Day trip to Cairo from Hurghada or Sharm el Sheikh: the pyramids by plane or by road

The short answer

By the route planner estimate, a road trip in one day means approximately 11 to 12 hours in a car or a bus, without stops. You also need time at the pyramids. Many road trips must start or end in the dark.

Plane or road

From Cairo International Airport, you need a car to Giza. For the times and the options, see Cairo airport to Giza pyramids.

What government advice says about the road

• United Kingdom. The advice says that accidents are common because of road conditions, dangerous driving and poor traffic law enforcement. It says: do not drive outside main cities and resorts at night. It also says that serious bus crashes in recent years caused many deaths, including tourists.
• Ireland. The advice says that driving conditions are dangerous, particularly at night outside major cities. It says to avoid driving at night outside main urban areas. It also advises visitors to arrive by air if they travel to Sharm el Sheikh, Hurghada or Marsa Alam.
• Australia. The advice says that road travel can be dangerous. It says that cars, buses and trucks often drive at high speed and without headlights at night. It tells visitors to avoid road travel where possible.
• Canada. The advice says that road conditions are often poor. It says that the rate of car accidents is one of the highest in the world. It also says that there are several police checkpoints on the highways in South Sinai.

The UK advice says that travel to Red Sea tourist areas in the southern part of the Sinai Peninsula is generally low risk. It says that security forces do routine checks on vehicles and at airports to protect resorts such as Sharm el Sheikh, Hurghada and Marsa Alam. The Canadian advice tells visitors to exercise a high degree of caution at Red Sea coastal resorts such as Hurghada.

The road from Sharm el Sheikh

The road from Sharm el Sheikh to Cairo goes through the Sinai Peninsula. The UK, US, Canadian, Australian and Irish advice each advise against travel to some areas of the Sinai. The US advice says: do not travel to the Northern and Middle Sinai Peninsula. The Australian advice says: reconsider your need to travel to the South Sinai Governorate, except the southern coastal area of Sharm el Sheikh. Before you go by road, read your own government's advice for the Sinai.

For the full safety advice, see Is it safe to visit the pyramids?.

Sharm el Sheikh: check your visa first

Some visitors to Sharm el Sheikh enter Egypt with the free Sinai entry stamp, not a visa. The UK and Irish advice say that this stamp covers only the resorts of Sharm el Sheikh, Dahab, Nuweiba and Taba. It is for a stay of up to 15 days. Both say that you must get a visa to travel outside these areas.

Cairo is outside these areas. If you plan a trip to Cairo, get a visa, not only the stamp. The UK advice says that you can get a visa at the airport in Sharm el Sheikh or online.

A day plan with flights

This is an example plan, not a tour schedule. Flight times change. Check the times with the airline or the tour company.

For how much time to give the plateau, see How long to see the pyramids of Giza.

Stay one night in Cairo

A night in Cairo removes the hurry. You can see the pyramids on one day and a second site on the next day. You also do not need to travel at night. For the day tours from Cairo, see Cairo tours.

What to ask the tour company

For a trip by plane:

1. Are the flight tickets in the price?
2. What happens if a flight is late or canceled?
3. Who meets you at Cairo International Airport?
4. Are the entry tickets in the price?

For a trip by road:

1. What time does the car or bus leave? What time does it return?
2. Is the vehicle only for your group, or is it a shared bus?
3. Does each seat have a seatbelt?
4. Is there more than one driver for the full trip?
5. How long do you have at the pyramids?