Petra and Ali Baba !
 

Hi,
Too late to answer. Don't miss Petra before Aqaba. If you passed, go back and visit. You may not have that opportunity once again !

Can you please tell me how you pass to Egypt from Aqaba? Bo boat or land?

In Aqaba try to eat at Ali Baba fish restaurant.

Enjoy,

Me no Pakistan :-(
 

Just when I started some killings took place in the Zahedan province and some 22 people were killed by the armed men. They attacked a convoy and all my friends and family objected for me to go there...so I flew from India to Tehran with my bike and started from there. see u soon.
BJ

From Aqaba to Egypt by ferry
 

From Aqaba I have taken the fast ferry to Nuweiba, Egypt. It cost me $40 for me and $30 for the bike. The journey is only 1.50mins. easy.

Turkey, Siria, Jordan
 

Hi Guys

Thank you for the useful information you shared in this thread.
I am currently organising a trip from Italy down to Greece, Turkey, Syria and Jordan.
I am planning to leave Italy around the 15th of December 2007 and get to Aqaba on the 6th of January 2008.
I have few questions and wonder if someone could answer them:
1) Whether: is the wheater decent in winter time (can you drive bikes in these countires in Winter time or is it too cold)?
2) Safety: is it currently safe to travel in Syria and Jordan?
3) Documents: what documents are required to cross these borders?
4) Bike: Would a BMW F650 GS the right bike for this kind of trip (I am planning to buy one)
5) Shipping: can I ship my bike back from Aqaba to Italy
6) Petrol: I read on the LP too that unleaded etrol is not available in Syria and Jordan. Is that true?

Thanks

Paolo

Many Thanks

Hi Paolo
I'm in Syria at the moment so can hopefully help with your questions...
1) It's not too cold at all but can rain a lot and snow is a possibility on high ground
2) Both are very safe places and people extremely hospitable
3) You need a carnet and will have to buy insurance at the border. Haven't been asked for a driving license but I guess it's wise to have an IDP
4) An F650 would be fine. Roads are generally fairly good and there are a few nice pistes you can take too
5) Shipping Aqaba to Italy would I guess not be ideal - why not take to Egypt and ship from Alexandria or Port Said or ride through to Tunisia and catch the car ferry home?
6) Unleaded is available but even if you ran on leaded for a while it shouldn't hurt your bike
Hope that helps
Cheers
Richard

Shipping from Italy to Egypt
 

Hi Richard

Thank you for your fast reply and useful answers.
Unfortunately I only have 3 weeks to visit Turkey, Syria and Jordan. i won't be able to go as far as Tunisia.
Are you sure I can ship the bike from Egypt back to Italy (or even England)
I searched the net and I could find any ferry....
cheers

Hi Paolo,

Sorry - when you wrote 'ship' I thought you meant to send the bike without yourself. If you want a ferry to take you and the bike back homewards bound then as far as I know the ports you can get back into Europe from are Haifa in Israel, possibly Latakia in Syria and Tunisia. 3 weeks for all 3 countries plus Greece and then riding home again sounds fairly stressfull! I think the Haifa and Latakia options will only get you as far as Cyrpus / Greece. Good luck!

Cheers

Richard

shipping back home
 

Hi Richard

I see you are from Bournemouth.
I am in London (not too far)
Maybe when you are back we could go for a pint, so you can tell me all about your trip.

Sorry for the confusion.
I intend to ship the bike back home (either England or Italy)once I get to Aqaba and catch a flight.
I think I should be able to cover Turkey, Syria and Jordan in 3 weeks.

I have a Fazer in London and a speed triple in Milan. I am planning to buy a 3rd bike specifically for this trip. Today I went test riding a BMW 650GS and I was very disappointed (it feels like a maxi scooter!).
I would love to get the BMW 1200 GS but unfortunately I am too short (5 foot7)
any suggestions?
cheers
Paolo

Hi Paolo,

Definitely up for meeting up for a pint after getting home. Won't be back before you leave though so it'll have to be after we are both home sometime in 2008....

I'll be in Aqaba in a couple of weeks so I'll try and have a quick ask around to see what possibilities there are for shipping home from there. Still reckon it may be easier from Egypt though - Suez or Alexandria, though of course going to Egypt means more paperwork hassles.

As for bike choice, got to be honest on this one and say that pretty much all my experience is on BMWs and old Brit bikes. Maybe have a go for suggestion from other hubbers on the which bike thread?

Cheers

Richard

Testing BMW in Morocco first
 

Hi Richard

How is your trip going?

Being short I have eventually opted for The F650GS.
It comes with a very low seat (78 cm)
I am going to test it in May and June in Spain and Morocco.
Then I will be off to Middle East in December.

Due to the fact that I can't take much time off work I am experimenting a new way of travelling.
I take the bike on location (i.e. Barcelona) travel during the weekend and on Sunday night I park it at the airport and fly back to England to work during the week. Then on Friday I fly back and pick it up to carry on travelling for 3 days to the next city/airport.
It works quite well in Europe where you can get a return flight for £50.

Speak to you later

Paolo

Hi Paolo,

Sounds like lateral thinking with the between airports travel! Good luck with it. We're in Aqaba in Jordan at the mo and about to cross into Egypt - have finally hit some warm weather after travelling through winter for the last four months.

I'm thinking of trying to come back from South Africa via Yemen and Saudi sometime around December / January so lets keep in touch and maybe try to meet up.

Cheers

Richard

I bet the weather is nice.
I was in Cairo few days ago for the Easter weekend.
We had sun and 30 degrees.
No comments on how they drive over there!!! It's madness.

Paolo