Sudan to Sadia Arabia

[DIDIER MARTIN]

I am currently in Addis waiting for my visa for Sudan. Could someone tell me if it is possible to take a ferry from Port Sudan to Jedda in Sadia Arabia, if yes what do I need to do (paper work)
www.ride4kids.t2u.com
Thanks everyone.
Didier

[AliBaba]

It might be possible, but...

http://www.horizonsunlimited.com/ubb...ML/000009.html

Good luck
AliBaba

[Andrew Airnes]

As far as I`m aware you can organize the Suadi paperwork in Addis and there is a ferry from Port Sudan but I`m unaware of their most recent sailings.

regards

Andy

[Toby2]

Ferry goes from Suakin to Jeddah. Can book in Khartoum. Will need to show Saudi visa before they will sell you the ticket. For Saudi transit visa you normally need exit country visa such as Jordan and also you can't get the Syrian visa in Jordan and you won't have time in Saudi (only 3 day transit) so if your heading north you might want to sort those in Khartoum as well.

[AliBaba]

Hmm, when I was in Khartoum (last August) I had to buy the ferry-ticket before I could hand in my application for visa. When they refused my visa (some 20 days later...) I got most off the money for the ferry-ticket back.

It’s right that you can get visas for Jordan and Syria in Khartoum. If the Saudi visa fails you can also get the Egyptian one.

Happy travels
AliBaba

[Toby2]

Reason for them wanting to see Saudi visa is to know they can get you off at the other side, not get landed with passengers without visas although got the impression that it depending who you were booking with as to whether they checked for a visa or not - don't think it was an official policy. Another option might be there was talk of a ferry service starting up between Saukin - Jeddah - Aqaba in Jordan. All the advertising was in place but no ferry about 10 months ago - this might have changed since. Bit of a long shot.

[AliBaba]

In August there was a ferry going Suakin-Jeddah-Egypt/Jordan (can’t remember if it was Egypt or Jordan, sorry) but you still need the Saudi visa to join the ferry so it doesn’t make much difference.

I found driving to Wadi Halfa (along the Nile) pretty fun, except that I did it in summertime and it was hot! The route is a nice “goodbye” to the lovely Sudanese people and it is good to relax on the ferry before you spend some days (normally five!) to get your papers and numberplates sorted out in Aswan.

Good luck!
AliBaba

[DIDIER MARTIN]

Thank you very much for all those infos, will let you know how I went. How is the road from Karthoum to the Lake? Is it very sandy?, I seem to have a problem riding in sand, probably because I carry too much weight and have the wrong tyres (road tyres).
Thanks again Toby and AliBaba.
Didier

[AliBaba]

If you drive from Khartoum to Wadi Halfa you have to options:

1)
Follow the trainline:
I didn’t go there because IMHO this is not a good option for a single biker. As far as I know there is totally remote after Abu Hamed. Don’t know if you will find petrol, water or people.

2)
Follow the Nile:
The road is tarred to Abu Dom. They are working on a new “road” from Abu Dom to Dongola but in August there was mainly tracks. There are some sandy spots but it’s not deep and it is possible to avoid it if you plan carefully. You pass some villages on the way. When you get closer to Dongola you might see the new road. Dongola is a nice place to spend the night and have a meal or two.

I crossed the Nile in Dongola and then the sandy tracks goes through a lot of villages for a while. I have heard it’s possible to cross the Nile a bit more north to avoid that. When the villages is ended there is almost no more sand but the road is badly corrugated. The road reminds a bit on the road from Isiolo to Moyale (not the scenery), it’s not difficult but you get tired of the shaking. There are some villages on the way and it’s possible to get cold Nile-water, some places they even have Coke :-)) Didn’t see any bottled water.
The people in the villages are very friendly so I spend some time in different villages and used two full days from Dongola to Wadi Halfa.

The wind is normally from north to south and I had some sandstorms and got a bad mileage. Found petrol in Abu Dom, Dongola and Abri (black market).
You will meet people in the villages but I only met two cars on my two days from Dongola to Wadi Halfa.

I guess this is the easiest way to cross Sahara, but after all it is a dessert and the track doesn’t actually follow the Nile so bring a lot of water.
The last day I had a puncture. When I fixed it (more then 50 degrees and no shade) I drank almost all my water. I didn’t know by then because it’s hard to know how much water that is left in a camelback inside the jacket. When I left I tried to not drink more then a mouthfull for every kilometer and even if that sounds a lot I dried out. When I reached the first village I was in bad shape (lips, throat, week, dizzy)....
But right now it is a lot colder so if you take care it should be no problem!

Good luck,
AliBaba

[AliBaba]

Eeeh, I forgot....
The third option is to put you and your bike on the train from Khartoum and all the way to Wadi Halfa.

Good luck,
AliBaba

[This message has been edited by AliBaba (edited 17 January 2003).]

[yuval]

Toby2 says it all. The ferry to Jeddah leaves Sawakin every Friday. The small town comes to life on Thursday when all the passengers arrive. Talking to an Italian who has done the trip, getting the Saudi transit visa is actually easier than it was just a few years ago though 72 hours is the maximum you get.
There Saptco has daily bus services from Jeddah to Amman at 10 AM so you shouldn't have any trouble getting out of Saudi Arabia within 48 hours.

[uk_vette]

Originally Posted by AliBaba

Hmm, when I was in Khartoum (last August) I had to buy the ferry-ticket before I could hand in my application for visa. When they refused my visa (some 20 days later...) I got most off the money for the ferry-ticket back..
.


It’s right that you can get visas for Jordan and Syria in Khartoum. If the Saudi visa fails you can also get the Egyptian one.

Happy travels
AliBaba

.
Hi Alibaba,
What about driving North to South? (Just trying to miss out on expensive carnet for Egypt)
Turkey, Syria, Jordan Saudi (ferry) Sudan and south, visa places? have you done that route?
graham

[Reinhart Mazur]

Hi

I am not AliBaba but perhaps I can help you with some information, too.

One year ago I travelled from Austria via Turkey, Syria and Jordan to Saudi Arabia with destination Sudan. In Djeddah I took the ferry boat to Suakin. There are daily departures. After arrival you have to see the immigration in Pt. Sudan in order to get registration and travel permit. Otherwise you will face big problems. There are many security checks on the road.

For more information have a look at my website FÄHRE JEDDAH - SUAKIN or send me an eMail or PM

Reinhart

[AliBaba]

Hopefully it worked out, the post is more then 5 years old:-)

[petefromberkeley]

It did work out for Didier. He rode all the way to Siberia then shipped his bike to the US and rode to Ushuaia (part of it with me).