around mediterenian sea

[jondoe]

Hi!

I was thinking of going around the mediterenian sea europa-moroco-algeria-tunis-libya-egipt-jordan-siria-lebanon-turky-

As i heard of,the problem is Algeria(have u seen what Lonely Planet says about it "WARNING")

What is the curent situation in that region(moroco to egipt)has enyone been there?

What about entering with a bike?

If not trough Algeria,what about "litle" deture moroco-western sahara-mauretenia-mali-niger-chad-libiya (i'v heard that is imposibile to enter libiya from the south???)

What is the situation with fuel out there,should every town on a map have a gas station(dont want to be out of fuel in the midle of desert:-)



[This message has been edited by jondoe (edited 21 August 2002).]

[Sam Rutherford]

Algeria's problems are almost exclusively in the north (around the larger cities). Avoid them and you should have no trouble at all (particularly on a 'bike).

At the present, you can't enter Algeria from Morocco (although this has been on the verge of changing for some time now). You also cannot enter Libya from the south.

If these remain the case, then you are looking at descending Morocco to Mauritania, Mali, Niger, Algeria and then crossing to Libya through Tunisia...then onward.

It's a very good trip, but you'll need time (and money)!

Sam.

[ctc]

It is possible to journey around the Med and it makes a wonderfully challenging, varied and interesting trip.

Sam's point's are noteworthy. I would add that apart from time and money the journey requires thorough preparation and a realisation and acceptance of the risks involved! Through adequate preparation you can minimise the amount of risk you take, but you cannot eliminate it.

I completed the following route around the the med in April this year (Landrover Defender 110). The trip took ten months.

Route (in order) as follows: UK, Holland, Belgium, France, Spain, Portugal, Spain, Gibraltar, Spain, Morocco, Mauritania, Mali, Algeria, Tunisia, Libya, Eygypt, Jordan, Syria, Lebanon, Syria, Turkey, Greece and Italy, Austria, Switzerland, France and UK.

A few more pointers: You obviously need a carnet for your vehicle and in addition taking a vehicle into Egypt and Syria is an additional expense.

The other main issues are:

1) getting visas for Libya en route
2) whether the Mali / Algeria border is safe (Banditry) at time of intended travel. Would suggest getting a visa for Niger as well so you can go there before crossng to Algeria if required / desired.
3)You mentioned a motorbike - this would be extremely difficult / unwise unless you are supported by another biker or preferably a vehicle as you will need large amounts of fuel and water and potentially recovery. Bike must take leaded petrol. Read "Cool Karim's" story (link somewhere on this site)

NB.On our trip we met no-one else doing this route, so you are unlikely to meet up with people on the Saharan section other than those going North - South ie:
a)Morocco - Mauritania - West A.
b)Tunisia -Algeria - Niger
c)Libya
d)Egypt -Sudan.

[geokobbi]

Jondoe, when are you planing this trip?

Sept. 2003 I will be heading towards Greece from Iceland, on my way to Egypt. I might have to do the Turky, Syria, Jordan detour.

There are plenty of info on "gas and water in the desert" on this web. You should also buy Chris Scott books.

Jakob

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[jondoe]

Originally posted by geokobbi:
Jondoe, when are you planing this trip?

Sept. 2003 I will be heading towards Greece from Iceland, on my way to Egypt. I might have to do the Turky, Syria, Jordan detour.

There are plenty of info on "gas and water in the desert" on this web. You should also buy Chris Scott books.

Jakob

Hi geokobbi!

i'm not sure about when would i go,some time next year,depends on my financial situation.
If i go around the med.coast(not chad,niger,mali...)september 2003 would be fine,and in same direction as u(maybe pop out of libiya to chad,without checking out,if posibile)
Also thinking of going up river Nile and back.

So keep in kontact over BB if u would like company,i would

Seeyaa!

How is the weather in chad,niger,mali,mauretania,moroco in sept/oct???


[This message has been edited by jondoe (edited 23 August 2002).]

[jondoe]

Hi!

CTC thanks very much for the cool karim's story,it realy got me thinking...

poor guy,karim much luck next time!

NEVER GO TO DESERT ALONE

Enyways, i hawe looked on some maps and day say a road from atar to ouadane ,and from atar to tidjikdja is a "road" not "track",but karim says it's a sand and rock track!?
Does anybody know what kind of road is it?

seeyaa!

[GWJ]

Is it possible to do the route around Mediterranne in the another direction ?
Europe - Turkey - Syria - Jordan - Eygypt - Lybia - Algeria - Niger...

Thanks

[Franck]

The only road in Adrar is Nouakchoot - Atar.
Another roads are under construction in august 2002.
Atar-Tidjikdja and Atar-Ouadane : rock and sand.
Track beetwen Atar-Ouadane large and good. The first section is the same track to Chinguetti. Road to go up the plateau by the new passe. Asphalt only when the track climb.
North Atar asphalt go to Ksar Torchane.

[POB/London]

Why don't you join me on my trip?? I am leaving in August / September 2003 on my trusty XT600.

I also want to travel around the Med. I am taking the route through Tunisia, Libya, Egypt, Jordan and Syria.

You would be most welcome (I am a student from London)... There is more information here:

http://www.horizonsunlimited.com/ubb...ML/000350.html

[omar mansour]

hi all
i,m egyptian and i left my bike last summer in france.i want to ride frome france,italy austria,hungary,romania,bulgaria,turkey,syria,jord an.then to egypt.i think i will try to start next july.so any one of you wants to join me it will be great.i did it before from egypt to france,via jordan,syria,turkey,greece,italy.i have alot of friends on the way.my name is omar and i have africa twin

[jondoe]

Originally posted by POB/London:
Why don't you join me on my trip?? I am leaving in August / September 2003 on my trusty XT600.

I also want to travel around the Med. I am taking the route through Tunisia, Libya, Egypt, Jordan and Syria.

You would be most welcome (I am a student from London)... There is more information here:

http://www.horizonsunlimited.com/ubb...ML/000350.html

Hi

thanks for an invite,
I'm not sure that my finances would alow the trip in sept/oct
That was my original plan,but i'm not sure 100% that i'll make it in that time frame.
If original plan stays i'll sure be contacting you in time,if i decide to do it in that time and direction.

thanks,

jondoe

let the smell of the road bring you joy

[POB/London]

Thanks Jondoe, and no problem.

We're just deciding whether to go the other way round, and maybe hook up with other travellers.

Let me know whatever you decide - I think we'll leave London in late August 2003.

[jondoe]

Hi!

have u considered a route:spain-moroco-west sahara-mauretanie-algeria-tunisia since north algeria is not safe
going italy-tunisia is not exact 'round the mediteranean' it would be fun dont you think?

are there just you 2 riding?,couse of libiya visa stuff

cheers

jondoe

PS:what is the seat hight of tenere,i cant find that data (i'm a short guy,and enything more than 800mm would be dificult for me,i'm 1,7m high)

[This message has been edited by jondoe (edited 28 January 2003).]

[POB/London]

Hi - looked @ going via Mauritania, but it is too far, and is also a long way from the Med

As the Morocco / Algeria border is still closed we can't go across the north. I have also done lots of off-roading in S.Spain. So we will travel Genoa-Tunis. Also, it might not be 2 - perhaps just me, so we'll see how things go.

Since the website was made we are planning the detour into Algeria, to the Hoggar and Tamaransett region in the south-east; some of the finest Sahara!

The seat height of the 3AJ Tenere is about 890mm. Don't let this put you off - you can get it much lower with some cutting at the foam. Hope this helps!