Private Tour All Inc Giza Pyramids, Saqqara Memphis, Lunch& Camel

The pyramids are only the beginning. This private Cairo day combines the Giza Pyramids, a 30-minute camel ride, Saqqara, Memphis, lunch, and hotel transport into one long but rewarding introduction to ancient Egypt. I especially like the private guide and car, which let you ask questions and adjust the pace, and the chance to see both the famous monuments and the earlier Step Pyramid at Saqqara. The main drawback is the packed schedule, with about eight to nine hours on the road and extra charges for entering the Great Pyramid and Menkaure Pyramid.

At $130 per person, the tour offers solid value if you want the major ancient sites handled in one day. Lunch, admission to most listed stops, pickup, drop-off, and the camel ride are included, but you should budget separately for the optional pyramid interiors. An early 7:00 am start helps you make the most of the day, though this is not a slow, leisurely outing.

Key things to know before booking

• Three ancient centers in one day: You visit Giza, Saqqara, and Memphis, moving from the best-known pyramids to Egypt’s older pyramid experiments and former capital.
• A private Egyptologist guide: Your own guide and air-conditioned car give you more personal attention than a large group tour.
• A 30-minute camel ride: The ride is built into the day and adds a classic desert photograph to the archaeological sightseeing.
• Two pyramid entrances cost extra: The Great Pyramid of Khufu costs $30 per adult or $15 per student or child. Menkaure costs $8 per adult or $4 per student or child.
• Lunch is included: You get an Egyptian meal and drinks, with the exact restaurant and menu depending on the day.
• Strong guide feedback: Guides named Reham, Rehaam, and Reemo receive repeated praise for clear English, cultural explanations, kindness, photography, and practical Cairo advice.

Why the private format matters in Cairo

Cairo is easier to handle with a driver and guide. The sites are spread across the Giza area and the wider west bank of the Nile, so having transport between them saves you the trouble of arranging several separate rides. The air-conditioned car also matters after time in the sun.

Because the tour is private, only your group participates. That gives you room to ask about subjects that interest you, from pyramid engineering to Egyptian food, local customs, or modern Cairo. You can also tell the guide if you need a little more time for photographs or a shorter stop at a site.

Several people specifically praised guides called Reham, Rehaam, and Reemo. Their strengths were friendly conversation, strong English, historical knowledge, photo-taking, and useful advice for getting around Cairo. Names and guide assignments can vary, so you should not assume a particular guide is guaranteed. Still, the repeated praise suggests that the human side of this tour is one of its biggest assets.

The 7:00 am pickup is practical. Giza is roughly a 30-minute drive from the hotel before the sightseeing begins, though Cairo traffic can affect that estimate. Starting early also gives you more time at the monuments before the heat becomes tiring.

Giza Pyramids: the day’s big opening scene

Your first main stop is the Giza Plateau, where you see the pyramids of Khufu, Khafre, and Menkaure, followed by the Sphinx. The entire Giza portion is scheduled for about two and a half hours, which gives you a useful overview without making the first stop consume the whole day.

This is the place for scale. The Great Pyramid of Khufu was built from about 2.3 million stone blocks, according to the tour’s historical presentation. The figures help you grasp the labor and planning involved, although the numbers are easier to remember when your guide connects them to the monument in front of you.

You will also visit a panorama point for photographs of all three pyramids. This is an important part of the outing because the best view is not always from the base of a pyramid. From higher ground, the arrangement of the monuments becomes clearer, and you can capture the classic image with the desert, stone, sky, and camel in one frame.

The desert setting can be intensely sunny. Wear a hat, use sun protection, and carry water. The tour description highlights the sun and natural air, but that same open setting means little shade. Comfortable shoes are sensible because you will be walking over uneven ground.

The Great Pyramid of Khufu and the extra entrance fee

The Great Pyramid is the oldest and largest of the three Giza pyramids. The tour allows about an hour for this part, but entering the interior is not included in the base price.

The additional fee is $30 for an adult and $15 for a student or child. This should be clear before you book because the general tour description refers to admission being included, while the detailed exclusions specifically list the Great Pyramid entrance as extra. The same applies to Menkaure, though its extra fee is lower.

I would treat the interior visit as an optional choice, not an automatic part of the day. If you care most about engineering, royal burial practices, and seeing the inside for yourself, the extra cost may be worthwhile. If you dislike cramped spaces or prefer exterior views and photographs, you can skip it and use the time for the plateau.

