Tours to the Pyramids of Giza

As you can imagine, the experience of seeing and enjoying the Pyramids of Giza is one of the most sought after 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 transport to this area easy and quick.

The best way to get to know the Pyramids is, without a doubt, by hiring 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's an economical adventure designed to be completed in just a few hours, but avoids the hassle of planning the trip on your own. If you're only in the city for a day or two, this can be a great alternative.

What these tours usually include

The companies that run these tours offer travellers a guide who is an expert in Egyptology and able to communicate in the language you book; Spanish, French, German and English are the most popular. The guide picks you up from your hotel and takes you by private transport to Giza on the outskirts of Cairo.

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

Useful information

• Price: The approximate price to pay for this experience is around €16 per person.
• Duration of excursion: These are half-day excursions so you will need to set aside 4-5 hours for the experience.
• Recommended if... Your stay in Cairo is rather short and you don't want to miss the Giza Pyramids experience under any circumstances. This excursion 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 most popular experiences for travellers 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 touristy places always remain and this includes: The Pyramids, the Sphinx, the Museum and the Cairo Bazaar.

What these tours usually include

The companies offering this type of tour provide the traveller with an expert guide in their native language, usually Spanish, English, French, German, Italian, Chinese and more. Fast-track 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 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 artefacts.

Useful information

• Price: Including entrance fees to the attractions, the price to pay for the experience is usually around €60 per person.
• Duration of tour: This is a full day tour and can take 8-10 hours to complete.
• Recommended yes... A recommended experience for all travellers, 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 more); 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 paying.

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, a visit to the Dashur necropolis will take you to the Red Pyramid, also known as the Pyramid of Dashur.

Useful Information

• Price: This type of experience usually costs around 70 euros per traveller.
• Duration of tour: It is a full day tour so you will need to set aside 9-10 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 the surrounding area.

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

What these tours usually include

Although it may vary slightly depending on the company you hire, most companies start the adventure by picking you up from your hotel, either in Cairo or Giza. Please note 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 which rests vigilantly just metres away from the pyramid. After the traditional tour 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 companies providing this service will include in the price the hire 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 traveller.
• Duration of tour: You will need to set aside an average of 3-4 hours for this experience.
• Recommended if... you are an adventurous traveller and have some experience driving this or similar vehicles.

Facula is the name given to the wooden sailing boats used in the Middle East; in Egypt, facula rides on the tranquil waters of the Nile have been a tradition for centuries. This adventure combines two very different experiences: the chance to see 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 you to the city of Giza on the outskirts of Cairo, where you will 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've finished exploring the Giza Plateau you'll usually be taken back to Cairo where you'll begin your journey down the Nile in a wooden falucca; the ride usually lasts about an hour. At the end of this time the tourist is taken back to the starting point.

Useful Information

• Price: The price to be paid per traveller is around €35 approximately.
• Duration of the excursion: Minimum 5 hours and maximum 7 hours, 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 you want to combine two of the most beautiful activities in the city in a single experience.

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 travelling to Cairo in the summer or very romantic if you are travelling to Egypt to celebrate your anniversary with your partner.

What these tours usually include

Many companies offer combined experiences, so the itinerary and facilities may vary slightly from one company 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 entrance to the pyramids.

The first part of the adventure usually ends with a trip to Giza just outside Cairo. Here you can explore the plateau and the important monuments that lie there such as the Pyramids of Giza and the Sphinx; you'll have time to wander around the interior and take some nice photos before returning to your hotel in Cairo. At the appointed time you will be picked up again and taken to the meeting point with the cruise ship, where you will enjoy a live show, a buffet dinner and a leisurely stroll along the waters at sunset.

Useful information

• Price: From €45 per traveller.
• 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 holiday.

One of the most exciting experiences in modern Egypt is the combination of the architectural gems of the Giza plateau with an unprecedented night show that takes the traveller on a journey through the history and tradition of the Egyptian people. Another way to *experience Giza that I'm sure you won't regret.

What these tours usually include

This type of experience usually starts in the late afternoon with hotel pick-up; depending on the company you hire, 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 dinner cruise, adding a little extra to the price of the experience.

Useful Information

• Price: The Sounds and Lights experience at the Pyramids is available from approximately €50 per traveller.
• Duration of tour: You'll need to set aside around 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 pyramid tours from the many featured in this post. Although the light show is incredible, you shouldn't substitute it for the experience of seeing the pyramids on an inside 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 organisers of this type of tour strive to include the most touristy experiences and the best local advice in a busy but effective itinerary. You will see monuments, learn about history, enjoy amazing scenery, eat traditional food, and many other unique experiences.

What these tours usually include

Please note that the itinerary, order of activities and duration of 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. Visit the cities southwest of Cairo to see Memphis and Dashur, with their important monuments and pyramids. 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 a camel ride in the Sahara Desert or a transfer to the Giza Plateau to see the Sound & Light Egypt show. Finally, on the evening of one of the days you'll enjoy a dinner cruise on the waters of the Nile, which often features belly-dancing performances.

Useful information

• Price: This type of experience costs around €150 per traveller.
• Duration of tour: Two full days of itinerary, from morning to evening, are required for 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 fully organised with the only requirement to be at the meeting point at the agreed time.