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Elite class sleeper on the Abela sleeper train from Cairo to Luxor & Aswan. |
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The best way to reach Upper Egypt
The best way from Cairo to Luxor & Aswan is by sleeper train. A flight takes four daytime hours out of your schedule, getting to and from remote airports and negotiating lengthy airport security. The sleeper train is overnight, in effect faster than flying. It's a real Egyptian experience, far more rewarding than a soulless flight and much kinder to the environment. It saves a hotel bill, too. Bunk beds on a train along the Nile Valley, dinner and breakfast included, wake up to palm trees, villages and river boats...
Don't book the sleeper until you have read this page: What other websites, videos and social media don't explain is that there are 3 different types of sleeper, German/Spanish and Elite. Choosing Elite transforms the experience. Elite is excellent, watch the video and see for yourself.
Sleeper times southbound 2026
Sleeper times northbound 2026
Notes for timetable
These are overnight sleeper trains run by Abela Trains with sleeping-cars & club car. Trains 82, 83, 86, 87 run every day. Trains 1086 & 1087 run when required.
For daytime trains between Cairo, Luxor and Aswan, see the Train Travel in Egypt page.
Cairo to Luxor is 671km (419 miles). Cairo to Aswan is 879 km (549 miles).
Station guides
Heading south, most people board the Abela sleeper trains at Cairo's impressive new Upper Egypt station, sometimes called Bashtil. However, other people prefer to board at Giza station, easily reached by metro from downtown Cairo. Read the station guides to decide which is best for you.
Cairo
Upper Egypt station guide
How much does it cost?
Fares are one-way in US Dollars, a return is two one-ways.
Solo travellers can book a single-berth sleeper OR one bed in a 2-berth and share with another passenger of the same gender.
On the sleeper trains, children aged 4 to 9 pay $70 one-way, children under 4 go free but without a berth - they pay the child rate if if they need a bed.
How to buy tickets
The deluxe sleeper trains between Cairo, Luxor and Aswan have been outsourced to a company called Abela Trains and they have a separate booking system from Egyptian National Railways (ENR). You can book through several reliable agencies, or with the Abela Trains website, which is a little slow.
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Buy Egyptian train tickets online at 12Go.com |
Option 1, book at 12Go.com
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Why use 12go?
12Go.com is a ticketing agency which can book the Cairo-Luxor-Aswan sleeper trains. It also allows you to order foreigner tickets for express trains between Cairo, Alexandria, Luxor & Aswan. You can see prices in various currencies including £, €, $, Au$, overseas payment cards no problem. You pay an agency mark-up, but it's usually hassle-free.
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When does booking open?
Booking for the Abela sleeper trains opens 4-5 months ahead, although this varies.
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Direct booking links:
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How are tickets delivered?
The Cairo-Luxor/Aswan sleeper trains are e-ticketed so can be emailed.
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Buy Egyptian train tickets online at www.bookaway.com |
Option 2, book at Bookaway.com
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Why use Bookaway?
Bookaway.com is another reliable agency which can book the Cairo-Luxor-Aswan sleeper trains. It also allows you to order foreigner tickets for express trains between Cairo, Alexandria, Luxor & Aswan. You can see prices in various currencies including £, €, $, Au$, overseas credit cards no problem. You pay an agency mark-up, but it's usually hassle-free.
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Booking tips
When booking sleeper trains, you'll see sleepers listed in the search results twice, once for a standard sleeper and once for an Elite sleeper (recommended). The Elite option is correctly illustrated with an Elite sleeper photo and has a slightly higher price. Bookaway use a photo of a Ukrainian 4-berth sleeper to illustrate the regular 1 or 2 berth sleeper with the older Spanish or German interior.
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When does booking open?
Booking for the Abela sleeper trains opens 4-5 months ahead, this varies.
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Direct booking links:
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How are tickets delivered?
The Cairo-Luxor/Aswan sleeper trains are e-ticketed so can be emailed.
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Buy sleeper train tickets at Abelatrains.com |
Option 3, book at Abelatrains.com
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The Abela website is quite slow and has more than its share of quirks. But here's how to use it:
Booking opens 4 to 5 months ahead, but this varies.
For Cairo, select Upper Egypt, the new station in Cairo also known as Bashtil, or select Giza if you prefer to board there. If you select plain Cairo that means Cairo Ramses station and you'll see no trains in the search results as the sleeper trains no longer leave from there.
Select Bed Elite class for beds in sleeping-cars which have been refurbished in 2025-26 with the new Elite interior.
Select Bed Standard class for beds in cars with the much older and more worn Spanish or German interiors.
I strongly recommend Elite, these cars are vastly superior to those with the older Spanish or German interiors, for only a few dollars more.
When completing the online booking form, it won't work if you leave any of the fields blank. If you don't have a middle name, enter a dot.
If booking 2 people in a 2-berth sleeper, when you enter passenger data make sure you select Yes under Family. That ensures you are given beds in the same compartment. Otherwise you may get berths in separate compartments each shared with another passenger of the same gender.
