Saqqara, Dahshur and Memphis Tour with Lunch
Step beyond Giza and walk among the world's oldest stone monuments, sacred bull vaults, and a pharaonic open-air museum.
This full-day Saqqara Dahshur Memphis tour takes you to three of Egypt's most historically significant yet undervisited archaeological sites, offering a richer perspective on ancient Egyptian civilization than the Giza Plateau alone can provide. Hotel pickup and drop-off, all entrance fees, a local lunch, and air-conditioned transport are included throughout the day.
Saqqara served as the principal royal necropolis for the ancient capital Memphis and is home to the Step Pyramid of Djoser, widely recognized as the earliest large-scale stone structure ever constructed. The complex also contains the decorated burial chambers of Pharaohs Teti and Unas, whose pyramid texts rank among the oldest religious writings discovered anywhere in the world.
Dahshur adds a compelling architectural chapter to the day, presenting the Bent Pyramid and the Red Pyramid of Pharaoh Sneferu, both erected approximately 4,650 years ago and predating the Giza pyramids. Memphis, the ancient capital of Lower Egypt, closes the itinerary with its open-air museum, where a colossal limestone statue of Ramses II remains one of the most striking royal portraits to survive from antiquity.
Tour Highlights
Explore the Step Pyramid of Djoser at Saqqara, the world's oldest complete stone building, dating to around 2650 BCE.
Enter the burial chambers of Pharaohs Teti and Unas, decorated with the earliest known funerary texts in ancient Egypt.
Descend into the Serapeum of Saqqara to see the colossal granite sarcophagi of the sacred Apis bulls, worshipped as manifestations of the god Ptah.
Visit the Imhotep Museum, housing artifacts and architectural fragments excavated directly from the Saqqara necropolis.
See the Bent Pyramid and Red Pyramid of Sneferu at Dahshur, two of Egypt's best-preserved Old Kingdom pyramids built before Giza.
Stand before the massive fallen statue of Ramses II at the Memphis Open Air Museum, one of the most photogenic monuments in Egypt.
Enjoy a traditional Egyptian lunch at a local restaurant, included in the tour price with bottled water provided throughout the day.
Itinerary
Your guide will collect you from your Cairo hotel or preferred location at the agreed start time. The drive to the Saqqara plateau takes approximately 30 to 40 minutes south of central Cairo, depending on traffic.
The visit covers the Step Pyramid Complex of Djoser, the accessible burial chambers of Teti and Unas with their carved pyramid texts, and the Serapeum of Saqqara where the Apis bulls were interred in enormous granite sarcophagi. The Imhotep Museum, dedicated to the architect who conceived stone construction on this scale, completes the Saqqara segment.
A stop at a local restaurant provides a break for a traditional Egyptian meal. Bottled water is provided, and time is also allocated to observe artisans at a handmade carpet workshop nearby.
The tour continues to the Dahshur royal necropolis, where Pharaoh Sneferu's Bent Pyramid and Red Pyramid stand largely intact after 4,650 years. These monuments represent the critical transition in pyramid construction that made the Giza complexes possible.
The final stop is the open-air museum at Mit Rahina, the site of ancient Memphis, where the colossal recumbent statue of Ramses II and a sphinx of alabaster are among the key exhibits. Your guide will then transfer you back to your hotel to conclude the tour.
What Is Included
Included
- Hotel pickup and drop-off in Cairo
- Air-conditioned private vehicle
- Licensed tour guide throughout the day
- All entrance fees to Saqqara, Serapeum, Imhotep Museum, Dahshur, and Memphis
- Traditional Egyptian lunch at a local restaurant
- Bottled water during the tour
Not Included
- Gratuities for guide and driver
- Personal purchases and souvenirs
- Optional interior access to Dahshur pyramids if separately charged
- Beverages beyond bottled water at lunch
Important Information
Reserve Your Place on This Tour
Secure your spot on this full-day journey through Egypt's oldest pyramid sites, including hotel transfers, lunch, and all entrance fees.
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