Tours to the Pyramids of Giza

As you can imagine the experience of visiting and enjoying the Pyramids of Giza is one of the most requested by tourists visiting the beautiful city of Cairo. The reason is simple: Giza with its imposing historical monuments is located a short distance from the capital which makes transportation to this area easy and fast.

The best way to visit the Pyramids is, without a doubt, hiring the advice of an expert guide, but did you know that there are many possible excursions, tours and combinations? I will tell you each and every one of them.

The traditional short tour includes a half-day visit to the main attraction of the area: The Pyramids of Giza. It is an economical adventure designed so that you can complete it in just a few hours but avoiding the inconveniences that can come with planning the trip on your own. If you will only be in the city for a day or two, this can be a great alternative.

What these excursions usually include

The companies that manage these excursions offer the traveler an expert guide in Egyptology and able to communicate in the language you book; Spanish, French, German and English are the most requested. The guide picks up the traveler at the hotel to take him in private transport to Giza on the outskirts of Cairo.

In Giza the tour includes the three great pyramids: Cheops, Chephren and Mykerinos; and visit the beautiful Sphinx of Cheops, located just minutes away. Depending on the company you choose a camel ride in the desert or a snack can be included without significantly increasing the budget.

Useful Information

• Price: The approximate price to pay for this experience is about 16€ per person.
• Duration of the excursion: These are half-day excursions so you should reserve between 4 and 5 hours for the experience.
• Recommended if... Your stay in Cairo is rather short and you do not want to miss under any circumstances the experience of the Pyramids of Giza. This tour will allow you to make the most of your time and spend the rest of your trip getting to know the highlights of Cairo.

One of the top rated experiences for travelers visiting Cairo for the first time. You will find multiple companies offering similar packages adding one or other attractions depending on the itinerary and budget; however, the classic visits to the most touristic places always remain and this includes: The Pyramids, the Sphinx, the Museum and the Cairo Bazaar.

What these tours usually include

The companies that offer this type of excursion provide the traveler with an expert guide in their native language, they usually have Spanish, English, French, German, Italian, Chinese and others available. Quick access tickets to the attractions are usually included in the price, as well as a snack or lunch.

Hotel pick-up is usually early in the morning to make the most of the day. The adventure begins with a tour of the Giza Pyramids of Cheops, Kefren and Mykerinos, here you will have a space of approximately three hours to do the tours, see the inside of the tombs and take pictures.

You will then return to Cairo where you will have approximately one hour to tour and explore the Khan Al-Khalili Bazaar, known as the largest and most important market in the city. You will have approximately three hours to tour the iconic Egyptian Museum in Cairo which houses the world's largest collection of ancient Egyptian artifacts.

Useful Information

• Price: If the entrance fees to the attractions are included, the price to pay for the experience is usually around 60€ per person.
• Duration of the excursion: It is a full day itinerary, it can take from 8 to 10 hours to complete.
• Recommended yes... A recommended experience for all travelers, even if you only have one day in Cairo, this package encapsulates the highlights so you can make the most of your day.

For the more curious adventurers who want to see more than just the Pyramids of Giza and Cairo, this type of experience takes you through other ancient Egyptian pyramids and monuments located southwest of Cairo. Want to see the Fallen Statue of Pharaoh Ramses II or see what was once the capital city of ancient Egypt?

What these tours usually include

Although it may vary slightly depending on the company you hire, this type of experience usually includes many facilities, starting with an expert guide in Egyptology and in your language (they usually speak English, Spanish, French, German and others); transportation to and from your hotel in Cairo is included as well as entrance fees to all or most of the attractions. I recommend reading the itineraries carefully before making the payment.

In general, the Egypt adventure starts with a visit to the Giza Plateau located about 30 minutes from Cairo; here you will have the opportunity to see the most famous pyramids built during the Fourth Dynasty of the Old Kingdom: Cheops, Kefren and Mykerinos. A short distance from the pyramids, and as a guardian, stands the famous and imposing giant sculpture of the Sphinx of Cheops.

After spending an hour exploring Giza, usually next on the tour is the city of Memphis located about 27 km southwest of Cairo and once the capital of the Ancient Egyptian Empire. Here you can see important historical monuments such as the famous Step Pyramid of Sakkara and the impressive Fallen Statue of Ramses II Finally in the visit to the necropolis of Dashur you can visit the Red Pyramid, also known as the Pyramid of Dashur.

Useful Information

• Price: This type of experience usually costs about 70€ per traveler.
• Duration of the excursion: It is a full day tour so you should reserve 9 to 10 hours for the experience.
• Recommended if... You are planning a multi-day visit to Cairo and can explore a little more of Egypt's capital and its surroundings.

A very fun adventure that combines the experience of seeing the traditional Pyramids of Giza with a motorized vehicle tour to explore the wonders of the Sahara Desert; unlike other tours such as camel or horseback riding, the Quad tour is much more comfortable and allows you to cover large tracts of land in a short time.

What these excursions usually include

Although it may vary slightly depending on the company you hire, most companies start the adventure by picking you up at your hotel, either in Cairo or Giza. Keep in mind that the quad biking adventure may be private or may be shared in small groups, depending on the tour company.

Upon arrival at the Giza plateau you will have the opportunity to explore the interior of the famous Pyramids of Cheops, Kefren and Mykerinos; you will also visit the Sphinx of Cheops that rests vigilantly meters away from the pyramid. Once the traditional tour is over, you will embark on a quad bike adventure that will take you on a leisurely ride through the desert sand, following the instructions of the guide in charge of the experience.

