Memphis, Saqqara & Dahshur Pyramids Day Tour from Cairo

A private day trip beyond the Giza plateau to the open-air museum at Memphis, the Step Pyramid at Saqqara, and the Red and Bent Pyramids at Dahshur.

Check Availability

DurationFull day, approx. 6–7 hours

Tour TypeDay Tour

Group SizePrivate

Step Pyramid of Djoser rising above the desert at Saqqara

Colossal statue of Ramesses II lying in the Memphis open-air museum near Cairo

Bent Pyramid of Pharaoh Sneferu at Dahshur with its original limestone casing

+3 Photos

Red Pyramid at Dahshur south of Cairo under a clear blue sky

Pyramids of Giza on the plateau under a clear sky

Great Sphinx of Giza with a pyramid behind it

Tour Details

Memphis, Saqqara & Dahshur Pyramids Day Tour from Cairo

This private day tour from Cairo covers three of Egypt's most important pyramid fields outside Giza: Memphis, Saqqara and Dahshur. Over roughly six to seven hours, a licensed Egyptologist guide leads you through the open-air museum at Memphis, ancient Egypt's first capital; Saqqara's Step Pyramid of Djoser, the world's earliest large stone monument; and Dahshur's Red and Bent Pyramids, built decades before the Great Pyramid at Giza. Unlike a Giza-only visit, this route reaches sites that keep noticeably smaller crowds even in peak season. A private air-conditioned vehicle and guide are included; lunch and personal expenses are not. It suits first-time visitors who have already seen Giza and want the fuller story of how Egyptian pyramid-building actually developed.

Tour pricePrice on requestThe final price and all inclusions are confirmed in your written quotation before booking.

Quick facts

Route: Cairo/Giza hotel → Memphis → Saqqara → Dahshur → Cairo/Giza hotel
Duration: Full day, approx. 6–7 hours
Overnights: None – single-day tour
Style: Private, guided
Best for: First-time visitors who have already done Giza, history and archaeology fans, photographers

Highlights

Memphis open-air museum, capital of Egypt for over 3,000 years
Saqqara's Step Pyramid of Djoser, the world's oldest large stone building
The Bent Pyramid at Dahshur, still carrying patches of its original limestone casing
The Red Pyramid, Egypt's first successful smooth-sided pyramid
Noticeably smaller crowds than the Giza plateau, even in high season
Private licensed Egyptologist guide included

Before you book

Share your group size, rooming needs, mobility requirements and dietary requests before confirmation. Transport, accommodation, admissions, meals and optional services are included only when they appear in the written quotation.

Itinerary

Tour itinerary

Day 01MEMPHIS

You're picked up from your hotel in Cairo or Giza and driven south to Memphis, capital of Egypt for more than three thousand years and now an open-air museum. You're standing where the ancient world once measured the wealth of a superpower — Memphis was the administrative heart of Egypt from the First Dynasty onward. The star exhibit is a colossal fallen statue of Ramses II, carved from a single block of limestone, alongside a large alabaster sphinx guarding the museum grounds.

Day 02SAQQARA

From Memphis you continue to Saqqara, the necropolis that served the ancient capital for over three thousand years. You visit the Step Pyramid of Djoser, built around 2670 BCE as the world's earliest large-scale stone structure — every pyramid at Giza and Dahshur descends from this one design. The six-tiered structure and its surrounding stone enclosure mark the first time an Egyptian architect built to last in stone rather than mudbrick.

Day 03DAHSHUR

You finish at Dahshur, where Pharaoh Sneferu built two pyramids while working out how to make one stand up straight. The Bent Pyramid changes angle partway up, the visible result of an early engineering correction, and still carries patches of its original polished limestone casing. Alongside it, the Red Pyramid is Egypt's first successful smooth-sided pyramid — the direct model for the Great Pyramid at Giza that followed. You begin the drive back to Cairo, arriving at your hotel by mid-to-late afternoon.

