Unforgettable Giza: Private Half-Day Pyramids & Sphinx

Pleasant and informative trip to Pyramids. Hussam is a very good egyptologist. He explained everything very clearly and made sure we are comfortable; never rushed us. Helped with kids also. He gave right suggestions, took us to the best Koshary restaurant. Overall highly recommend this trip.

The guide and driver picked me up outside the door of my hotel. Everything was taken care of. The guide was knowledgeable and friendly. He arranged for me to go into one of the smaller pyramids which is less busy than the great pyramid and more interesting inside. On the whole it was a great experience. There are a couple of moments where you are taken to a stall/shop and encouraged to buy something: a perfumery and a papyrus shop. Just be clear beforehand what you’re open to. Otherwise it’s easy to be pressured into getting something.

Booking was straightforward - we chose the highest-rated tour on the app, though ran into minor technical glitches. Thankfully, their online chat support sorted things out quickly and sent us a WhatsApp confirmation with our driver and van details. It ended up being a private tour, just our family, which was nice. The cost was $65 per adult for a half-day tour (8 AM pickup, noon drop-off), covering transport, entrance tickets, camel ride, and guide. One frustration: child tickets weren't available online, even though the Pyramids center sells them at half price. Our child also shared a camel ride rather than getting their own. If you're traveling with kids, it's worth booking directly to take advantage of child pricing. Our guide was knowledgeable and engaging, speaking good English and setting realistic expectations from the start. He advised against paying extra to enter the pyramids - they're cramped inside with empty chambers, which matched what we'd read in other reviews. His main value was navigating the chaotic camel ride queue and handling logistics, though he was hard to hear in the crowded main entrance hall. The experience itself was a mixed bag. The tour started with a historical briefing in the main hall, but it was so loud with multiple tour groups that I ended up using AI tools (Claude/GPT) on my phone for better context. The souvenir stalls were disappointing - overpriced and low quality. Our guide steered us toward specific stalls selling Bedouin scarves for $20+, which felt like a commission arrangement. Ironically, vendors near the camel queue were selling similar scarves for just EGP 150. The camel ride was chaotic with long waits, but our guide managed to expedite our turn - probably the most valuable thing he did all morning. The ride takes you up to a viewpoint where you can see all nine pyramids, which was genuinely impressive. The official board showed EGP 1000 for foreigners, though we're not sure what our guide actually paid since it was bundled into our package. Just be prepared: the camel operator will expect a tip before heading back. Exploring the pyramids themselves was the highlight. Buses shuttle you between stops. At the main pyramids, you can walk right up to them, touch the massive stones, and even climb a bit if you're adventurous. There are more camel rides available here too. The next bus stop takes you to the Sphinx, with a short walk past yet more souvenir stalls to the mummification site and then the Sphinx viewing area. There are some great photo opportunities here - Sphinx with pyramid backdrop, pyramid solo shots, and side angles of the Sphinx. The exit conveniently leads straight to town where our van was waiting, so we did not need to backtrack to the main entrance. One unexpected bonus: our guide took us to a nearby government-run papyrus center where they demonstrated traditional paper-making. They had papyrus art and fragrant oils for sale, but it was a brief stop with no pressure to buy - a nice cultural addition. Could you do this independently? Probably, but with more hassle. Taxis are cheap and tickets can be purchased on-site. You can pay for camel rides in cash (though expect longer queues), but you'd be navigating everything yourself. The guide's real value is queue management and convenience rather than deep historical insights. Overall verdict: It was hassle-free and decent, but felt overpriced for what you get in a half-day tour - especially if you're paying full adult prices for children who could get half-price tickets. I'd give it a 6/10 and would rate it higher if it were more affordable. Pro tip: Now that the Grand Egyptian Museum has opened right next to the Pyramids, consider making this a full-day experience. They're even building a bridge to connect the museum with the pyramid site, so it's perfect for combining both attractions in one visit.

Fantastic experience! Would highly recommend! Monica was very knowledgeable and friendly and gave us a fabulous tour.

This was a fantastic experience! We really enjoyed the camel ride and seeing the pyramids from different vantage points. Our guide Monica was so knowledgeable and friendly and couldn't do enough for us! She tailored the experience to what we personally wanted to gain from it. Would highly recommend!

Fantastic tour with Mahmoud! Great transportation and guidance through the pyramids - Mahmoud had a ton of knowledge and tips on how enjoy the visit and made it all super easy and exciting! Thanks so much and for the great pictures!

Amazing excursion! The pyramids, can you imagine that! You have to seevthis with your own eyes! It's breathtaking! Our driver and guide (Miss Basmaa) were both so friendly and nice. We felt safe and good in their company. We enjoyed this tour so much, don't hesitate to book it!

Impressive pyramids,amazing sight but I was absolutely disappointed when I tipped the guide 10 dollars and he asked immediately who it was for ,him or the driver,then he left wothout even thanking me. Unacceptable. Tourists should not solve Egypt's probelms of low wages. Will never be back.

Thank you to our guide Sahar Alsherif (Kushi). An amazing tour, wonderful insights, and beautiful memories. We really appreciate your personalisation, care, and great photos! Definitely a tour to book!

Incredible trip, was worried about hassle and not seeing everything but we were VERY well looked after by Ali. He himself was friendly, very informative and looked out for us. We loved the camel ride Ali also let us know and how much to tip along with guiding us on what to spend and where for value.