Cairo Excursions

The Pyramids and Giza

Giza comes first for most visitors, and the question is how much of the pyramid field to add. Saqqara holds the Step Pyramid, Memphis a colossal Ramses II lying on his back, and Dahshur the Bent and Red Pyramids with hardly a coach in sight. Rides by camel, horse or quad bike take place in the desert next to the plateau, and there is a tour timed for passengers changing planes.

Pyramids & Sphinx Half Day Tour, Giza Plateau

This private half‑day visits the Giza Plateau to view Khufu, Khafre and Menkaure pyramids plus the Great Sphinx. We are a licensed Egyptian tour operator and provide a licensed Egyptologist, a private air‑conditioned car and hotel pickup in Cairo. Typical duration is three to four hours with flexible morning or afternoon starts to avoid heat and crowds. We do not include the Khufu pyramid interior by default; the interior ticket is optional and at extra cost because the crawl inside is narrow and not suitable for everyone. Unlike large coach runs, our private format keeps walking focused and gives you direct return to your hotel. Cons: limited shade, uneven ancient stone and possible peak‑hour traffic.

From £59

Pyramids, Sphinx and Grand Egyptian Museum Day Tour

We operate this full‑day Cairo programme on the ground as Discovery Tours Egypt, licensed by the Egyptian Tourism Authority (ETAA). Our licensed Egyptologists guide you across the Giza Plateau to view the pyramids of Khufu, Khafre and Menkaure, bring you close to the Great Sphinx and then escort you through the Grand Egyptian Museum (GEM) to the Tutankhamun galleries and major displays. We include comfortable air‑conditioned transfers, hotel pickup and drop‑off for central Cairo & Giza hotels, bottled water and a set lunch. Practical notes: there is limited shade on the Giza Plateau and the tour involves walking on uneven ancient stone; pyramid internal access and some premium GEM experiences are not included.

From £110

Pyramids, Sphinx & Egyptian Museum, Cairo Day Tour

See Khufu's Pyramid, the Great Sphinx of Giza and the Egyptian Museum in Tahrir on a single, curated day in Cairo. We are a licensed Egyptian tour operator and our Egyptologists guide each visit. We don't run group bus tours; unlike typical coach programmes, we keep visits unhurried and arrange private transfers between sites. Standard entry fees are included where applicable; pyramid-interior access (Khufu or Khafre) and premium museum requests are extra. Expect walking on uneven ancient stone and limited shade at midday–good physical mobility and sun protection are essential. We arrange museum-timed entries to avoid the busiest windows when possible.

From £90

Pyramids, Sphinx, Saqqara & Memphis Day Tour

Visit the Giza Pyramids (Khufu, Khafre, Menkaure), the Great Sphinx, Saqqara’s Step Pyramid of Djoser and the open‑air museum at Memphis in one day. We run this as a private day tour in a chauffeur‑driven car rather than a large coach, which gives flexible time at each site. We are a licensed Egyptian tour operator and our Egyptologists explain inscriptions, funerary architecture and the UNESCO‑listed Memphis and Necropolis complex. Standard site entrances are included; pyramid interior tickets (Khufu/Khafre), premium tombs and gratuities are excluded. Expect limited shade on the Giza Plateau and uneven stone underfoot at Saqqara.

From £100

Pyramids, Sphinx, Saqqara, Memphis & Grand Egyptian Museum Day Tour

This private full-day tour covers the Giza Plateau (Khufu Pyramid exterior), the Great Sphinx, Saqqara, ancient Memphis and the Grand Egyptian Museum. We are a licensed Egyptian tour operator and our Egyptologist accompanies every departure. We offer the Khufu Pyramid interior as an optional extra rather than including it by default. Unlike large coach excursions, we schedule longer stops at Saqqara and the Grand Egyptian Museum for meaningful viewing time. Expect security checks, museum queueing at peak times, crowded viewpoints at the Giza Plateau, and uneven ancient stone underfoot. Hotel pick-up in Cairo is included; travel to Giza is typically 30–45 minutes (20–25 km) depending on traffic. Note: Due to the duration of this tour, this tour is on request only and subject to attraction opening times at the date of planned travel.

