Most visitors to Cairo know the Great Pyramids of Giza. Fewer know that just south of them, a desert dotted with older pyramids stretches all the way to Saqqara, home of the Step Pyramid of Djoser, where pyramid building began. Both can be explored on horseback from our stable. Here's how the two rides compare, and how to pick the one for you.
The two rides at a glance
| The Great Pyramids Ride | The Saqqara Ride | |
|---|---|---|
| Price | from $79 per person | from $59 per person |
| The view | The Great Pyramids of Giza | The pyramids of Abu Sir and Saqqara, including the Step Pyramid |
| Atmosphere | Iconic and lively | Quiet, open desert |
| When | Morning, from 8:30 am | Morning or sunset |
| Best for | First visit to Egypt, the classic photo | Returning visitors, riders who want space and silence |
| Starts from | iRideEgypt Stud, Kafr El Gabal, Giza | iRideEgypt Stud, Kafr El Gabal, Giza |
| Arabian horse upgrade | +$40 | +$20 |
| Entrance ticket | Optional, +$15 | Not needed |
Both rides welcome first-timers and include a guide who rides with you the whole way.
The Great Pyramids Ride: the icon
If it's your first time in Egypt, this is the ride. You head from the stable into the desert with the Great Pyramid of Khufu, Khafre and Menkaure ahead of you. It's the view you've seen in every photo of Egypt, and it's different when you see it from a horse, with the sand in front of you and nobody between you and the pyramids.
- Add the plateau entrance fee if you want your route to include the ticketed archaeological area.
- Add professional photos or video: this is the ride people frame and hang on the wall.
The Saqqara Ride: where it all began
South of Giza, the desert opens up. The ride takes you through the landscape of Abu Sir, Abu Ghurab and Saqqara, past pyramids and ruins that most tourists only see from a bus window, if at all. From one point along the way you can see several pyramids at once, spread across the horizon.
The star is the Step Pyramid of Djoser at Saqqara, built more than 4,600 years ago and considered the first pyramid ever built: the idea that led, a century later, to the Great Pyramid.
- It's quieter. Fewer visitors, more space, more silence.
- It's more of a ride. Open desert suits riders who want to feel the horse move.
- It's the sunset ride. Riding at the Giza pyramids happens in the morning; at Saqqara you can ride as the sun goes down.
- It's lighter on the budget, from $59 per person.
How to choose
- First time in Egypt? Giza. You'll never forget the moment the Great Pyramid rises in front of you.
- Already seen the Giza pyramids up close? Saqqara gives you a side of ancient Egypt most visitors miss.
- Mostly want great photos? Giza, with our photographer.
- Want peace and open space, or a sunset ride? Saqqara.
- Can't choose? Ride one, and keep the other for your next trip, or ask us on WhatsApp which suits your group.
Quick answers
Do I need riding experience for either ride?
No. First-timers are welcome on both. Your guide matches you with a horse that suits you.
Can I upgrade my horse?
Yes. On both rides you can choose an Arabian horse when you book.
Can you pick me up from my hotel?
Yes, add hotel pick-up when you book and we'll confirm the price on WhatsApp.
Still deciding? Read what a fair price looks like and the best time to ride.
