Tel Aviv to Dahab on public transport via Eilat/Taba

I was looking at one of the Israeli bus co. websites and it looked like there is a bus at 12:30 a.m. Sunday mornings from Tel Aviv to Eilat but I wasn't totally sure. Can anyone confirm that? If that bus exists, is it easy to continue across the border and catch a regularly scheduled bus from Taba to Dahab? Would that be the quickest way by bus? Any chance of picking up an Egyptian visa at the Eilat consulate on a Sunday?

Cheers.

Jon

Yes, there is a bus at 12:30 a.m. (Saturday night/Sunday morning), arriving Eilat 5:09 a.m. You are very strongly advised to book in advance if you want to be sure of getting on.

The Egyptian consulate should be open on Sunday morning as Sunday is a regular work day. However, if you are planning to visit the Sinai only, you do not need a visa and can get the "Sinai pass" at the border (I am assuming you are traveling on a 'Western' passport - you do not mention what passport you will be using).

Traveling on US passport and flying home from Cairo so I need the full visa. Looked at the Egyptian consulate in San Fran website and it seems fairly straightforward to get a tourist visa for $15 so I may go that route.

Thanks for the replies.

Jon

Buses from Eilat to Taba are hourly, starting at about 8am. Walk across the border and then bypass the taxi drivers and walk about a kilometre straight down the road to the bus station on the left side of the road. Buses to Dahab leave from there. You may meet other travellers heading in that direction, in which case you can consider making a group deal for a taxi. There are usually some taxi drivers at the bus station. Buses to Dahab used to leave at 9am and 3pm but the schedule can change.

What about heading to St Katherine's on a direct bus from Taba? 2008 LP says there is one at 7 am. Is that still the case? If not, is it easy to take a bus to Nuweiba then a bus or share taxi from there to the monastery?

Jon