From £145

Sakkara & Memphis Half-Day Tour from Cairo

This private half-day visits Saqqara's Step Pyramid of Djoser and the open-air museum at Mit Rahina (Memphis), departing from central Cairo. We are a licensed Egyptian tour operator and our Cairo-based Egyptologists accompany every departure. Typical drive time from central Cairo is 40–60 minutes depending on traffic; we collect from central hotels. Site entrance fees are included; pyramid interiors and premium tombs are excluded and can be added on request. We run this as a private car tour, not a large-coach excursion, so you set the pace at each site. Note: limited shade and uneven ancient stone mean sensible shoes and sun protection are necessary.

From £63

Saqqara, Memphis and Dahshur: Private Day from Cairo

A private day out from your Cairo or Giza hotel to the older pyramid fields south of the capital. You see the Red Pyramid and the Bent Pyramid at Dahshur, the Step Pyramid at Saqqara and the open-air museum at Memphis. A private Egyptologist guide and driver are with you throughout, and lunch is included. Allow about eight hours from pick-up to drop-off.

From £878 Hours

Camel Ride at Sunset by the Giza Pyramids: Private

A private ride by camel through the desert next to the Giza Plateau at dusk, the pyramids outlined against the sky. You are collected from your Cairo or Giza hotel, meet your camel and its handler at the stables, ride for about an hour and stop for tea at a viewpoint. The ride is in the open desert next to the plateau, not inside the ticketed site. Allow about three hours.

From £353 Hours

Giza Pyramids Horse Ride: Private Desert Ride with Hotel Pick-up

A private horse ride in the desert beside the Giza Plateau, with the pyramids on the skyline. A stable guide rides with you and matches a horse to your level, so beginners and experienced riders are both welcome. You are collected from your Cairo or Giza hotel, ride for about an hour and a half, and finish with tea at the stables. Allow about 3 hours in all.

From £503 Hours

Quad Bike Ride in the Giza Desert: Private, Pyramids View

A private one-hour quad bike ride in the desert beside the Giza Plateau, with the pyramids on the skyline. You are collected from your Cairo or Giza hotel, given a safety briefing and a helmet, and follow a lead rider on your own quad. The ride is in the open desert next to the plateau, not inside the ticketed site. This excursion is by request, and the minimum age to ride is 16. Allow about three hours.

From £223 Hours

Cairo Airport Layover Tour: Pyramids and Sphinx with a Private Guide

A private tour for travellers with a long stop at Cairo International Airport. A guide meets you in the arrivals hall after passport control, drives you to the Giza Plateau for the Pyramids and the Sphinx, and brings you back to the airport at least three hours before your onward flight. An Egyptologist guide, a light lunch or snack and the Giza ticket are included. Allow about 6 hours in all.

From £526 Hours

Museums and the old city

Cairo now has three major museums: the Grand Egyptian Museum beside Giza, the original Egyptian Museum in Tahrir Square, and the Museum of Egyptian Civilisation, where the royal mummies rest. The medieval city brings the Citadel, the Coptic quarter and the bazaar.

Grand Egyptian Museum Half-Day Tour

Spend a focused half-day at Cairo's Grand Egyptian Museum with one of our Egyptologists; museum entrance, audio headset and private transfers from central Giza hotels are included. The museum is built to display the Tutankhamun collection and thousands of archaeological objects. We do not attempt to include the Giza Plateau on this half-day because that compresses both experiences; guests who want both should pick a full-day option. Unlike standard coach tours, we use a private car so you spend time in the galleries rather than waiting at transfers. Expect thorough security screening, bag checks and 30–45 minutes of walking inside the galleries. Khufu pyramid interior visits are excluded. We are a licensed Egyptian tour operator.

From £76

Egyptian Museum Half-Day Tour, Cairo

Spend four hours with a private Egyptologist at the Egyptian Museum in Tahrir Square, Cairo. The guided visit covers the main galleries, including the Tutankhamun collections and artefacts from ancient Egypt. A private air-conditioned vehicle provides pickup and drop-off within central Cairo. The Mummies Room is not part of the standard entrance ticket, but can be added for an extra charge. Unlike a large coach visit, this private tour allows you to set the pace and ask your Egyptologist questions as you move through the galleries. Pickup outside central Cairo may involve an additional transfer fee.

From £56

National Museum of Egyptian Civilization, Cairo

Visit the National Museum of Egyptian Civilisation in Fustat, Cairo, for a chronological overview of Egypt from prehistory to the modern era. The museum includes the Royal Mummies Hall (mummies transferred in 2021) and specialist galleries covering archaeology, Coptic, Islamic and contemporary collections. We schedule private, timed visits with one of our Egyptologists; unlike mass tours, we avoid the museum’s peak rotation times. Allow 2–3 hours for a focused visit; mornings reduce the likelihood of encountering school groups. Standard entrance fees are included; private transfers, gratuities and special access are extra. We are a licensed Egyptian tour operator and issue timed tickets on your behalf.

