Saqqara, Memphis & Dahshur Pyramids Day Tour
Description
Step beyond the famous Giza Plateau and uncover Egypt’s Old Kingdom legacy. This tour combines three extraordinary sites in one day: Saqqara – home to the world’s first pyramid, the Step Pyramid of Djoser, and richly decorated tombs. Memphis City – Egypt’s ancient capital, where colossal statues and artifacts reveal the glory of its earliest dynasties. Dahshour—explore the Bent Pyramid and Red Pyramid, architectural milestones that paved the way for the Giza giants. With expert guides, private transport, and a relaxed pace, you’ll gain a deeper understanding of Egypt’s history and enjoy a more authentic experience away from the crowds. ✨ Perfect for history lovers seeking to go beyond Giza and discover the roots of pyramid building.
Tour Options
Itinerary
Saqqara contains the oldest complete stone building complex known in history, the Pyramid of Djoser, built during the Third Dynasty. Another sixteen Egyptian kings built pyramids at Saqqara, which are now in various states of preservation. High officials added private funeral monuments to this necropolis during the entire Pharaonic period. It remained an important complex for non-royal burials and cult ceremonies for more than 3,000 years, well into Ptolemaic and Roman times. North of the Saqqara site lies the Abusir pyramid complex, and to its south lies the Dahshur pyramid complex, which together with the Giza Pyramid complex to the far north comprise the Pyramid Fields of Memphis, or the Memphite Necropolis, which was designated as a World Heritage Site by UNESCO in 1979
Memphis (Arabic: مَنْف, romanized: Manf, pronounced [mænf]; Bohairic Coptic: ⲙⲉⲙϥⲓ; Greek: Μέμφις), or Men-nefer, was the ancient capital of Inebu-hedj, the first nome of Lower Egypt that was known as mḥw ("North"). Its ruins are located in the vicinity of the present-day village of Mit Rahina (Arabic: ميت رهينة), in markaz (county) Badrashin, Giza, Egypt. Along with the pyramid fields that stretch across a desert plateau for more than 30 kilometers (19 mi) on its west, including the famous Pyramids of Giza, Memphis and its necropolis have been listed as a World Heritage Site. The site is open to the public as an open-air museum.
Dahshur[transliteration 1] (in English often called Dashur; Arabic: دهشور Dahšūr pronounced [dɑhˈʃuːɾ]) is an ancient Egyptian pyramid complex and necropolis and shares the name of the nearby village of Manshiyyat Dahshur (Arabic: منشأة دهشور) in markaz Badrashin, Giza. Dahshur is listed as a UNESCO World Heritage Site, and is located on the Western Desert plateau at the edge of the cultivated plain, and along with the pyramid complexes at Saqqara, Abusir, and Giza, to its north, forms the pyramid fields of the ancient capital city of Memphis. It is known chiefly for several pyramids, mainly Sneferu's Bent Pyramid and the Red Pyramid, which are among the oldest, largest and best preserved in Egypt, built from 2613 to 2589 BC
Highlights
What's included
Pickup Locations & Times
Our tour guide/driver will have the company's sign or a sign with the lead travelers name
Traveller Ratings
Important Information
- Wheelchair accessible
- Infants and small children can ride in a pram or stroller
- Public transportation options are available nearby
- Infants are required to sit on an adult’s lap
- Specialized infant seats are available
- Transportation options are wheelchair accessible
- All areas and surfaces are wheelchair accessible
- Not recommended for travelers with poor cardiovascular health
- Suitable for all physical fitness levels
Reviews(7)
I went with my daughter and we had a special moment at Memphis. Our guide Khaled took us to the alabaster sphinx. My daughter placed her hand on its paw. Khaled told her a legend about the sphinx granting wishes. She made a wish. Then at Saqqara we visited the Step Pyramid and she counted the steps. At Dahshur we walked around the Red Pyramid and she found a small piece of limestone. She kept it as a souvenir. The whole day was magical for her. Admission fee was 44 usd per person for the sites included in our 95 usd adult and 50 usd child tour. Length of visit was 7 hours. Atmosphere was enchanting and family friendly. Crowd size was small. Staff were gentle and Khaled gave her a small stone. Best for parents with daughters. Yasser had told the legend too.
