Pyramids Half Marathon Near Cairo on 11 and 12 December

EGYPT · GIZA RUNNING

The organiser calls it Egypt’s biggest running race, with 5K, 10K and 21K distances inside the Giza Pyramids complex. The entry price rises by one third on Tuesday, 3 November.

The eighth Marakez Pyramids Half Marathon runs on Friday, 11 December, and Saturday, 12 December 2026, at the Giza Pyramids near Cairo. Runners choose a 5K on Friday, or a 10K or half marathon on Saturday.

Entry costs EGP 3,000 (about US$56) per distance until Monday, 2 November, and EGP 4,000 (about US$75) after that, before 14% VAT. US citizens need an Egyptian visa, which they can apply for online before they fly.

Why the Pyramids Half Marathon Matters

The organiser, The TriFactory, calls it Egypt’s signature running event. It says the 2025 edition drew over 10,000 runners from more than 120 nationalities.

The TriFactory is an Egyptian company, founded in 2015, that organises marathons, endurance events and obstacle races. The 10K and half marathon courses are certified by AIMS, the Association of International Marathons and Distance Races.

The race first earned that certification in 2023, the organiser says. All three races stay entirely inside the Pyramids complex, on a fully pedestrianised course.

The Giza Plateau holds the pyramids of Khufu, Khafre and Menkaure. The Great Sphinx lies on the east side of the complex.

Enterprise, an Egyptian business newsletter, reported the two-day format on 9 April 2026. It listed the 5K for Friday, 11 December, and the 10K and 21K for Saturday, 12 December.

Dates, Distances and Start Times

The 5K starts at 08:00 on Friday, 11 December, with a final call at 07:45. Awards follow at 09:30.

The 10K and half marathon start together at 07:00 on Saturday, 12 December. The final call for those races is at 06:45.

Cairo is on UTC+2 in December, seven hours ahead of US Eastern time. The Friday start is therefore 01:00 in New York, and the Saturday start is midnight.

The exact distances are 5.16, 10.2 and 21.1 kilometres, which is about 3.2, 6.3 and 13.1 miles. The 5K and 10K courses are fairly flat, while the half marathon has several rolling hills.

The half marathon drops towards a viewpoint of the Sphinx near halfway, then climbs back up. About 76% of its course is asphalt and 23% is interlocking paving, with under 1% unpaved desert.

Both the 10K and the half marathon have a strict three-hour cut-off, counted from the start line. Timing uses MyLaps chips, so your result is your chip time, not the gun time.

Minimum ages are 8 for the 5K and 16 for the half marathon, by year of birth. For the 10K the race regulations say 12, but the ticket list says 14, so confirm with the organiser.

Doping control follows the rules of World Athletics, the Egyptian Athletics Federation and AIMS. The organiser may ask any athlete for a random drug test.

Tickets and Prices

Registration runs through the organiser’s page at thetrifactory.com, which is where the official race website sends runners. Prices are per distance, and conversions use the open.er-api.com rate of 15 October 2026, EGP 53.10 to US$1.

• Lowest price, 6 to 15 April: EGP 2,000 (about US$38), closed
• Early bird, 16 April to 31 July: EGP 2,500 (about US$47), closed
• General registration, 1 August to Monday, 2 November: EGP 3,000 (about US$56)
• Late registration, from Tuesday, 3 November: EGP 4,000 (about US$75), subject to availability

The jump from EGP 3,000 (about US$56) to EGP 4,000 (about US$75) on 3 November is a rise of one third. Late places are not guaranteed, because that step is listed as subject to availability.

The organiser also sells a VIP Platinum Race Package for EGP 25,000 (about US$471), valid for one race day. It includes race pack delivery in Cairo, limousine transfers, four tickets of your choice and a VIP lounge.

Spectators who enter with runners must buy a spectator bracelet for EGP 200 (about US$4). The Egyptian Ministry of Tourism and Antiquities and the Tourism Police require a bracelet for everyone who enters on race days.

The organiser’s terms say ticket fees do not include 14% value added tax, so expect a higher total. A cancellation during General registration refunds 80% of the fee, and Late registration allows no refunds or cancellations.

Race Expo and Race Pack

Race packs are collected at the official expo at The Park in Mall of Arabia, Sheikh Zayed, West Cairo. Hours are 12:00 to 20:00 on Wednesday, 9 December, and Thursday, 10 December, and 14:00 to 18:00 on Friday.

Bring a passport or national ID card, because the expo asks for valid photo identification. Briefings run in English at 15:00 and in Arabic at 17:00 on each expo day.

The pack holds a PUMA race shirt, a drawstring bag, a race number with a MyLaps timing strip and a runner bracelet. Registration also covers on-course nutrition, access to the Giza Pyramids complex and the Tourism Police permit.