From £56

National Museum of Egyptian Civilization & Egyptian Museum Day Tour

Visit the National Museum of Egyptian Civilization and the Egyptian Museum (Tahrir) in one full day with a private Egyptologist and private transfers. Standard museum entrance fees are included; premium or temporary exhibition surcharges are extra. Unlike coach-based museum runs, we operate this as a private visit so you have time with key displays and the Royal Mummies Gallery at NMEC. Our Egyptologists explain provenance, conservation and display context, and we arrange the car, driver and a relaxed lunch stop in central Cairo. Trade-offs: the Egyptian Museum (Tahrir) can be crowded and has older cases and queues during peak hours. We are a licensed Egyptian tour operator.

From £91

Cairo’s Old Treasures: Egyptian Museum, Islamic Cairo & Khan el‑Khalili

A private, guided visit connecting the Egyptian Museum, key monuments of Islamic Cairo and Khan el‑Khalili bazaar in central Cairo. We are a licensed Egyptian tour operator; our Cairo‑based Egyptologist leads the museum visit and a local-knowledge guide conducts the Islamic Cairo walk. Unlike larger coach tours, we do not run group-bus rotations and use a private air‑conditioned car so you set the pace. Standard site entrance fees are included; pyramid interiors and premium tombs are not part of this programme. Note: expect uneven cobbles, narrow streets and market noise during the bazaar section.

From £104

Islamic & Coptic Cairo Tour

This is a private six-hour tour of Cairo's Islamic and Coptic districts led by one of our Egyptologists. We are a licensed Egyptian tour operator and operate with a private car, not large coach groups. You will see the Citadel of Saladin and the Mosque of Muhammad Ali, the neighbouring Mosque-Madrasa of Sultan Hassan and Al-Rifa'i Mosque, then the Hanging Church (Al-Muallaqa) and the Church of St Sergius (Abu Serga) in Old Cairo. Expect narrow lanes and uneven cobbles; modest dress and site opening hours apply. Entrance fees for the Citadel and the two mosques are included; the two churches are visited at no separate entrance cost.

From £79

Coptic Cairo Half-Day Tour

This private half-day introduces Coptic Cairo’s principal sites with a Cairo-based Egyptologist and an air-conditioned private car. Stops: Saint Virgin Mary's (the Hanging Church), Abu Serga (St Sergius), Ben Ezra Synagogue and the Coptic Museum. We run this as a private tour; we do not mix guests on coaches. Unlike typical cruise-ship shore calls, our half-day includes time inside the Coptic Museum and the churches rather than a drive-by. Expect narrow lanes, low church ceilings, and limited shade at midday; modest dress is required for religious sites. Discovery Tours Egypt is a licensed Egyptian tour operator. Standard entrance fees are included; optional donations and gratuities are not.

From £57

Salah al-Din Citadel Half-Day Tour, Cairo

Visit the Salah El Din Citadel and the Mosque of Muhammad Ali on a focused half-day tour from central Cairo. We are a licensed Egyptian tour operator and operate this as a private or small-group visit. Unlike large coach tours, we reserve early- or late-afternoon slots to avoid peak heat and the busiest periods. Standard entrance fees are included; mosque entry requires modest dress and women should carry a headscarf. Expect uneven stone, steps and limited shade on the Citadel terraces; midday visits can be hot. Pick-up from central Cairo hotels; the visit typically lasts about three to four hours including transfers.

From £66

Evenings and food

The city is at its liveliest once the heat has gone. Join a guide for street food in the centre, go up the Cairo Tower for the view before a stroll through Khan el-Khalili, dine afloat on the Nile, or sit under the stars for the sound and light show at Giza.

Cairo Food Tour by Night: Private Tasting Walk

A private evening in downtown Cairo with a local guide, eating the dishes Cairenes eat. You taste koshari, falafel and ful, fresh juice, grilled meat and Egyptian sweets with mint tea, at places the guide chooses on the night. You are collected from your Cairo or Giza hotel and returned afterwards. All tastings and soft drinks at the stops are included. Allow about four hours.

