Getting around Egypt by Nile cruise, train or taxi

04.09.2023 - 09:27 / lonelyplanet.com

Egypt has an extensive and somewhat efficient overland transport system. For travel plans focused on the Nile, the palm-studded scenery of Nile Valley journeys is as much of a highlight as the destinations along the way.

While it's possible to fly to the main cities in Egypt, you can reduce your carbon footprint by traveling overland by train, bus or boat.

The train is the most straightforward way of traveling along the Nile Valley, linking the capital of Cairo to Luxor and Aswan to the south and Alexandria to the north.

Both “Special Service” and the considerably cheaper “Speed AC Spanish” trains have comfortable first- and second-class air-conditioned carriages. Newer rolling stock on “Special Service” trains means that tickets are more expensive, but the amenities are similar.

From Cairo, take the 8am departure for the most scenic train trip heading up the Nile. It is 11 hours to Luxor and 14.5 hours to Aswan. Doing the journey in reverse, the 5:30am and 7:30am trains from Aswan and the 8:40am and 9:10am departures from Luxor are the trips to choose for views. See selected train schedules and book tickets on the Egyptian Railways website, though the site often has technical glitches that mean booking in person at the train station is easier.

Egypt also has overnight sleeper trains, run by Abela Trains. The sleeper trains run nightly from Cairo to Luxor and Aswan and vice versa.

Unfortunately, Egypt's rail network has a higher accident rate than many other countries, though the government is starting to modernize the system after several high-profile deadly collisions.

There’s no better way to make the journey part of your trip than by taking a Nile cruise. The most popular route is the stretch of river between Luxor and Aswan, with options for all budgets and levels of comfort.

Cruise boats typically make the Luxor-Aswan leg a three-night trip with visits to Edfu’s Temple of Horus and Kom Ombo Temple along the way. This is the no-effort-necessary Nile option, just board the boat, and everything is organized for you. On the downside, less time than you think will be spent actually cruising, and you’ll be visiting the sights as part of a big crowd.

You can usually grab a cheaper cruise deal by booking once you're in Egypt, but if there’s a particular boat you want to cruise with on a specific date, then book ahead.

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Dahabiyas (large sailing boats) were the original Nile transport for 19th-century travelers. Modern dahabiyas provide a more personalized alternative to the big cruisers, taking only about 10 and 20 passengers. Itineraries operate between Esna and Aswan and include stops at villages and pharaonic sites that larger cruise boats don’t visit.

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