Cairo, Giza, Saqqara & Memphis: Self-Launched Day Trip
1 days · Cairo & Giza, Egypt
Egypt Best Holidays charges £39
No-markup version: ~£28 per person
Estimate only, not a guaranteed price. Always verify costs independently before booking.
A DIY version of the classic Giza–Saqqara–Memphis day trip from Cairo. Skip the group minibus and the $49 tour price by using ride-hailing apps (Uber/Careem), the metro, and shared/local transport to string together the Giza Plateau, the Great Sphinx and Valley Temple, the Step Pyramid at Saqqara and the open-air museum at Memphis. Entrance tickets are bought on the spot (or via the official Egyptian Ministry of Tourism ticket portal), and a local lunch in a neighbourhood restaurant keeps costs down. All costs are approximate and per person; prices in Egypt are volatile, so budget a small buffer.
Day-by-day
Giza Plateau, Saqqara & Memphis under your own steam
Cairo / Giza / Saqqara / Memphis
Start early to beat the heat and the crowds. Around 07:30 order an Uber or Careem from your hotel in central Cairo or Giza to the Giza Plateau main entrance (roughly £2–3 for the 30–40 minute ride; agree on the app price to avoid haggling). Buy your ticket at the gate — the general plateau ticket covers entry to the site plus the Sphinx and Valley Temple viewing areas, with separate add-on tickets for going INSIDE the Great Pyramid of Cheops, Chephren or Mycerinus. Walk the classic circuit: Cheops, Chephren and Mycerinus, then down to the Great Sphinx and the Valley Temple. Allow 2.5–3 hours. Around 11:00 pick up another Careem/Uber (or negotiate a shared taxi with other travellers at the car park) for the 30–40 minute drive south to Saqqara (£3–4). Giza your own pace: the Step Pyramid of Djoser complex, the entrance colonnade, and the Unas pyramid / mastaba fields if you have energy. Lunch around 13:30 at a local koshari or grilled-chicken spot on the Saqqara road or back in Giza (£3–4 for a generous plate plus water). Mid-afternoon take a short shared taxi or Careem hop (£2–3) to Mit Rahina for the Memphis open-air museum — the colossal recumbent statue of Ramses II and the alabaster sphinx are the highlight, and it only needs 45–60 minutes. Return to Cairo by Uber/Careem or a shared microbus back toward the Giza metro terminus (£2–3), then metro to your neighbourhood (£0.30–0.50). Back at your hotel by 17:00–18:00. Practical notes: carry small Egyptian pound notes for tickets and tips, wear sun protection, and expect site ticket prices to change — buy official tickets only at the gate or the government portal, never from touts. Licensed local guides can be hired on the spot at Giza for around £15–20 if you want context, but the signage and a good guidebook/app cover the basics.
🚌Uber/Careem and shared taxis/microbuses between sites (approx £9 total for the day); optional Cairo Metro for the final leg
🛏Not included — stay at a hostel or budget hotel in Cairo/Giza (e.g. Dahab Hostel or a mid-range guesthouse in Giza, ~£10–18/night for a dorm or simple private room)
- →Self-guided Giza Plateau walk (Cheops, Chephren, Mycerinus pyramids + Sphinx + Valley Temple)
- →Optional entry inside the Great Pyramid of Cheops or Chephren (add-on ticket)
- →Self-guided Step Pyramid of Djoser complex and Saqqara archaeological site
- →Memphis open-air museum and statue of King Ramses II
- →Optional camel or horse ride at Giza (negotiate ~£5–10)
- →Optional quad bike at Giza Plateau
Self-launched vs. Egypt Best Holidays
| This itinerary (self-launched) | Egypt Best Holidays | |
|---|---|---|
| Price per person | ~£28 | £39 |
| Duration | 1 days | 1 days |
| Who books it | You and your group, direct | Tour operator, guided group |
| Savings | £11 per person (28%) | |
Estimate only, not a guaranteed price. Always verify costs independently before booking.
Want to see more Egypt Best Holidays-style trips? Check them out here.~£28
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 Cairo, Giza, Saqqara & Memphis: Self-Launched Day Trip cost?+
Doing it yourself with this self-launched itinerary costs an estimated £28 per person for 1 days in Cairo & 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 Egypt Best Holidays?+
Yes — Egypt Best Holidays charges around £39 per person for a similar tour. Doing the same route independently, using the same standard of accommodation and activities, costs an estimated £28 — a saving of roughly £11 (28%) per person.
How long is the Cairo & Giza, Egypt trip?+
This itinerary runs 1 days, covering 1 day-by-day stops through Cairo & 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, budget, backpacker trip through Cairo & 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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