessibility information is not supplied, so ask about the walking and tomb portions if needed.

Should you book it?

Book it if you want an inexpensive, organized route through Giza, Saqqara, and Memphis, with hotel pickup and a private vehicle. The strongest reason to choose it is the combination of Saqqara’s Step Pyramid and decorated tombs with the famous Giza monuments.

Before paying, confirm the pickup supplement, entrance fees, private versus small-group format, and the actual time planned at each site. If those details match your needs, the tour offers good value and a useful introduction to the pyramid belt around Cairo. If you want a full, unhurried day, choose it only after the provider confirms that the shorter four-hour schedule will not apply.

FAQ

How long is the tour?

The tour is advertised as approximately six hours, with a return to the hotel around 5:00 p.m. One booking finished in four hours, so confirm the expected duration before departure.

Does the tour include hotel pickup and drop-off?

Yes. Pickup and drop-off are included for hotels in Cairo or Giza. An additional $30 charge applies to airport hotels and hotels in Nasr City, 6th of October City, and the New Settlement area.

Are entrance tickets included?

No. Entrance fees for Giza, Saqqara, Memphis, and any tombs or interior areas are not included in the tour price.

Is the tour private or shared?

The activity is described as a private tour in which only your group participates. It is also described as a small-group tour limited to 10 people. Confirm the exact format when booking.

What sites are visited?

The route includes the Giza Pyramids, the Great Sphinx, Saqqara and the Pyramid of Djoser, and ancient Memphis at Mit Rahina.

Is transportation air-conditioned?

Yes. Transportation is provided in an air-conditioned vehicle, and bottled water is included.

Can children join the tour?

Most people can participate, and a child rate applies when the child shares with two paying adults.

What is the cancellation policy?

You receive a full refund if you cancel at least 24 hours before the experience starts. Cancellations or changes made less than 24 hours before the start time are not refunded or accepted.