Private Tour To Pyramids of Giza Memphis Saqqara With Lunch

The best part of this tour is its sweep: in about seven hours, you go from the Great Pyramid and Sphinx to Saqqara’s older Step Pyramid and the ruins of Memphis. You also get a camel ride behind the pyramids, which adds a classic desert moment without requiring a separate booking.

I like the private format, since your group can move at its own pace and ask questions without sharing the guide with strangers. I also like the mix of famous sights and lesser-known stops, especially Saqqara and Memphis. The main catch is that entrance fees are not included, and you should confirm the lunch arrangement before booking because lunch is advertised in the tour description but is not listed among the formal inclusions.

Key points

• Three major ancient sites in one day: Giza, Saqqara, and Memphis are covered in a compact route.
• Private guide and vehicle: Only your group joins the activity, with hotel pickup in Cairo or Giza.
• Camel ride behind the pyramids: You get a short desert experience as part of the Giza visit.
• Guide quality matters: One highly praised experience names Omar for his friendly manner, clear communication, and strong command of Egyptian history.
• Entrance tickets cost extra: The $35 price is attractive, but you need to budget separately for admissions.
• Free cancellation until 24 hours before departure: Last-minute cancellations do not qualify for a refund.

Three Pyramids, One Camel Ride, and a Full Ancient-Egypt Route

This private tour is built for first-time visitors who want the main pyramid sights without arranging several separate trips. You begin at about 8:00 a.m. with pickup from your hotel in Cairo or Giza, then travel in an air-conditioned vehicle with an English-speaking guide.

The route covers Giza, Saqqara, and Memphis. That matters because these places show different stages of ancient Egyptian building and government. Giza gives you the giant royal tombs everyone recognizes. Saqqara shows an earlier step in pyramid design. Memphis connects the monuments to the ancient capital that once governed much of Egypt.

At $35 per person, the price is low for a private, vehicle-based day with a guide. Still, it is not the complete cost. Admission tickets are extra, and the formal inclusions list covers transportation, guiding, bottled water, and coffee or tea, but does not clearly list lunch. Since lunch is promised in the tour description, ask the provider what the $35 covers before you pay.

Giza at 8:00 a.m.: Cheops, Chephren, and Mykerinos

The first stop takes about three hours. You visit the three main pyramids on the Giza Plateau: Cheops, also called Khufu; Chephren, also called Khafre; and Mykerinos, also called Menkaure.

The Great Pyramid of Cheops is the largest and usually the visual center of the visit. The other two give you a better sense of how the royal complex was arranged. Your guide can help you separate the three monuments, explain their owners, and point out details that are easy to miss when you are focused only on getting the perfect photograph.

The tour is private, so you can ask for help with photos or spend a little longer at a spot that interests you. That is a useful advantage at Giza, where the scale of the site can make a quick, unplanned visit feel scattered.

The description says this part of the tour includes time to admire the pyramids and take iconic photos. It also says the camel ride takes place in the desert behind the pyramids. This gives you a different angle on the monuments, with open sand and the pyramid forms behind you.

A camel ride is a traditional Egyptian tourist activity, but it is also the part most likely to vary in length and style. The supplied details do not state how long the ride lasts or whether there is an extra charge, so ask your guide before mounting. You should also make sure you understand what is included in the advertised price.

The Sphinx and Valley Temple

The Giza visit also includes the Great Sphinx and the Valley Temple. The Sphinx has the body of a lion and the head of King Chephren, who is associated with the second pyramid.

You get a close look at the Sphinx from the area near the Valley Temple. This is one of the strongest parts of the route because the two monuments are linked to the same funeral complex. Rather than seeing the Sphinx as an isolated statue, you can understand it as part of a larger royal site.

The Valley Temple is described as the place where priests mummified the body of King Chephren. Its sturdy stone construction and connection to the burial complex give your guide a useful setting for explaining what happened before a king was placed in his tomb.

The Sphinx area is also where hawkers may approach you. The tour description presents the private guided format as a way to reduce the stress of persistent sales pitches. A guide cannot remove every interruption, but having someone with you can make it easier to keep moving and stay focused.

The guide is an important part of the experience. One especially strong account names Omar and praises his friendly manner, communication, historical explanations, and willingness to help. Omar may not be assigned to every departure, so treat his name as a useful question to ask rather than a guarantee.

Saqqara’s Step Pyramid and the Next Stage of Design

After Giza, you continue about 27 kilometers southwest of Cairo to Saqqara, also spelled Sakkara. This stop takes about two hours and focuses on the Step Pyramid of King Djoser, written as King Zoser in the tour details.

Saqqara is valuable because the Step Pyramid helps explain how Egyptian pyramids developed. It began with the simpler mastaba form and moved toward the stacked design that later became the smooth-sided pyramid.

That makes Saqqara more than a second pyramid photo stop. At Giza, you see the finished monumental form. At Saqqara, you see an earlier stage in the process. The contrast gives you a clearer idea of how royal architecture changed over time.

The tour details do not specify which Saqqara admission areas are covered beyond the Step Pyramid visit. Entrance fees are not included, so ask exactly which ticket you need and how much it costs on the day. This is especially useful if you want to enter any additional tombs or enclosed areas.

Two hours is a reasonable amount of time for a guided visit, though the pace may feel brisk if you want to study every part of the site. Since this is a private tour, you can ask your guide how much time is available and focus on the areas that interest you most.

Memphis: Ramses II and the Alabaster Sphinx

The final historical stop is Memphis, about one hour in the itinerary. Memphis was the ancient capital of Egypt and dates back to about 3100 B.C.

