Go Back   Horizons Unlimited - The HUBB > Planning, Trip > Route Planning
Route Planning Where to go, when, what are the interesting places to see
Photo by Daniel Rintz, Himba children, Namibia

The only impossible journey
is the one
you never begin

Photo by Daniel Rintz,
Himba children, Namibia



Reply
 
LinkBack Thread Tools Display Modes
  #1  
Old 9 Dec 2007
Registered Users
HUBB regular
 
Join Date: Oct 2007
Location: Malta
Posts: 40
Mediterranean Challenge

hi guys,

Here i am thinking of what my next challenge would be after i come back from Australia and thailand... I am leaving on the 26th of December for 2 months in OZ and 1 month in Thai...

As always i have already started planning for future trips even before leaving home for this next trip.. my question is and i feel a bit stupid asking it but here it comes is this normal? why am i always thinking of what to do next? is travelling this addictive??

A trip i have been thinking of doing for a long time, is what i have called the Mediterranean challenge. I am from Malta ( middle of the Med just under sicily), the trip would obviously start and finish from there. the idea is to visit all or most of the countries that border the Mediterranean Sea, visiting Italy first then France, Spain, North Africa, then ??Israel, Lebanon and syria?? , turkey and into Eastern europe and back to central med... This trip intregues me because the mediterranean is surrounded by such a diverse population, yet not very big.

My concern is the area of Israel, Jordan, Lebanon and Syria. cause i heard some countries will not let you in if you have been to other countries in conflict with them, like Israel.

Also i heard many stories about Egypts border, being very bureaucratic and having to leave a huge bond (for the carnet) as big as 500% of the bike's value ?????? One good thing at least is that Maltese Citizens do not need a visa to enter Egypt.

Also what time frame will i excpect to travel this distance? since i have to take time off from my full time job? 1 month? 2 months, 3?

Any comments and thoughts appreciated here

cheers
Ozzee
Reply With Quote
  #2  
Old 15 Dec 2007
Registered Users
Veteran HUBBer
 
Join Date: Apr 2006
Location: Salisbury, UK
Posts: 119
C'mon someone - please answer this with something helpful!!

Last year I saw an interesting display in the Slovenian Technical Museum about a Slovenian who circumnavigated the Med in the 70's on a 50cc Honda. What a trip - and what an inspiration!

Ozzee - sorry I can't help but I hope someone will.
Reply With Quote
  #3  
Old 15 Dec 2007
Registered Users
Veteran HUBBer
 
Join Date: Mar 2007
Location: UK
Posts: 4,343
Some countries are not worth the effort??!

Agreed it would be nice to get some information from those who have been on part or all of this route, but, when I first read it I got the idea that the trip is too far into the future; what I mean is that things change in lots of these countries quite quickly - border closures, conflicts, the usual type of thing.

e.g. North Africa; there are posts in here already that state which international borders are closed at present.
Morroco>Algeria I think?
Libya requires a guide to be employed at high cost.

Egypt: similarly I have read other threads about the high cost of a carnet for transiting through there.

Yep, some Arab countries won't accept a passport with an Israeli stamp in it. (Get a duplicate is one answer).

I suggest further reading of this forum will bring out more information.
__________________
Dave
Reply With Quote
  #4  
Old 17 Dec 2007
Registered Users
Veteran HUBBer
 
Join Date: Oct 2002
Location: Genova, Italy - Kabul, Afghanistan
Posts: 201
I did the Round the Med trip in 2002: ferry boat Genoa – Tunis, then Libya, Egypt, Jordan, Syria, Turkey, Greece and back to Italy

As Italians we needed the visa in advance only for Libya and Syria. The other visa were issued at the borders.

It’s likely the Libyans pretend you to have an escort (guide + policeman) for the all time you are in the country, of course at your cost. It was not mandatory for small groups in 2002 (we were in two on one motorbike), it became mandatory for everybody later, now it’s quite uncertain, especially if you travel only along the coast. But it’s something that you should find out before asking for the visa.

