Egypt to Jordan: Flights, the Ferry and the Land Route Compared

Does Egypt border Jordan?

No. Egypt and Jordan have no land border. Jordan is a separate country to the north-east, across the Sinai Peninsula and the Gulf of Aqaba. The closest the two come is at the head of the gulf. There, Egypt's Taba and Jordan's Aqaba sit about 11 kilometres apart in a straight line.

A short stretch of Israeli coast lies between them, with the city of Eilat on it. That strip is why every overland route from Egypt to Jordan passes through Israel. The only way to skip Israel without flying is a ferry across the gulf.

How far is Jordan from Egypt?

It depends which cities you mean. In a straight line, Cairo to Amman is about 494 kilometres (307 miles). Cairo to Aqaba is about 369 kilometres (229 miles), and Cairo to Petra about 406 kilometres (252 miles). Across the water, Nuweiba to Aqaba is about 64 kilometres. We calculated these from map coordinates.

Road distances are far longer, and no direct road links the two countries. A drive from Cairo means crossing Sinai, then two borders through Israel. In practice the distance that matters is the flight time.

Cairo to Amman by air: the route most people should take

Nonstop flights link Cairo with Queen Alia International Airport in Amman. EgyptAir and Royal Jordanian, the two national airlines, are the ones to check first, at egyptair.com and rj.com. The flight takes about an hour and a half.

Departure and arrival times are printed in local time at each end. Check both clocks when you work out how long the flight is.

Allow most of a day door to door once you add airport time at both ends. That is still the shortest and simplest way to cross. It also means one passport check on each side and no transfers through a third country.

Amman suits a trip that starts in the north of Jordan, or one that ends with a flight home from Amman. Our Cairo to Petra guide covers the road south from Amman to Petra.

Cairo to Aqaba

Aqaba's airport is King Hussein International. Check egyptair.com and rj.com for Cairo to Aqaba routings on your dates, because schedules change by season.

Aqaba makes sense if you want the south of Jordan first: Petra, Wadi Rum or the Red Sea coast. The Aqaba Special Economic Zone Authority says JETT buses run from Aqaba to Petra and Wadi Rum.

One visa point applies. If you connect in Amman, you clear Jordanian immigration at Queen Alia. The Aqaba visa rules described further down apply when Aqaba is your entry point.

Ferries from Egypt to Jordan: Nuweiba and Taba Heights to Aqaba

Arab Bridge Maritime (AB Maritime) runs the passenger ferry between Nuweiba in Sinai and Aqaba. The governments of Jordan, Egypt and Iraq set the company up in 1985. It also runs a fast ferry from Taba Heights Marina to Marina Tala Bay, south of Aqaba. The crossing takes 45 minutes to an hour, depending on the sea. Its home page lists that line for tourist groups, while its route page says it is open to all nationalities. Confirm which applies to you when you book. Our Cairo to Petra guide covers the fast ferry from the Sinai coast. We publish no timetable or fare, because both change. Check sailings and book directly with AB Maritime at abmaritime.com.jo, or through its app.

Its passenger rules, checked October 2026, are strict. For Nuweiba, you must be at the port three hours before the scheduled departure. For Taba Heights, the route page asks for one hour. Your passport needs at least six months of validity. A ticket is valid only for the day and the journey printed on it. You can postpone once without a fee if you ask at least 24 hours before the sailing. Nationalities on Jordan's restricted list need a visa arranged in advance.

On the Jordanian side, the Aqaba Special Economic Zone Authority gives a free visa to visitors who enter through Aqaba's port. The condition is that you leave Jordan from the same border within one month. Certain nationalities still need a visa before they travel, so check yours against Jordan's Ministry of Interior list.

On the Egyptian side, the question is your entry stamp. Many visitors arriving at Sharm el-Sheikh airport get a free Sinai entry stamp instead of a full visa. The UK Foreign Office says it covers stays under 15 days in Sharm el-Sheikh, Dahab, Nuweiba and Taba. Neither the Foreign Office nor AB Maritime says whether that stamp is accepted for leaving Egypt by ferry. If that is your stamp, ask AB Maritime before you book.

