syria and the carnet
 

hi there, me and my mate a planning a trip down to Syria though I'm abit worried about the Carnet de Passage. As I understand it has to be underwritten in some way, either personally or through an insurer so that the cost of the bike is covered and not 'dumped' in the respective country, a customs charge paid in advance.
I certainly can't take out a loan nor do I have a spare few grand to sort it. I have never come across such an insurance policy before; does such a short term or extensive insurance policy exist? would it underwrite a carnet? Or is it possible to pay the customs fee at the border? have I got it all wrong?

cheers simon

Syria is doable w/o the Carnet. No point buying one for Syria only. And you need to buy separate insurance for the bike on the border anyway, whether you have some policy that supposed to cover this region of the World or not.

It was around 111USD for 1 bike + 1 person (Temporary Import (their version of Carnet, the most expensive part 80USDish or so) + Insurance + various fees + VISA (although not recommended to go there w/o one, we did, so it was additional 20USD or so and a risk being sent back from the border)).

So the positive side is: if you have the VISA then just ride on - all other stuff can be done at the border. :)

Ride safe, Margus

yes!
things run right as margus said. reach the border already with the visa, it avoid u to waste time with people who can became nasty to you, about that. i was re-entering to sirya from jordan (2003), there were a car with 5 french people, waiting news from damascus to obtain the visas up there. they spent 5 hrs. waiting, after a lot of phone calls from/to damascus a positive answer. left them in a couple of hours, while they still waiting for it. i meet them 3 days later in damascus, so tale me had to spend a night over there, waiting 4 visas.
no carnet is required, just bring a local temporary insurance ( so, it became expensive now, i'd 2 pay 30eu. at that time), fill it up a couple of paper sheet, payng with the local currency, and then ride away...

Another tip...
Dont enter at the Killis-Azaz border - even if you come via Gaziantep as this is now used primarily by smugglers and is now a real mess.

Graham

ah, that is really really helpful, i'm gonna go in june so trying to plan now. There are a good few people doing this sort of thing, and on a lot grander scale! its quite a modest trip to some of the other trips that have been made!! still; I'll manage to concentrate on this one, any other news regarding crossing the border do's and don'ts etc what really good to take would also be helpful. first thing on me list is a bmw1100 gs.....

kind regards simon

June?

It'll be like 45 degrees in Southern Turkey and Syria, be prepared :wink3: