Reviewed · MEMPHIS & SAQQARA TOURS
VIP All inclusive Best of the best Giza Pyramids,Sakkara,Memphis
Giza is only the opening act here. You see the Great Pyramid, the other two royal pyramids, the Sphinx, Saqqara’s Step Pyramid, and the ruins of Memphis in one long day. The private format matters: your guide can explain the monuments at your pace, and a driver handles Cairo’s famously slow traffic.
I like the door-to-door pickup, which saves you from arranging several separate rides. I also like the mix of major sights and quieter stops, especially Saqqara, where the first pyramid in Egyptian history gives you more than the standard Giza postcard.
The main caution is the tour’s use of all inclusive. The stated inclusions cover entrance fees, but one detailed account found the Sphinx access unclear and paid separately for entry inside the Great Pyramid. Confirm exactly which interior areas are covered before you set out, and expect a long, warm day with some sales stops or requests for tips.
Key points at a glance

- Giza in one private morning: See Cheops, Chephren, Mycerinus, the Sphinx, Valley Temple, and the main viewpoints with an Egyptologist guide.
- A 30-minute camel ride: Ride in the desert around the pyramids and pause for photographs.
- Saqqara adds real depth: Visit the Step Pyramid, widely regarded as Egypt’s first pyramid, along with noble tombs.
- Memphis completes the story: See Mit Rahina Museum and the remains of the ancient capital established before 3200 BC.
- Lunch with a pyramid view: A meal at a quality restaurant overlooking Giza is included.
- Private transport is the comfort upgrade: Your own vehicle and guide make a packed 10-hour day easier to manage.
Why this private Cairo day works

At $144 per person, this is not the cheapest way to see the pyramids. It is priced as a private, all-day package, though, with hotel pickup, transport, a guide, entrance fees, camel riding, bottled water, and lunch included.
That bundle can make sense if you want the practical pieces handled in one go. Giza, Saqqara, and Memphis are separate sites, and moving between them without a car takes effort. Cairo traffic can also turn a short journey into a slow one. A private driver lets you focus on the monuments instead of negotiating taxis between stops.
The private setup is especially useful for families, couples, and small groups with different interests. You can ask for more explanation at one site and less at another. You can also move at your own pace, within the limits of a ten-hour schedule.
The day is still demanding. You cover several archaeological areas, spend time outdoors, and may be on the road for roughly an hour each way between Cairo and Memphis. If you prefer slow museum visits or long stretches of independent wandering, this itinerary may feel too full.
Guides vary, so you should not assume a particular person will lead your group. Names praised in the supplied feedback include Sam, Eman, Lydia, Gamal, Haidy, Ali, and Ahmed Gaber. Sam was especially praised for timing, photography, humor, and tailoring the day, while Eman was described as warm and enthusiastic. Those are useful names to request, but availability is not guaranteed.
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Starting with the three pyramids at Giza
Your guide collects you from your Cairo or Giza hotel and begins at the Giza Plateau. The focus is the three royal pyramids: the Great Pyramid of Cheops, the Pyramid of Chephren, and the smaller Pyramid of Mycerinus.
The Great Pyramid is the only surviving wonder of the ancient Seven Wonders. That fact is impressive, but the site is even more striking when you see how its scale changes from one viewpoint to another. From ground level, the stone blocks feel almost impossible to measure. From the panoramic point, the three pyramids line up in a way that makes for the day’s essential photograph.
Your guide provides the historical framework that signs alone cannot. You can ask about the rulers, construction, purpose, and changing appearance of the monuments instead of simply walking around large stone structures without context.
The plateau can be noisy and disorderly. Camels, horses, cars, dogs, souvenir sellers, and people offering services may all be part of the scene. The setting is extraordinary, but it is not a quiet archaeological park. A private guide helps you get your bearings and avoid wasting time, though the guide cannot remove the general commotion.
You should also clarify interior access. The package says entrance fees for Giza, Memphis, Saqqara, and the Sphinx are included, but one detailed account reported being able to view the Sphinx from outside the wall and then buying a separate ticket to enter the Great Pyramid. Entry inside individual pyramids may carry an additional charge, so ask your operator what your ticket covers.
The panoramic viewpoint and 30-minute camel ride

