Discover Memphis and Sakkara, two of Egypt's most important archaeological treasures. Sakkara is home to the oldest pyramid in Egypt, and Memphis was the former capital founded in 3,100 BC.
Memphis, founded around 3,100 BC, is the legendary city of Menes, the King who united Upper and Lower Egypt. Early on, Memphis was more like a fortress from which Menes controlled the land and water routes between Upper Egypt and the Delta. Having probably originated in Upper Egypt, from Memphis he could control the conquered people of Lower Egypt.
A 20 - 30 minute drive away from the Pyramids of Giza, Sakkara, home of Egypt's oldest pyramid. Built by Imohotep for pharaoh Zoser in 2650BC, the famous Step Pyramid is well preserved. Your guide will give you a brief history of the site before allowing you free time to walk around the perimeter of the impressive structure.
Sakkara is one section of the great necropolis of Memphis, the Old Kingdom capital and the kings of the 1st Dynasty as well as that of the 2nd Dynasty. are mostly buried in this section of the Memphis necropolis. Three major discoveries have recently been made at Sakkara, including a prime minister's tomb, a queen's pyramid, and the tomb of the son of a dynasty founding king.
This is a private tour allowing you to determine the amount of time spent at each site during the tour. In addition you will have the chance to visit a Papyrus Institute to see how this famous artwork is made and have the chance to purchase genuine items if you wish. If you do not want to include this visit, just inform your guide on the day.
Mohammed was a really excellent guide. He made the history come to life, telling the stories of Alexander the Great, Anthony and Cleopatra, and Ramesses. And all this amid the power-plays of the great ancient kingdoms.
Review by: Dan B, April 2017
Seeing the statues of Ramses !! at Memphis in the open air museum was interesting as you could walk all around the statues. Our guide explained that in an area behind the museum the historians thought there may be other statues still buried. After Memphis we went to the pyramids at Sakkara which are older than the Giza pyramids. The drive between the two sites gave our guide time to discuss the history of the area.
Review by: Stacey L, March 2017
This tour was amazing the only thing I would change was the tour guide. The site was awesome, and my husband and I had a great time we just wished we had a more interactive tour guide.
Review by: Rajesh P, September 2016
Excellent guide Mr Osama and the Driver too. Both of them on time to pick up.Mr Osama was wonderful joking during the travel and informative at site.Thanks a lot Viator and team
Review by: Karen, June 2016
Good for a half day tour.
Review by: Ashleyida6, December 2015
The Sakkara step pyramid was incredible! It's really close to Giza. Memphis didn't have as much, but it was still great to see. Our tour guide Tito was so informative! I highly recommend asking for him!
Review by: Julie K, November 2015
Two unknown gems that people should really see on their trip to Cairo. Travel was easy and Ahmad was the best guide and very knowledgeable. Thank you Ahmad for taking such good care of us!
Review by: MariaIsabel H p, October 2015
Enjoyed
Review by: Sione Sonata T, October 2015
Step back in time and walk through one of the ancient capitals of Egypt. Truly an amazing opportunity plus a great young Egyptologist who have gave us great insight into the history of this wonderful place. I would highly recommend friends and colleagues to visit this place along with this tour company that have taken us on this tour.
Review by: Kathryn W, September 2015
A fascinating look at the early pyramids and some of the finest art from ancient Egypt and the reign of King Ramses. Highly recommended. Request Mahmoud as your guide he's very personable, knowledgable, and takes wonderful photographs if you're in a group!
Review by: Janet M, May 2015
Again another highly experienced guide who added so much to our trip.
Review by: Alexis B, March 2015
The missing star has nothing to do with the tour company (South Sinai Tours), which was fantastic, and more to do with the fact that Memphis can probably be skipped (other than a few statues of Ramses II, there's really nothing there but souvenir stands and an alabaster sphinx surrounded by scaffolding). Saqqara is wonderful, and the tour guide taught me all about the history, and pointed out his favorite frescoes. (I also added Dahshur, which I would highly recommend - the pyramids are amazing, and the lack of crowds are even better!)
Review by: Jeanette S, October 2014
Amazing Tour. We had the same tour guide Fouad Salah and driver Husam with us everywhere. They were very friendly and helpful very knowledgeable. Loved the first pyramid in Sakkara and the Mamphis with statue of Ramses owsome.
