Private Tour Sakkara Memphis & Dahshur

Saqqara gives you Egypt’s first great pyramid, while Dahshur shows how Egyptian builders learned to create the smooth-sided pyramids later seen at Giza. I like the private format, which lets you set the pace, and the chance to visit three major sites without spending the whole day in the usual Giza crowds. The guide Salib has also arranged early starts and added stops such as Coptic Cairo and sunset at Giza when requested.

The main drawback is the extra cost of admission. The advertised $35 covers the tour service, vehicle, guide, water, parking, and taxes, but Saqqara, Memphis, Dahshur, and the Serapeum require separate Egyptian-pound payments. Add lunch or the ATV ride and the final bill rises.

Key points to know before booking

• Saqqara reveals the first stone pyramid: Spend about two hours exploring Djoser’s Step Pyramid, tomb reliefs, corridors, and the surrounding desert.
• Dahshur offers two very different pyramids: The Bent Pyramid shows an unusual change in angle, while the Red Pyramid is Egypt’s first successful smooth-sided pyramid.
• Memphis adds statues, not monumental scale: The Mit Rahina Museum holds the huge Ramses II statue and an alabaster sphinx.
• Your group gets a private vehicle and guide: Pickup and drop-off are offered at Cairo and Giza accommodations.
• A morning start is worth requesting: Salib has arranged first entry at Saqqara for an earlier, quieter visit to the monuments.
• Optional extras change the day: Lunch and a one-hour ATV ride outside the Giza Plateau can be added if selected.

Why Saqqara deserves your morning

Most first-time Cairo visits begin and end with Giza. That is understandable, but Saqqara explains where the pyramid story began. Here, the Step Pyramid of Djoser rises in a broad desert setting, built around 2700 BC as part of the first large stone funerary complex in Egypt.

I like Saqqara because it feels less like a single photo stop and more like an archaeological area you can explore. Your guide can point out the design of the pyramid, the surrounding walls, and the corridors that formed part of the burial complex. The site also includes decorated tombs with scenes of daily life, giving you something more personal than a giant pyramid outline.

Plan on about two hours here. That is enough time to walk through parts of the complex, study the reliefs, take photos, and pause for the desert views. You will want comfortable shoes, since this is a walking stop rather than a quick roadside look.

Ask for an early start if your schedule allows. Salib has arranged for an early arrival at Saqqara, with the Tomb of Kagemni visited first. That kind of timing matters. The cooler air is easier on you, and a quiet tomb gives you more time to look closely at the carved scenes without being hurried through.

The admission charge is not part of the $35 tour price. Saqqara entry is listed at 600 Egyptian pounds per person, with the Serapeum listed separately at 280 Egyptian pounds. If the Serapeum is important to you, ask in advance how it fits the day and what additional time or admission it requires.

Memphis puts the pyramids in context

After Saqqara, the drive continues to Mit Rahina Museum, located at ancient Memphis. Memphis was Egypt’s first capital, founded around 3150 BC, and the museum gives you a short stop with a different focus from the pyramids.

You will see the enormous fallen statue of Ramses II and an alabaster sphinx. The Ramses statue is the attention grabber, but the value of the stop comes from seeing royal sculpture in the place tied to Egypt’s earliest capital.

The visit lasts about 35 minutes. That is enough for the main statues and photos, but not enough for a long museum session. I see this as a useful pause between the two pyramid areas. It breaks up the walking and helps you understand that ancient Egypt was not only about tombs and pyramids. It was also about capitals, rulers, temples, and public sculpture.

Memphis entry is listed at 200 Egyptian pounds per person. Since the tour includes transport, guide service, parking, and water but not site tickets, keep Egyptian currency available for the admissions. Your guide can explain what you are seeing, which makes the short stop more worthwhile than simply looking at large stones and moving on.

Dahshur shows the experiment behind the perfect pyramid

Dahshur is the tour’s strongest reason to go beyond Giza. The Red Pyramid and Bent Pyramid belong to Snefru of the Fourth Dynasty and date to about 2600 BC. They are comparable in age and scale to the Giza pyramids, yet they offer shapes and settings you will not find at Giza.

The Bent Pyramid is the most unusual. Its lower section rises at one angle, then changes to a shallower slope near the top. The result is instantly recognizable and unlike any other pyramid in the area. Your guide can explain the building change and why the monument matters in the development of pyramid design.

The Red Pyramid is especially important because it is described as the first successful smooth-sided pyramid in Egypt. Its plain reddish stone gives it a different character from the pale limestone appearance many people associate with Giza. The site also gives you a chance to appreciate the size of a major pyramid without the same concentration of activity found around the famous plateau.

The planned stop lasts about one hour and 40 minutes. That provides time for the two pyramids, photos, and some walking, though the exact balance depends on your interests and the day’s pace. If you want to spend time entering a pyramid or lingering at both monuments, tell the guide early rather than treating the schedule as fixed.

Dahshur is still a desert site, so bring a hat, water, and shoes that can handle uneven ground. The tour provides bottled water, but your own sun protection remains important. There are broad open views here and little shade.

Dahshur admission is listed at 200 Egyptian pounds per person. Like Saqqara and Memphis, this is paid separately from the tour price. That makes the low headline fare attractive, but you should calculate the full cost before booking.

How the private setup changes the day

This is a private tour for your party only, not a shared coach outing. You receive pickup and drop-off at an accommodation inside Cairo or Giza, travel in an air-conditioned vehicle, and have an experienced guide with you at the sites.

The private setup is most useful for families, couples, and small groups with different interests. You can ask for more explanation at Saqqara, move faster through Memphis, or spend extra time photographing the Bent Pyramid. You are not waiting for strangers to finish shopping, eating, or taking pictures.

