Car Hire in Egypt - Getting to Egypt

Cairo, Egypt’s gateway, is a popular stopover point for many African and Asian bound flights, and options are numerous from Europe. There are also a few direct trans-Atlantic flights. Often the cheapest tickets are package deals, though you might end up in a crummy hotel. The airport isn’t terribly modern or comfortable if you have time to kill, with few facilities. Taxi hustlers are numerous, but can be pretty cheap, alternatively there is an uncomfortable bus into the centre and various shuttles. Agents might bundle several of you into a single minbus which is the best value.

Distances are large in Egypt and many chose to fly as the only really convenient and comfortable option. EgyptAir, and Air Sinai offer good domestic connections. Charter flights also fly to Luxor, Hirghada and Sharm el Shiek.

A train line dissects the country running north to south and passing through Cairo at the busy Ramses station. First class overnight trains to Luxor and Aswan can be comfortable and cheap, usually they run on time, but the platform can be chaotic.

Entering Egypt overland isn’t too viable. Sudan (to the South) is dangerous, and Libya (east) is separated from Cairo by a vast desert. Some traffic arrives from Israel (Gaza), but borders remain tense.

A car ferry runs from just north of Dahab to Aquaba in Jordon, but its hardly comfortable. Ferries also arrive in Alexandria from Greece, Turkey and Cyprus.