East Turkey into Iraq

[Travelbug]

Hi,

just to share my recent experience.

Crossing into Iraq (Zakho) from Turkey (Silopi) is relatively easy these days.

You do NOT need a prior visa. The passport stamp states "Republic of Iraq Kurdistan Region". Young Kurds in Silopi, Turkey will flag you down and offer their services to help you through the border procedures. It cost me US$ 55 for a Turkish-Kurdish taxi/fixer who took care of the 6 or so border officials (ca. 2 hrs) and dropped me on the Iraqi side at another taxi stand (Turkish taxis cannot continue), from where I paid another US$ 7 for a 10 min taxi drive to downtown Zakho, Iraq.

The best hotel in Zakho seemed to be the "Sipan" for US$ 35. A kind of 3* motel, with friendly people, good garden restaurant, but relatively bad hygienic situation.

Onward driving to Dahuk, Arbil, Sulaimaniye seems to be a routine job for Iraqi taxis and pretty safe (as long as you stay in the Kurdish controlled areas and don't venture into Mosul or Kirkuk).

Surprisingly tense and dangerous was the road from Van via Hakkari and Cizre to Silopi in Eastern Turkey. This is a real warzone with fighter jets, helicopter gunships and hundreds of tanks. It took me about 9 hours in very hot weather and rough mountainous landscapes to drive 400 kms on mostly tarred roads. Time is lost at the 30 or so Turkish military checkpoints which are very thorough and tense. If you are not into this kind of scenery, I highly recommend taking the road from Van via Tatvan and Batman.

The rest of Eastern Turkey seemed relatively calm these days, as I expected from the media coverage.

[Miquel-Silvestre]

Any recent news about? Did anyone go into Iraq recently?

[nomadb]

Maybe, what is the question?

[boarder]

Originally Posted by Miquel-Silvestre

Any recent news about? Did anyone go into Iraq recently?

RTWDoug did: The yer a peein & taliban tour - ADVrider

[nomadb]

Originally Posted by boarder

RTWDoug did: The yer a peein & taliban tour - ADVrider

What a read. Great report overall. He did the northern part with a Harley and says it was OK. Surely he was visible and noticed with the loud Harley. And still was safe.... Was he lucky or is it really getting better?

Remember this is the northern part and is relatively calmer than the central part. So forget abput Musul, Bagdad etc...

Would I do it? There are lot of places on the planet to ride with a bike before I get there for the moment.

And this is from someone who travels there (northern and central parts) by plane!

[brend]

hello
first thing to say is that i have not been in iraqi kurdistan but it is maybe an idea to check out the lonely planet forum. enough people go to iraqi kurdistan and are really positive and say it is really safe. talking about the three kurdistan provinces of course: dahuk, arbil, sulaymaniyah!!

can confirm the situation on the road from hakkari to cizre and silopi in south east turkey. Have been there this summer and it is still the situation described by travelbug. helicopter and tanks! and many ''nervous'' soldiers wearing all full protection.

[Miquel-Silvestre]

There is my experience in Iraq

http://www.horizonsunlimited.com/hub...rak-info-53793

I was in Istambul when the suicide atack and got no problems on turkey roads with soldiers. I saw them, they saw me and let me go without even stopping. They may think terrorist do not ride big bikes

[Mehmet Zeki Avar]

Hope to see you in our club in istanbul and wish all the best.