With the end of the pandemic, global travel has resumed, and this time, my destination is the mysterious country of Egypt. As one of the world’s oldest civilizations, Egypt has always been on my travel list, and now I finally have the chance to set foot on this ancient land. We were really looking forward to it!
Our trip to Egypt is 8 days. Besides staying in Cairo and Giza, we plan to head south to Luxor or Aswan. After some online research, we found that we could either take a train or bus to get there. While the bus is affordable, spending an entire night on it would be uncomfortable. The Egypt sleeper train looked much better, though at $80, it’s not cheap. The sleeper train sounded like a more fun and comfortable experience, so we went with that.
How to Purchase Sleeper Train Tickets
Buying Tickets at Cairo Railway Station
We had heard that Egyptian trains sell out quickly, so we tried booking tickets online, we couldn’t complete the purchase, so we decided to buy our tickets directly at Cairo’s Ramses Railway Station after arriving. The station is quite large and crowded, but the locals were very friendly and guided us to the ticket counter.
When we reached the ticket office, we saw a poster outside with information about the sleeping train schedule, prices, and other details:
- Schedule: Cairo/Giza to Luxor/Aswan
- Cost: Single room US$120 / Double room US$80 / Child US$70
- Price includes dinner and breakfast
- Seat ticket between Luxor and Aswan costs only US$10, including a light meal
While I was checking the schedule, the tourist police suddenly appeared and insisted on taking us to his office. I thought he was going to help us buy tickets, but he just had us sit there. After he realized we didn’t have cash in US dollars to buy the tickets, he took us to the ticket counter in front of the office. Looking back, he might have been expecting a tip, but since we were new to the area and unaware of the tipping culture, we didn’t give him anything…
Two sleeper tickets, totaling $160 + $3
The ticket looks like this
Buying Tickets at Luxor Railway Station
We bought our return tickets at Luxor Station. Just look for the “Sleeper Train Tickets” sign and buy your tickets directly at the counter; it’s very convenient. We were likely traveling during the off-season, so we didn’t have much trouble getting tickets. However, if you’re traveling during the peak season, it’s best to purchase your tickets as early as possible to avoid the ticket selling out.
How to Board the Train
Giza📍El Giza Station
Although our ticket was from Cairo to Luxor, we were staying near Giza, so we decided to depart from Giza Railway Station. Giza Station is smaller, so there are no platform or carriage signs, and even if there were, they would likely be in Arabic. However, as soon as you enter the station, friendly locals will guide you to the VIP lounge and suggest you order a drink. Although they charged me 50 EGP ($1.6 approx.) for a green tea in a paper cup, the air conditioning made it worth it.
Once the train arrived, someone called us out to the platform and led us to the second carriage. We later realized that only foreign tourists would stay in these sleeper carriages.
Luxor📍Luxor Railway Station
Luxor Railway Station is about the same size as Giza’s, and there are no platform or carriage signs. You’ll have to rely on locals for guidance. Fortunately, both stations are small, and all trains depart from Platform 1, so it’s not hard to find your way.
The platform is small
Cairo📍Cairo Ramses Station
Cairo’s Ramses Railway Station is quite large, with many entrances. There’s a food court on the second floor, and the station also has platform display boards, though the station layout can be somewhat confusing.
Train Station Lobby
Egypt Sleeper Train Experience
The space in the sleeper train’s upper and lower bunks is quite small—perfect for someone like me, who is 158cm (5’2”), but my boyfriend, who is 190cm (6’2”), had to curl up to sleep. The compartment also has a sink and mirror for basic hygiene. The location of the power outlets is slightly inconvenient, but the basic facilities are adequate. The train provides meals, but the taste might not suit Asian palates, so I recommend bringing your own snacks and bottled water, especially the water! Before disembarking after breakfast, the train staff will come around asking for tips, so make sure to have some small change on hand.
The train has arrived
Train Carriage Corridor
Upper and Lower Berths
After dinner, the staff will convert the lower berth into a bed
Sink and mirror
AC control, lighting adjustment, call button, etc.
View from the window
Arrived at the destination
Overall, the Egypt sleeper train experience was decent, but the air conditioning was quite cold at night, and the train was noisy, waking me up several times. The tickets were a bit pricey, but the comfort and cleanliness were satisfactory. If you have the chance to visit Egypt, this is an experience worth trying. 🚂
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