Egypt travel tips

• VISA
• MONEY
• GUIDE BOOK
• EGYPT- PETRA: THROUGH ISRAEL OR BY BOAT?

VISA

For EU citizens, flying in (in Sharm, in Cairo,...) you get the visa at the airport for 15$. However, overlanding if you enter from Taba (Israeli border), you get a visa valid only for the Sinai region (so valid for Sharm, but not for Cairo), unless you don't apply for it at an embassy beforehand (ie in Eilat).
It's not clear where you get stopped if you proceed to Cairo with a 'Sinai restricted' stamp, but for sure you'll.
You can enter Egypt with an ID instead of the passport but you'll have to bring two photos.

MONEY

GUIDE BOOK

I used Lonely Planet 'Egitto 2008 (translated by the english version 'Egypt 9th edition May 08)

EGYPT- PETRA: THROUGH ISRAEL OR BY BOAT?

- You have to choices to reach Petra from Egypt:

BOAT: (managed by AB Marine company)

Each way there's a fast boat and a slow boat:

Nuweiba (Egypt) to Aquaba (Jordan)

• Fast boat:
  • cost (one way) 70 $
  • duration: 2h
  • frequency: 1 or 2 per day (in March '10 at 11.00 am and 5.00 pm (no boat on saturday))
    
    
• Slow boat:
  • cost (one way): 60$
  • duration: 4h
  • frequency: 1 per day (in March '10 at 2.00 pm)

Aquaba (Jordan) to Nuweiba (Egypt)

• Fast boat:
  • cost (one way) 70 $
  • duration: 2h
  • frequency: 1 or 2 per day (in March '10 at 8.00 am and 1.00 pm (no boat on saturday))
    
    
• Slow boat:
  • cost (one way): 60$
  • duration: 4h
  • frequency: 1 per day (in March '10 at midnight)
    
    

   

In most of the reports I've read the delay of the boat due to the custom procedure at the arrival can be of several hours (a friend of mine waited for 5 hours).
On top of that consider that you have to buy the ticket at least two hours in advance of the departure

• Nuweiba to Taba (Egypt border point):

  • mean: minibus
  • cost: 3€
  • duration: 2h

 

• Taba (Egypt- Israel border point) to Israel- Jordan border point

  • mean: taxi
  • cost: 12€ (for the full taxi)
  • duration: 15min

   

• Israel- Jordan border point to Aquaba (Jordan)
  • mean: taxi
  • cost: 3€ (for person)
  • duration: 10min

 

• TOTAL:
  • cost: 18€ (but 12€ if you are at least two people)
  • duration: 2.5h (but if you come from Cairo you'll be dropped directly in Taba)

The only drawback of passing trough Israel is the evidence of it on your passport, even if you manage to avoid the Israeli stamp there'll always be the Egyptian exit or Jordan entry