Pyramid Compass › Pyramids & Sites
The order you walk the plateau matters more than the ticket you buy. This planner picks the order, the entry ticket tier, and the Sound & Light slot that match how much time you actually have and what you came for.
Pre-dawn wins on photos + uncrowded Great Pyramid. Late morning costs you 90 min of queues.
Fridays are noticeably busier ?and Sound & Light sometimes cancelled for prayer.
Run the planner to see the order.
Most Giza visit guides tell you what the plateau contains. They almost never tell you the order. The order matters because:
The planner returns three things: a numbered visit order with the rationale for each step, a total duration estimate, and an estimated ticket cost in EGP and USD at the rate stamped at the bottom of this page. The order is built from the arrival window you picked and the interests you ticked ?it's not a one-size-fits-all.
Pre-dawn arrival (5:30?:00) pushes you toward Great Pyramid first when the queues are short and the light is best for the panorama. Late morning pushes you toward Solar Boat first (ac), then Sphinx for the 4 PM valley-temple shadow. After 13:00 inverts the order entirely because the morning blocks are gone.
The Sound & Light slot is the one piece of advice most visitors get wrong. There are 3 showings per night (typically 18:30, 19:30, 20:30 in winter; one hour later in summer). The 19:30 slot is the crowd peak ?the 18:30 and 20:30 are calmer. If you tick "Sound & Light" in interests, the recommended slot leans away from the 17% peak.
Only if you arrive pre-7 AM anyway. Early-access lets you skip the 8 AM entry line but the same skip is achievable by buying the standard ticket and arriving at 7:30.
In theory, yes. In practice, the Great Pyramid alone takes 60?0 min if you do the climb. Adding Khafre's tomb is +30?5 min. Menkaure's is shorter but the line is unpredictable. If you do all three, plan 5? hours just for the pyramid interiors.
Only if the guide is licensed by the Ministry of Tourism & Antiquities. Anyone offering "tours" at the gate is unlicensed and will quote high fees for low value. If your hotel books one, confirm the badge. Inside the Great Pyramid, no guide is permitted.
Common reasons: khamsin (sandstorm) season March–May, occasional security reviews, and rare technical fault. The show is more frequently cancelled in March and April than any other month. Check at your hotel the day-of.
Page last updated: October 2026.
What it is. The Giza Complex Visit Planner is a small JavaScript calculator embedded in this same builder for planning it a small one purpose: you arrive, you're a first-time or repeat visitor, or an operations researcher. The tool's purpose is simple ?pick the order that makes your hours on the plateau count.
Who it's for. First-time and repeat independent visitors to the Giza Plateau who plan their own itinerary. Not for tour-package travelers.
What it isn't. Not a substitute for current on-site advice. Not a substitute for a licensed Egyptologist guide. Not a substitute for checking closure notices at the gate.
Limitations. The tool is accurate as of the date stamped above. The plateau is a living site; closures, ticket changes, and traffic shifts happen on short notice.
What this site collects. Pyramid Compass does not collect, store, or process personal data. There is no login, no account, no email capture, no analytics beyond what Google AdSense requires, and no first-party tracking. You can use this calculator without entering any personal information.
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Last updated: October 2026.
Not professional advice. The information on Pyramid Compass is for general informational purposes only. It is not professional travel, legal, financial, medical, or safety advice.
Accuracy. We do our best to keep prices, ticket tiers, opening hours, EGP rates, and rules current. Conditions in Egypt change quickly ?always cross-check with your hotel concierge, your embassy, and the official site.
Personal responsibility. Travel in Egypt carries real risks. You are responsible for your own safety, insurance, visa, and choices.
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No warranty. The tools are provided "as is", without warranty of any kind.
Last updated: October 2026.