✓Tour included

Private licensed Egyptologist guide
Private air-conditioned vehicle with driver
Hotel pickup and drop-off in Cairo or Giza
Entrance fees to Memphis, Saqqara and Dahshur
Bottled water during the tour

×Tour excluded

Lunch and beverages
Gratuities
Personal expenses
Entry ticket to the interior of the Bent or Red Pyramid (optional, separate ticket)

Egyptian Voyages

Why choose us

Who this suits
First-time visitors extending beyond Giza, history and archaeology enthusiasts, photographers wanting quieter sites, and travelers with one extra free day in Cairo. Not the best first stop for travelers who have not yet seen Giza itself – see Giza first, then add this tour.

Practical notes
Wear closed, comfortable shoes – the ground at Saqqara and Dahshur is uneven in places. Some areas involve walking on sand. This tour runs privately, so pace and stop order can be adjusted on request. [Pickup time to confirm based on your hotel location]

Frequently asked questions

How long does the Memphis, Saqqara and Dahshur tour take?
Most private tours run around six to seven hours door to door, including the drive time between the three sites.

Can I visit Dahshur and Saqqara on the same day as Giza?
It is possible but rushed. We recommend seeing Giza and the Sphinx on one day and Memphis, Saqqara and Dahshur on a second day, so neither visit feels hurried.

Is Dahshur open to visitors?
Yes – the Bent and Red Pyramids are open, and both are less crowded than the pyramids at Giza.

Why Choose This Tour With Egyptian Voyages
Booking Memphis, Saqqara and Dahshur independently means arranging transport and timing across three separate sites in one day – get the sequencing wrong and you lose light or lose an hour to traffic between them. We build the route and timing so all three fit comfortably into one day, with a licensed Egyptologist guide who can explain why Sneferu needed two attempts at Dahshur before the Great Pyramid at Giza was possible.

Your vehicle and driver are arranged for the whole day – no separate taxis, no re-negotiating a price at each stop.

Ready to book? Contact us to check availability and confirm your pickup time.

Before you book
Review the confirmed accommodation, transport, admissions, meals and optional services in your written quotation. Share mobility, dietary, rooming and child-seat requirements before payment so availability can be checked.

Planning note
Operating times, access and the order of visits can change. Egyptian Voyages confirms the final sequence for the booked date and does not guarantee weather-dependent experiences.

FAQ

Frequently asked questions

What does the Memphis, Saqqara and Dahshur day tour cover?

This private day tour from Cairo visits three pyramid fields outside Giza: the open-air museum at Memphis, ancient Egypt's first capital; the Step Pyramid of Djoser at Saqqara, the world's earliest large stone monument; and the Red and Bent Pyramids at Dahshur, built decades before the Great Pyramid at Giza.

How long does the Memphis, Saqqara and Dahshur tour take?

It is a single full-day tour of roughly six to seven hours, starting and ending at your Cairo or Giza hotel. There are no overnights.

Is it worth visiting Saqqara and Dahshur if I have already seen the Giza Pyramids?

Yes. Together they show how Egyptian pyramid-building developed, from Djoser's stepped monument to the Bent and Red Pyramids. These sites also keep noticeably smaller crowds than Giza, even in peak season.

What is included in the Memphis, Saqqara and Dahshur day tour?

The tour includes a private licensed Egyptologist guide, a private air-conditioned vehicle with driver, hotel pickup and drop-off in Cairo or Giza, entrance fees to Memphis, Saqqara and Dahshur, and bottled water during the tour.

What is not included in the price?

Lunch and beverages, gratuities, and personal expenses are not included.

Is this a private tour?

Yes. You travel with your own licensed Egyptologist guide and a private air-conditioned vehicle, so the pace and stops follow your group.

Who is this tour best suited to?

It suits first-time visitors who have already seen Giza and want the fuller story of Egyptian pyramid-building.

How do I check availability and get a price for the Memphis, Saqqara and Dahshur day tour?

Fill in the Check Availability form on this page with your preferred dates and group size, or message us on WhatsApp. Our team replies with availability and a tailored quote. Sending an enquiry does not commit you to anything.