Many of those who come to Palestine for a visit also plan on going to one or two neighboring countries like Jordan or Egypt. Not only are they close and inexpensive to visit, they also have historical sites which go back thousands of years.
Egypt is famous for having one of the oldest civilizations in the entire world, and is where humans began to cultivate land and raise livestock about 10,000 years ago. It is also famous for including one third of the world’s monuments, such as the Pyramids of Giza. Like Palestine, the official language is Arabic and most inhabitants are Muslims.
Egypt has all the elements of an ideal tourist destination. Its moderate climate makes it suitable for holidays throughout the year as well as its wealth of historical monuments, scenic landscapes, modern amenities, and diverse hotels which serve both individual and family trips.
How to travel from Palestine to Egypt ?
You can do so through the Taba crossing border, located in Taba city which is the international border between Egypt and Eilat, Israel.
The border constitutes the maximum southern border of the State of Israel. Crossing the border is permitted for Israeli citizens and foreign tourists who have a transit permit with an Egyptian visa on their passports. New arrivals and Palestinians holding an Israeli transit permit are also allowed to cross.
In order to get to Taba you must take a bus from one of the central stations in any of the main cities in Israel. Jerusalem is a good option, from there you can take bus number 444 which goes to Eilat. You can buy a ticket online in order to save money.
Once you have arrived in Eilat, you can take a bus from the central station to the border, which costs about 15 NIS. A taxi is also an option but it will cost you around 50 NIS. Normally, the buses leave from the station on the weekdays from 8:00 a.m. until 9:00 p.m. however on Fridays the buses only run until 3:00 p.m. Saturdays, the buses start to run at 9:00 a.m. and finish at 7:00 p.m.
When you arrive at the terminal at the Taba border crossing, you will have to show your passport to the officer there and pay 100 NIS, plus a 5 NIS tax. Keep your receipt because they will ask for it later. You will go to another officer who might ask you about your travel plans to Egypt, the purpose of your travels, and so on.
After that you will finally show your passport and the receipt again before crossing to the Egyptian side. After your passport is stamped, you go exit the terminal and then face an Egyptian checkpoint which will ask for your passport before you will be allowed to enter Egypt.
With only a short distance separating Palestine from one of the oldest civilizations and popular tourist destinations in the Middle East, taking a trip to Egypt while volunteering in Palestine is a quick, easy, and enjoyable experience which will make your journey even more unforgettable.