The panoramic stop gives you the broad view that is hard to find close to the pyramids. You can see the main monuments together and take the classic photographs with the desert behind you.
The camel ride lasts 30 minutes and takes place around the pyramids in the Sahara. It is short enough to fit into a packed day without taking over the entire visit. For many people, the ride supplies the playful, memorable part of the morning, while the plateau and interior monuments provide the substance.
I would treat the camel ride as a photo experience rather than a serious desert journey. You may encounter local handlers who expect a tip even though the ride is included. Carry small bills if you want to tip, and keep the included duration in mind if someone suggests extending the ride for an extra fee.
Comfort matters here. Wear smart casual clothing, but choose practical shoes, sun protection, and clothing suitable for heat and dust. The supplied details do not specify a dress requirement beyond smart casual, so modest, breathable clothing is the sensible choice.
Meeting the Sphinx and Valley Temple

The Sphinx is included in the Giza visit, along with the Valley Temple. The Sphinx gives the plateau a different mood from the pyramids. Instead of a huge geometric monument, you see a sculpted guardian figure cut from the bedrock, with the Valley Temple nearby adding a more enclosed stone setting.
Allow about an hour for this part of the visit. Your guide can connect the Sphinx to the pyramid complex rather than treating it as a separate photo stop. That explanation is valuable because the Giza monuments work as a planned royal setting, not as isolated attractions.
This is also the area where ticket wording deserves attention. The experience description says the Sphinx entrance is included, but one account found the actual access less generous than expected. Before booking, ask if the price includes entry into the Sphinx enclosure and Valley Temple, or only access to the Giza Plateau with exterior viewing.
That small clarification can prevent a large disappointment, especially when you chose this package because of its all-inclusive wording.
A few more days out in Giza to weigh up
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Lunch overlooking Giza

Lunch is served at a quality five-star restaurant with a view toward the Giza pyramids. The view adds something practical to the day: you get a proper break after the morning outdoors, while still keeping the monuments in sight.
The supplied details do not give a fixed menu, so do not book this expecting a specific dish. You can expect an Egyptian meal as part of the package, plus bottled water during the tour.
I like having lunch built into the schedule. Cairo sightseeing can become tiring when you must stop and search for food in the middle of a tight route. Here, the meal gives you a set pause before the longer drive toward Saqqara and Memphis.
Saqqara and the first pyramid

Saqqara is the part of the day I would most want to protect from rushing. The site includes the Step Pyramid, described here as the first pyramid in Egyptian history, along with tombs belonging to nobles.
The Step Pyramid is important because it shows an early stage in the development of pyramid building. At Giza, you see the great finished form. At Saqqara, you get a clearer sense of the architectural experimentation that came before the smooth-sided royal pyramids.
The itinerary allows about three hours at Saqqara, although the actual division of time depends on traffic, lunch, and your guide. One account specifically wished for more time to wander here. That is worth noting: three hours sounds generous, but Saqqara covers several elements, and the final Memphis stop can make the afternoon feel compressed.
Tell your guide early if tombs and smaller archaeological details matter more to you than extra photographs at Giza. The private format makes that request possible, although the entire route still needs to fit into the planned day.
Saqqara also gives you a break from the concentrated crowding of Giza. You will still encounter local activity and uneven ground, but the experience is more about exploring an ancient burial ground than standing in the middle of Cairo’s most famous photo zone.
Mit Rahina Museum and ancient Memphis

The final major stop is Mit Rahina Museum at Memphis, the ancient capital that existed before 3200 BC. This visit rounds out the day by moving you away from royal tombs and toward the remains of a city that once served as a political center.
Memphis is not presented as a single intact monument. Instead, you see the surviving remains and museum pieces that help explain the city’s former role. The attraction works best when your guide supplies the connections between the objects, the capital, and the wider story of ancient Egypt.
The drive to and from Memphis can take about an hour each way, depending on traffic. That is a real cost in time, but it is also why private transport helps. You can rest in the vehicle between sites rather than arranging another transfer or trying to combine several local rides.
The listed stop allows about two hours. Some groups may find Memphis a satisfying final chapter, while others may feel tired by this point. If your priority is the major pyramids, the day already delivers that before Memphis. If you want a wider view of ancient Egypt’s political and funerary centers, Memphis is worth keeping.
What the guide and driver add

