Help for Eygpt/Libya trip
 

Hello All,

I am in the early stages of planning a large trip, involving a number of motorcycles and 4WDs. Our journey will start in either Israel or Eygpt, then travelling extensively in the Western desert in both Eygpt and Libya, before crossing into Italy, via Tunisia. The aim is to visit many of the WWII battlefields.

My questions are:

Does anyone have any information on shipping from the UK to either Israel or Eygpt?

Carnet aside, is it true that all vehicles entering Eygpt must be under two years old?

Does anyone know of mapping showing WWII minefields (So as to avoid them)?

If traveling by bike in Libya is the guide still required or can one travel independently?

Thank you once again,

Nick

Please visit Home | Foulerton.com to see our previous travels.

Nick,

Never heard of the 2 year rule, and I brought a 5 year old KTM and a 12 year old landcruiser into Egypt in recent years.

As far as minefields are concerned, technically you wont get near them without an army escort guy in the car, who theoretically knows where they are ( as if they stay put ? ). The Gilf/Uweinet (sp?) experts will tell you more.

In Libya all tourists need escort. Not sure how this works with bikes, but there is some info of a trip on Fessano tours website. Although as we were driving Ubari sand sea, I was wondering how any Libyan guide would keep up with a gang of decent desert bikers.

Got to dash. Check oil, water and tyres for a few 100km in the desert tomorrow. Life is tough.

JT

Remenber that If You plan to star the trip from israel You will not be allow to enter Libya if you have israeli stamps or any similar records on passports. Guide is mandatory in Libya.

Regards
Budrinna

Hello Nick,

I and Andy did the Gilf Kebir trip very recently. We made all arrangemnts on our own and learned a few things in the process.

Unless you are talking about dozens of vehicles, I'm quite sure there's no economical way to do this, neither from UK, nor Europe. If large numbers are concerend you could think of chartering a small boat. Using containers involves the risk of delays, damage, theft and huge costs.

No

You won't need it, as you will always travel with a guide who should know. You just can't turn up in Egypt and say where you want to go in the Western Desert. All routes are aproved well in advance by the army and you (or rather your tour operator) will be give permission to travel only along designated routes

You will need a guide, unless the rules change again.

If you are interested, I can recommend the people we used in Libya and Egypt.

Minefields
 

Hi Nick ,

If you plan to visit Alamein among the ww2 battlefields , There is a well researched book about the Alamein battle with some general maps for minefields areas ,
its called : EL Alamein 1942 , the turning of the tide .( Ken Ford )
this is the only source I found when I was looking for the minefields maps some time ago .
hope you will enjoy your visit to Egypt .
Mahmoud Mohareb

The answer to this one is easy.... they don't - You have to ride at their pace unless they give permission to ride ahead for a few miles.

When I tried shipping my bike OUT of Egypt, I concluded (after several weeks of trying) that it was easier and cheaper to ride out and back to Europe. Egypt is a difficult place to ship in and out.

However, looking into it, I actually got the impression that large courier companies might do the job. This sounds ludicrous at first, but look into using U.P.S., FedEx, D.H.L. etc. Crazy though it sounds, many have large cargo divisions. But you have to fit your vehicle into a really big bubble wrap envelope. :smartass: