Step Pyramid of Djoser
The first monumental stone building, six tiers high
5.0 on TripadvisorPrivate tour Saqqara, Dahshur & Memphis Private Day Tour
The quiet pyramids south of Cairo: Djoser's Step Pyramid, the Bent and Red Pyramids at Dahshur, then Memphis, with an Egyptologist and lunch.
- Duration
- About 8 hours including lunch
- Sites
- Saqqara, Dahshur, Memphis
- Pick-up
- Hotel in Cairo or Giza
- Language
- English (other languages on request)
From, per person$906 or more travellers
- Starts any day
- Free quote, no obligation
- Change anything you like
About this tour
This is the day for how pyramids were learned, not only how they ended. Within a few generations, Egypt's builders went from a stack of six steps to a smooth-sided pyramid, and the pyramids at Saqqara and Dahshur show every attempt along the way. Giza is left out on purpose, so the day is calmer than the plateau.
It suits travellers who have already seen Giza, return visitors, photographers, and anyone who prefers wide open desert to crowds. Dahshur usually draws far fewer visitors than Giza, and the Bent Pyramid still has most of its original casing.
It does not suit anyone who wants the Great Pyramid and Sphinx as the centrepiece of the day; for that, look at our Pyramids, Memphis and Saqqara tour. There is a fair amount of walking on open desert ground, and the pyramid interiors involve steep and narrow passages.
Bent Pyramid
The angle changes from about 54 degrees to 43 degrees halfway up
Red Pyramid
About 105 m high, the third largest pyramid in Egypt
Pyramid of Unas
The first royal pyramid with Pyramid Texts carved inside
Memphis open-air museum
The Ramses II colossus and the alabaster sphinx
Away from Giza
Open desert and fewer tour groups at Dahshur
How the day runs
- 1
Around 8:00Pickup and the drive south
Your guide collects you at the hotel and heads south along the pyramid fields on the west bank of the Nile. Memphis is about 20 km south of Cairo and Saqqara about 30 km, so the day starts with a real drive, which your guide uses to set the scene.
- 2
MorningSaqqara
Saqqara has the Step Pyramid of Djoser, designed by Imhotep, with six tiers and a surrounding wall more than 1.6 km long. Close by is the pyramid of Unas, the first to carry Pyramid Texts, and tombs of the Sixth Dynasty such as Mereruka. The Ministry of Tourism and Antiquities sells separate tickets for several of these, including the Step Pyramid and the Tomb of Mereruka, and which ones are open changes from time to time. We confirm the list for your date when you book.
- 3
Late morningDahshur and the Bent Pyramid
Sneferu's Bent Pyramid has two angles because the builders changed the slope part way up, after the first plan put too much weight on soft ground. Its outer limestone casing remains largely intact. It reopened to tourists in July 2019 for the first time since 1965.
- 4
MiddayThe Red Pyramid
Sneferu's next pyramid, about 1 km to the north, is the Red Pyramid. It is named for the reddish tint of its limestone once most of the white casing was removed in the Middle Ages. The entrance is high on the north side, and a passage about 61 m long descends to three chambers with corbelled roofs. The Ministry's Dahshur page lists one site ticket and does not mention a separate ticket for either interior. We tell you before the day if one applies, and any extra ticket is paid on the day.
- 5
Early afternoonLunch
You eat at a local restaurant between the pyramid fields and Memphis. Your guide can suggest dishes, and we can plan for vegetarian meals or allergies if you tell us when you book.
- 6
AfternoonMemphis and the return
Memphis was the capital of Egypt for much of the Old Kingdom. In the open-air museum, the Ramses II colossus lies on its back, about 10 m long, because its base and feet are broken off. You then drive back to your hotel in Cairo or Giza.
How much does this tour cost?
| Group size | Price per person |
|---|---|
| Single traveller | $145 |
| 2 travellers | $115 |
| 3 to 5 travellers | $100 |
| 6 or more travellers | $90 |
In US dollars, per person, for a private trip. The price in your written quote, made for your dates and group, is the one that counts. International flights are not included.
