What is the best way to tour Cairo?

For me, a Cairo tour is not just about ticking off the Pyramids or rushing through the Egyptian Museum. It’s about feeling safe in the middle of the city’s noise, having someone you can trust to smooth the way, and being given space to truly absorb what you are seeing. A good tour lets you stand in silence before the Great Pyramid, wander Old Cairo’s winding alleys, and still have the energy to hear the evening call to prayer drifting over the rooftops. When you travel with me and my guides, Cairo becomes an experience you carry with you.

Our Tours in Cairo

Simply Click on any Tour for full details (and for those listed without clickable link – it is coming.)

Has it crossed your mind that you could, AFFORDABLY, spend 2 hours inside the Great Pyramid without the crowds?

For wider context, I also share practical Egypt travel advice which many guests find useful before arriving.

At Giza, the hassle from touts and camel men is intense — I don’t recommend going there without a guide.  I’ve written about that here:  Do I need a guide in Cairo?.  You might also enjoy this independent view from a young traveler.

Elsewhere in Cairo you could technically explore with a guidebook and Google Maps, but you’ll miss the stories, the context, and the relief of having someone else deal with the taxi drivers.  I actually tried doing this myself in 2011 as I spent most of my time in Cairo that year and I wanted to explore at my own pace.  To be honest I found it exhausting and frustrating.  There were too many things I did not know – were they open? where to get tickets? and most importantly – what was I looking at?  Plus not being able to get anywhere with taxi drivers who did not speak english and could not understand my irish accented arabic!

And a word of warning: at places like the Citadel, you can’t always count on finding a taxi to take you back.

Why choose Mara House for your tours in Cairo?

Cairo has no shortage of travel agents and tour operators. So why choose me?
The simplest answer lies in the words of past guests — I invite you to take a quick look at the reviews on Mara House Luxor.  They will tell you more than I ever could.

When you tour with us:

  • All entry fees and required permits are included — no queuing or confusion at ticket offices,  all legal requirements are complied with.  For experiences such as private time in the Gt. Pyramid or between the paws of the Sphinx we secure all necessary permissions – everything we do is legitimate.
  • You’ll have a trusted, experienced, registered Egyptologist guide and experienced driver, both hand-picked for reliability and warmth.
  • Private, air-conditioned transport, always waiting for you when you emerge from a site.
  • There are no surprise “extras.” If an optional experience carries an additional cost, I tell you upfront so you can decide in peace.
  • Visiting two or three sites in one day saves you money compared with booking them separately. Two sites is the comfortable standard, but three can work if the combination is chosen wisely.

Not sure which tour suits you best? Here’s the full overview of everything we offer in Cairo.
You’ll also find an overview of all our tours across Egypt here, if you’d like to see how Cairo links with Luxor, Aswan, and beyond.