The border Libya – Egypt it’s very slow and painful, it took almost the full day.

The carnet is needed in Egypt, highly recommendable in Libya and convenient in Syria. The cost itself of a carnet is few hundreds euros or less. Then you need the deposit related to the value of the bike, but you don’t need to have that amount in cash. A bank, or an insurance, guarantee is fine, and you pay just a small fraction of that amount as a fee to the bank or the insurance (of course, as long as you exit your bike from the country which requires the carnet).

Finally, to get from Egypt to Jordan it’s recommendable to take the ferry boat Nuweiba – Aqaba. In this way you avoid to cross Israel: indeed neither the Libyans nor the Syrians allow you to enter their country if you have an Israeli stamp on your passport. To ask the Israelis to stamp their visa on a separate paper (they will do it) it’s useless, since you will have anyway the exit visa from Egypt in you passport.
Reply With Quote
  #5  
Old 21 Dec 2007
Registered Users
HUBB regular
 
Join Date: Oct 2007
Location: Malta
Posts: 40
I am new to overland travel.

Of course border situations in these type of countries change a lot but one has to start planning well in advance for a trip of that sort no?
yes it seems that some countries are not worth the effort, but this is something I always dreamt of doing and I do not want to be discouraged that easily. bypassing Libya and Egypt would then make the trip much longer and will introduce other potential problematic countries (Niger, Chad, Sudan, Saudi Arabia) so this might not be such a wise choice. ??

Pietro it seems that things have changed a lot since you have done your trip. what I had originally in mind is doing the whole circumference of the mediterranean, that is go round all the med. but now I am starting to consider a trip similar to yours but going the opposite way (Malta, Tunis, Algeria, Morocco,Spain, France, Italy, Malta) taking more time to explore Tunis, Algeria and Morocco rather then the other European countries. Coming from a European country i wanted this trip to give me an experience in North african countries, to get a taste for future longer trips. But still the round the Whole Med trip is more appealling to me ! Undecided !
Reply With Quote
  #6  
Old 21 Dec 2007
Registered Users
HUBB regular
 
Join Date: Oct 2007
Location: Malta
Posts: 40
Thanks Mermaid for the Encouragement !

PS

Mermaid Thanks for encouraging replies ! it seems that your post encouraged people to give their thoughts about my thread.

Cheers
Reply With Quote
  #7  
Old 21 Dec 2007
Registered Users
Veteran HUBBer
 
Join Date: Aug 2007
Location: Sax, Spain
Posts: 901
you really have to ask?

Quote:
Originally Posted by ozzee View Post
hi guys,

why am i always thinking of what to do next? is travelling this addictive??

Ozzee
In one word..................... Yes!
Reply With Quote
Reply


Currently Active Users Viewing This Thread: 1 (0 Registered Users and/or Members and 1 guests)
 
Thread Tools
Display Modes

Posting Rules
You may not post new threads
You may not post replies
You may not post attachments
You may not edit your posts

BB code is On
Smilies are On
[IMG] code is On
HTML code is Off
Trackbacks are On
Pingbacks are On
Refbacks are On


Similar Threads
Thread Thread Starter Forum Replies Last Post
Barry Sheene Memorial Motorcycle Challenge MrBuckle Make a Difference 0 13 Mar 2007 11:49
Libya Desert Challenge - Adventure Class coolkarim North Africa 0 7 Oct 2004 18:41
Circumnavigation of the Mediterranean benleeke North Africa 3 12 Jan 2004 02:03
Round Mediterranean Ride Paul Narramore North Africa 7 23 Oct 2002 22:22
UK to Amsterdam, Around Mediterranean. crazyausi Route Planning 5 6 Jun 2002 15:45

 
 

Announcements

Thinking about traveling? Not sure about the whole thing? Watch the HU Achievable Dream Video Trailers and then get ALL the information you need to get inspired and learn how to travel anywhere in the world!

