Cairo, Egypt ยท Day trip

Half day Giza pyramids and the Great Sphinx

New tour4 to 5 hoursSmall group, by the seatEnglish
Free cancellationEntry includedHotel pick up
Half day Giza pyramids and the Great SphinxHalf day Giza pyramids and the Great SphinxHalf day Giza pyramids and the Great SphinxHalf day Giza pyramids and the Great Sphinx1 of 4

Khufu, Khafre and Menkaure, the panoramic viewpoint and the Sphinx, with a licensed Egyptologist. Back at your hotel by half past twelve.

Highlights

  • The Great Pyramid of Khufu, the last of the seven wonders still standing
  • All three pyramids lined up from the panoramic viewpoint
  • The Great Sphinx from the enclosure, with the Valley Temple below
  • A licensed Egyptologist, not a driver reading a script

Inclusions

  • Licensed Egyptologist guide
  • Air conditioned transportation
  • Hotel pick up and drop off
  • Bottled water during the tour
  • Entrance fees to the Giza Plateau
  • Visit to the Great Pyramids
  • Visit to the Great Sphinx
  • Panoramic viewpoint photo stop

Exclusions

  • Entry inside the Great Pyramid or other pyramids
  • Camel or horse ride
  • Lunch and beverages
  • Personal expenses
  • Gratuities

Cancellation policy

Free cancellation up to 24 hours before pick up

Cancel more than 24 hours before your start time and you are refunded in full, with no fee. Inside 24 hours the ground costs are committed, so the booking is not refundable. If we cancel, for weather, a site closure or anything at our end, you are refunded in full whatever the notice.

Your experience

The plateau rewards an early start more than almost any site in Egypt. At eight the light is still low enough to give the stonework depth, the temperature is workable, and the ground is quiet. By midday it is none of those things.

  1. 08:00Hotel pick upYour guide meets you in the lobby of your hotel in Cairo or Giza.30 to 45 min
  2. 08:45The Great PyramidsKhufu, Khafre and Menkaure, with how they were built and what we still argue about.1 hr 30 min
  3. 10:15Panoramic viewpointThe stop where all three pyramids line up.20 min
  4. 10:35The Great SphinxThe Sphinx from the enclosure, and the Valley Temple if it is open that day.45 min
  5. 11:20Free timeA short break for the souvenir stalls.20 min
  6. 11:40Back to your hotelDropped off between 12:15 and 12:30.30 to 45 min

Know before you go

The stalls at Giza

There is persistent selling on the plateau: camel rides, headscarves, photographs. It is the single most common complaint in Egypt reviews, including on very good tours. A firm no thank you works, and your guide will step in.

Inside the Great Pyramid

Interior tickets are capped daily and sell out. We do not include one, because we cannot promise it. Tell your guide at pick up and they will try at the ticket office. Treat it as a maybe, not a plan.

Summer heat

Cairo passes 40C from June to August. Between those months we move the pick up earlier and tell you the new time when you book.

Meeting point
The lobby of your hotel in Cairo or Giza. We confirm the exact time the evening before.
Start time
08:00 as standard. Ask if you need it moved.
Group size
A small shared group. You book seats, not the whole vehicle.
Languages
English
Physical level
moderate

Questions people ask before they book

Can I go inside the Great Pyramid?

Not as part of this tour. Interior tickets are capped daily and sell out, so we cannot promise one. Tell your guide at pick up and they will try at the ticket office. Treat it as a maybe.

What time do I get back?

Between 12:15 and 12:30 at your hotel, which leaves the afternoon free.

Is entry to the sites included?

Yes. Every entrance fee listed under Inclusions is in the price. You will not be asked for money at the gate.

Do you collect me from my hotel?

Yes, from any hotel in Cairo or Giza, and we drop you back. We confirm the exact time the evening before.

What if I need to cancel?

Cancel more than 24 hours before pick up and you are refunded in full, no fee. Inside 24 hours the guide, vehicle and tickets are already committed, so it is not refundable. If we cancel, you are refunded in full whatever the notice.

How much should I tip?

Tipping is normal in Egypt and genuinely optional with us, because our guides are paid a full rate before any tip. If you want a number, most travellers give the guide 100 to 200 EGP for a half day.

Will I be hassled by sellers?

On the Giza plateau, yes, and we would rather say so. Camel rides, headscarves, photographs. A firm no thank you works and your guide will step in. It is the most common complaint in Egypt reviews, including on very good tours.

Is it wheelchair accessible?

No. There is a moderate amount of walking on uneven, sandy ground. Tell us about any mobility need before you book and we will give you a straight answer rather than a hopeful one.

What should I bring?

Comfortable closed shoes, a hat, sunscreen, sunglasses and a little cash for tips. Water is provided.

Is this a private tour?

No. You book seats, and you may share the vehicle with a small number of other travellers. If you want the whole vehicle to yourselves, ask us and we will quote it.

Why book this with us

Three things a listing site will not tell you.

The hour, not just the placeEvery tour says the hour it starts and why. Giza at eight is a different place from Giza at one, and the difference is the whole trip.
What is not included, up frontWe list what you do not get as plainly as what you do. No surprises at the gate is easy to promise and rare to keep.
A guide, or your money backLicensed, local, and the right specialist for the site. Being handed a driver with a script is the most common complaint in Egypt. It is not a thing that happens here.

Seats go at 08:00.

Free cancellation up to 24 hours before pick up, and nothing charged until we have confirmed your seats with the operator in writing.

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From 90 USDHalf day Giza pyramids and the Great Sphinx
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