We didn’t have to do Egypt… but of course we did!
Egypt is undeniably a bucket-list destination – a place that calls you in before you fully understand why. Five-thousand-year-old temples, colossal pyramids that align with the stars, and mysteries that have pulled in travelers for centuries.
Here’s our story of crossing in to Egypt — a place that’s been pulling on our hearts for years. Everything from what we learned based on experience, what we wish we knew, and what you should know if Egypt is ever on your horizon too.
Why Egypt was non-negotiable for us.
Egypt has always been more than just another country along our route.
For Jesse, it began back in 2013. During the revolution, when tourism was at a standstill, he found himself one of the very few travelers at the pyramids and all the museums and temples.
With no crowds, no groups, and no tour buses, he slipped into the Great Pyramid of Giza alone. Just him, a sarcophagus, and an ancient stillness that changed his life. There, in silence, he lay inside the King’s sarcophagus and meditated — an experience he still describes as a DNA upgrade; a gift from ancestral “star seed” of remembrance.
For years, I’d heard that story, and each time it makes me shiver; goose bumps all over. So yes, when the time came, Egypt was not optional. It was an absolute, and we were willing to go out of our way to make it happen.
Crossing from Jordan to Egypt: The Aqaba–Nuweiba Ferry
Our original plan was to drive from Cape to Cairo, all the way from South Africa, north across the entire continent to meet Egypt at the end. But after border challenges and closures in Ethiopia and Sudan, we rerouted, shipping our vehicle from Kenya to Oman.
That detour became a huge blessing: Oman, UAE, and Saudi Arabia opened the entire world of Arab culture; the language, the traditions, and the peaceful nature as a warm-up for the main event — Egypt.
Instead of driving through Israel / Palestine, we decided to avoid the “heat” and ship from Jordan to Egypt. Rumor and research indicated that it would be more safe, affordable and time efficient — so we trusted the grapevine and navigated to the ferry port of Aqaba.
Everything prior to Egypt was just the warmup. What awaited us was one of the longest, most demanding borders (and countries) of our travels to date.
Let’s first address the fact that we are traveling in our own vehicle; while most people prefer flying in, or backpacking. Crossing borders with a vehicle is not as simple as a stamp and a smile — but Egypt takes things to another level.
The Carnet de Passage: What We Avoided Has Finally Come
At the Jordan port, we hit our first hurdle: Egypt requires a Carnet de Passage (CDP), or “trip tick”, which is basically a passport for a vehicle.
We had heard rumors of this before, but in all 25 countries across Latin America, Africa and the Middle East, we had always managed with a temporary import permit. Egypt, however, was different. No CDP, no entry, no exceptions.
Thankfully, they issue CDP’s on-site in Aqaba.
We gathered the funds and set our sights. With paperwork in hand, we boarded the overnight ferry. Prana (our daughter) already curled up for sleep in the bed in the back of our truck.
By then, it was already 10:00 p.m. – and we were quickly hustled to leave our vehicle and join the rest of the passengers in the upstairs seating area. So Prana, our daughter, would have to get cozy somewhere else…
The boat didn’t even leave until 1:00 a.m. — packed, loud, buzzing with families and conversations in Arabic. Fortunately we found an open window seat that lay flat, where our little Pachamama Princess could stretch out, and finally get some sleep.
Little did we know, the CDP and ferry ride was just the beginning of an even longer and even more arduous journey…
First Light in Egypt: The Endless Check-in
We docked in Nuweiba around 4:00 a.m. Everyone piled in line, loud and restless as usual, and pushed to rush off the boat. Jesse was unloading the truck, while I helped Prana, and some relief washed over us. We were in. Though that relief vanished quickly when we were lined up next to the rest of the vehicles being completely unloaded and searched. Everything was being taken out. It was already first light – no sleep – and we were facing the potential of military sifting throughout every item we owned.
Imagine emptying your home — clothes, cooking supplies, furniture, tools, toys, everything — onto the dusty parking lot at dawn, with a sleepy toddler in your arms. Miraculously, Prana’s presence softened the officials, and after tense moments, we were waved through without a full unload. Alhamdilallah! (“Thanks to God”)
Though the process was far from over. Sunrise broke over Nuweiba as we were directed to stand in line. More paperwork – insurance forms, new Egyptian license plates, and waves of “helpers” trying to do extra things for tips. By the time we finally left of the port, it was about 10:00am… – We had officially pulled an all-nighter.
Exhausted, elated, and aware: this country was not going to make things easy. Welcome to Egypt!
Relief… and what came next
Getting into Egypt with our Yoda Home was a triumph, but almost immediately our carefully laid plans began unraveling. Students who had planned to fly in for our yoga retreat began dropping out one by one, and asking for a refund. It felt as if the land itself had its own agenda for us — stripping away our expectations so we could discover Egypt on its terms, not ours. Time to invest in some humility…
And so, with no retreat to lead, we leaned into the mystery: driving the entire length of the country exploring temples, filming music videos, and embracing the four-month long wild ride Egypt was about to offer. But that’s a story for our next blog.
What We Wish We Knew Before Entering Egypt
If you’re planning to visit Egypt (whether by car or plane), here are the resources we’d recommend to make your entry smoother:
- Stay Connected Across Countries: We didn’t know it at the time, but if we’d activated an eSIM before the ferry, we would have had service through the whole process. This would have saved us hours of stress from translation misunderstandings, hidden fees and what’s really necessary, and coordinating with our host. Not to mention having GPS to find exactly where we were going. Get a Saily eSIM before traveling internationally to save yourself time, money, and stress.
- Skip Driving. Use InDrive. Egypt’s traffic is no joke — reckless, chaotic, and intense. We parked our truck in Cairo and used InDrive, the local ride app that’s cheaper than Uber and just as reliable.
- Unlock & Protect Internet Access: Some sites and apps don’t work in Egypt. Like Venmo, which can be essential for money transfers. NordVPN or Safeshell VPN will keep you connected to what we needed.
- Book Tickets in Advance: Avoid inflated gate prices and scamsby pre-booking major attractions through Tiqets.
- Considering Driving Yourself? If you must, use GetRentalcar.com or Economybookings.com. But be prepared: driving in Egypt is an extreme sport.
Cultural Survival Phrases:
Learn a little Arabic to reduce stress:
“Lah” = No “Shokran” = Thank you
“Halas” = Enough/finished
“Masalama” = Goodbye
This combination of mini phrases is all you really need to make it in Egypt. Thank us later.
Final Reflections: Egypt Will Change You
Crossing into Egypt wasn’t easy. It was an exhausting workout physically, mentally and emotionally, filled with challenges we didn’t see coming (and the Egyptians could give a hoot about it). But Egypt isn’t meant to be easy — it’s meant to change you.
For us, it began stripping away expectations the moment we arrived. Students canceled their retreats, our financial plans unraveled, and Egypt whispered: “Surrender. Discover me on my terms.”
And so we did.
This was just our arrival story. In the next part, we’ll share how Egypt reshaped our plans, our art, and our hearts.
Inspired to Build a Traveling Life? You’re just in time.
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Every step towards your dream life is infinitely more than another day spent just dreaming. We are here to help shape your dreams into reality through a tested system that works. So let’s get you traveling!
…and most importantly – watch this space. Stay tuned.
Egypt was just another milestone, and we have heaps more stories and tips ahead.
With inspiration and structured guidance,
-Catherine (Jesse, & Prana)
Live Limitless!