From £664 Hours

Cairo by Night: Private Evening Tour of Cairo Tower and Khan el-Khalili

A private evening in Cairo with an English-speaking guide. You go up the Cairo Tower for the view of the city lights, drive along the Nile corniche and across Qasr El Nil Bridge, then walk the lanes of Khan el-Khalili at night and stop for tea at a traditional cafe. Pick-up and drop-off are at your Cairo or Giza hotel. Dinner is not included. Allow about 4 hours.

From £304 Hours

Nile Dinner Cruise & Evening Show, Cairo

A three‑hour Nile dinner cruise in central Cairo runs typically from 19:00 to 22:30, with table service and a folkloric Tanoura show. We arrange private, air‑conditioned hotel transfers rather than sending coach groups; dining is restaurant‑style at reserved tables rather than buffet seating. Expect a set menu (vegetarian options available on request), an evening finish around 22:30–23:00, and a return time that can be 30–60 minutes in heavy Cairo traffic. We are a licensed Egyptian tour operator and handle all local logistics on your behalf.

From £43

Pyramids Sound & Light Show, Giza Plateau

The Pyramids Sound & Light Show at the Giza Plateau projects narration and lighting onto Khufu, Khafre, Menkaure and the Great Sphinx. As a licensed Egyptian tour operator, we arrange hotel pickup in a private car, reserved seating and an optional pre-show briefing by one of our Egyptologists. The production runs approximately 60 minutes with Arabic and English narration; additional languages vary by evening. We do not bundle pyramid interior visits with the show because pyramid interiors close earlier in the evening. Expect outdoor stone terraces and limited legroom; late-evening Cairo traffic noise can be audible, and we can reserve seats closer to the commentary speaker on request.

From £42

Further afield from Cairo

Each of these heads out of town. Alexandria is roughly three hours away by road. Fayoum offers lakes, waterfalls and the whale fossils at Wadi El Hitan. Ain Sokhna is the closest stretch of Red Sea beach. The White Desert needs two days and a night under canvas, while Luxor and Abu Simbel are done by air.

Alexandria Day Tour, incl. Wadi Natrun Monasteries

A full-day tour from Cairo linking Alexandria's coastal antiquities with the Coptic monasteries of Wadi Natrun. We are a licensed Egyptian tour operator and our Egyptologist accompanies the tour. We operate this as a private-car itinerary rather than a shared coach, which gives more time at each site. Unlike shore excursions run from Alexandria's port, this itinerary includes inland monastic visits away from the coast. Expect a long 12–14 hour day with approximately 220 km driving each way between Cairo and Alexandria and substantial time in the vehicle. Modest dress is required at monasteries (shoulders and knees covered; women should carry a scarf). Standard site entrance fees are included; optional donations and photography permits are not.

From £116

Alexandria Overnight Tour from Cairo

An overnight private tour from Cairo to Alexandria visiting the Bibliotheca Alexandrina, the Catacombs of Kom El Shoqafa, Pompey's Pillar and Qaitbay Citadel. We are a licensed Egyptian tour operator and our Egyptologist leads the visits. We operate this as a private or small-group trip; we do not run large coach tours. Unlike rushed coach day trips, our overnight schedule includes late-afternoon time at Montaza Gardens and a quieter morning at the Bibliotheca. The drive is approximately 220 km and takes 2.5–3 hours each way by private car. Expect a long first day and several stairs at Kom El Shoqafa; there is limited shade at Qaitbay around midday. Standard site entrance fees are included unless stated otherwise; the overnight seafront hotel is arranged on your behalf.

From £1782 Days

Alexandria 2 Nights from Cairo – Wadi El Natrun, Pompey's Pillar, Catacombs

Two-night private itinerary from Cairo to Alexandria, visiting Wad Natrun monasteries, Pompey's Pillar, the Kom el-Shoqafa catacombs, the Bibliotheca Alexandrina and the Roman Museum. We are a licensed Egyptian tour operator and we arrange private transfers and an Egyptologist to accompany key visits. Cairo to Alexandria is about 220 km (roughly 2.5–3 hours by car). Unlike rushed one-day coach excursions, this itinerary gives you two nights and a full day in Alexandria to see the main sites at a steady pace. Trade-offs: expect early starts, a long road transfer each way and limited shade at several outdoor sites.

