Private Customized 3 Day tours to Cairo, Giza and Alexandria

Ancient Egypt packs a lot into three days. This private Cairo, Giza, and Alexandria tour links the pyramids, Saqqara, Memphis, major museums, medieval Cairo, and Alexandria without making you arrange each ride or ticket yourself. I especially like the door-to-door private transport and the chance to shape the pace with your own Egyptologist guide. The main catch is the busy schedule, plus a confusing difference over whether lunch is included.

I also like that the tour reaches Alexandria instead of stopping with Cairo’s headline sights. The guide and driver pairing is worth noting: Ahmed and Jimmy received special praise for making the trip feel safe, honest, and dependable. At $95 per person, the value looks strong if your group has at least two people, but confirm the food policy and pyramid interior fees before paying.

Key points to know before booking

• Three distinct days cover far more than the Giza plateau: You visit Giza, Saqqara, and Memphis on day one, Alexandria on day two, then the Egyptian Museum and historic Cairo on day three.
• Private transport saves time and effort: Hotel pickup, drop-off, and a private vehicle keep you from piecing together Cairo’s difficult traffic and Alexandria’s long road journey.
• The pyramid interior costs extra: Entry to the Giza area is included, but going inside a pyramid is an upgrade, not part of the base price.
• Alexandria adds a different chapter of Egypt: Catacombs, Roman remains, a medieval fortress, and the modern library give the day a wider historical range.
• The schedule begins early: Alexandria pickup is set for 7:00 am, while the third day starts at 8:30 am. The general start time is listed as 8:00 am.
• The food details need clarification: The main description refers to lunch, while the detailed inclusions say food and beverages are not included.

Why this private three-day plan works

Cairo is not a city you casually cross by taxi. Distances are large, traffic can be slow, and the major sights sit in different parts of the metropolitan area. A private vehicle and hotel pickup remove much of the daily guesswork.

You also get a guide for the full sightseeing program. That matters at places such as Saqqara and the Egyptian Museum, where the objects and monuments can blur together without a clear explanation of who built what and why it matters.

The plan is private, so only your group takes part. That gives you more room to ask questions, request a little extra time, or move on when your attention starts to fade. Still, private does not mean leisurely. Each day has several major stops, and Cairo traffic can make the schedule feel tight.

The price is listed at $95 per person. For two or more people, that is a low rate for three days of private transport, a qualified Egyptologist guide, hotel transfers, local taxes, and included entrance tickets at many sites. You should treat the price as a starting point, though. Food, pyramid interiors, and optional activities are excluded in the detailed inclusions.

There is also a mismatch about lunch. The overview says lunch is included, while the detailed section says food and beverages are not included. I would settle that question in writing before booking. It is a small point, but meals can add up over three long days.

Day one: Giza, Saqqara, and the first capital

The first day begins with the Pyramids of Giza, Egypt’s essential opening scene. You spend about two hours in the pyramid area, with three main viewing points.

The first stop focuses on the Great Pyramid of Khufu, the only surviving monument associated with the ancient Seven Wonders. The scale is difficult to grasp from photographs. Your guide can help place the pyramid in its setting and explain how the Giza complex functioned as more than a single giant tomb.

You then move to a panoramic viewpoint for all three pyramids. This is useful because the classic image of Giza is best understood from a little distance. You can see how the pyramids relate to one another rather than simply walking around the base of one structure.

The final Giza stop is the Valley Temple and the Sphinx. The Sphinx is smaller than many first-time visitors expect, but its worn face and lion body remain powerful. The nearby temple gives the guide a chance to explain the ceremonial side of the complex.

Admission to the Giza area is included. Going inside a pyramid is not. If that interior visit is important to you, choose the upgrade in advance and ask which pyramid is available, since access arrangements can vary.

Saqqara reveals a different kind of pyramid

After Giza, the private vehicle takes you to Saqqara for about two hours. The main sight is the Step Pyramid of Djoser, described here as the six-step pyramid. Its stacked design looks very different from the smooth-sided pyramids at Giza, and it helps you see how Egyptian pyramid building developed.

You also visit the pyramid of King Teti and the tomb of his vizier. These tombs offer a closer look at decorated burial spaces, rather than the huge exterior forms that dominate Giza. This is one of the strongest reasons to include Saqqara. It gives you more than a second set of pyramids.

The schedule allows two hours, including the movement between the sites. Wear sensible shoes and use the time well, because the ground and walking conditions may vary around the monuments. Smart casual dress is requested throughout the experience.

Memphis closes the day

The last major stop is Memphis, the first capital of Egypt according to the tour’s historical presentation. You spend about an hour exploring the remains and learning about the city’s connection to Egypt’s earliest royal period.

Memphis is not as visually grand as Giza. That is part of its value. You are seeing the remains of a place that mattered because of administration, kingship, and the organization of the early state. The stop works best when your guide supplies the missing context.

