≡ Menu

How to Travel Jordan to Egypt

Hello Craig, Man, we had a hell of a go getting from Jordan to Cairo. I highly – HIGHLY – recommend flying from Amman if you want to visit Petra. It would probably be cheaper than either the ferry/ overland route or the road through Israel. The reason: visa fees, exit fees, border zone exit [...]

Support VBJ’s writing on this blog:

Hello Craig,

Man, we had a hell of a go getting from Jordan to Cairo. I highly – HIGHLY – recommend flying from Amman if you want to visit Petra. It would probably be cheaper than either the ferry/ overland route or the
road through Israel.

The reason: visa fees, exit fees, border zone exit fees, crooked taxi drivers, and moderately priced buses.

This is a wrap up of our expenses getting from Aqaba in Jordan to Cairo. All prices are per person except taxi fares.

Jordan exit fee- 5 dinar, $7
Metered taxi from Israeli border to Eilat- 40 sheckles, $10
Egyptian visa- $15
Metered taxi to Egyptian border $8 (was given counterfeit change, so the expense was really greater, there is a bus for 5 sheckles, but, as I will explain below, we had to move quick and could not wait for it.)
Israeli exit tax- 94 sheckles per person, $25
Egyptian border zone exit tax- $15
Minibus to Cairo- $15 (much less than what other people paid, the drivers are crooks beyond what you would expect.

There is a big bus that goes from the border to Cairo that costs $13 but their are only a couple a day at 9 am and 4:30 pm)

Minimum total cost per person: around $95 with an immense hassle.

Keep in mind that the fucking negligent guidebooks say that you can get a visa for Egypt at the border but this is not true. The land borders only give out entry stamps that are good for Sinai, not the rest of Egypt.  We learned this the hard way. We crossed out of Israel and went to Egypt and then got turned back at the border for not having a visa. I even implied to bribe the fuckers and it did not
work.

We then had to cross back into Israel with Syrian/ Iraq stamps in our passports-  not fun – just to go back into Eilat to get an Egyptian visa and go back to the border.

Have fun in Israel, the weather is beautiful there.

Wade

Filed under: Border Crossing, Bus Travel, Egypt, Israel, Jordan, Middle East, Travel Help, Visas

About the Author:

I am the founder and editor of Vagabond Journey. I’ve been traveling the world since 1999, through 91 countries. I am the author of the book, Ghost Cities of China and have written for The Guardian, Forbes, Bloomberg, The Diplomat, the South China Morning Post, and other publications. has written 3699 posts on Vagabond Journey. Contact the author.

Support VBJ’s writing on this blog:

VBJ is currently in: New York City

1 comment… add one

Leave a Comment

Cancel reply

  • Amy May 12, 2009, 5:42 am

    Yes, I also recommend flying to Amman if you want to visit Petra, it is a 3 hour drive from Amman to Petra and while you are in Petra you can do Petra by Night, it is awesome .

    Link Reply