Children under 4 go free (but without their own berth), children 4 to 9 inclusive pay the child rate.
You print your own ticket or can show it on your phone. Feedback appreciated.
Tip: Many people report not getting a confirmation email after payment, this seems pretty normal. Don't start again as you'll end up paying for more tickets. Instead, go into My trips, enter the correct date range (that's important) and you should see your booking.
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Or use the Abela app
If you have problems with the Abela website, their app often works better. Download the Abela app for iPhone or Abela app for Android. For English, click the language button top left, labelled 'A' for Arabic.
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Or contact Abela by phone or fax
Alternatively, contact Abela by phone or fax, fax your booking request to + 202 37 489 680 quoting your email address or phone their reservation office on + 202 374 893 88 or + 202 374 894 88 (lines open 09:00 to 15:00 Egyptian time, daily except Fridays, English spoken, feedback appreciated!).
They will email you a booking reference and you can pick up the tickets and pay for them in Egyptian pounds, US Dollars or euros at the Abela reservation offices in Cairo, Giza, Luxor or Aswan.
Option 4, book at the station
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The sleeper may have berths available if you book a day or two in advance, but at peak times such as Easter it gets fully-booked by tour groups, so pre-booking is recommended.
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In Cairo: Sleeper tickets can be bought in person at the Abela Trains reservation office at Cairo Ramses station, probably easier to get to than the Upper Egypt station for most people staying in central Cairo as it can be reached by metro or even on foot. The Abela Trains office is outside in the western facade next to Entry No.(1), see the photos below. See office location on this satellite view of Cairo station.
You can also buy tickets at the Upper Egypt (Bashtil) station, see Cairo Upper Egypt station guide.
Tickets must be paid for foreign currency, either US dollars, euros or pounds sterling, credit cards are accepted.
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Giza: There's a Abela Trains office at Giza, see Giza station guide.
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Luxor & Aswan: There's an Abela Trains ticket window in Luxor & Aswan, see the Luxor station guide & Aswan station guide.
Above, the Abela Trains ticket office at Cairo Ramses, probably easier to visit for tickets than Cairo Upper Egypt station.
Wake up as the train runs along the Nile! Taken by the author from sleeper train 86 between Luxor and Aswan.
What are the trains like?
One, two or occasionally three comfortable sleeper trains link Cairo & Giza with Luxor, Esna, Edfu, Kom Ombo & Aswan in each direction every night, with air-conditioned sleeping-cars and a club car. Waking up to palm trees along the Nile is a real Egyptian experience!
Trains 86 (southbound) & 87 (northbound) run every day all year, extra trains run when needed. Train 1088/1089 runs Alexandria-Luxor-Aswan on Thursdays & Sundays southbound, Fridays & Mondays northbound.
Egyptian National Railways have outsourced the operation of these sleeper trains, since 2023 they've been operated by a company called Abela Trains who took over from former contractor Ernst, who ran the service as Watania Sleeping Trains.
Foreigners are charged higher fares than Egyptian nationals and there are separate quotas of berths for Egyptians and foreigners in separate cars.
Elite, Spanish or German interior?
This is important so listen up! The sleeping-cars on these trains were all built in East Germany in the early 1980s, but they come with 3 very different interiors. Bear this in mind when reading reviews, and most social media influencers don't even realise this.
When you book, if you choose Elite you'll get a modern sleeper freshly refurbished to a high standard in 2025-2026, see the Elite photos below. By early 2026 Abela had refurbished 12 sleeping-cars as Elite, but by the end of 2027 some 46 sleeping-cars should have had the Elite makeover out of a total fleet of 101 cars. A journey in an Elite car is wonderful, I've tried it myself.
If you choose a regular sleeper, you'll either get a sleeping-car with the original 'German' interior as delivered in the 1980s, or one with a 'Spanish' interior, refurbished with the help of Spanish company CAF in the 2000s, see the Spanish & German photos below. Both these interiors are getting tatty and dusty, although the original German interior has held up better than the fibreglassy Spanish refurbished version, you can probably see this for yourself from the photos. The good news is that dinner, breakfast, clean bedding and service are the same as in Elite. Abela tell me that they plan to refurbish all the 'Spanish' cars as Elite, cars with the German interior will remain.
Service on board
The sleeping-cars have lockable 2-berth compartments which can be sold for single or double occupancy. The berths fold away to reveal seats for evening and morning use, the middle of the three seats folds down to form a table as you can see in the photos.
Each compartment has a washbasin, soap, towel & clean bedding are provided. The Elite cars have a 2-pin socket near each berth for recharging laptops or phones. Luggage goes with you into your compartment, there's a large recess for bags over the door to the corridor.
The fare includes a tasty tray-meal in the evening and breakfast with omelette and tea or coffee in the morning, served in your compartment. Your sleeper attendant will set up small tables for you, these slot into the wall next to each seat.
