3-Day Private Cairo, Giza & Alexandria Tour with Egyptologist

5.00

(36 reviews)

What’s the experience like?

The first morning kicked off with a warm breeze and the city just waking up. Our Egyptologist guide met us right in the hotel lobby—he had this easy way of weaving stories into every stop. At Giza, I remember the faint smell of horses and dust as we walked up to Khufu’s Pyramid. Standing there, you feel tiny. We paused for photos at that classic panoramic spot where all three pyramids line up—our guide knew exactly where to stand for the best angle (and even shooed away a persistent camel vendor). The Sphinx looked more weathered than I’d pictured from books, but seeing it in person is something else. Later at Saqqara, the step pyramid felt quieter and less crowded; I could actually hear birds chirping near King Teti’s tomb.

Memphis was next—honestly, it’s not as flashy as Giza but there’s this massive statue of Ramses II lying on its back that really sticks with you. The museum there is open-air and you can wander pretty close to some statues. By mid-afternoon, we were back in Cairo, tired but still buzzing from all the history packed into one day.

The second day started early—our driver was already waiting at 7am with cold water bottles ready for the road trip to Alexandria. The drive took about two and a half hours; we watched the landscape change from city sprawl to green fields dotted with palm trees. In Alexandria, the Catacombs of Kom el Shoqafa were cool (literally—the air drops a few degrees underground). The carvings mix Greek and Egyptian styles in ways you don’t see elsewhere. Pompey’s Pillar is huge—hard to get it all in one photo—and our guide explained how it once stood among temples long gone.

Lunch was quick but tasty: fresh falafel from a street stall near Qaitbay Citadel (the owner called out “welcome!” as we passed). Walking around the fortress walls, you catch salty sea air and can spot fishermen below. The new Library of Alexandria is sleek and modern—nothing like what I expected after all those ancient sites. We headed back to Cairo just before sunset; traffic gets heavy if you leave later.

Day three was all about Cairo’s old neighborhoods. The Egyptian Museum downtown is packed—don’t rush through Tutankhamun’s treasures or you’ll miss tiny details like his sandals on display. In Old Cairo, our guide pointed out Abu Serga Church where tradition says Jesus stayed as a child; it’s tucked down a quiet lane behind market stalls selling incense and beads. The Hanging Church sits above an old Roman gate—you can feel the floor creak underfoot.

The Citadel of Saladin sits high above Cairo; from up there you see minarets poking out across the skyline. Inside, the Alabaster Mosque glows softly in morning light filtering through stained glass windows. We finished at Khan El-Khalili bazaar—a maze of alleys full of copper lamps and spice smells drifting everywhere. Bargaining here isn’t just allowed—it’s expected! By late afternoon we were ready for tea at Fishawi Café before heading back to our hotel.