The guide’s explanation is valuable here. A good guide can turn a massive stone structure into a story about royal power, astronomy, construction, and the beliefs of ancient Egyptians. You get more from the stop when you ask questions instead of simply taking a photograph and moving on.

Khafre and Menkaure: two different pyramid stories

Khafre’s pyramid is the second largest at Giza, but it can look taller because it sits on higher ground. Its upper section also preserves some of its original smooth casing stones, giving you a hint of how these monuments may have appeared when newly built.

The tour does not give a separate duration for Khafre, so your guide will fit it into the broader Giza visit. Ask about the high base and the remaining casing near the top. These small visual details help explain why the pyramid’s appearance can be misleading from a distance.

Menkaure is smaller than the other two pyramids, but it has its own construction story. Its lower section used granite brought from Aswan, far to the south, by way of the Nile. The tour allocates about 30 minutes here.

The interior entrance costs $8 per adult or $4 per student or child. Again, admission is not part of the main price. For many people, seeing Menkaure from outside is enough, especially on a day that already includes several sites. If you are fascinated by building materials and ancient transport, this is the pyramid where the guide’s explanation adds real value.

The Great Sphinx and the best photo stops

The Sphinx combines a human head with the body of a lion. In ancient Egyptian symbolism, the human form represents the mind and the lion represents physical strength. The monument’s role as a guardian gives the stop a natural sense of drama, even when the surrounding area is full of people and cameras.

Allow about an hour and a half for the Sphinx portion as part of the wider Giza schedule. This is another place where your guide can help with photographs. One person specifically valued the guide’s ability to find strong backdrops and take photos suitable for social media. That is a useful perk if you are traveling alone or want photographs of your whole group rather than endless pictures of monuments without you in them.

Do not expect the Sphinx to be isolated. The attraction is famous, and the viewing areas can feel busy. A private guide cannot remove the crowds, but can help you understand the layout and make the most of your time.

Egyptian lunch between Giza and Saqqara

After Giza, the itinerary allows about 30 minutes to drive toward Saqqara, followed by approximately 30 minutes for lunch. The meal is included, which makes the $130 price easier to assess.

The experience is meant to include Egyptian food and drinks rather than a generic international lunch. The exact restaurant is not specified, so you should ask your guide about the meal on the day if you have dietary needs or strong preferences.

Lunch also gives you a needed pause. Giza involves sun, walking, photographs, and a camel ride, so sitting down before the next archaeological site is welcome. You may not get a long, relaxed restaurant experience because the day has several stops, but you do not need to arrange food separately.

The 30-minute camel ride

The camel ride is included and lasts about 30 minutes. It usually fits naturally with the panorama stop around Giza, adding a bit of desert atmosphere to an otherwise history-focused day.

This is best viewed as a short cultural and photographic experience, not a full camel safari. You will have time to sit on a camel, take photographs, and enjoy the open setting, but the ride is not long enough to become a major expedition.

If you are interested in an ATV desert outing, the tour information says your guide can help arrange one. That option is not listed as included, so confirm the price and timing before agreeing. An ATV ride could add excitement, but it may also make an already full day feel rushed.

Saqqara and the Step Pyramid of Djoser

Saqqara changes the focus from Egypt’s most famous pyramids to the development of pyramid building. The Step Pyramid of Djoser is the key attraction. Its stacked design shows an earlier stage in the move from traditional burial structures toward the later smooth-sided pyramids at Giza.

The Saqqara visit lasts about an hour and a half. You can also see the Imhotep Museum, nearby tombs of high officials, and the pyramids of Teti and Unas. This variety makes Saqqara more than a quick photograph at one monument.

I like this part of the day because it gives you historical sequence. Giza can feel like a single spectacular chapter. Saqqara helps you see the experimentation, changing design, and religious setting behind the pyramid tradition.

The tour description also refers to tombs of noblemen. These can add human detail to the royal monuments, showing that ancient Egyptian society included officials and administrators whose lives were recorded in decorated burial spaces. Ask your guide which tombs are open during your visit, since the exact access can change.

Memphis, Egypt’s former capital

From Saqqara, you drive about 15 minutes to Memphis. The site receives roughly two hours in the schedule, making it the longest listed stop after Giza.

