we are looking to enter N Africa at the end of August and are currently getting quotes for a 20ft container from Mersin to Port Sudan. It would be a shame to miss Egypt (but have been there before) but this way we avoid the potential problems of Israeli stamps.

We currently have estimates from a Turkish shipping agent and a Sudanese shipping agent. Some details yet to finalise, but could enquire about a 40ft container if anyone is interested in sharing (or may be able to squeeze a bike into the 20ft container with our car.

It seems that there still is one company sailing between Turkey and Egypt, it is called U.N. Ro-Ro

This is the page which announced the sailing last Wednesday from Iskenderun to Damietta:

http://www.unroro.com.tr/TR/NEWS/default.asp?fId=298

This is what they wrote to a Swiss overlander:


The rate for a vehicle (size unspecified) is 450 $ plus fees. Cabin space is limited to a few truck drivers, but the company offers a direct flight from Hatay (Antakya) to Damietta in Egypt with Air Cairo at 150 $.

Greetings,
Achim

did you manage to cross?
 

Hi! my name is martin carrara and im trying also to get to africa from either turkey or greece to either egypt or sudan... if you havent done the trip yet im also interested in sharing the container with you, i have a jeep less than 5m long, if you did crossed already, can you tell me all about the experience: costs and paperwork? thanks and hope to hear from you soon!

Hi,
What about the Iskenderun to Damietta service? (received this mail last week from unroro):

Hello

We have service frm İskenderun to damietta , you should check sailing dates frm us ,
The expenses will be ;

Freight rate usd 400.- fios o/w
Fyi , Travel on board is not avaliable for passangers,

Saygılarımızla / B Regards

Filiz Çolak| Commercial Department

Hi Martin. Unfortunately we were running out of time and, due to the time it would take to get visas for Sudan (plus the continuing problems in Egypt), we decided to ship the car to Cape Town and start our trip in the south.
The most helpful people we found for shipping to Sudan were Darka Sudan (I posted some information in this thread.....
http://www.horizonsunlimited.com/hub...lternate-71710
If you end up going the Israel route, I read somewhere on the HUBB that there are now difficulties getting 4x4s into Egypt at Nuweiba. It may be worth checking up on that also.
Sorry we can't help with the container.
Good luck with your plans.
Scott

hey thanks so much for the info, i will check it out!

hi scott! thanks for the fast reply, i will check out the sudan option also with the damietta one, i think there is also an oportunity to go from iran to dubai then oman and from there to sudan... anyway, thanks!

Please let me know if the Iskenderun to Damietta ferry worked for you... (if you go that way)..

Ferry Iskenderun Turkey - Alexandria Egypt
 

There is currently (oct. 2013) ONE option.
Click here to read.
Wkr. Joakim Larsen

Hi, Look here: Breakthrough! | My Ethiopian Connection
With kind regards
Joakim Larsen

From Oman to Sudan? Through Saudi?

I've seen quite a few very recent reports of people who took the Iskenderun - Damietta ferry (unroro). To me this sounds as the easiest option (assuming that you don't want to avoid Egypt). https://www.facebook.com/waygoing

Joakim Larsen, didn't you have a carnet de passage? Or won't the carnet make a difference anymore?
Without it you certainly will have to pay at some border crossings.

http://1.bp.blogspot.com/-ij16Er0nSC...ge-borders.jpg

Here is a summary about the current options, how to cross or avoid egypt:

Howto cross or avoid egypt by 4x4

There are too current links to travelers who did it recently or currently.

The Iskenderun - Damietta ferry is the easiest and cheapest option (at least for a 4x4) for shure. But you have many extra miles if you add a iran loop (and back 2 turkey) to your wish list, and you still miss some other beautiful countries.

@priffe: It looks like Joakim has no carnet. And he don't trust the officials about the carnet deposit. There are others, where had to pay the bill there too, nice thread about traveling without carnet at Hubb: http://www.horizonsunlimited.com/hub...9-5#post431124 There only much patience help, and money for the carnet fee & deposit. Issac was 10 days at the border (too at 2013, on the way upwards)..

Surfy

im waiting for a positve report of somone comming from turkey to eygpy on the ferry...one guy just left his bike ( and a mates landy) in eygptyion customs as there was no way to get them out ( 30 oct 2013)

also on FB there are a couple of guys in eygptt now....they report that they arrived ok, but its been a week and no update, and im not sure if the bikes cleared customs yet..hope so