BudgetDay Trip
Stopover
Cairo Stopover: Pyramids in 24 Hours
Private departurePyramids of Giza, Sphinx, Egyptian Museum
1 days·★ 4.7
From · per person
$54indicative · exact quote in 24h
CulturalLuxury
11 days · 10 nights · Cairo, Saqqara, Tell el-Amarna, Abydos, Luxor
Lost Cities of Egypt 11-Day Archaeology
Off-grid archaeological sites
★ 4.9 · 64 reviews—Private journeyFrom $3890 pp
All tours are private. Your group only — no strangers, no shared coaches, no fixed departures.
Journey highlights
- ★Stand before the Great Pyramid of Giza, last surviving ancient wonder
- ★Encounter the Sphinx face-to-face on the Giza Plateau
- ★Discover Tutankhamun's treasures at the Egyptian Museum
- ★Walk the colossal hypostyle hall of Karnak Temple in Luxor
- ★Witness sunrise over the Valley of the Kings
About this journey
This 11-day luxury cultural introduces you to the very best of Cairo, Saqqara, Tell el-Amarna, Abydos, Luxor, crafted by Egypt Stay & Tours' specialists with over 20 years of Egypt expertise. From the moment your private chauffeur greets you at the airport to your final farewell, every detail has been considered. You'll travel with an expert Egyptologist (or local equivalent) who brings ancient history to life, stay in carefully selected luxury accommodations, and experience moments most travellers miss.
Unlike generic group tours, this itinerary is fully customisable. Add experiences, extend stays, upgrade hotels, or adjust the pace — we tailor every journey to suit your style. With 24/7 in-country support, transparent pricing, and direct relationships with all suppliers (including our own seven hotels in Egypt), you'll experience Egypt the way it should be experienced: seamlessly, authentically, and without compromise.
Egyptologist's note
What this trip really shows you
Eleven days on the cities you have to read about because you can't easily visit them: Pi-Ramesses, Tanis, Heracleion (now underwater off Aboukir), Memphis, Akhetaten (Amarna), Hierakonpolis. Some are partial walks across mounds; some are museum-only with diver footage of the submerged sections. Led by an Egyptologist with site-archaeology specialisation.
Historical context
Most of pharaonic Egypt's capitals are gone. Memphis (capital from c.3100 BCE) is reduced to the Ramesses colossus and an open field. Pi-Ramesses, Ramesses II's Delta capital, sits under the village of Qantir; Tanis a few kilometres away absorbed Pi-Ramesses' stonework when the Pelusiac branch of the Nile silted. Akhetaten — Akhenaten's monotheist capital at modern Tell el-Amarna — was abandoned within a generation and is now a desert plain you walk. Heracleion sank into the Mediterranean somewhere around the 8th century CE and was rediscovered by Franck Goddio's team in 2000.
What you'll experience
- Memphis open-air museum and the Saqqara Imhotep Museum
- Tell el-Amarna (Akhetaten) — the abandoned monotheist capital, by 4WD from Minya
- Tanis and Pi-Ramesses sites (with Cairo-based archaeology guide)
- Alexandria's Heracleion exhibition + diver-footage screening
- Hierakonpolis pre-dynastic site at the Nile loop above Edfu
- Egyptian Museum's Tanis silver coffin display
Insider tip from your guide
Tell el-Amarna is a half-day of dust and remarkable solitude. Bring closed-toe boots, a wide-brim hat, and 4 litres of water per person. Most years there are zero other tourists at the royal tomb above the city.
Best for
Archaeology-curious travellers comfortable with limited site infrastructureRepeat visitors who want a non-standard itineraryPhotographers chasing landscape rather than monument shotsReaders of Toby Wilkinson's 'Rise and Fall of Ancient Egypt'
Day-by-day itinerary
Meet your representative at Cairo Airport, private transfer to hotel. Welcome briefing with your Egyptologist guide. Evening at leisure.
What's included
- ✓Private airport transfers (arrival & departure)
- ✓All accommodation (10 nights) on bed & breakfast basis
- ✓All sightseeing and excursions per itinerary
- ✓Expert local guide
- ✓All entry fees to monuments and sites
- ✓All transportation in private air-conditioned vehicle
- ✓Bottled water during tours
- ✓All taxes and service charges
- ✓24/7 emergency support during your trip
- ✓Lunch on touring days
- ✓Welcome dinner on day 1
- ✓Domestic flights (where included in itinerary)
- ✓VIP fast-track at airports
What's not included
- —International flights to/from your home country
- —Egypt entry visa (USD $25 on arrival or e-visa available)
- —Travel insurance (mandatory — we can recommend providers)
- —Personal expenses (laundry, phone calls, minibar)
- —Optional excursions and activities
- —Tips and gratuities for guides, drivers, and hotel staff (USD $8–12 per person per day suggested)
- —Drinks with meals (unless specifically stated)
- —Anything not specified in 'Inclusions'
Practical information
Practical Information
Best Time to Visit
October to April (cooler weather, peak season)
Departure Dates
Daily departures · Year-round
Languages Available
English, Arabic, German, French, Italian, Spanish (on request)
Physical Rating
Moderate — extensive sightseeing with significant walking, some uneven surfaces
Cancellation Policy
Free cancellation up to 60 days before departure. 50% refund 30-59 days. No refund within 30 days. (Christmas/NYE/peak holiday departures: 90 days for full refund.)
Deposit Required
20% at booking, balance 30 days before departure
Frequently Asked Questions
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