Another possibility for getting out of Al-Alamein, though it’s a miserable one, is to catch one of the four daily trains that pull very, very slowly through Al-Alamein (2 each way, LE2 to Matrouh or Alexandria). All trains arrive in the late morning or early afternoon. Inquire at Misr Station in Alexandria or at the station in Matrouh for schedule information. Unfortunately, coaches are not air-conditioned and the Al-Alamein stop is 2km across the desert from the village. Some people arrange a ride with one of the drivers taking a rest stop in AI-Alamein by offering to pay a few pounds for the trip.

The only other way to visit Al-Alamein without your own car is to hire a service.taxi to make the trip. This means you either have to find six other people who want to take a long pause in Al-Alamein on a cross-desert run or have to make a special, round-trip excursion from Alexandria (either way, LE80 for the taxi).You can stay at the run-down Rest House for LE10 per person, but AI-Alamein is a one amel joint, and you’d be doing yourself a service by leaving. You can also get food and drink there (omelette LE1.50, Stella LE3.8O; open daily 7am-midnight).