The site includes a colossal statue of Ramses II and a large Alabaster Sphinx. These are different from the monumental stone forms at Giza, so the stop gives the day another visual change. You move from giant pyramid complexes to important sculptures connected with one of Egypt’s earliest capitals.

Memphis is a shorter visit, but it rounds out the route well. Giza tells you about royal burial monuments. Saqqara shows the development of pyramid architecture. Memphis connects those monuments to a city that served as a center of power.

You should not expect a full day at Memphis based on the one-hour schedule. Instead, think of it as a compact final stop that adds context and two major objects to the day. If you have a strong interest in ancient Egyptian capitals, ask your guide for more explanation during the drive or at the site.

Lunch, Water, Tea, and the Practical Comforts

The tour includes a traditional Egyptian lunch in a local restaurant according to the experience description. This is a welcome break after several hours outdoors, and it gives you a chance to try local food instead of relying only on hotel or international restaurant meals.

There is one detail worth checking. Lunch is described as part of the day, but the formal included-items list names only an air-conditioned vehicle, an English-speaking guide, bottled water, and coffee or tea. Because of that mismatch, confirm if lunch is included in the $35 price or if you pay at the restaurant.

Bottled water is included, which is useful during a hot site visit. Coffee and tea are also listed. The air-conditioned vehicle matters even more, since the schedule links three archaeological areas and requires road travel between Cairo, Giza, Saqqara, and Memphis.

The total duration is about seven hours. The individual stops add up to six hours, leaving time for pickup, driving, meals, and transitions. You should plan for a full morning and afternoon rather than treating this as a quick two-hour pyramid visit.

What the Private Format Really Adds

Only your group participates, which is the main reason to choose this option over a larger shared bus. You can ask direct questions, request help with photos, and discuss how long to stay at each location.

Private touring also helps with the day’s changing pace. You may want more time at Giza and less at Memphis, or you may prefer a deeper explanation at Saqqara. The details do not promise unlimited flexibility, but a private guide gives you a better chance to discuss your preferences.

The tour includes hotel pickup in either Cairo or Giza. That removes the need to arrange separate transport to the meeting point. The details say it is near public transportation, but pickup is the more useful feature for most people booking this experience.

The activity is suitable for most people, according to the supplied information. Still, the day involves outdoor archaeological sites, walking, uneven ground, and a camel ride. The data does not provide a detailed accessibility statement, so contact the provider if you need specific mobility assistance.

Is $35 a Good Value?

The advertised $35 per person is appealing, especially because the tour is private rather than a large group excursion. You receive hotel pickup, an air-conditioned vehicle, an English-speaking guide, bottled water, coffee or tea, the Giza visit, Saqqara, Memphis, a camel experience, and a planned lunch stop.

The price needs context. Entrance fees are not included, and the lunch wording needs clarification. Depending on the admission costs and meal terms, the final bill can be higher than the headline price.

Even with those additions, the route offers good value if you want all three sites in one day and do not want to arrange transport yourself. It is less attractive if you already have a car, prefer to visit only Giza, or want long, quiet hours at one archaeological area.

The tour has a perfect five-star score from 26 listed ratings, with every rating recommending it. The strongest praise centers on warm service, clear communication, friendly guiding, and strong historical explanations. That makes the guide a major part of the value, not a minor extra.

Who Should Book This Giza and Saqqara Tour?

I would choose this tour if you are visiting Cairo for the first time and want the major ancient sites handled in one day. It fits couples, families, and small groups who value a private vehicle and direct access to a guide.

It also suits you if you want more than a quick photograph at the Great Pyramid. The combination of Giza, Saqqara, and Memphis gives you a useful story about royal burial, pyramid design, and ancient government.

You may want another option if you dislike tightly scheduled days. The route covers three areas, and the seven-hour duration includes driving and a meal. It is also not ideal if you want entrance fees bundled into one simple price.

Before booking, ask three practical questions: Is lunch included in the $35? How much time is planned for the camel ride? Which entrance tickets must you buy separately? Those answers will tell you the true cost and help you set realistic expectations.

Should You Book It?

Book this tour if you want a private, efficient introduction to Egypt’s oldest monuments, with the three Giza pyramids, Sphinx, Valley Temple, Saqqara, Memphis, and a camel ride in one day. The strongest reasons are the private guide, hotel pickup, air-conditioned vehicle, and the chance to compare Giza’s finished pyramids with Saqqara’s earlier design.

I would book it with two conditions: confirm the lunch terms and budget for separate admission fees. If you are comfortable with that, this is a well-priced way to cover a lot of ancient Egypt without managing the transport yourself.

FAQ

What does this private tour visit?

The tour visits the three Giza pyramids, the Great Sphinx, the Valley Temple, Saqqara’s Step Pyramid, and ancient Memphis.

How long does the tour last?

The experience lasts about seven hours, beginning at approximately 8:00 a.m.

Where does pickup take place?

Pickup is offered from hotels in Cairo or Giza.

Is the tour private?

Yes. Only your group participates in the private tour or activity.

Is transportation included?

Yes. An air-conditioned vehicle is included.

Is an English-speaking guide included?

Yes. The tour includes an English-speaking guide. One highly praised guide named in the available information is Omar, but guide assignment may vary.

Are entrance fees included?

No. Entrance fees are not included in the tour price.

Is lunch included?

A traditional Egyptian lunch at a local restaurant is described as part of the experience, but lunch is not listed in the formal included-items list. Confirm the meal terms before booking.

Can I cancel for a full refund?

Yes, if you cancel at least 24 hours before the experience start time. Cancellations or changes made within 24 hours are not refunded or accepted.