The most common approach is overland from Khartoum by train — a long, slow journey of roughly 24 to 36 hours through the Nubian Desert, but a genuinely atmospheric one. The train runs several times a week and connects directly with the ferry timetable when it is working properly, though delays are common.
From Egypt, most travellers arrive by the ferry from Aswan, which docks at the lake port a few kilometres from the town centre. The crossing takes around 18 to 24 hours depending on conditions. There is no bridge over the lake. A Sudanese visa is required before boarding in Aswan, as visas are not issued at the border.
There is a small airstrip near Wadi Halfa, though scheduled commercial flights are infrequent and subject to change. Most travellers use the train and ferry combination.