How to Get from Cairo to Dahab in Egypt: 4 Transportation Options
Traveling from Cairo to Dahab can be a long journey, and perhaps a frustrating one. Fortunately, there are many options of transportation from one city to the next to allow you to experience all of the wonders Egypt has to offer.
We’ll take a look at your options to travel from Cairo to Dahab, along with some tips and a personal story of my adventure to give you an idea of what to expect along your journey.
Disclosure: Some of the links below may be affiliate links. At no additional cost to you, I may earn a small commission if you make a purchase.
How to Get from to Dahab from Cairo
Traveling from Cairo to Dahab is not difficult, but it does take time to cover the ~350 miles (~550 km). Fortunately, there are a number of ways to get from one city to the next. Let’s take a look at your options!
Cairo to Dahab by Bus
The cheapest way to get from Cairo to Dahab is to take the bus. Fortunately, there are direct buses to Dahab from Cairo that operate a few times per day, some of which run overnight.
The bus route will take you from Cairo to the Suez Canal and down along the coast of the Red Sea and then back up through Sharm El-Sheikh to Dahab. For my bus this meant stopping three times for passport checks and one time for bag checks. This appears to be common due to the security risks on the Sinai Peninsula.
- Time Required: Traveling between Cairo and Dahab by bus will take 8 – 9 hours.
- Cost: The cost of a bus from Cairo to Dahab will typically be between $8 – 25 USD
- Buying Tickets: There are only two companies running regular buses between Cairo and Dahab – East Delta Travel and Go Bus Egypt. You can book tickets ahead of time online or go to the local bus station to purchase a ticket. If going to the bus station, I recommend going a few days ahead of time as tickets can sell out.
Cairo to Dahab by Plane
By far the fastest way to get to Dahab from Cairo is to fly. There are numerous airlines running direct flights from Cairo to Sharm el-Sheikh. From Sharm el-Sheikh you can then take a taxi or a bus to arrive in Dahab.
- Time Required: The flight from Cairo to Sharm el-Sheikh is only an hour long, but you will need another 1 – 1.5 hours to make it from Sharm el-Sheikh to Dahab.
- Cost: Inter-Egypt flights are not terribly expensive. Most tickets from Cairo to Sharm el-Sheikh run from $40 – 130 USD. Book early for the lowest fair.
- Buying Tickets: Buy your airline tickets online ahead of time. I would first try searching with Skyscanner.
Drive Cairo to Dahab
If you happen to have a car available, you can also drive to Dahab from Cairo. For most travelers this is likely one of the more challenging ways to get around as there are numerous police checkpoints throughout the drive, and sometimes they do shut down roads to foreigners. However, if you’re determined to try it, just be aware of your surroundings as Egypt can be dangerous in parts.
- Time Required: Driving the ~350 miles will take between 6 – 8 hours typically, averaging around 7 hours.
- Cost: The cost of driving from Cairo to Dahab depends on the cost of gasoline at the time of travel. However, to give you an idea, plan to spend about $20 – 30 on gas. You will also need to factor in any car rental fees and there will be a few tolls along the way.
Private Transfers from Cairo to Dahab
Get the speed of driving to Dahab from Cairo without any of the hassle by hiring a private pickup transfer. These transfers will pick you up at your Cairo hotel door and drop you off at your Dahab hotel.
- Time Required: Typically a direct transfer will take you the same amount of time as driving yourself – between 6 – 8 hours.
- Cost: Transfers from Cairo to Dahab will run around $270+.
- Buying Tickets: While you may be able to book a transfer while in Cairo (or Dahab), it’s easiest to book ahead.
Lessons from My Bus Ride from Cairo to Dahab
When I was looking for ways to travel from Cairo to Dahab, I ultimately decided on the bus. Why? Well, I was on a tight backpacker budget, and it is the cheapest way to get to Dahab from Cairo. Unfortunately for me, this generally painless bus journey from Cairo to Dahab was quite dramatic.
Select Your Seats Wisely
For one, my friend, Gabi, and I opted to take an overnight bus to avoid wasting a day in transport. We were so looking forward to sleeping on the bus, but the joke was on us as our seats were not only in the last row of seats that sits five across, but they were also the smallest seats on the entire bus. They only had about eight inches of leg room.
To make it even better, the seats in the last row also don’t recline, but the ones in front of them do. This cuts the leg room from eight inches to about three inches. This was truly disappointing as both Gabi and I are 6 feet tall – the tallest people on the bus.
With limited choices, we crawled into our seats with our knees overflowing from my friend’s window seat to mine and from mine into the girl’s space next to me.
Learn from my mistake: Ask where your seats are. Do not accept the last row.
Learn Basic Arabic – or Make Friends!
Before the bus took off from Cario there was a brief commotion as one guy further up in the bus was tired and wanted to lean his seat back, but the person behind him wouldn’t allow him to unless they could also recline. This caused a ripple effect until the request got back to us.
Fortunately, the kind Egyptian girls’ next to us explained in Arabic that there was less than half of the leg room of the other seats and that it was physically impossible for people to sit there with the seats reclined. They saved us.
Learn from my mistake: Do not sit in the last row, but also speak some Arabic or make friends with someone who does!
Where to Stay in Dahab
Once you arrive in Dahab, you’ll need to find someplace to stay. Fortunately, Dahab has a wide variety of hostels and resorts, all at an affordable price. That’s right, there are hotel rooms for right around $20 – 25 USD. If you’re willing to spend a bit more, you can live in a bit more luxury.
The biggest thing I would take into consideration when admiring the many hotel options is their location. You’ll want to stay within walking distance of the main promenade so you can walk to all of the cafes, bars, and restaurants that Dahab has to offer.
Budget Hotels in Dahab
As mentioned above, accommodations are extremely affordable in Dahab. That being said, there are some that are even more budget friendly than others. Here are my top picks for cheap hotels in Dahab:
Mid-range Hotels in Dahab
There are no super expensive hotels or resorts in Dahab, which means you can find luxury at a much lower price. Here are your best bets for the most bang for your buck while being close to town:
Additional Resources for Egypt & Surrounding Areas
Now that know how to get from Cairo to Dahab, here are some other posts to help you plan your time in Egypt and the surrounding areas.
- 14 Best Things to Do in Dahab, Egypt & the Sinai Peninsula
- How to Spend 3 Days in Dahab: Paradise on a Budget
- Climbing Mount Sinai: Everything You Need to Know
- How to Get an Egyptian Visa in Aqaba, Jordan
- Taking the Ferry from Jordan to Egypt: A Local Experience
- One Day in Cairo + Dozens of Scam Artists
Like this post? Pin it.
