Cairo Travel Forum

Currently in Cairo and want to work our way to Petra on our own without a tour. Can you advise me on land options?

I'd rather not fly into Amman to save money even though I know this saves time.
Here in Cairo they say bus to Nuweiba and then ferry to Aqaba. Why do they push this route and not Cairo-Taba? Ferry from Nuweiba is more expensive and bus to Nuweiba is longer route.

Does anyone know the latest info on the ferry from Taba to Aqaba? Can I purchase ticket once I arrive in Taba, do I need to reserve 24 hrs in advance with Sinbad (ferry operator) in Jordan, or can I only do this ferry crossing with pre-booked tour? I've heard all three but don't know which is true.

What about land only? Taba to Elat to Aqaba and then on to Petra? Anybody have any info on this route?

We are US citizens (no visa for Israel and visa on arrival in Jordan) and don't plan on going to Syria or other countries that have issues with Israel so the visa stamp is not an issue. Please help, we plan on doing this in the next couple of days. Thanks.

I forgot to mention if I could please get first hand experience info from fellow VTers or other direct info (say a family member or friend of yours who did the trip) as opposed to directing me to www.jordanjubilee.com

Thanks again!

Last year I went from Elat, Toba, Dahab (several days in Dahab), Cairo on my own overland and had no problems. So I don't see why you cannot go from Cairo, Toba, Aqaba, Petra over land on your own. I think US citizens can get Jordan visa crossing the land border into Aqaba but you should verify that.

Well, I haven't done this trip.

I know it is possible to cross the border between Egypt and Israel in Taba by foot. Get an Egyptian taxi to the border, cross it by foot and get another taxi in Israel.

I am just not sure about the Israel/Jordan border at that place. You better ask in the Israel and Jordan forum.

Might be that the Nuweiba ferry is a better/faster choice.

No need to worry about visa's/entries and such. You might need some visa's or pay exit fees, but crossing borders between these countries is accepted by all these countries.

The cheapest route will be the Taba/Eilat/Aqaba route. The reason people may be pushing the Nuweiba/Aqaba route is a combination of avoiding the Israel border stamp (which bars you entry from pretty much every Muslim country in the world, except Jordan and Egypt) and the fact that you have to pay an exit tax to leave Israel (about 95 shekels).

The route I would take is Cairo to Taba by bus (65LE - 7 hours). Taxi from Taba border to Arava border (about 10km). Once in Jordan you have an option of a taxi to the bus station (4 pounds) followed by a bus to Wadi Musa (Petra for about another 5 pounds)or a taxi direct to Petra (which I don't know the price of)