What’s included
Included
- Hotel pickup and drop-off in a private air-conditioned vehicle
- Private Egyptologist guide
- Entrance fees to Saqqara, Dahshur and Memphis
- Lunch at a local restaurant
- Bottled water
- Taxes and service charges
Not included
- Optional extra tickets for tomb or pyramid interiors, if any apply on the day
- Drinks with lunch
- Tips
Booking policies
Important information
Start early
There is a lot of ground to cover, and the pyramid fields are on open desert with little shade. An early start keeps the morning cool and leaves room for lunch without rushing.
Inside the pyramids
The passage into the Red Pyramid is low, about 0.9 m high, and slopes steeply down. If you dislike narrow spaces, you can enjoy the outside of every pyramid on this tour and wait while others go in.
Shoes and clothing
Wear closed shoes with grip, long light trousers or a long skirt, and a hat. The ground is sand and loose stone, and some interiors are warm and dusty.
Sun and water
The desert gives no shade, so sunscreen and sunglasses matter more here than at a museum day. We supply bottled water, and you can always ask the driver for more.
Payment and deposit
- Prices are in US dollars and the price in your written quote is the one that counts.
- The deposit is 30 percent of the total price (50 percent for trips that start from 18 December to 5 January).
- The balance is due 15 days before arrival. If you book later than that, the full amount confirms the booking.
- Payment instructions come with your written quote.
Cancellation and refund
Send every cancellation by email so that we can confirm it in writing. The charge is a percentage of the tour price, and anything you paid above it is refunded.
| Days before arrival | Normal dates | 18 Dec to 5 Jan |
|---|---|---|
| Until 61 days | 20% | 35% |
| 60 to 31 days | 35% | 50% |
| 30 to 15 days | 50% | 75% |
| 14 to 1 days, or no-show | 100% | 100% |
A bank and payment fee of 6 percent is deducted from every refund. Full rules: terms and policies.
Children
- Children under 3 travel free.
- Children from 3 to 11.99 years pay 50 percent of the tour price.
- From 12 years, travellers pay the adult price.
Please give the age of every child at the time of travel when you ask for a quote.
Travel tips
Know before you go
Start early
Pickup around 8:00 gets you to the pyramids before the heat and the coach groups.
Wear
Closed shoes, a hat and sunscreen, expect sand, steps and uneven ground.
Extra tickets
Entry inside the Great Pyramid is an optional ticket bought on the day.
Photos
Photos are free outdoors; some tombs charge for cameras. Drones are not allowed.
Traveller reviews
What our travellers say
A Fantastic Tour of Egypt
“The entire trip was seamlessly executed.”
Best tour guide!!
“He made our trip to the pyramids and Alexandria fun and memorable.”
Amazing 2 week trip
“My friends and I spent two weeks in Egypt and he was with us every step of the way.”
FAQ
Questions about this tour
Still unsure? Message us on WhatsApp and a real person from our team will answer.
Is Dahshur really quieter than Giza?
Generally, yes. It sees far fewer visitors, which is the main reason guests who have done Giza ask for it.
How are the Bent and Red Pyramids connected?
Sneferu built both. The Bent Pyramid was the first attempt at a smooth-sided pyramid, and the Red Pyramid was completed at the gentler angle that the Bent Pyramid's upper half already used.
Is this tour too tiring for older travellers?
The walking is moderate, but it is on sand and in the heat. We can shorten it by skipping an interior and keeping the car close to each site.
Can we add Giza?
Yes, but the day becomes very long. We recommend the Pyramids, Memphis and Saqqara tour for that combination.
Where does the pickup happen?
At your hotel in Cairo or Giza. Send us the hotel name when you book and we confirm the pickup time in return.
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Before you go
Guides for this trip
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