Bandar Abas -> Sharjah: Organisation time
 

Hiya folks

I was hoping someone could help me out....

I am looking into coming down through Iran in the summer of 08 and getting the boat over to Sharjah/Dubai - I only have 7 weeks to do the trip from the UK to Dubai (have to start work again) so I am trying to find out HOW QUICKLY you can organise getting onto the ferry once you arrive in Bandar Abas..

We will be riding UK bikes down - would need a Carnet De Passage to get into Iran and a prearranged visa.. but from arriving at the port (town) how long will it take me to get the paper work sorted to actually get onto a ferry and get to Dubai (including the paperwork at the other end....)

Many thanks,

Tony.

Try to solve the issue at their Tehran HQ. maleki@valfajr.ir

Good luck!
DS

bandar-dubai
 

hey tony,

there's a post somewhere outhere on the exact shipping procedure and prices for this ferry. it leaves in bandar-e abbas and arrives in dubai, in port rashid. and it does include a bit of paperwork. how long it will take you to aorganise things depends on what day you arrive in bandar. just buy your ticket at valfarje office. they'll tell you that you should check your bike in the night before the boat leaves, leave it there and then board the next morning. we refused. arrived at 8 the morning the boat left and managed to get the bikes onboard by 11. however, be prepared for some hectic paperwork. so 4 hours should be ok. the trip itself will take 4 to 9 hours, depending on whether or not you get stuck in fishing nets. the trouble begins in dubai, where they'll not give you the bike if you arrive to late. we had to wait till the next morning and then it took us a full day for paperwork. bit of hassle.

i'll see if i can find the post with the prices for you.

g&t

the post
 

here's our original comment:

dodgy is at least half right. shipping from bandar to dubai is a bit of a nightmare. the roro ferry from bandar to sharjah no longer exists - or they don't want you on it, so you have to go via dubai. the second problem is they put your bike on the catamaran and then regard it as cargo shipping. including the usual hassels, so it took us two times five hours to check the bike in at bandar; they want you to show one day early to do the customs but then keep you busy another four hours the day the boat leaves. it goes on sundays and mondays at more or less 10am. there are port taxes to be paid in bandar (15 $) and the boat costs you 55$ and 139$ for the bike. the real fun starts in dubai. you cannot clear the bike the same day because customs is closed when you arrive. then you have to go to the shipper (oases) who charges you another 300 dirhams. add the port taxes etc in dubai and it will cost you about 500 dirhams in total to get your bike back. and try not to laugh at their no delay sign; it took us 23 hours to clear the bike.

the post is here... and there are some new comments, so check there, i'd say.
http://www.horizonsunlimited.com/hubb/middle-east/ferry-to-iran-oman-uae-21170-2?highlight=trui_gaea+bandar

good luck

Once you know what day the ferry leaves, it just takes a day. You just turn up early in the morning. It takes a long day to complete the paperwork, but the ferry leaves at 7 pm only.

The problem is that the ferry departures are not foreseeable, so you'll have to expect to wait a day or two in Bandar Abbas.

Cheers

Lars