Cairo is a big city with a lot of history on its doorstep, and it can be hard to know where to start. The Giza Pyramids are the obvious first stop, but within a few hours by car there are quieter pyramid fields, an oasis, a Red Sea beach and a white chalk desert. This guide sorts the excursions by the kind of day they give you.
If you want more pyramids and fewer crowds
The Saqqara, Memphis and Dahshur day visits the Bent Pyramid and the Red Pyramid, the Step Pyramid of Djoser and the open-air museum at Memphis. It takes about eight hours, includes lunch and gives a clear picture of how pyramid building developed. It suits anyone who has seen, or plans to see, Giza and wants more depth.
If you want the desert
Three short options sit beside the Giza Plateau: a camel ride at sunset, a horse ride and a quad bike ride. They take place in the open desert next to the site, not inside the ticketed area. Further out, the Fayoum day goes by 4x4 to lakes, waterfalls and the fossil whales of Wadi El Hitan, while the two-day White Desert trip includes a night in a simple camp.
If you want to go south or to the sea
A day by air to Luxor covers the Valley of the Kings, Hatshepsut's temple and Karnak. A day to Abu Simbel is much longer for a short time at the temples. For a rest from sightseeing, Ain Sokhna on the Gulf of Suez offers a beach resort day about an hour and three quarters from the city.
If you want an evening out
The Cairo by night tour takes in the Cairo Tower, the Nile corniche and Khan el-Khalili, and the food tour walks you through the dishes Cairenes eat every day. Both start in the early evening and suit a day that began at the Pyramids.
- Older pyramids: Saqqara, Memphis and Dahshur, about 8 hours.
- Desert rides: camel, horse or quad bike, about 3 hours each.
- Landscapes: Fayoum, 11 hours; White Desert, 2 days.
- By air: Luxor, 16 hours; Abu Simbel, 14 hours.
- Airport stopover: the layover tour, about 6 hours.
- Evenings: Cairo by night and the food tour, about 4 hours each.
Fitting them together
Three nights in Cairo could hold the Pyramids, one long day such as Saqqara and Dahshur, and an evening tour. With five nights, add the Fayoum or a desert ride. The flights to Luxor and Abu Simbel suit travellers whose route does not otherwise go south. Leave a quiet half-day after any start before dawn.
When to go and what to wear
The cooler months, from October to April, are the easiest time for any outdoor excursion. In summer the middle of the day is hot, so choose sunset rides and evening tours, and keep long days for the early morning. Light, loose clothing that covers the shoulders and knees is comfortable in the sun and suits mosques and the older quarters of the city. Add a hat, sunglasses and sun cream, and bring a light layer for the desert, which cools quickly after dark.
What catches people out
Distances look short on a map but Cairo traffic is slow, so a trip of three hours can feel longer. Start times for the flight days are very early, and the desert trips need closed shoes rather than sandals. Entry inside the pyramids is a separate ticket on the days that visit them, and gratuities are not included. Ask us about anything you are unsure of before you book.
Tell us your dates, your hotel and who is travelling, and we will shape the order for you. Open the Cairo excursions page to see every trip with its timings.
Plan with us
Cairo day trips: how to choose between the twelve
Twelve private excursions from Cairo, from older pyramids to desert camps and evening tours. Sort them by length, effort and interest.