Review by: Gregory J, June 2014
Sakkara worth seeing with a good guide. Memphis is not worth seeing its basically a field with a couple of nice statues in it.
Review by: Frank H, June 2013
Again, great tour guide mixed with some must see sights. The first pyramid (step pyramid by Imhotep) built almost 5000 years ago to be so well preserved, also got to go into the pyramid of Tite in Saqarra. Then memphis, with the statue of Ramses (worth the price alone) With your own Egyptoligist. (was alone and it became a private tour) Heaven for a man or woman that loves history!!
Review by: john paul m, May 2013
Guide was quite informative. He didn't just 'leave' you and do your own thing, but was there 90% of the time
Review by: Michael L, February 2013
An absolutely wonderful tour. Chaly was a fantastic tour guide. My friend and I were picked up to the hotel and taken to Memphis. The tour guide spoke English very well and explained everything very in-depth. I highly recommend that you do this tour.
Review by: Tracie O, November 2012
Our destination was wonderful but unfortunately our guide spoiled the experience. I didn't get time to take photos or footage. Our guide forged ahead, only 1 of the 3 of us could keep up. Consequently I missed lots of information and eventually had to ask him to slow down. I felt very angry with him.
Review by: STEPHEN m, November 2012
good value for money and a great guide
Review by: Michelle W, November 2012
We had a great time. I went with my husband, 9 and 11 year old and my 2 month old. We travelled in a private van so I could take breaks to feed the baby. We had a fantastic time! The Guide was very knowledgeable and spoke excellent English.
Review by: Samantha O, May 2012
We took this tour on our first full day in Cairo, and it was the perfect way to kick start our trip to Egypt. Our guide was terrific, providing us with historical and current information about Egypt which helped lay the foundation for other not-to-be-missed ancient sites. I highly recommend it.
Review by: Luiz R, January 2012
Sakkara is a must see, the first pyramid built in Egypt. The guide was kind and helpful and gave us any time we need to see the attractions.
Review by: Rard, November 2011
The Private Tour Given was Amazing. My tour guide was excellent ,and gave very interesting facts while on our exploration. He even recommended and assisted with the photography. He was the absolute best.
Review by: Jennifer L, September 2011
Sakkara is an amazing place, the very first pyramid built in Egypt. We loved the place, and the trip. Memphis was also interesting. However, our guide didn't seem to know all that much (our 9 year old, who was obsessed with Egypt, had told us everything our guide told us), and wasn't all that helpful. I imagine it depends on the guide how good a tour you get. Some guides are probably heaps better.
Review by: franny, July 2011
Hi this was a fabulous tour. Our guide Hannan was so good nothing was too much trouble. I hope that you will tell her how pleased we were with everthing she did. Please also tell other people that she is the best guide you have. thank you for the lovely day
Review by: Patrick S, June 2011
A good experience
Review by: PETER B, June 2011
A must do tour. It was well organised and again our guide Henry was most informative. Sakkara and Memphis are well worth a visit. The tour takes one out into the Delta countryside which is a pleasant contrast to the busy chaos of Cairo.
Review by: PETER B, May 2011
A must do tour. It was well organised and again our guide Henry was most informative. Sakkara and Memphis are well worth a visit. The tour takes one out into the Delta countryside which is a pleasant contrast to the busy chaos of Cairo.
Review by: Jennifer L, January 2011
Sakkara is an amazing place, the very first pyramid built in Egypt. We loved the place, and the trip. Memphis was also interesting. However, our guide didn't seem to know all that much (our 9 year old, who was obsessed with Egypt, had told us everything our guide told us), and wasn't all that helpful. I imagine it depends on the guide how good a tour you get. Some guides are probably heaps better.
Review by: Tim, November 2010
Excellent.
Review by: franny, November 2010
Hi this was a fabulous tour. Our guide Hannan was so good nothing was too much trouble. I hope that you will tell her how pleased we were with everthing she did. Please also tell other people that she is the best guide you have. thank you for the lovely day
Review by: Stanley S, November 2010
Had the same driver and tour guide for all tours in Cario. Nice.
Review by: Stanley S, September 2010
Had the same driver and tour guide for all tours in Cario. Nice.
Review by: Michael S, August 2010
A great small trip out of the city and into more history of Egypt! Guide was very knowlegable and friendly! Highly recommend this tour!