Every finisher receives a medal stamped with the words I Raced Through History. Runners who do not finish do not receive a medal.

Getting to the Pyramids on Race Day

Private cars are not allowed into the Pyramids complex on race days, the organiser says. Runners arrive by official race bus or team bus, or take a taxi, ride-hailing car or limousine to the gate.

Race buses leave from 10 pick-up points across Cairo, including Zamalek, Downtown, Maadi, Heliopolis, New Cairo and Sheikh Zayed. A bus pass costs EGP 200 (about US$4), and the organiser says passes sold out last year.

Buses leave at 06:00 on Friday and at 05:00 on Saturday. Return buses leave the Pyramids from 10:30 on Friday and from 11:00 on Saturday.

London Cab is the official limousine partner for drop-offs at the gate. The Hyatt Centric Cairo West, about 15 minutes from the Pyramids, is the official hotel partner.

Ambulances are stationed at the start and finish zones and at three major points on the course. Alfa Medical Group and El Safa Hospitals are the medical partners, with support from the National Ambulance Authority.

Tips for US and Foreign Visitors

US citizens are on the list of nationalities that can apply for an Egyptian e-visa on the government portal. A single-entry tourist e-visa costs US$30, and the portal says to apply at least seven days before departure.

Your passport must be valid for at least six months from the day you arrive, the portal says. Border officers can refuse entry to an e-visa holder, so carry your hotel booking and travel itinerary.

The State Department’s Egypt advisory page, last updated on 11 August 2025, lists Level 2, Exercise Increased Caution. It lists North and Middle Sinai and the border areas as Level 4, Do Not Travel.

The page also tells visitors to avoid the Western Desert unless they travel with a licensed tour company. Check the current advisory before you book.

Turkish Airlines, the race’s official airline partner, offers runners 10% off economy fares for travel from 1 to 20 December. The organiser’s ticket page lists the booking code and the business class terms.

Arrival for the 10K and half marathon opens at 05:00 on Saturday, so plan your night, transport and hotel around it. Book a bus pass early, because passes sold out last year and cars cannot enter the complex.

What It Means for You

A US runner pays about US$56 plus 14% VAT to race at the Pyramids if they register by Monday, 2 November. After that the price is about US$75 plus VAT, and late places may run out.

A full trip needs a flight, a visa, a hotel and the race fee. Expats in Cairo can reach the start by race bus, and visitors can stay near the expo in Sheikh Zayed.

What Is Not Known

The final 2026 course maps have not been published, and the race website still shows the 2025 maps. The organiser’s pages also give two different times for the Saturday awards ceremony, 10:00 and 11:00.

Late places after 2 November are listed as subject to availability, and no 2026 field size has been announced. No broadcast, live stream or US viewing option has been announced for the races.

What Comes Next

The general registration price ends on Monday, 2 November, and the late price starts on Tuesday, 3 November. The expo opens on Wednesday, 9 December, and the 5K starts on Friday, 11 December.

The organiser says the final 2026 course maps will be shared soon. Check the official race website for any change to the courses or the schedule.

Connected Coverage

The Rio Times Cairo city guide covers neighbourhoods, transport and costs for visitors and expats. For this month, see What to Do in Cairo in October 2026.

For entry rules and longer stays, read Egypt Residence Visa Rules 2026. For the wider country picture, see Egypt Explained and Egypt History Explained.

Another event on the plateau is covered in Shakira Plays Egypt’s Giza Pyramids on 28 November. Cairo’s clock change before the race is covered in Cairo Clocks Go Back One Hour on 29 October.

Frequently Asked Questions

When is the Pyramids Half Marathon in 2026?

The eighth edition runs on Friday, 11 December 2026 (5K) and Saturday, 12 December 2026 (10K and half marathon). Starts are at 08:00 on Friday and 07:00 on Saturday, Cairo time.

How much does it cost to enter the Pyramids Half Marathon?

General registration is EGP 3,000 (about US$56) per distance until Monday, 2 November, plus 14% VAT. Late registration from Tuesday, 3 November costs EGP 4,000 (about US$75), subject to availability.

Can US citizens get a visa online for the race?

Yes, US citizens can apply for an Egyptian e-visa, which costs US$30 for a single entry. The government portal says to apply at least seven days before you fly.

Sources: Official race website, Marakez Pyramids Half Marathon; Official race website, general information; Official race website, race course; Official race website, race expo; Official race website, VIP Platinum Package; The TriFactory, registration and tickets; Enterprise (9 April 2026); Egypt e-Visa Portal, Ministry of Interior, FAQ; Egypt e-Visa Portal, home page; US State Department, Egypt travel advisory; open.er-api.com exchange rates (15 October 2026) (all accessed 16 October 2026).

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