After Memphis, you return to your Cairo hotel. That makes day one a full ancient Egypt circuit, not simply a pyramid visit. Giza provides the famous monuments, Saqqara shows architectural development, and Memphis adds political background.

Day two: Alexandria and its Mediterranean past

Alexandria is a long day trip. Pickup is set for 7:00 am, and the drive from Cairo takes about two and a half hours each way. That means you should book this day only if you are comfortable spending a large part of the day on the road.

The payoff is a very different side of Egypt. Alexandria was one of the ancient world’s great port cities, and its remains bring Greek, Roman, Egyptian, and medieval periods into one day.

Catacombs of Kom el Shoqafa

The Catacombs of Kom el Shoqafa are the first major stop, with about an hour allocated. The site is especially interesting because it blends Greek, Roman, and ancient Egyptian artistic ideas.

The catacombs extend across three floors, with the main tomb retaining carved statues and symbols from these different traditions. This mixture is more revealing than a single-period monument. It shows how Alexandria’s culture crossed boundaries rather than fitting neatly into one label.

Some parts of a catacomb visit may feel enclosed. If you dislike underground spaces, keep that in mind. The guide’s explanations are especially useful here, since the symbols can be hard to interpret on your own.

Pompey’s Pillar and the Serapeum

Pompey’s Pillar is a 25-meter red granite column from Aswan, dating to the third century. It is described as the last remaining relic of the Serapeum temple complex and was built in honor of Emperor Diocletian.

The column is a compact stop, planned for about an hour. It does not require the same amount of time as the pyramids, but it gives you a clear Roman-era marker in the city. Your guide can help explain the difference between the surviving column and the much larger religious complex that once surrounded it.

Qaitbay Fortress by the harbor

Qaitbay Fortress occupies the site associated with Alexandria’s ancient lighthouse. The lighthouse disappeared after an earthquake in the 11th century, and Sultan Qaitbay later built the fortress to protect Egypt’s northern coast.

The written timing for this stop is one minute, which cannot be a useful sightseeing allowance for a fortress visit. Treat that as a likely timing error and confirm the intended duration before booking. The site is meant to include an explanation of military monuments and the lighthouse’s place in Alexandria’s story.

The fortress gives the day a medieval chapter after the ancient and Roman remains. It also helps you understand Alexandria as a strategic coastal city, not simply an archaeological stop.

Bibliotheca Alexandrina

The final Alexandria sight is the Bibliotheca Alexandrina, the modern library built in connection with the memory of the ancient library. Admission is not included, so budget for that separately if you want to enter.

The plan then returns you to your Cairo hotel. With a 2.5-hour drive in each direction and several stops in Alexandria, day two will likely be the most tiring. It is also the day that most clearly broadens the trip beyond the standard Cairo highlights.

Day three: Egyptian antiquities and old Cairo

The third day begins at 8:30 am and focuses on central Cairo, Coptic Cairo, the Citadel, and Khan Al-Khalili. Compared with the first day, this one moves from ancient royal monuments into religious, civic, and commercial history.

The Museum of Egyptian Antiquities

You spend about two hours at the Museum of Egyptian Antiquities in downtown Cairo. The guide leads you through the collection and explains the development of ancient Egyptian civilization.

Two hours is enough for a guided introduction, but not enough to see everything in a large museum. That is not a flaw in the plan. A focused route is often better than wandering through every room until the objects lose their meaning.

If you have a particular interest, such as royal mummies, burial goods, or a specific dynasty, tell the guide early. The private format gives you a better chance to shape the visit around your priorities.

Coptic Cairo and the Holy Family tradition

Coptic Cairo includes three important churches, along with the Ben Ezra Synagogue. You visit Abu Sergia Church, the Hanging Church, St. George Church, and the synagogue.

Abu Sergia is associated with the cave where the Holy Family is traditionally said to have lived during their time in Egypt. The church’s importance is not only architectural. It connects the area with a living religious tradition that has shaped Coptic identity for centuries.

The Hanging Church was built over part of a Babylon Fortress tower, which explains its name. St. George adds a Greek Orthodox presence, while Ben Ezra shows the area’s Jewish heritage. Taken together, these sites make Coptic Cairo one of the most layered portions of the trip.

The visit is planned for about two hours. Dress respectfully and follow the smart casual dress code, particularly when entering churches and religious buildings.

Saladin Citadel and the Alabaster Mosque

The Cairo Citadel occupies a high point east of central Cairo. It served as a center of government for about 800 years and was built to protect Cairo from attack from the east and south.

The main highlight is the Alabaster Mosque. Inside, you can look at Islamic design and enjoy broad views across Cairo from the elevated site. The Citadel also helps connect the city’s political and religious history. It was not only a fortress, but a place from which rulers governed.