Review by: Anonymous, July 2010
Good experience.Knowledgable guide.
Review by: Renato B, July 2010
Good experience.Knowledgable guide.
Review by: Renato DR, July 2010
Good experience.Knowledgable guide.
Review by: DEBORAH R, June 2010
Excellennt tour with excellent guide and driver. Very informative and plenty of free time. Guide happy to talk about all things Eqypt and so could learn a lot about Eqyptian culture, life, eccomy etc.
Review by: Michael B, Australia, May 2010
Would recommend that you do Dashur, then this tour and then the Giza pyramids so that you get everything in historical order.
Review by: Anonymous, Canada, May 2010
The guide, Ahmed was superb. Very knowledgeable. Spoke English very well. We really enjoyed both of these tours.
Review by: Francyne K, United States of America, May 2010
This was a very interesting tour but I hoped they had included Dashur as well since there really isn't THAT much to see in Memphis. But our tour guide really made the trip for us. She was informative, educated and accomodating in every way. We had a great time with her and she was a delite!!!
Review by: ALAN C, United Kingdom, May 2010
Excellennt tour with excellent guide and driver. Very informative and plenty of free time. Guide happy to talk about all things Eqypt and so could learn a lot about Eqyptian culture, life, eccomy etc.
Review by: DEBORAH R, May 2010
Excellennt tour with excellent guide and driver. Very informative and plenty of free time. Guide happy to talk about all things Eqypt and so could learn a lot about Eqyptian culture, life, eccomy etc.
Review by: Heather H, May 2010
This was a very interesting tour but I hoped they had included Dashur as well since there really isn't THAT much to see in Memphis. But our tour guide really made the trip for us. She was informative, educated and accomodating in every way. We had a great time with her and she was a delite!!!
Review by: Edward C, May 2010
The guide, Ahmed was superb. Very knowledgeable. Spoke English very well. We really enjoyed both of these tours.
Review by: Anonymous, February 2010
Memphis and Sakkara alone are really not worth a private tour - you will spend on each for like 15 minutes and driving to them 2 hours. Tour started nice the guide was funny and promised to tell additional info on other practical stuff. When I said that I did not want to go to the papyrus shop the attitude changed. Talk in English stopped and she started chatting in Arabic with the driver. Also on sights she just automatically explained everything in the shortest time possible and gave me "free time" to wonder around myself. She asked about the papyrus shop about 10 times more. The only time she smiled again was when I gave her a good - and an undeserved - tip ath the end of the tour. The downside in Egypt is the unbelieveable hassling and conning of tourists. Therefore you will need a guide and a driver even if it is expensive - otherwise you WILL end up spending even more. If I was the tourist minister of Egypt I would stop the con artists and fake guides entering these historical sights. They give Egypt a bad name. After 3 days I was completely digusted in the tipping and hassling and wanted to go home - and I have been to many places. A small bribery to a tourist police will get you enter areas only archeologists should get in. Before anything changes you may want to use the services offered here.
Review by: Michael B, United States of America, January 2010
I would like to thank both Viator and the tour operator for an outstanding job. The guides did an outstanding job and made the tour very enjoyable. Like at the Great Pyramids, be aware of individuals that want to give you free gifts. They are not free, and they will hassle with you for money. Avoid these individuals no matter how friendly and sincere they seem to be. Our guide warned us of these individuals. I also recommend visiting the carpet factories when leaving the Step Pyramid. Great values and they create employment for the poor people in the area.
Review by: Martin B, United Kingdom, November 2009
The trip that we took was good, although given how relatively little there was as Memphis I wish we'd been given the opportunity to spend more time at Sakkara. There was some pressure put on us to go to a "carpet school" and a resuaratnt for lunch, although we had made it very clear from the outset that we didn't want to do these additional activities.
Review by: Julie T, October 2009
We had the same guide as our Giza Pyramids tour , which was nice... but there wasn't a whole lot to see. If you had to choose this or Giza, I would pick Giza. I'm glad we didn't do both on the same day either. We went to a rug making school afterwards, but we could have done without.
Review by: Diana T, July 2009
It was an interesting location if you can't get to Luxor, but definitely not a must do. If you want to see the pyramid, probably better to take a cab than pay for a driver and tour guide.
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