Acoss to bahrain
 

Sorry slightly off topic but looking for information on travel thru Jordan, syria and saudi and Bahrain.

Carnet info, visas routes

A mate of mine has just been posted to Bahrain and wants his Landy there - so I want to know if I can drive it there for him of course

Please email me direct to

(use link above)


Thanks

Rich

email address removed by Grant - see http://www.horizonsunlimited.com/ubb/faq.shtml#notify for why.

[This message has been edited by Grant Johnson (edited 24 January 2002).]

Basic route goes France /Italy /Greece /Turkey.
In Turkey, if you're in a hurry stay on the inland main routes as the coast roads are beautiful but quite windy and hilly. Call in at Goreme on the way south.

Syria - search this site as there were some posts recently on carnets and visas. Buy insurance on border. Strongly recommend getting your visa in your home country. Fuel cheap (diesel 11p petrol 24p a year ago). Route - you can basically do the country in a day (well at least to Damascus) - however if you've got time, go to Palmyra as it's awesome, and Damascus as it is a facinating city although can be tricky to navigate; Krak des Chevaliers (the best Crusader castle still standing)

Jordan - Brits can get visas on border. You don't need a carnet (check this!), although many people used them. Buy insurance on the border. Fuel same price as Syria.
Route - again you could go from Damas to the Saudi border in a day, however there are many htings worth seeing and doing in Jordan - namely Petra, the Dead Sea, Madaba is a nice town to stop at, the massive wadi (can't remember it's name) on the King's Highway, and definitely spend a few days around Waadi Rum - fantastic scenery and some excellent desert driving.

Saudi - we tried getting a transit visa when we were in Turkey but had no luck. If you have a contact and a valid reason then you may be OK. Suggest you contact the consulate here and get your friend to do the same in Bahrain.

Good Luck,

Ollie

Transit visas for Saudi are usually available only if you are a citizen of one of the two countries you are transiting between or resident in one of them. As a UAE resident, I was able to get a transit visa for Saudi so I could drive to Jordan and Syria in 2000.

Things may change though - Saudi Arabia recently started offering tourist visas, but only if you went on one of their 'official' tours.

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Jon Harbour

Middle East Off-Roader

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[This message has been edited by Grant Johnson (edited 23 September 2003).]

Syrian Embassy here reports they will process visas in 4 days! I will be testing this as soon as I get my passport back from current visa application.

Single entry visa £37, valid for 3 months from issue. Multiple entry visa £57, valid for 6 months from issue.

Saudi visas are a nightmare. When we lived in Oman you could get a transit visa to drive home but only because you were a resident of a GCC state. I have tried in vain to get them here (UK). Last chance in Khartoum, otherwise Saudi v.difficult.

Jasper

Hi

Beware which time of year you travel through Turkey - we travelled in Feb and it was damned cold, we even got caught in a blizzard between Istanbul and Ankarra.

Syria - travelled through in early 99, very friendly and hospitable people. Must sees are Palmyra amazing pre and roman ruins (the Ishtar Hotel is excelllent value and very friendly people), Krak de Chevalier, and a number of other crusader castles and ancient ruins, Damascus, Madaba is a pleasant place to stop on the way south from Damascus to Jordan and the Awesome Wadi Mugib on the Kings Highway.

Jordan - agian all the people we met were friendly and hospitable, although the country was in mourning due to the death 3 days before of King Hussain. Jerash ruined roman city, Kerak crusader castle, Petra which is the most amazing city built in and from the rock faces by the Nabateans who were then colonised by the Romans, and of course Wadi Rumm - fantastic scenery and a good place if you havent tried any desert driving before. Do spend a night or two the in a cave or under the stars as its great.

Hope this helps

Cheers
ChrisC

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ChrisC

Not possible to get transitvisa through Saudi at the saudi ambassy in Jordan. (you must be a resident for a year in Jordan) Does anyone know if it is possible to get a transitvisa (for Saudi, to go to UAE)in Syria?