Our final full day in Cairo with Egy Excursions took us to Saqqara, the Hanging Church in Coptic Cairo, lunch at the Hawaii restaurant, Al-Azhar Park, and the National Egyptian Museum — where we had the privilege of seeing the royal mummies. It was an extraordinary, full day and every moment of it was enriched by our guide Hasan. I say this honestly — without Hasan, we would have seen these places but not truly understood them. Whether he was walking us through the ancient step pyramids at Saqqara, explaining the profound history of the Hanging Church, or standing beside the mummies at the Egyptian Museum and bringing their stories to life — his knowledge, passion and ability to connect everything across thousands of years of history was remarkable. Mahmood once again looked after us brilliantly as our driver — reliable, kind and always one step ahead. The whole day was seamlessly organised from pickup to drop-off. And what a way to end the day — a two-hour Nile cruise in the evening with our guide Isra. She is a wonderfully warm and friendly person who truly went above and beyond, making us feel like we were with a friend rather than a guide. We ended up singing songs together in the car on the way — one of those spontaneous, joyful moments you don’t plan but never forget. The food on the cruise was simple and modest, but the live performances were entertaining and the atmosphere on the Nile at night was magical. Egy Excursions gave us the Cairo experience we had dreamed of. If you are visiting and want to truly understand this extraordinary city and its history, book with them and ask for Hasan. He will change the way you see Egypt — and if you’re lucky enough to have Isra too, you’ll leave Cairo with a new friend.
Exceptionally knowledge of Egyptian history. They were prompt, kind and got us to Saqqara, Memphis and Dashour attractions in a timely manner.
We did the day trip with Maria in Spanish, very complete explanations and the most beautiful pyramids in the area. We went inside both the red and stepped pyramid and loved it. Both pick up and drop off at the hotel, all perfect! Thank you so much!
We had great history lesson and shopping experience ! A must revisit! Highly recommend cash on hand for market shopping.
Very interesting tour, with our private driver and our guide. Really to do besides Giza. Less tourists and very nice especially the inside of the darchour pyramids with a longer route than Giza.
I had the good fortune to organize my trip to Cairo with Shahd and her team, and it was a truly wonderful experience. Shahd was always present and attentive: throughout the trip she sent me many messages to check if everything was going well. This constant care made me feel guided and protected, giving me great peace of mind. The driver, Ahmed, was impeccable: very careful and conscientious. He never drove abruptly or too fast, but always calmly and smoothly, which made every ride not only safe but also pleasant and relaxing. The guides, Magdy and Moamen, alternated during the days: both were very knowledgeable, kind, and able to convey their enthusiasm and passion for Egypt’s history and culture. What I particularly appreciated was their willingness to meet my requests: they took me to eat in authentic places frequented by locals and their friends, making me feel like part of the place rather than just a tourist. I was also impressed by their great flexibility: on the last day I decided, for various reasons, to completely change the scheduled program, and it was no problem at all. They were patient, understanding, and willing to adapt to every need. From the very beginning, Shahd proposed stimulating ideas and built a precise, well-organized itinerary. In conclusion, it was a beautiful experience that I highly recommend to anyone. If I have the chance, I will definitely travel with them again.
Thank you so much for sharing this wonderful review! We’re delighted to hear that you enjoyed your stay in both Giza and Cairo, and we truly appreciate your kind words about our team. We’ll make sure to pass on your compliments to Bishoy, who will be very happy to know he made your journey more comfortable. And of course, a very special thank you for highlighting Bebo – he is indeed a star! His knowledge, friendliness, and passion for Egyptian history always make a big difference, and we’re thrilled that he made your trip so memorable. It was our pleasure to host you, and we hope to welcome you back again soon for more stories and adventures in Egypt
this places are so beautiful i wish i can live there and i really back in time with you you already did it well more than anyone else
Thank you so much! We’re so happy you loved the places — it means a lot that our tour brought the past to life for you. We’d be honored to welcome you back anytime.
