Egypt · Archaeology

2-Day Ancient Egypt and Old Cairo Tour with Giza and Saqqara

2 Days Round trip from Cairo Easy pace

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The journey

Trip highlights

01 Marvel at the Giza Pyramids and the Great Sphinx
02 Admire the golden treasures of Tutankhamun
03 Visit the Citadel of Saladin, Alabaster Mosque, and Hanging Church in Old Cairo
04 Explore the ancient pyramid fields of Saqqara and the open-air museum of Memphis

Pushed for time in Egypt's capital? See Cairo's top attractions in two action-packed days on this private tour with an Egyptologist guide. Experience the stunning Giza Pyramids and Great Sphinx, then visit the ancient pyramid fields of Saqqara and the open-air museum of Memphis. Gaze at Tutankhamun's golden treasures at the Egyptian Museum, and explore the highlights of Old Cairo, including the Alabaster Mosque and Hanging Church.

Experience the stunning Giza Pyramids and Great Sphinx, then visit the ancient pyramid fields of Saqqara and the open-air museum of Memphis.

From the itinerary

At a glance

What this trip includes

Duration 2 Days

Tour type Private

Activity level Easy

Accommodation Not included

Transport Included

Wheelchair access No

Cities Cairo, Giza, Saqqara, Memphis

Languages English, French, German, Italian, Portuguese, Spanish

Day by day

The itinerary

Day 01

Giza Pyramids, Saqqara, and Ancient Memphis

Your Egyptologist guide will meet you at your Cairo or Giza hotel at 8 am in an air-conditioned vehicle.
At the Giza Pyramids, admire the three vast pyramids of the kings and the several smaller pyramids that served as tombs of the queens. If you'd like to climb inside the Great Pyramid or see King Khufu's solar boat, your guide can arrange this for an additional charge.
Stroll out into the sands and scramble aboard a camel for a 30-minute ride on the famous "ship of the desert" before discovering the Valley Temple and the iconic Sphinx.
Have lunch at a local restaurant with a view of the pyramids.
Continue to Saqqara to see the Pyramid of Djoser, probably Egypt's oldest pyramid, enter the Pyramid of Teti to see the pyramid texts, and admire the stunning reliefs in the Tombs of the Nobles.
Then drive to Memphis, Egypt's ancient capital and administrative center until around 2,200 BC. View the UNESCO-listed sculptures and ruins in its outdoor museum, and behold its star attraction: a spectacularly giant fallen statue of Ramses II.

Day 02

Egyptian Museum, Old Cairo, and Khan el-Khalili

Your specialist guide will pick you up from your hotel in a private air-conditioned van and take you to the Egyptian Museum, located in Tahrir Square.
Inside the museum garden, your guide will give you a brief introduction to ancient Egyptian history, how it began, where the first capital was, and which king united Upper and Lower Egypt.
On the first floor, your Egyptologist guide will explain in detail the Old Kingdom, who built it, when it began, and how it ended.
You will encounter some of the kings and queens of the Old Kingdom, and also learn how the scribe became important and why dwarfs became famous in Egyptian history.
On the second floor, you will spend more time enjoying your guide's explanation of the Golden Pharaoh Tutankhamun, and you will also learn more about the secret of mummification.
You will also discover that the first paper in the world was made in Egypt. Then, you will have free time to look around and take lunch at a local restaurant.
Continue to Islamic Cairo to visit the amazing Citadel of Saladin, built during the 12th century and comprised of a number of important monuments. You will also visit the Alabaster Mosque of Muhammad Ali, built during the 18th century, as well as the Mosque of Suleiman Pasha, Joseph's Walls, and Mohamed Ali Pasha Palace.
Then move on to Old Coptic Cairo. This colorful quarter is the original home of the Coptic Christians, one of the world's oldest Christian denominations. Stop to see the Hanging Church, also known as St. Virgin Mary Church. Built in the 7th century, this old church takes its name from its location above a gateway in the old Roman fortress. Admire the courtyard and interior with its screens, marble pulpit, and icons, and hear about its long history. Next, after visiting the Monastery and Church of St. George, an early 20th-century church and the only round church in Egypt, continue to Abu Serga, a 5th-century Coptic church.
View the 24 interior columns and 12th-century icons on the walls, and learn how the church stands where the Holy Family is thought to have stayed during their flight into Egypt from Israel during the time of King Herod. Then take a look at the Ben Ezra Synagogue, once a Christian church, before finishing your tour at the Coptic Museum, located in one of the oldest areas of Coptic Cairo. See some of the 16,000 ancient artifacts on display, including precious icons and books that illustrate the history of Egypt's Coptic community.
End the day with a visit to Khan el-Khalili.