The schedule includes about 45 minutes from your accommodation to the first stop and another 45 minutes for the return. Cairo traffic can affect the feel of those transfers, but the vehicle gives you a break from the heat and walking. The overall experience is advertised at six to seven hours, depending on timing and selected extras.

The guide also offers a useful form of flexibility. One booking arranged Coptic Cairo and sunset at Giza in addition to the main route. Those additions are not part of the standard package, so treat that as an example of what may be possible, not a guaranteed inclusion. If you want to add a site, ask before the tour day.

What the $35 price really covers

At $35 per person, this is a low-cost way to arrange a private full-day outing from Cairo or Giza. You are paying for the guide, private transportation, hotel pickup and drop-off, bottled water, taxes, and parking. For a group, the value improves because group discounts are offered and the cost is shared across the party.

The separate admission charges are the key detail. Based on the listed rates, the main site entries are:

• Saqqara: 600 Egyptian pounds per person
• Memphis: 200 Egyptian pounds per person
• Dahshur: 200 Egyptian pounds per person
• Serapeum: 280 Egyptian pounds per person, if included or requested

Lunch is included only when you select that option. The one-hour ATV ride around the area outside the Giza Plateau is also an optional add-on, not part of the basic tour. Ask for the final total with all extras before you commit, especially if you are comparing this with a larger group excursion.

For me, the tour offers good value if you want a guide and transport to three spread-out locations. Arranging these sites on your own can mean working out separate transport and site timing. The price is less attractive if you only want a quick look at one pyramid or if you already have a driver and guide.

Lunch and ATV options

The optional lunch can make the day easier, since the route takes six to seven hours with driving and walking. It is not included automatically, so select it when booking if you prefer to have the meal built into the plan.

The ATV option adds a one-hour ride around the area outside the Giza Plateau. This is a separate recreational element, not part of the archaeological visits at Saqqara, Memphis, or Dahshur. It may suit you if you want more activity, but it also makes the day longer and less focused on ancient sites.

I would choose the ATV ride only if your group is genuinely interested in riding. If your priority is tomb reliefs, pyramid interiors, or extra photo time, use the available hours for the monuments instead. The private format makes that choice easier to discuss.

Who will get the most from this tour

This outing suits you if you have already seen, or plan to see, Giza and want a fuller picture of pyramid development. Saqqara and Dahshur are the main attractions, while Memphis adds an important capital-city stop.

It is also a good fit for anyone who dislikes large group schedules. A private guide can adjust the balance between explanation, walking, and photography. Families may appreciate the hotel pickup and air-conditioned vehicle, while photographers will like the open desert settings and the chance to request an early start.

You should think twice if your mobility makes extended walking difficult. The activity states that most people can participate, but it also recommends comfortable walking shoes. The sites are not presented as a short, fully seated sightseeing ride.

The tour is also not ideal for someone who wants every cost bundled into one payment. The admission fees are separate, and lunch and ATV riding cost extra. The low starting price is useful, but only after you add the items you actually want.

Practical advice for a smoother visit

Wear comfortable shoes and bring a hat. You will be walking through open archaeological areas, and the itinerary includes corridors, tomb spaces, monuments, and desert paths.

Request the earliest practical pickup. The strongest praise for the service centers on careful timing at Saqqara, especially reaching the monuments before other people and visiting the Tomb of Kagemni first. An early start can also make the outdoor portions more manageable.

Keep your camera ready at Memphis. The Ramses II statue and alabaster sphinx are the main visual highlights, and the 35-minute stop passes quickly.

Set aside money for admissions in Egyptian pounds. The tour provider covers parking and taxes, but not the listed entry tickets. Tipping is also not included.

Free cancellation is available if you cancel at least 24 hours before the local start time. Changes or cancellations made inside that window are not accepted for a refund.

Should you book the Saqqara, Memphis, and Dahshur tour?

I would book this tour if you want the pyramid story beyond the standard Giza visit, especially with a partner, family, or private group. Saqqara gives you Djoser’s first stone pyramid, Dahshur gives you the Bent and Red Pyramids, and Memphis adds royal statues from Egypt’s first capital. That is a strong historical arc for one day.

The best version of the tour starts early and keeps the focus on the monuments. Ask about Salib if you want the same careful timing described for the Saqqara visit, confirm the full admission cost, and decide in advance if lunch or the ATV ride fits your priorities.

Skip it only if you want a tightly bundled price with no extra admissions, or if you have limited time in Cairo and have not yet seen Giza. For everyone else, this is a practical private outing that reaches the ancient sites many Cairo itineraries leave out.

FAQ

How long does the private Saqqara, Memphis, and Dahshur tour last?

The tour lasts approximately six to seven hours. The listed schedule includes about 45 minutes from Cairo or Giza to the first stop and about 45 minutes for the return.

Does the tour include hotel pickup and drop-off?

Yes. Pickup and drop-off are offered at accommodations inside Cairo or Giza.

Is this a private tour?

Yes. Only your group participates, and the tour includes a private air-conditioned vehicle and guide.

Are the entrance fees included?

No. The listed entrance fees are 600 Egyptian pounds for Saqqara, 200 Egyptian pounds for Memphis, and 200 Egyptian pounds for Dahshur per person. The Serapeum is listed separately at 280 Egyptian pounds per person.

Is lunch included?

Lunch is included only if you select the lunch option when booking.

Can I add an ATV ride?

Yes. A one-hour ATV ride around the area outside the Giza Plateau is available as an optional add-on.

Can I cancel for a full refund?

Yes, if you cancel at least 24 hours before the experience start time. Cancellations or changes made less than 24 hours before the start are not accepted for a refund.