Visiting Egypt and Palestine
Egypt has all the elements of an ideal tourist destination. It has a moderate climate which makes it suitable for holidays throughout the year. It has a wealth of historical monuments, scenic landscapes, as well as modern amenities and diverse hotels which suit a number of trips. Egypt also offers some of the best competitive prices in Africa.
Egypt is famous for being the site of one of the oldest civilizations in the world, where humans began to cultivate land and raise livestock over 10,000 years ago. It is also famous for impressive monuments, such as the pyramids of Giza. Its official language is Arabic, and most of its inhabitants are Muslim.
How can I come to Palestine through Egypt?
The Taba border crossing located in Taba city is the international border between Egypt and Israelโs city of Eilat. Crossing the border for Israeli citizens and foreign tourists who have a transit permit with an Egyptian visa on their passports is easy. New arrivals and Palestinians holding an Israeli transit permit are also allowed to cross. The safest and most practical way to cross the border from Egypt is to take a bus through Sharm El Sheikh or Dahab to Taba.
On the Egyptian side, you will get your passport stamped as you are exiting the country, while on the Israeli side you will go through a security check.ย They might want to go through your passport pages, or they may ask you about your travel plans to Israel, such as where you plan to stay. Having your hotel reservations handy may be very useful in case they ask.
After you pass through customs, you will take the bus to the central bus station, from the bus stop which is around 90 meters from the exit gate. If you are travelling on a Friday or Saturday, it is best to check ahead of time as you may need to catch a taxi to the central bus station, which could cost up to 50 NIS. From the central bus station, you can take a bus that goes to Jerusalem. From there, you can get a bus from Damascus gate that goes to your chosen destination in Palestine.
What if I want to come to Egypt through Israel?
If you want to visit Egypt from Israel, you will also have to cross at the Taba border, unless you fly.ย First, you can take a bus from one of the central bus stations in any of the main cities in Israel. For example, from Jerusalem you can take bus number 444 that goes to Eilat. You can buy a ticket online in advance in order to save money.
Once you arrive at Eilat, you can take a bus to Taba from the central station which costs about 15 NIS. Alternatively, you can take a taxi, but it will cost you around 50 NIS. Normally, the buses leave from the station on weekdays from 8am until 9pm, but on Fridays, they only run from 8am until 3pm. On Saturday, the buses run 9am until 7pm.
When you arrive at the Taba border crossing, you will have to show your passport to an officer there, and pay 100 NIS, as well as 5 NIS in tax. Keep your receipt because they will ask for it later. You will then go to another border officer, who may ask you about your travel plans in Egypt, and why you want to go.
Finally, you will show your passport and receipt again, before crossing to the Egyptian side. After your passport has been stamped, you will leave the terminal, before facing another Egyptian checkpoint, and then entering Egypt.
