A day out in Cairo is a must if visiting Egypt and this was definitely the best way to do so.
Only thing to note is that the journey from Hurghada to Cairo and back really is very long so be prepared!
The trip started with a pickup from the hotel at 2.30am (running on very little sleep) and our driver had brought a couple of drinks and snacks for us to have on the journey if we needed, this was appreciated with the length of the journey!
After sleeping on and off for hours and one toilet stop, we finally made it to Cairo around 9.30am, it took about another 30+ mins to get across to the far side of Cairo (Giza) where we met our guide for the day, Hany.
Once he was in the car we made our way to the pyramids which took about 10 mins, during which he introduced himself, our itinerary for the day and what we may want to do when we get to the pyramids.
When we got to the pyramids, Hany sorted the extras he had explained to us that we can do once there (there was the option to go into two of the pyramids, one of the tombs or a 15 or 30 minute camel ride, we went for the tomb and 30 minute camel ride) and we made our way over to the Great pyramid. He explained its history and took lots of photos for us and allowed us some free time to look around and take our own photos.
We then made our way over to the tomb and had a look around there, with any questions we had about the history of the place answered without any hesitation.
After the tomb we had our camel ride which is scary at first with how camels stand up but a worthwhile experience as it allows you to see the pyramids in a way you can't otherwise (there are 9 at the site!). We got some great photos and then made our way over to the Sphinx where we got some more great photos and history of the area. While here Hany helped us get a great deal on some souvenirs and reminded us of the best way to deal with hagglers if they came up to us (don't say no, just smile and put your hand up and keep walking) so we weren't pestered.
After this we went for lunch near the pyramids and then onto a local perfumery shop where we had a nice chat with a gentleman about essences, chakra and some nice drinks. This man was very friendly and could comfortably speak fluent English and was able to speak many other languages too; it was a cool way to see some local culture.
After this we travelled onto a papyrus shop where they had loads of designs and Hany did a demonstration of how papyrus is made. We then bought some papyrus and they even gave us a great deal on a third design we liked when originally unsure if we would get it.
We then went onto the Egyptian National Museum where Hany was in his element, showing off and explaining a lot of the artefacts in the museum and their history - we didn't get too long here as there was a lot to see but Hany was great at showing us the best bits.
Finally we did a 30 minute sailboat journey on the Nile, this was after mentioning that we'd seen it suggested in another rule and Hany was happy to sort this out. After a long, busy day it was a good way to stop, sit and take in the amazing city before heading back to Hurghada.
Overall, while you could visit Cairo without a guide, or as part of a group, this was definitely the best way to experience it and a thoroughly enjoyable experience. I can't recommend Hany enough as a guide as he really did help make the day the best it could be
