Giza Pyramids & Sphinx: Private tour with museum

5.00

(18 reviews)

What’s the experience like?

We were already weaving through Cairo’s morning traffic when our guide, Samir, started telling stories about the city—half in English, half with gestures that made us laugh. I didn’t realize how close the pyramids would feel until we turned a corner and they just… appeared, kind of hazy against the sky. The air smelled dusty but sweet, like old stone warmed by sun. Samir pointed out the Great Pyramid of Cheops and explained how those blocks got stacked (I still don’t get it). He showed us where the sun boats once rested—honestly, I’d never even heard of those before.

The panoramic spot was next. It’s higher up, so you see all three pyramids lined up almost too perfectly. There were camels everywhere—one tried to nuzzle my backpack—and kids selling postcards. We took photos but mostly just stood there for a bit. It’s loud with people and wind but somehow you can tune it out if you want. Then we walked down to the Sphinx; its face is more battered than I expected, but Samir said that’s part of its story. He told us about ancient rituals in the valley temple nearby—I tried repeating one of the names in Arabic and he grinned at my accent.

The Egyptian Museum was cooler inside (thankfully), full of gold and faded colors and crowds moving slowly past Tutankhamun’s mask. Our guide seemed to know every corner—he’d point at something small in a case and tell us why it mattered. There was this moment when I touched the glass near an old necklace and felt weirdly connected to someone who lived thousands of years ago. We could’ve added dinner by the pyramids at sunset, but honestly we were wiped out by then—maybe next time.