All the companies that provide this service will include in the price the rental of the vehicle and the necessary protective equipment for the adventure; most will also cover the ticket for the tour of the pyramids, perhaps some refreshments and a guide in your language or at least in English.

Useful information

• Price: The average price to pay for this experience is 38€ per traveler.
• Duration of the excursion: You will need to reserve an average of 3 to 4 hours for this experience.
• Recommended if... you are an adventurous traveler and have some experience driving this type of vehicle or similar vehicles.

Facula is the name given to the wooden sailboats used in the Middle East; in Egypt facula rides on the calm waters of the Nile have been a tradition for centuries. This adventure combines two very different experiences: the possibility of seeing the traditional pyramids with the opportunity to embark on a boat to enjoy one of the most famous and beautiful rivers in the world.

What these excursions usually include

Usually, this type of adventure begins with the search at the hotel by an expert guide in Egyptology. The guide will take the traveler to the city of Giza located just outside Cairo to explore the plateau, the famous Pyramids of Giza and the Sphinx. On most tours the entrance ticket to the attractions is usually covered in the fare, as is a snack at some point during the trip.

Once you have finished exploring the Giza plateau you will usually be taken back to Cairo where you will begin your journey down the Nile in a wooden falucca; the ride usually lasts about an hour. At the end of the time the tourist is taken back to the starting point.

Useful information

• Price: The price to be paid per traveler is around €35 approximately.
• Duration of the excursion: Minimum 5 hours and maximum 7, it may vary a little depending on the company you choose and the itinerary.
• Recommended if... You have an itinerary that includes several days in Cairo and want to combine in one experience two of the most beautiful activities that can be done in the city.

Combine the traditional tour to the Pyramids of Giza with one of the most fun luxury experiences to do in Cairo: a night cruise on the waters of the Nile. The experience can be especially fun if you are traveling to Cairo in summer or very romantic if you are traveling to Egypt to celebrate your anniversary with your partner.

What these excursions usually include

There are many companies that offer combined experiences so the itinerary and facilities may vary a little from one to another. Almost all of them offer hotel pick-up and an expert guide in your language. An important tip is to look carefully at the description of the experience as some companies offer cheaper versions but do not include the pyramid entrance fees.

The first part of the adventure usually ends with a tour to Giza outside Cairo. Here you can explore the plateau and the important monuments that rest there such as the Pyramids of Giza and the Sphinx; you will have time to tour the interior and take some nice pictures before returning to your hotel in Cairo. At the appointed time you will be picked up again to take you to the meeting point with the cruise; here you will enjoy a live show, a buffet style dinner and a leisurely stroll along the waters at sunset.

Useful Information

• Price: From 45€ per traveler.
• Duration of tour: Approximately 6 hours total duration.
• Recommended if... there are two activities you are interested in doing and you are looking for a way to save on your next vacation.

One of the most interesting experiences in modern Egypt is the combination of the architectural jewels of the Giza plateau with an unprecedented night show that takes the traveler through a journey through the history and tradition of the Egyptian people. Another way to *experience Giza that I am sure you will not regret.

What these excursions usually include

This type of experience usually starts in the late afternoon with the pick up of the traveler at the hotel; depending on the company you hire the transportation can be completely private or shared in small groups (10 people or less). An expert guide, in your language, will take you to the Giza Plateau where, before witnessing the show, you will have a close-up view of the Pyramids and the Sphinx.

You will then take your seats for the Sounds and Lights show. Some companies combine the night experience with a Nile cruise with dinner, increasing the price of the experience a bit.

Useful information

• Price: The Sounds and Lights experience at the Pyramids is available from approximately 50€ per traveler.
• Duration of excursion: You will need to reserve about two hours for the experience; if combined with the Nile Cruise it will be five hours in total.
• Recommended yes... you can combine the experience with other tours to the pyramids of the many presented in this post. Although the light show is amazing you should not substitute it for the experience of seeing the pyramids on an interior tour.

If you want to enjoy an intense and immersive experience, with the most interesting things to see and do in Cairo, seriously consider booking this type of experience. The organizers of this type of tour strive to include in a moving but effective itinerary with the most touristy experiences and the best local advice. You will see monuments, learn about history, enjoy amazing scenery, eat traditional food, and many other unique experiences.

What these excursions usually include

Please note that the itinerary, the order of the activities and the duration of the activities may vary slightly depending on the company you hire. However, some of the activities you can expect include:

Visit the Giza plateau to see the Sphinx and the famous three Pyramids of Cheops, Chephren and Mykerinos. You will visit the cities southwest of Cairo to see Memphis and Dashur, with the important monuments and pyramids you will find there. You will visit the Museum of Antiquities in Cairo, as well as the most important market in the city: the Khan Al-Khalili.

Some excursions may include activities such as a camel ride in the Sahara desert or a transfer to the Giza Plateau to witness the Sound & Light Egypt show. Finally, on the evening of one of the days you will enjoy a dinner cruise on the waters of the Nile, on board of which belly dancing shows are often presented.

Useful information

• Price: This type of experience is around 150€ per traveler.
• Duration of the excursion: Two full days of itinerary, from morning to evening, are required to live the experience.
• Recommended if... you want the full Cairo experience and don't want or have time to plan itineraries. With this type of tour you will have at least two days entirely organized with the only requirement to show up at the meeting point at the agreed time.