Does anyone have latest prices for both ferries and is there an alternative route that one can take that does not use the ferry ie road.

Hi Alang

Re the road: it is not open to tourists, at the moment the only route open to tourists is to take the ferry. There is talk of the road being opened to tourists soon, but that is talk that has been going on for years and still the road is closed to us, so don't hold you breath!

We just came from Wadi Halfa to Aswan. Mazar (Mr Fixit in Wadi Halfa - phone +249 122 380 740) tells me it's slightly cheaper going from Sudan to Egypt than the other way around, but I'll tell you the prices we paid anyway.

The prices were as follows: $66 per person 1st class cabin. (In my mind well worth the extra cost if you're a couple travelling - you get a private room with 2 bunks and A/C. 2nd class you have to fight it out with a million travellers for deck space, and can get very hot in the sun. If you go 2nd class take a tarp or tent so you can get some shade)
Departure tax: $9 per person
Customs tax: $16
Port tax: Dependant on the weight of your vehicle. Will be between $20 (car), $30 (4x4), $60 (truck)
Barge ticket for vehicle: $313 (was supposed to be for a larger than normal barge to take our truck, which won't fit on the normal barge)

At the moment our truck is still in Wadi Halfa waiting for the barge... all a bit of a nightmare as the large barge to take our truck over the lake didn't arrive in Wadi Halfa, and of course in the interim our visa expired! So we ended up leaving the truck in Sudan with the local fixer (Mazar) and taking the ferry by ourselves here to Aswan. We arrived on Thursday, and are hoping the truck will get onto a barge next Wednesday... all a bit scary, I feel totally powerless being in a different country. Anyway, apparently this happens all the time, so we're just holding thumbs and waiting to see what happens.

If I can now hijack your thread to ask a question of my one...

Is anyone travelling with trucks crossing Lake Nasser in the near future? (north or south) It seems the reason the barge didn't come to pick our truck up was because there wasn't enough cargo for it to make to trip to Wadi Halfa. It would have come just for us if we were willing to pay $6000, but, well... we weren't willing to cough that up! Now I'm hoping to find other overlanders who will need to make use of the large barge in the near future - then we can make a plan together.

My local no in Egypt is +20 (0) 1826 42584 if anyone wants to get in contact, otherwise get in touch through the HUBB or email me through my blog's Contact Us page - OverAfrica - overland, over Africa

Hope this helps, and also, someone can help me!
Cheers
Steve

OverAfrica - overland, over Africa
www.overlandcamperforsale.com

HI!
We know some guys leaving, as far as we know; Aswan on Monday to Wadi Halfa... they are in Aswan now... they are Swedes!

[url=http://www.swedesontour.se/wp/?page_id=48]Swedes On Tour

Do you know where the Swedes are staying here in Aswan?
Thanks
Steve

No, I dont know where in Aswan they are.

Swedesontour just blogged - they are teaming up with a German couple with a truck (who had been waiting three weeks since there was no large barge) and a bunch of other people. The large barge actually left this morning, going your way.
Swedes On Tour