The scheduled visit lasts about an hour. The site involves movement through a large complex, so keep your pace comfortable. Your guide can help focus your attention on the most important structures instead of treating every building as a separate attraction.

Khan Al-Khalili and the art of bargaining

Khan Al-Khalili is the final stop. You walk through one of Cairo’s oldest Islamic market areas, passing historic mosques, schools, water buildings, and hospitals.

This is the place to leave some unscheduled attention for the city itself. The market is not a museum display. It is a working commercial quarter where you can browse souvenirs and practice the Egyptian tradition of bargaining.

You should decide what you want to spend before you start shopping. A friendly bargain can be part of the experience, but you are not required to buy anything. The guide can help you understand the setting, while you choose how much time to spend among the stalls.

After the market, you return to your hotel. The final day has a more urban feel than the pyramid day, and it provides a useful counterweight to the ancient sites.

Guides, drivers, and the private format

The tour supplies a qualified Egyptologist guide and private vehicle, with pickup and drop-off at your hotel each day. This is especially useful in Cairo, where navigating between Giza, Saqqara, downtown, Coptic Cairo, and the Citadel can take energy away from sightseeing.

One detailed account singled out the driver Ahmed and guide Jimmy for reliability, honesty, expertise, and a strong sense of safety. That praise matters because a three-day program depends heavily on coordination. You want the vehicle ready, the route clear, and the guide able to explain both famous sites and less familiar places.

A private tour also helps with family groups and mixed interests. A child rate is available when the child shares with two paying adults, and vegetarian food can be requested when booking. At least two people are required per booking.

What the $95 price really includes

At $95 per person, the package offers good value if you want convenience rather than a bare-bones sightseeing day. The stated inclusions cover:

• Private transportation
• Round-trip transfers
• Hotel pickup and drop-off
• A qualified Egyptologist guide
• Local taxes
• Admission tickets at the listed included sites

The main exclusions deserve attention. Food and drinks are listed as extra, despite the separate reference to lunch being included. Entry inside a pyramid is also extra, and the Bibliotheca Alexandrina does not include admission.

I would ask three direct questions before booking: Is lunch supplied on each applicable day? Which pyramid interior option is available, and at what cost? Is the Alexandria library entrance part of the final price? Clear answers will make the low headline price easier to assess.

Who should book this Cairo and Alexandria tour?

I would recommend it to you if you have only three days, want the major sights, and prefer not to manage Cairo transport yourself. It is also a good fit if you value explanations from an Egyptologist and want a private vehicle rather than a large group coach.

Families may appreciate the hotel pickup and private format, especially because the guide can adjust the focus. Couples and small groups can also get good value from the per-person rate, provided they meet the two-person minimum.

I would hesitate if you want slow mornings, long museum visits, or a relaxed Alexandria stay. The Alexandria day is particularly demanding because of the road time. Independent visitors who enjoy choosing one or two sites at length may find the schedule too packed.

The experience is highly rated, with a 5 out of 5 score from 36 ratings and a 100 percent recommendation figure. The strongest praise centers on safety, honest service, reliable driving, and the expertise of Ahmed and Jimmy. Those qualities are important in a complex city, but you should still confirm the unclear meal and timing details.

Should you book it?

Book this tour if your priority is maximum coverage with private support. In three days, you reach the Giza pyramids, Saqqara, Memphis, Alexandria, the Egyptian Museum, Coptic Cairo, the Citadel, and Khan Al-Khalili.

Skip it if you would rather settle into Cairo slowly or spend more time at fewer monuments. For most short-stay visitors, though, the mix is impressive for the price. Confirm lunch, pyramid entry, the Bibliotheca ticket, and the strange one-minute Qaitbay timing before you commit.

FAQ

How long is the tour?

The experience lasts approximately three days. Day one covers Giza, Saqqara, and Memphis, day two visits Alexandria, and day three covers the Egyptian Museum and historic Cairo.

Is hotel pickup available?

Yes. Hotel pickup and drop-off are included, with private transfers each day.

Is this a private tour?

Yes. Only your group participates in the activity.

What time does the tour start?

The general start time is listed as 8:00 am. Alexandria pickup is specified for 7:00 am, and the third day begins at 8:30 am.

Is lunch included?

The information is inconsistent. The overview refers to lunch, but the detailed inclusions say food and beverages are not included. Confirm this with the provider before booking.

Is entry inside a pyramid included?

No. Visiting the inside of a pyramid is an upgrade and is not included in the base price.

Is the Bibliotheca Alexandrina admission included?

No. Admission to the Bibliotheca Alexandrina is listed as not included.

Is a vegetarian meal available?

Yes. A vegetarian option is available if you request it at the time of booking.

Can I cancel for a refund?

Yes. You can cancel at least 24 hours before the local start time for a full refund. Cancellations or changes made within 24 hours are not refunded or accepted.