We will travel from Europe through Syria and Jordan to Africa in December and are a little concerned about the Syria - Jordan border. On the news they sad it is closed but now I found much more positive news: Thai-ASEAN News Network

Hoping to cross Nassib-Jaber. Anybody crossed from Syria to Jordan recently?

I'm planning on crossing Syria (twice) in August and September as well. I'm monitoring the situation with concern, but I guess all you can do is sit back and watch. Things seem to be very fluid.

Just a note: The article you linked to is from April 29th.

December is a long time off. No use worrying now. I understand there are ferries across the Mediterranean to Egypt, so you have a plan B.

Check out the Lonely Planet forum "Thorntree". They usually have more up to date information than the HUBB.

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Where is Julian?

We're in a much worse of position me thinks... we set off from the UK in 2 weeks time for South Africa via the mid east. If you have a look at the UK emabsy in Syria it says that the borders are closed. BUT if you read carefully it says the roads are blocked... so does that mean it's closed because you can't get to the border via the motorway or is the borderpost itself closed. Not very clear in their statement. The only other way to get to East Afrika is to catch a ferry from Egypt (again) but just rang the ferry line in Italy 20min ago and they told me it doesn't run at the moment but to call bavk next week as things might change.

Acutally there is another way, and that is through Iran and then Saudi... don't know much of these countries at the mo but it seems I might have to learn quickly!

Good luck to all.

Boereklonk, if you are leaving in 2 weeks then you can pretty much forget Iran as the visa process takes 6-8weeks minimum. I doubt that even if you applied now and arranged to pick up the visa in Istanbul that you probably wouldn't have enough time unless you're traveling very slowly. As for Saudi Arabia, there are very few tourist visas granted and none I have heard of have been to overlanders...

I think youre best plan is to stick to Plan A and give us all an update from the ground in Syria.

safe travels

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TurboCharger + Francois (our BMW R1200gs) '07
www.riding2up.net, blog.riding2up.net

Same as TurboCharger says, Saudi says they give travel permits but they're hard to get. Especially now.

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Not Ted Simon since 1970!
http://nokilli.com/rtw

I just spoke to the Syrian embassy in Sweden. They tould me the borders are open and it would be no problem to obtain a visa valid 3 months from date of issue. Let's hope it's true and stays that way.

But the plan B with the ferry doesn't look good...

Plan C, Iraq - Jordan? Northern Iraq, Kurdistan seems surprisingly okay. But can't find much info about western Iraq but it doesn't look good.

We've picked up our passports with visas yesterday from the Syrian embasy in London. One advantage of the sitsuation in Syria is that it was like a ghost town in the visa section of the embasy... took the missus 10min from start to finish!

They all said it should be fine and we'll have a ball of a time in Syria... I guess beauty is in the eye of the beholder. Have chatted to a few people and all did say as long as we stay out of the hotspots, come in on a Monday and leave by Friday morning we'll be OK.

So we'll be keeping an eye on things and we'll be in the South of Turkey around then end of June.

I'll post updates here when I can but I'll be updating my blog on a regular basis more often and you'll probably get a more up to date info from there anyways.

Good luck to all!

ADVICES TO THE RIDERS TO SYRIA.....

If you are still serious and keen to visit Syria;

1-Local people in North Syria has many kins in Şanlıurfa Turkey. As things happen so fast in the area, Şanlıurfa,Akçakale bordergate and Syrian Ar Raqqah to Aleppo route is highly recommended for safe travels...(Also for rescue escapes)
2-Keep in touch with our friend and famous Vespa biker and Mr.Hasan Parmaksız in Şanlıurfa... When you need help, support and up to date information, you will see him near you....For repairings and technical helps, Ramazan Usta -YÜKSEL MOTOR in Adıyaman is the best in the area...most safe place aspecially for alone woman riders....
3-This route will give you the change to visit Nemrut Mountain (Mt. of Gods).
Nemrut Dağı, Adıyaman, Nemrut Dağı, Adıyaman, Foto Galeri. İl, Şehir ve İlçe Resimleri, Türkiye Manzaraları ve Fotoğrafları
Global warmth and climate changes are badly impressing the area and we are afraid the monuments will get lost within few years...one of the 10 must visit places in Turkey.
4-Get a Turkcell telephone line for your phone.Copy of your passport will let you use your cell telephone in Turkey free...This is for tracking you by 112 UMKE if you call for help.(just dial 112 wherever you are in Turkey)
5-Please dont hesitate to call our club for more information or support..All free for motocycle riders..
istanbul bisiklet motosiklet ihtisas klübü | Facebook
Wish you all the best and safe travels..
mehmet zeki.

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Mehmet Zeki Avar
''Borderlines divide countries,HU friendship finds a way to reunited"
https://www.facebook.com/mehmet.avar.12?ref=tn_tnmn

I just picked up an Iranian visa in Istanbul, process took about 10 days (not including weekends), 6 days for the people at StanTours to do their thing, 2 days to wait for the documentation to arrive in Istanbul, then 2 days to get the visa.
It was in reality one of the more straightforward visas I've applied for, very slick process being able to order the visa to any embassy. Started the process somewhere in Albania and then rolled on over to Turkey.

Heading towards Syria at the moment so I'll post back here if I get in.

Cheers

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roja45.com

Thought I'd quickly drop an update as promised. We went in and through Syria in the end. Spend 3 days driving around and no problems at all. Went in through the western border post, had an interview, asking the usual questions, stayed outside Aleppo in a camping ground of sorts. Went on to jaba citadel for the second evening. Drove through to palamyra and onto Damascus for our third and last evening.

Military/ police presence every where but friendly and helpful albeit inquisitive. Exit down south to Jordan without any issues.

Boereklonk

Ps. Make sure you enter with enough petrol/diesel to last you at least a day.
PPS. I'll also post this in more recent treats

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Scenic route home

Thanks for the update. So what is the problem with getting petrol exactly? Are petrol stations closed or is there some quota in force?

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TurboCharger + Francois (our BMW R1200gs) '07
www.riding2up.net, blog.riding2up.net