Egypt sleeper train experience 2026

If you’re travelling through Egypt, there’s something quite romantic about the idea of boarding an overnight train in Cairo and waking up somewhere completely different the next morning. In our case? We swapped the buzz of Cairo for the laid-back atmosphere of Aswan – all while travelling overnight along the Nile.

But what is the experience actually like? Is it comfortable? Can you sleep? And perhaps most importantly… should you bring snacks?

Here’s our Product and Marketing Executive, Katy’s honest experience of the overnight train from Cairo to Aswan.

Our transfer picked us up from the hotel in Cairo in the early evening, ready for departure later that night. If you’re exploring Cairo during the day, don’t worry, you can leave your luggage at the hotel and head off to explore more of the city before heading to the station.

The station itself surprised me. Cairo’s new train station(Bashteel) is modern and clean, but don’t expect loads of facilities. There’s only a small convenience shop and, all I could find was a minimal selection of crisps and snacks at inflated prices.

My biggest piece of advice? Stop at a supermarket beforehand. And, if you’re vegan or vegetarian I’d highly recommend picking up some snacks before the train, as you will soon read how the meals are not the best catered for dietary preferences.

Trust me, future-you will thank you.

Dinner and breakfast are included onboard, but expectations are key here. The food is perfectly edible, but it’s fairly basic. If you’re vegetarian, you’ll probably be okay, but vegans will find the options very limited.

I’m vegan and my dinner ended up being rice and chips, while breakfast wasn’t really something I could eat. If you’re travelling with children or are a picky eater, definitely stock up on snacks before boarding.

And if you fancy a beer for the journey? Buy that in advance too, as alcohol isn’t sold onboard.

I really didn’t quite know what to expect from sleeping on a train in Egypt. Would it feel cramped? Loud? Slightly chaotic? Actually, I was pleasantly surprised. We travelled in one of the upgraded ‘elite’ cabins, which Rickshaw books where available, and it felt far more comfortable than I had imagined. You get your own private cabin with lockable doors, a wash basin, air conditioning you can control, plug sockets, and seating that converts into beds for the night.

There’s even a little welcome kit with slippers, a toothbrush and toothpaste, which somehow makes it feel a bit more special. Families can also request interconnecting cabins, which is a really nice option if you’re travelling with children and want to stay close together.

The standard cabins are very similar in layout, but older and more worn. The biggest difference for me was the smoking. Smoking is allowed in parts of the older carriages, and even just walking through them you definitely notice it. In the upgraded cabins, this wasn’t an issue at all.

This was my biggest question before boarding. The train takes around 14 hours from Cairo to Aswan (around 10 hours to Luxor), leaving in the evening and arriving the following morning. It stops throughout the night, including in Luxor, and yes – you do hear movement and station stops. But surprisingly? I slept really well. The gentle rocking of the train actually helped, and I found the beds far more comfortable than expected. If you’re a particularly light sleeper, the stops may wake you, but overall I found it much easier than I’d imagined.

Tip: definitely bring a set of earplugs and an eye mask for the best chance of a decent nights sleep

One thing I hadn’t realised beforehand is that the train runs close to the Nile for much of the journey.

The downside? Most of it happens in darkness.

If you’re travelling all the way to Aswan, you’ll wake up in time for some beautiful morning views, with palm trees, desert landscapes and glimpses of daily life along the Nile outside your window. If you’re getting off in Luxor, however, you arrive much earlier – around 6am – so you’ll miss most of the scenery.

Honestly? Yes.

No, it’s not luxury travel. The food won’t blow you away, and it’s not the quietest night you’ll ever have. But there’s something really memorable about falling asleep in Cairo and waking up in southern Egypt.

It feels like part of the adventure.

If you go in prepared – snacks packed, expectations managed and ideally in one of the upgraded cabins – it’s a fun and surprisingly comfortable way to travel between Cairo, Luxor and Aswan. And there’s something quite special about knowing the Nile is right outside your window as Egypt slowly rolls by. Plus, you’ll save on a night’s accommodation too!