The guide is the most important variable in this experience. A strong Egyptologist does more than recite dates. The best guides listed in the feedback explained the monuments clearly, adjusted the pace, helped with photographs, and answered questions without making the day feel like a lecture.
Sam received repeated praise for history, humor, photography, timing, and personal attention. Ahmed Gaber was praised for explaining Egypt’s past and finding good viewpoints. Lydia was noted for giving each attraction enough explanation, while Haidy was praised for making the Giza visit easier to handle. These examples show what you should want from the guide: clear interpretation, practical help, and flexibility.
The driver matters too. Cairo traffic is a major part of the day, especially when crossing between Giza, Saqqara, Memphis, and your hotel. A clean, comfortable vehicle and a careful driver make the long route less tiring. The feedback specifically praises drivers for being safe, cooperative, prompt, and professional.
There is one service risk to keep in mind. At least one booking account reported no pickup and difficulty reaching support while waiting for a refund. Most of the supplied experiences describe smooth transport, but you should keep your hotel contact details accurate and confirm the pickup arrangement in advance, especially if you are staying outside the normal Cairo or Giza range.
Pickup from Cairo airport or locations outside the stated service area costs extra. That charge is separate from the advertised per-person price.
Tips, shops, and the meaning of all inclusive
The tour includes the camel ride, lunch, entrance fees as described, bottled water, guide, driver, and transfers. It does not clearly promise entry inside each pyramid. Do not assume that all inclusive means every optional interior chamber or special ticket.
Some groups are also taken to a perfume or oil shop. One detailed account liked the oils purchased there, but shopping stops can affect the feel of the day. If you enjoy local products, it may be welcome. If you want every available minute at Saqqara, ask how much time is planned for any shop visit.
Tipping is another practical point. The camel handler or other service workers may still ask for a tip even when the service itself is included. Tips are not stated as part of the package, so budget for them if you want to reward good help, but do not confuse a request with a required extra ticket.
Who should book this Giza, Saqqara, and Memphis tour
This suits you if you have one full day in Cairo and want the major ancient sites handled in a single private outing. It is a particularly good match for first-time visitors, families, couples, and small groups who value an Egyptologist’s explanation and do not want to manage Cairo transport.
It also suits anyone who wants more than Giza. Saqqara and Memphis show different sides of ancient Egypt, and the combination gives your day a clearer arc: early pyramid design, the great royal monuments, the Sphinx complex, and an ancient capital.
You may want another plan if you dislike long drives, crowded archaeological areas, camel rides, or fixed meal and sightseeing breaks. It is also not ideal if your main goal is extended time inside the pyramids, since those tickets may not be included and the schedule is already full.
The free cancellation policy allows a full refund if you cancel at least 24 hours before the local start time. Changes or cancellations within 24 hours are not refunded.
Should you book it?
I would book this tour if you want a private, full-service introduction to Cairo’s ancient sites and value having one guide and vehicle for the entire day. The combination of Giza, Saqqara, Memphis, lunch, and a camel ride gives you a lot for $144 per person, especially if you are sharing the private vehicle with your own group.
Before paying, confirm three details: the exact pickup area, which Sphinx and pyramid interiors are included, and how much time you will receive at Saqqara. If those answers suit you, this is a strong choice for seeing the essential sites without arranging transport yourself. If you prefer a slower pace or a cheaper basic transfer, book a simpler tour and spend the savings on separate entrance tickets.
FAQ
How long does the tour last?
The experience lasts about 10 hours, including hotel pickup, sightseeing, lunch, transfers, and the return to your hotel.
Does the tour include hotel pickup and drop-off?
Yes. Pickup and drop-off are offered from Cairo or Giza hotels. Pickup from Cairo airport or locations outside the normal service range requires an extra charge.
Is the tour private?
Yes. Only your own group participates in the private tour.
Is the camel ride included?
Yes. A 30-minute camel ride around the Giza Pyramids is included.
Are entrance fees included?
The package states that entrance fees for Giza, Memphis, Saqqara, and the Sphinx are included. Entry inside individual pyramids may not be included, so confirm the exact ticket coverage before the tour.
Is lunch included?
Yes. An Egyptian lunch at a quality restaurant overlooking the Giza Pyramids is included.
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