8-Hour Giza Pyramids and Old Cairo Tour with Cairo Tower

The journey

Trip highlights

• 01 Admire the great architecture of the Pyramids of Giza
• 02 Visit the Khufu, Khafre, and Menkaure pyramids
• 03 Marvel at the Great Sphinx, with the head of a pharaoh and the body of a lion
• 04 Enjoy scenic views of Cairo from the Cairo Tower or El-Gezira Tower
• 05 Take a walk through Babylon Fortress, one of the largest fortresses in Egypt

Travel back to Egypt's past and discover its enchanting history as you visit the great Giza Pyramids of Cheops, Chephren, and Mykerinus. Witness the legendary Sphinx and Valley Temple, explore the Babylon Fortress of Old Cairo, one of the largest fortresses in Egypt, and enjoy incredible views of Cairo from the El-Gezira Tower.

Proceed to visit the Great Sphinx, the head of a pharaoh with a lion's body, which dates back to the time of Chephren.

From the itinerary

At a glance

What this trip includes

Duration 8 Hours

Tour type Private

Activity level Easy

Accommodation Not included

Transport Included

Wheelchair access Yes

Cities Cairo, Giza

Languages English

Day by day

The itinerary

1

Day 01

Giza Pyramids, Old Cairo and Cairo Tower

• Get picked up by your Egypt tour representative from your hotel in Cairo and start the tour.
• Head to discover one of the Seven Wonders of the World, the Great Pyramid of Khufu (Cheops) and the 3 small pyramids.
• Continue to explore the rest of the Giza Plateau, including Khafre's (Kaphren) Pyramid, the second-largest pyramid on the Giza site, the remains of the Funeral Temple, the Pyramid of Menkaure (Mykerinus), and 3 small pyramids.
• Proceed to visit the Great Sphinx, the head of a pharaoh with a lion's body, which dates back to the time of Chephren.
• Pay a visit to the Valley Temple, which belongs to the pyramids of Chephren. This temple served two functions: first, it was used for the purification of the mummy of the king before burial; second, it was used for the mummification process of the king.
• After visiting the pyramids, continue across the plateau for a photo opportunity of the three pyramids rising from the sands.
• Proceed to visit Old Cairo. Your first stop is Babylon Fortress, also known as the Wax Palace or Babylon Castle. It is an ancient fortress located in Cairo and is considered one of the largest fortresses of the Roman civilization in Egypt. It is one of the largest fortresses built by the empire, and it was the center around which the city of Fustat was built.
• Go on to admire fascinating architectural wonders such as the Hanging Church, which was built between the 3rd century and the beginning of the 4th century. It was built in the Basilica style.
• Then head to the Church of St. Sergius and Bacchus, which holds a special place among the other Coptic churches as it is linked to the path of the Holy Family during their escape from King Herod to the land of Egypt. According to Christian belief, the church is named after Saints Sergius and Bacchus, who were martyred in the region of Rusafa in Syria.
• No visit to Coptic Cairo is complete without seeing the Ben Ezra Synagogue in Cairo, called El-Shamieen Church, now located behind the Hanging Church of the Blessed Virgin Mary.
• Head to the Cairo Tower, or El-Gezira Tower (Brag El-Qahari in Arabic), which is considered one of the most prominent features of the Egyptian capital.
• Return to the hotel.

The route

Where you'll travel

The fine print

Trip details

What's Included

• All transfers by a private air-conditioned vehicle
• Pick-up from your hotel and return
• Private English-speaking Egyptologist guide
• Entrance fees to all the mentioned sites
• Bottled water during your trip
• Shopping tours in Cairo
• All taxes and service charges

What's Not Included

• Any extras not mentioned in the itinerary
• Tipping

What to bring

• You must bring a valid photo ID to verify your name and age.

Know before you go

• Please refer to your itinerary for redemption instructions.
• Please be ready and waiting in your hotel lobby 15 minutes prior to your scheduled pickup time.
• Please inform us of your hotel name, address, or arrival flight number, airline, and time 48 hours before the start of your activity.
• Hanging Church: It rises majestically on the ancient tower of the Fortress of Babylon, with an interior full of symbolism and icons. It has become one of the most visited monuments in the most magnetic city in Egypt. With an essence that mixes Roman, Egyptian, and Babylonian architecture, it becomes a place where the line between legend and history blurs.
• Cairo Tower: Its partially open lattice-work design is intended to evoke a lotus plant. Cairo Tower was built from 1956 to 1961 during the presidency of Gamal Abdel Nasser with Soviet assistance. It is 187 m high, 50 meters higher than the Great Pyramid of Giza, and stands on a base of Aswan granite stones, the same material the Egyptians used to build their monasteries and temples of the pharaohs. It has 16 floors, and the elevator takes 45 seconds to reach the top. You can experience a full panorama of Cairo, the pyramids, buildings, the Sphinx, the Nile, Castle Salah El-Din, and Azhar. There is also a telescope, a cafeteria on the 15th floor, and a rotating restaurant on the 14th floor at a height of 160 meters, where the waiters are dressed as ancient Egyptians. Cairo Tower is considered an architectural masterpiece and a major attraction for tourists visiting Egypt.

Logistics

Meeting & route

Meeting point

Cairo, Egypt

Tour start

Cairo, Cairo Governorate, Egypt

Tour ends at the same location as the start point.