Memphis was founded by King Menes and served as the capital of ancient Egypt for more than 3,000 years. Its religious center focused on Ptah, the god of creation. The Memphis triad included Ptah, Sekhmet, and Nefertem, giving your guide plenty to explain beyond pyramids and pharaohs.

The main sights include the large statue of Ramses II and an alabaster sphinx connected with the Temple of Ptah. These remains help you picture a city that once held political and religious power, even though much of ancient Memphis has disappeared or survives in scattered pieces.

This stop may appeal most to people who want context. If your only goal is the biggest monuments, Memphis can feel quieter and less immediately impressive than Giza. If you want to understand how royal power, temples, religion, and government fit together, it rounds out the day well.

A decline began after the 18th Dynasty, followed by later revivals under Persian rule. Memphis eventually lost importance to Thebes and Alexandria. Your guide can connect those changes to the shifting centers of Egyptian power.

The return drive and the real pace of the day

The drive back to your hotel takes about 60 minutes after Memphis. In total, you should expect eight to nine hours, including transport, meals, sightseeing, and the camel ride.

That is an efficient plan, but not a restful one. You will make several stops, walk in the sun, listen to explanations, take photographs, and spend a fair amount of time in the car. I would book it early in your Cairo stay if the pyramids and Old Kingdom sites are a priority, because it gives you a strong base for understanding later visits.

The private format makes the pace more manageable. You are not waiting for a large group at every stop, and you can speak directly with the guide. Still, the number of locations means you should be realistic: you are sampling several major places in one day, not studying each one at museum length.

Is $130 per person good value?

At $130 per person, the tour is reasonably priced for a private full-day outing that includes hotel pickup and drop-off, a private Egyptologist guide, an air-conditioned car, Egyptian lunch, a 30-minute camel ride, and admission to the listed included sites.

The value is strongest for solo visitors, couples, and small groups who would otherwise need to arrange separate transport, guides, tickets, and meals. Group discounts may improve the price for larger private parties.

Remember to add the entrance fees if you want to go inside Khufu or Menkaure. An adult choosing both would pay an additional $38. Students and children pay the lower listed rates.

The price does not promise a slow pace or a luxury meal. Its value comes from convenience, coverage, personal guiding, and the ability to visit three important archaeological areas without managing the logistics yourself.

Who should book this private Egypt day?

I would recommend it to first-time visitors with one free day in Cairo, solo visitors who want a guide and driver, couples who prefer a private schedule, and anyone who wants more than just the Giza Pyramids.

It also suits people who enjoy photographs. The guides praised in the feedback were repeatedly noted for taking pictures, finding good viewpoints, and helping create memorable images. That can be especially useful if you are traveling alone.

You may want a different plan if you dislike early starts, long drives, intense sun, or tightly scheduled sightseeing. Families should note the walking, heat, camel ride, and extra pyramid entrance charges. Most people can participate, but the tour does not provide detailed accessibility information, so ask the operator before booking if you have mobility concerns.

Free cancellation is available when you cancel at least 24 hours before the 7:00 am start. Changes or cancellations inside that window are not accepted for a refund.

Should you book it?

Book this tour if you want Giza, Saqqara, and Memphis in one private day and value having a guide handle the route, explanations, photographs, lunch, and transport. The repeated praise for guides such as Reham and Reemo is encouraging, particularly for solo women and visitors who want friendly support in Cairo.

Skip it if you want long, quiet visits at each monument or plan to enter every pyramid. The schedule is full, and those interior visits cost extra. For a first look at Egypt’s Old Kingdom, though, this is a practical and well-rounded day with plenty of memorable sights.

FAQ

What time does the tour start?

The tour starts at 7:00 am.

How long does the experience last?

The tour lasts approximately eight to nine hours.

Is hotel pickup included?

Yes. Hotel pickup and drop-off are included.

Is this a private tour?

Yes. It is a private activity, and only your group participates.

Is transportation included?

Yes. Transportation is provided in a private air-conditioned car.

Is lunch included?

Yes. Egyptian lunch is included, along with Egyptian drinks as part of the planned dining experience.

Is the camel ride included?

Yes. A 30-minute camel ride is included.

Are all pyramid entrance fees included?

No. Entry to the Great Pyramid of Khufu costs $30 per adult or $15 per student or child. Entry to Menkaure costs $8 per adult or $4 per student or child.

Can I cancel for a refund?

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