Have YOU ever wondered who has ridden around the world? We did too - and now here's the list of Circumnavigators!
Check it out now
, and add your information if we didn't find you.

Next HU Eventscalendar

HU Event and other updates on the HUBB Forum "Traveller's Advisories" thread.
ALL Dates subject to change.

2024:

Add yourself to the Updates List for each event!

Questions about an event? Ask here

HUBBUK: info

See all event details

 
World's most listened to Adventure Motorbike Show!
Check the RAW segments; Grant, your HU host is on every month!
Episodes below to listen to while you, err, pretend to do something or other...

2020 Edition of Chris Scott's Adventure Motorcycling Handbook.

2020 Edition of Chris Scott's Adventure Motorcycling Handbook.

"Ultimate global guide for red-blooded bikers planning overseas exploration. Covers choice & preparation of best bike, shipping overseas, baggage design, riding techniques, travel health, visas, documentation, safety and useful addresses." Recommended. (Grant)



Ripcord Rescue Travel Insurance.

Ripcord Rescue Travel Insurance™ combines into a single integrated program the best evacuation and rescue with the premier travel insurance coverages designed for adventurers.

Led by special operations veterans, Stanford Medicine affiliated physicians, paramedics and other travel experts, Ripcord is perfect for adventure seekers, climbers, skiers, sports enthusiasts, hunters, international travelers, humanitarian efforts, expeditions and more.

Ripcord travel protection is now available for ALL nationalities, and travel is covered on motorcycles of all sizes!


 

What others say about HU...

"This site is the BIBLE for international bike travelers." Greg, Australia

"Thank you! The web site, The travels, The insight, The inspiration, Everything, just thanks." Colin, UK

"My friend and I are planning a trip from Singapore to England... We found (the HU) site invaluable as an aid to planning and have based a lot of our purchases (bikes, riding gear, etc.) on what we have learned from this site." Phil, Australia

"I for one always had an adventurous spirit, but you and Susan lit the fire for my trip and I'll be forever grateful for what you two do to inspire others to just do it." Brent, USA

"Your website is a mecca of valuable information and the (video) series is informative, entertaining, and inspiring!" Jennifer, Canada

"Your worldwide organisation and events are the Go To places to for all serious touring and aspiring touring bikers." Trevor, South Africa

"This is the answer to all my questions." Haydn, Australia

"Keep going the excellent work you are doing for Horizons Unlimited - I love it!" Thomas, Germany

Lots more comments here!



Five books by Graham Field!

Diaries of a compulsive traveller
by Graham Field
Book, eBook, Audiobook

"A compelling, honest, inspiring and entertaining writing style with a built-in feel-good factor" Get them NOW from the authors' website and Amazon.com, Amazon.ca, Amazon.co.uk.



Back Road Map Books and Backroad GPS Maps for all of Canada - a must have!

New to Horizons Unlimited?

New to motorcycle travelling? New to the HU site? Confused? Too many options? It's really very simple - just 4 easy steps!

Horizons Unlimited was founded in 1997 by Grant and Susan Johnson following their journey around the world on a BMW R80G/S.

Susan and Grant Johnson Read more about Grant & Susan's story

Membership - help keep us going!

Horizons Unlimited is not a big multi-national company, just two people who love motorcycle travel and have grown what started as a hobby in 1997 into a full time job (usually 8-10 hours per day and 7 days a week) and a labour of love. To keep it going and a roof over our heads, we run events all over the world with the help of volunteers; we sell inspirational and informative DVDs; we have a few selected advertisers; and we make a small amount from memberships.

You don't have to be a Member to come to an HU meeting, access the website, or ask questions on the HUBB. What you get for your membership contribution is our sincere gratitude, good karma and knowing that you're helping to keep the motorcycle travel dream alive. Contributing Members and Gold Members do get additional features on the HUBB. Here's a list of all the Member benefits on the HUBB.




All times are GMT +1. The time now is 10:03.