Saqqara, Memphis and Dahshur: why the "other pyramids" day wins for many guests

Saqqara and Dahshur, 30 to 40 km south of Giza, hold the Step Pyramid of Djoser (the first pyramid, c. 2670 BC), the painted tombs of the Old Kingdom nobles, and the Bent and Red Pyramids of Sneferu, the first true pyramids. The day costs 80 EUR from Cairo with an Egyptologist, lunch and entry inside the Red Pyramid, and on most days you share the sites with a few dozen people.

What you see

• The Step Pyramid complex: Imhotep's colonnade, the jubilee court, the pyramid itself.
• A noble tomb (Ti, Kagemni or Mereruka): fishing, hunting, feasting, in colour.
• The pyramid of Teti with the Pyramid Texts, when open.
• Dahshur: the Bent Pyramid from outside, the Red Pyramid inside.
• Memphis: the 10 m colossus of Ramses II and the alabaster sphinx.

Why guests rate it higher than Giza

Giza is the size and the fame. Saqqara is the story: you see the first stone building, then the first attempts at a true pyramid, then the one that worked, and you understand Giza afterwards. And you do it without the coaches.

Combine or separate?

With two days, do them separately. With one long day we can do Giza in the morning and Saqqara plus Dahshur in the afternoon (10 hours, skipping Memphis).