The sleeping-cars are non-smoking, but if you're desperate you can smoke in the vestibules at each end of the carriage. There's a connecting door between adjacent compartments which can be opened if 3 or 4 of you occupy both compartments.
Passengers travelling alone who don't want to pay the single-berth fare can book one bed in a 2-berth and share with another passenger of the same sex.
There is a club car towards the centre of the train with tables and chairs, serving tea, coffee and soft drinks, but not alcohol.
From my own experience, the refurbished Elite cars rode pretty smoothly through the night, I soon drifted off to sleep. I did not find it bumpy or noisy at all.
For more information see Abelatrains.com. Watch the sleeper video.
Elite sleepers
Elite sleeper in day mode (above left) and night mode (above right).
Above left, dinner is included in the fare, served in your compartment. It's tasty!
Above left, luggage space above the door. Above right, breakfast with tea or coffee (and a nice omelette!) is included in the fare.
Club car
Club car at Cairo Upper Egypt station. It's usually marshalled next to the Elite cars.
Club car selling tea, coffee and soft drinks, although not alcohol.
Standard sleepers
These come with two possible interiors: The original German interior as delivered in 1980, which has actually held up quite well. And the 'Spanish' interior, a 2000s refurb designed by CAF, a Spanish rolling stock manufacturer. If you book a standard (non-Elite) sleeper you'll get one of these interiors, although you can't choose which. Dinner, breakfast & on-board service are the same as Elite, as is access to the club car, only the age and condition of the sleeping-cars themselves is different. Each compartment has two beds and a washbasin in the corner. Soap, towels and all necessary bedding is provided. The lower berth folds away to reveal seats.
Sleeping-cars with the older 'Spanish' or original 'German' interiors, on sleeper train 86 boarding at Cairo Upper Egypt station.
Above left, a sleeper with the Spanish interior, refurbished in the 2000s with extensive use of fibreglass panelling.
Above left, a sleeper with the original German interior from 1980. Above right, corridor in a German sleeper.
Video: Cairo to Aswan in Elite class
Travellers' reports
Traveller Sean Sickinger reports: "On the ticket you're advised to be on the platform at least 30 minutes before departure, although this doesn't mean the train will be on time! On my trip, the train was 30 minutes late leaving and nearly 2 hours late into Luxor, so factor a possible delay into your plans. Giza mainline station is right next to Giza metro station and there are a few small shops selling snacks or water, plus a small restaurant. At the station there are small numbers hanging from the platform canopy, these indicate the approximate location of the carriages so if you're booked in car 6, stand next to sign number 6. Don't expect to find any Abela staff on the platform, just wait for the sleeper train on the main platform with everyone else. You may be approached by people with official looking notebooks offering to help you who ask you for your ticket, but don't show it to them - they write down your name and destination as if they were verifying your ticket, then call their buddies in Luxor who will approach using your name and claiming they are there to pick you up, a basic taxi and hotel scam. Once the train arrives at the platform, Abela staff will step out in front of each carriage to check your ticket and make sure you get into the right car & compartment. The onboard staff are generally very friendly and helpful. After the train leaves and people have settled into their compartments, the staff bring you your dinner, selected when you book your ticket. Breakfast is served about an hour prior to arrival at your destination. Don't expect the same level of smoothness as a European overnight train, as there's a certain amount of jostling and vibration from the tracks, but overall this is not a bad option to get from Cairo to Luxor or Aswan."
Traveller Jess Painter took the sleeper from Cairo to Luxor and back: "When boarding from Cairo to Luxor, no-one asked for a marriage certificate, although they checked our tickets as we boarded - onto the wrong carriage, telling us it was the right one, of course! They serve dinner within an hour which was a piece of breaded chicken, rice, vegetables, potato wedges and some sort of cake. An hour later, just after 10pm, they come around to turn the seats into beds. Next time I'll ask for this to be done straight away as the beds are much more comfortable than the seats, two people can sit on the bottom bunk playing cards very comfortably. The rooms have a sink so you can brush your teeth, with bottled water if you have some, and there's a power socket so you can keep everything charged in the case of a delay. The toilets are cleaned at regular intervals but you have to time it right. There are two toilets per carriage. You might go in one time and have a horrendous greeting and decide to wait you might go in another time and feel comfortable enough to use the facilities! They permit smoking on the trains but not in the cabins, only at either end of the carriage. So it's best to leave your door shut so the wafting smoke doesn't enter your cabin, even though this can feel a little claustrophobic at times! The return journey was much the same except that tickets weren't checked on the platform, again no marriage certificate check. Tickets were not even checked on board. We asked for our beds to be made up immediately, passed on dinner as it was already 10.30pm when we boarded, and we slept right through until 8am. It was a very successful journey and one I would recommend to anyone and definitely do again!"
The Valley of the Kings at Luxor, best reached from Cairo by sleeper train: This is Tutankhamun's tomb in the Valley of the Kings at Luxor. Standard entry includes any 3 of the 'included' tombs. Several key tombs including Tutankhamun and Ramses VI are optional and require an additional ticket.