Getting to Nuweiba is the other cost. It sits on the Gulf of Aqaba coast north of Dahab, reached by road from Sharm el-Sheikh. From Cairo it is a long drive across Sinai. AB Maritime gives the Nuweiba crossing as two and a half to three and a half hours. Add the three-hour port arrival and the road, and the Nuweiba ferry takes most of a day.

Egypt to Jordan by land, through Israel

The land route crosses two borders in one day. You leave Egypt at Taba and enter Israel at the Menachem Begin terminal, near Eilat. You then cross Eilat to the Yitzhak Rabin terminal, leave Israel, and enter Jordan at Wadi Araba, just outside Aqaba.

Each border has its own exit and entry formalities. Israel has its own entry rules for your nationality, so check them on the Israeli government's official pages before you go. The Israel Airports Authority runs both Israeli terminals and publishes their opening hours and holiday closures at iaa.gov.il. Check that page close to your travel date.

The Jordanian visa works differently here. The Jordan Pass FAQ says Wadi Araba issues a visa on arrival only to Jordan Pass holders. Aqaba's free zone visa also excludes this crossing. If you do not hold a Jordan Pass, arrange your Jordanian visa before you travel.

This route only suits travellers who are already in Eilat or who want time in Israel. Our Egypt, Jordan and Israel page covers the three-country version.

Jordan to Egypt: the same three routes in reverse

From Amman to Cairo, the flight is again the simplest answer. For Aqaba to Cairo, check both airlines for your dates.

By sea, AB Maritime's ferries run from Aqaba to Nuweiba and from Marina Tala Bay to Taba Heights. The same rules apply: time at the port before sailing, six months on your passport, and a ticket valid only for its date. You can postpone once without a fee if you ask at least 24 hours before the sailing.

Plan your Egyptian visa before you leave Jordan. If you want Cairo, Luxor or a Nile cruise, you need a full Egyptian visa. The Sinai entry stamp covers only the eastern Sinai resorts. AB Maritime says non-restricted nationalities can get a free 15-day South Sinai visa on arrival at Nuweiba. It covers only Taba, Nuweiba, Dahab and Sharm el-Sheikh. You cannot use it to travel on to the rest of Egypt. Our visa page explains the e-visa and visa on arrival.

Which route should you take?

Fly, unless you have a clear reason to cross by sea or land. The flight is short, needs one border at each end, and fits any Egypt itinerary that touches Cairo.

Take the Nuweiba ferry if you are already in Dahab or Nuweiba, hold a full Egyptian visa, and can give it a whole day. It is a poor fit for a tight schedule, because one missed sailing pushes everything after it.

Take the land route only if Israel is on your plan. As a way to save money on a flight, two borders in one day is a bad trade.

Combining Egypt and Jordan in one trip

The usual pattern is Egypt first, then a flight from Cairo to Amman or Aqaba. Most of our Memphis Tours trips fit that pattern. Fourteen of the 16 start and end in Cairo, and finish with a transfer to Cairo airport.

The Cairo Short Break is five days in Cairo, from US$935 per person, land only. It covers Giza, the Grand Egyptian Museum and Coptic Cairo. Cairo, Luxor and a Nile Cruise is eight days, from US$2,135 per person, land only. It adds four nights sailing between Luxor and Aswan, with domestic flights included.

For a single trip that covers both countries, send an enquiry through our Egypt and Jordan tours page. Flying into one country and out of the other usually saves a repositioning flight.

Current advice and border status

Border hours, ferry sailings and entry rules in this corner change, sometimes at short notice. Check the official source for each close to departure. Use AB Maritime for the ferry, iaa.gov.il for the Israeli terminals and jordanpass.jo for the Jordan visa.

For current travel advice on Egypt, Israel and Jordan, read the US State Department and UK Foreign Office pages for each country on your route. Read the advice for the specific places you will pass through, including Sinai and the border areas.