From £222

Fayoum Oasis and the Valley of the Whales: Private 4x4 Day from Cairo

A private day out of Cairo to the Fayoum oasis. You stop at the Lake Qarun viewpoint, change to a 4x4 for the lakes and waterfalls of Wadi El Rayan, then walk the fossil trail at Wadi El Hitan, a UNESCO World Heritage site. A private English-speaking guide is with you, and lunch is a simple Bedouin-style meal. Allow about 11 hours from hotel pick-up to drop-off.

From £7811 Hours

Ain Sokhna Red Sea Beach Day from Cairo with Private Car and Lunch

A private day away from Cairo on the closest part of the Red Sea coast. You drive east to Ain Sokhna on the Gulf of Suez, spend the day at a beach resort with its beach, pool, sunbeds and changing rooms, and have lunch at the resort. You travel with your own car and driver; no guide travels with you. Allow about 10 hours from hotel pick-up to drop-off.

From £6810 Hours

White Desert and Bahariya Oasis: Private 2-Day 4x4 Trip with Desert Camp

A private two-day journey from Cairo out into the Western Desert. You drive to Bahariya Oasis, then go by 4x4 through the Black Desert and Crystal Mountain to the chalk formations of the White Desert, and spend a night in a simple desert camp. Lunch and dinner on day 1 and breakfast on day 2 are included, along with a local desert driver-guide. This trip is by request: we confirm the camp and 4x4 before any payment is taken.

From £1342 Days

Luxor in a Day by Air from Cairo: Private Guide, Valley of the Kings and Karnak

A private day trip from your Cairo or Giza hotel to Luxor and back by air. On the West Bank you see the Valley of the Kings, the Temple of Hatshepsut and the Colossi of Memnon, then cross to Karnak after lunch. Return economy flights, a private Egyptologist guide, a driver in Luxor and lunch are all included. It is a long day of about 16 hours, with an early start.

From £65516 Hours

Abu Simbel in a Day by Air from Cairo: Private Guide and Both Temples

A private day trip from your Cairo or Giza hotel to Abu Simbel and back by air. You visit the Great Temple of Ramses II and the Temple of Nefertari on the shore of Lake Nasser. The flights normally change planes in Aswan. Return economy flights, a private Egyptologist guide and lunch are included. It is a very long day of about 14 hours, with a short time at the temples themselves.

From £2,10314 Hours

Cairo After Dark: Private Evening Drive with Cairo Tower View and Dinner

A private evening out in Cairo, starting from your hotel in Cairo or Giza. You go up the Cairo Tower to see the city lit up, drive along the Nile corniche and over Qasr El Nil Bridge, then sit down to dinner at a local restaurant. An English-speaking escort from our Cairo office travels with you, in your own vehicle. Allow about 4 hours.

From £55

Fayoum, Tunis Village Pottery and Wadi El Rayan: Private Day Out from Cairo

A private road trip from Cairo to the Fayoum oasis with a pottery stop in the middle. After a viewpoint over Lake Qarun, you spend time in Tunis village, where potters work in small workshops above the lake. Then you go to Wadi El Rayan for its two lakes and waterfalls, and have lunch at a local restaurant. You travel with a private English-speaking guide. The Wadi El Rayan entry fee is paid at the gate. Allow about 10 hours.

From £74

Fayoum Oasis and Wadi El Rayan Lakes: Private Day Trip from Cairo by Road

A private day out from Cairo to the Fayoum oasis, about two hours south-west of the city. You stop at a viewpoint over Lake Qarun, visit the two lakes and the waterfalls at Wadi El Rayan, have lunch at a local restaurant and finish in Fayoum city, where the old wooden waterwheels turn. You travel by ordinary road vehicle with a private English-speaking guide. The Wadi El Rayan entry fee is paid at the gate. Allow about 10 hours.

From £74

Giza Plateau Camel Ride: 20-Minute Add-On to Your Giza Tour

Ride a camel on the Giza Plateau for around 20 minutes, with the pyramids ahead of you. A handler leads your camel, and you have one camel each. This is an add-on, not a tour. It comes with a Giza Pyramids tour that you book with us, and it has no transport, guide or plateau ticket of its own. The ride is confirmed on request.

From £22

Who these excursions suit

• Anyone on a first visitTwo days is enough for the Pyramids, one museum and the old city.
• Those who have been beforeDahshur, Fayoum and the White Desert are the Egypt few visitors reach.
• Passengers in transitA tour built around the hours between your two flights.
• Night owlsStreet food, the Cairo Tower, dinner on the river or the show at Giza.