Best trains to take from Cairo to Luxor & prices? Also whats the best way to travel to Sharm from either Cairo or Luxor?
Thank You

Last August, we took the overnight (not Wagons Lit) from Cairo to Luxor (about three hours shorter then the trip to Aswan). My friend and I went 1st class and used our ISIC cards when buying the tickets to get 33% off...it ended up costing us around $17 USD for the trip!

It was a great value, the seats are like 1st class airline seats and recline almost 90 degrees. There is food service on the train, although the food is bad and pricy. I'd bring your own snacks and water.

Buying the tickets is a tad tricky, however not nearly as much of a hassle as the guidebooks say. Book the tickets as soon as you can when you get to Cairo. They are printed in Arabic. It is useful to learn the arabic numerals to make sure your seats are togther!

Once you get to Ramses Station to board the train, the Tourist Police will find you, check your tickets and make sure you get on the right train.

I did the train from Cairo to Luxor and my advice is take ear plugs. We had what I think was Arabic MTV blaring all night. It is a good journey cause you arrive into Luxor in the morning and you aren't wasting a day travelling.

I'm considering the same trip but was thinking I would like to take the day train in order to see the countryside. Can anyone tell me if that is a good idea or do you have problems like 1) you can't see out the windows anyway, or 2)it's up out of the valley and all you see is desert once you're out of the Cairo slums.

Does anyone know if you can do (Aswan, Edfu, get off the train see the temple, get back on a later train and on in to Luxor) in one day or are the logistics just not right?

There's a ferry to Sharm-el-Sheik from Hurghada, which is a pretty easy trip from Luxor. It's cheaper to take the bus, but it's a very roundabout journey and takes a lot longer.

author, <a href="http://www.worldscheapestdestinations.com/index.html" target="new">The World's Cheapest Destinations</a>

Take a look at www.seat61.com/Egypt.htm for a beginner's guide to travelling by train in Egypt, including train times, approximate fares, and photos of what the trains are like.

It covers both day and night trains from Cairo to Luxor.

The Man in Seat Sixty-One...

Rail couldn't be simpler - tourist trains from Ramses (Cairo) to Luxor are still limited to certain timetables I believe as there is still a touch of banditary in certain places of the region ...best option to go on an overnighter - the ticket seller will advise of best options...prices are pretty reasonable and the trains are reasonably comfortable.

hello!
Month ago we traveled from Luxor to Aswan by train - 1st class ticket cost only 30,- Egyptian pounds. And train was really good! We enjoy this trip :-)

Ingrida

The over night train from Cairo to Asswan is great. See if you can book a sleeper. It even has it's own dining car, selling food and booze oh and soft drinks. Down side is i think it stops in Luxor at 4am.

http://www.franceinfocus.net