Ramadan. Good time to travel?

[Caird]

In waiting to see if there's a favourable outcome to the Pakistan election my intended April start to my RTW trip looks increasingly unrealistic. My next option is to set off sometime in early September. This will hopefully spare me the worst of the Turkey/Iran/Pakistan summer but will coincide with Ramadan.

I'm keen to hear any opinions as to whether this is a good idea or not.
I understand travellers are exempt from the fasting, but does this mean that roadside teahouses/eateries remain open or does pretty much everything close down?

Many thanks

Pete

[Robbert]

Roadside eateries are open and feed the truckers. There's no problem with traveling during Ramadan. Opening hours of sights can be different, and a few other things run odd. I prefer traveling outside Ramadan, but if you happen to be there, thats no problem at all.

[petefromberkeley]

Yep, I'd rather not travel during Ramadan but it is no way a deal breaker.

[nsk11]

Don't ride during Ramadan in any Islamic country. During Ramadan, you get food only in high end hotels in the day time it will be expensive. In some moderate Islamic countries you may have take away service but only in main cities. You may get dehydrated in Iran because you can't drink water on road side or smaller cafeterias.

Nelson

[markharf]

Originally Posted by nsk11

Don't ride during Ramadan in any Islamic country. During Ramadan, you get food only in high end hotels in the day time it will be expensive. In some moderate Islamic countries you may have take away service but only in main cities. You may get dehydrated in Iran because you can't drink water on road side or smaller cafeterias. Nelson

This has not been my experience in Africa, where I've travelled twice during Ramadan. I found it a bit awkward at times, but in the balance rewarding. Don't know whether things are different in Asia.

Hope that helps.

Mark

[Robbert]

Originally Posted by nsk11

Don't ride during Ramadan in any Islamic country. During Ramadan, you get food only in high end hotels in the day time it will be expensive. In some moderate Islamic countries you may have take away service but only in main cities. You may get dehydrated in Iran because you can't drink water on road side or smaller cafeterias.

Nelson

Nelson,

I don't know where you get that... . I was in Iran during the last Ramadan, was in Syria, Morocco and Mauritania during Ramadan earlier, and didn't skip a single meal. In Iran, all truck stops sell kebabs, and there're truckers eating it. All food shops are open during the day, so you can buy food and water everywhere. You want to be in a secluded place for eating and drinking. Ask around, ... in Esfahan a shopkeaper showed us the park where all the locals where sneakilly having a bite. In Syria, they would distribute water on the bus... .

[Sime66]

Originally Posted by nsk11

Don't ride during Ramadan in any Islamic country. During Ramadan, you get food only in high end hotels in the day time it will be expensive. In some moderate Islamic countries you may have take away service but only in main cities.

Nelson

I rode through Morocco from day 1 of Ramadan (I had come on holiday by mistake) and the only problem was all the bars (apart from those in cripplingly expensive Western hotels) were shut.

Actually now I think about it that was a massive problem.

[nsk11]

I live in Dubai for last 10 years and travel around UAE and neighboring countries for work and fun. I faced problems during Ramadan related to food and traffic an hour before Iftar ( Iftar is a meal to break the fast). But roads will be virtually empty for an hour after Iftar. I am really surprised to read about your posting on Iran and locals eating during the day.

[Caird]

Thanks everyone for your opinions, not sure what to make of them though.
And I thought I was confused before.

I can quite easily go all day without food and I could carry enough water on the bike, it's just that I've always thought of the roadside tea stops as quite an atmospheric occasion, maybe I'm being a touch too romantic here. Perhaps there's more romance to be had in a trip to the Sandbach services!

Mmm, perhaps I'll just go for it and see what happens. Then again maybe not.

Cheers everyone.

Pete