Self-Launched Giza Pyramids, Saqqara, Memphis & Dahshur Day Trip
1 days · Giza, Egypt
Egyptian Nile Adventures charges £47
No-markup version: ~£35 per person
Estimate only, not a guaranteed price. Always verify costs independently before booking.
This self-launched day trip covers all the iconic ancient sites around Cairo and Giza — the Great Pyramids, the Sphinx, the Valley Temple, Saqqara's Step Pyramid, the ruins of Memphis, and the Bent and Red Pyramids at Dahshur. Instead of paying for a private guided tour through an operator, you can book a local licensed guide and shared transport independently, saving significantly. Lunch at a local Cairo restaurant is easily arranged on your own. These cost estimates are approximate and based on current budget traveller rates.
Day-by-day
Giza Pyramids, Saqqara, Memphis & Dahshur
Giza & Cairo, Egypt
Start early — aim to be at the Giza Plateau by 08:00 to beat the heat and crowds. The Giza complex entry fee covers the Pyramids and the Great Sphinx; entry inside the Great Pyramid of Khufu is an optional extra (~£12). Spend 2–3 hours here exploring the complex and the Valley Temple on foot. From Giza, hire a local taxi or shared microbus south to Saqqara (~30 min, ~£2–3 by shared transport or ~£8 by negotiated taxi). The Step Pyramid of Djoser is the world's oldest stone pyramid — allow 1–1.5 hours. Continue ~5 km to Memphis (Mit Rahina), the ancient capital, to see the colossal statue of Ramesses II and the Alabaster Sphinx (~45 min). Head next to Dahshur (~10 km south), home to the Bent Pyramid and the Red Pyramid — you can actually enter the Red Pyramid for free as part of the site ticket. Break for lunch at a local restaurant near Saqqara or back in Giza (ask your taxi driver for a non-touristy recommendation). Aim to finish by 16:00. Taxis for the full Saqqara–Memphis–Dahshur loop can be negotiated at Giza for ~£20–25 for the day — agree the price upfront.
🚌From your Cairo/Giza hotel, take a Bolt or Uber to the Giza Plateau (~£3–5). For the Saqqara–Memphis–Dahshur loop, negotiate a full-day private taxi at the Giza car park — expect to pay £20–25 for the return circuit. Alternatively, white microbuses run from Giza to Saqqara village (£1–2) but require more navigation. Shared taxis and local minibuses also run between sites for budget travellers willing to piece the route together.
🛏Not applicable — this is a single-day excursion. If you need a base in Cairo/Giza, budget hostels such as Cairo Hostel or Pyramids View Inn offer dorms from ~£8–12/night or private rooms from ~£18–25/night.
- →Visit Giza Pyramids Complex including the Great Pyramid of Khufu — book entry via the official Egyptian Ministry of Antiquities ticket office on-site (~£7 per person)
- →View the Great Sphinx and explore the Valley Temple — included in Giza site ticket
- →Travel to Saqqara Step Pyramid by negotiated day-hire taxi from Giza (~£20–25 for the full loop)
- →Explore Memphis City open-air museum including the Ramesses II statue (~£3 entry)
- →Visit Dahshur Pyramids — enter the Red Pyramid and view the Bent Pyramid (~£4 entry)
- →Optional: 15-minute camel ride at Giza (~£5–8, negotiate firmly before mounting)
- →Optional: ticket to enter the Great Pyramid interior (~£12 extra)
- →Lunch at a local Egyptian restaurant near Saqqara or Giza (~£5–8)
- →Optional: 1-hour quad bike ride in the Giza desert — bookable via GetYourGuide or on-site (~£20–25)
- →Optional: evening Nile felucca ride or dinner cruise back in Cairo (~£10–20)
Self-launched vs. Egyptian Nile Adventures
| This itinerary (self-launched) | Egyptian Nile Adventures | |
|---|---|---|
| Price per person | ~£35 | £47 |
| Duration | 1 days | 1 days |
| Who books it | You and your group, direct | Tour operator, guided group |
| Savings | £12 per person (26%) | |
Estimate only, not a guaranteed price. Always verify costs independently before booking.
Want to see more Egyptian Nile Adventures-style trips? Check them out here.~£35
estimated per person
You never pay Travel Crew for this — you pay hostels, transport, and activity providers directly, the same as if you'd booked it all yourself.
This publishes your dates so other travellers can find and join you — no tour operator needed.
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Frequently asked questions
How much does Self-Launched Giza Pyramids, Saqqara, Memphis & Dahshur Day Trip cost?+
Doing it yourself with this self-launched itinerary costs an estimated £35 per person for 1 days in Giza, Egypt. This is an AI-generated estimate based on typical budget-traveller prices — actual costs will vary by season and how you book.
Is this cheaper than booking with Egyptian Nile Adventures?+
Yes — Egyptian Nile Adventures charges around £47 per person for a similar tour. Doing the same route independently, using the same standard of accommodation and activities, costs an estimated £35 — a saving of roughly £12 (26%) per person.
How long is the Giza, Egypt trip?+
This itinerary runs 1 days, covering 1 day-by-day stops through Giza, Egypt.
How do I join this trip?+
You can join an existing open departure using this itinerary if one is scheduled, or launch your own departure with your own dates and invite other travellers to join you — no tour operator required.
Isn't it easier to just use a tour operator?+
Well, yes, a tour operator will book all the individual parts of your travel for you and provide a guide. That's obvious, but doing this has the potential to save the group thousands, which can in turn improve your itinerary substantially or save you huge amounts of money. Also, when you launch a departure, Travel Crew has tools in place to help you book the individual sections of the trip or make it easier for you to do this as a group. Really, you do not need a middle man. If you are more comfortable paying more and using a middle man, then you should certainly do this.
Is it safer to book through a tour operator?+
Arguably, there isn't much difference. A self-launched trip runs on the same principle as a group travel crew: collective responsibility, everyone looking out for each other, the same way it would if a group of friends organised the trip themselves — because that's exactly what's happening. You should always take out travel insurance before you go, self-launched or not; that doesn't change either way. Every open departure is published publicly with real dates and a real trip organiser, so it's never an anonymous arrangement, and our support team is reachable any time you need help, including in an emergency while you're away. Longer-term, we're building direct relationships with ground DMCs in popular destinations, offered as an optional paid add-on for extra on-the-ground support. Ultimately, though, the group is responsible for its own conduct and safety on a self-launched trip, same as on any trip you plan yourself.
What kind of trip is this?+
This is a culture, adventure, budget trip through Giza, Egypt, self-launched rather than run by a tour operator — you organise it with a group you find or bring yourself.
Would you like to name the operator, name the trip, or have any suggestions about how to improve this itinerary?
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