update Middle East borders, stamps, taxes
 

Hi Guys

I have been travelling recently in the region and here are my country and border crossing experiences.

Syria

No carnet is required, BUT, visa 30$ and they MAY ask you for 90$ tax and $30 for insurance. I say MAY because in my case I enter into the country without paying, but probably they didn’t realize it. This taxes are due to pay every time you enter into border so if you intend to cross to Lebanon note that at your return you will need to pay again.

If you decide to park your bike in Damascus and bus to Lebanon, the border guards, may not allow to leave Syria o ask you to bring your bike and park in its park.

Tax To leave the country 10$

Jordan


Jordan is the most easygoing border crossing in the region. No Carnet is required, Visa 20 €, Tax import 20 €, Insurance depending number of days, but from 9 - 30 €. Please note if you enter again because your entry has been refused in other countries ( Israel, Egypt, Syria) you will have to pay everything again but insurance if still covers.

Taxs to leave the country 9€ for you & 5€ for the bike

Israel

No visa (USA, EU, Canada, etc.) and Carnet is required. If your insurance green card covers Israel, you don't need to buy one.

Hold your breeze at the border guards because they may take few hours ( 4h for me ) questioning, checking everything in you bike, bags, clothes. Especially if you have visited Syria.

BE AWARE THAT DESPITE THE BORDER OFFICIALS CAN PUT THE STAMPS ASIDE YOUR PASSPORT; THE CUSTOM WILL HAVE TO STAMP IT. THIS CUSTOM STAMP ONLY HAS LATIN LETTERS AND NUMBERS WITH NOTHING IN HEBREW. BUT IF YOU INTEND TO RETURN THROUGH SYRIA THIS CAN BE A PROBLEM, BECAUSE THE SYRIAN ARE SO PARANOID WITH ANYTHING NOT WRITING IN ARABIC IN PASSPORT DURING YOUR STAY IN THE REGION THAT THEY AUTOMATICALLY WILL ASSOCIATE THAT YOU HAVE BEEN IN ISRAEL

Tax to leave the country 100 NIS. (20 €)

If for some reason you get stuck in Israel (Egypt and Syria don't let you cross) there 2 Ro-Ro ferry operating from Israel

Grimaldi lines goes to Italy (not recommended, quite expensive and very unhelpful, i ended paying double as budgeted on "collaterals fees" never mentioned, harbour, agents, handling, parking, port of arrival...etc and because is an unpacked item , the company is not responsible of any damage.)

Rosenfeld goes to Cyprus and Greece for around 450€ (transport and harbour fees included, but check if this price include also the arrival port, if not you may have to pay an agent to import you bike into EU)

EGYPT

CARNET IS REQUIRED, even for Sinai ( if you enter from Israel) if you don’t have an Israel plate. At taba border they may give the option to bUy a "carnet" from a private agent in Nuewbea.

MY ADVICE IS " don't even try whatever custom officials says. You may will end paying 200$ paperwork, tax and insurance + 700$ for carnet with not guaranty of refund on top of the cost to enter in Jordan + ferry


Well guys hope this info helps you in your trips on the region.

Thanks for reading and good travels

thanks for the info.........

the rosenfeld shipping to cyprus, is that something you did?

best

Marco

Hi Marco


I used Grimaldi, through a brooker ( Allalouf Shipping) and i will never do it again.

Note that Rosenfeld also goes to Greece from Haifa.

Regards

was it that terrible? What happened? (or did not happen :-)

Hi,

what's the deal with the roro to cyprus or greece? Is it that bad?

I read elsewhere recently from a traveller that rosenfeld weren't shipping to cyprus - true or untrue?

Are Jordan and syria still issuing visas at the border since the protests began?

Hi Arrow

When I contacted with Rosenfeld, they told me where shipping to Greece via Cyprus. No sure if this was an specific shipment or in regular basis.

With regards visas. I don't think you will have problem in Jordan, but if you dont have visa for Syria , may they are not too keen in this moment to give you one.

Marco

I didn't use Rosenfeld, So I can not give you a feedback on then. Instead I used Grimaldi, I will never use it again!