Tunis-Libya-Egypt questions

[Marcos]

I`m planning going next year in late january with my xt 350 from Romania-Hungary-Austria-Italy-Tunis-Libya-Egypt-Greece-Bulgaria-Romania.
My question is, for those countryes (Tunis,Lybia and Egypt) do i need a carnet de passage ? Considering that i`ll only pass through those countryes , about 3, maximum 4 days to cross them.
If i need a carnet de passage can i ask how much will it cost me for my yamaha xt 350 from `87 ?

Also another question that bothers me. I`ll attach an extra gasoline reservoir. In my registration papers i have a tank with 12 liters of fuel ... would i get any problems passing borders with a 52 liters of fuel with me ?

Thanks.

[RichLees]

sounds like a nice trip!
egypt is the main carnet villain. you should be OK everywhere else, but Egypt still loves them. don't arrive on a Thurday or it may take 3 days to complete paperwork as the motor vehicle testers take Thursday afternoon off before the Friday and then the insurance company takes Saturday off. if you're lucky, they'll make you buy a fire-extinguisher. getting out can be harder than getting in. 3-4 days? good luck!

value of 20 year-old XT? no offence, but 400-500euro?

where are you hiding the extra fuel?

[Marcos]

Well, the idea is that i won`t hide the fuel. Instead of the most usual aluminium boxex in back, i`ll put two canisters of fuel, both of 20 liters, thus giving me th capacity to run for 1000-1200 km without refueling. I`ll feel safer through the desert this way But i don`t know if they are going to let me pass through the custom with this extra gas ...
Anyway, if it will be 400-500 euros for a carnet de passage would be ok ... But for what i have heard could be up to 2000 euros ... So i`m trying to get an idea before departing ...
Also the bike is not quite original, only in papers is from `87, the rest is complety rebuild (even a new frame ) with many components upgraded from a yamaha wr 450 and ktm ... But hopefully the africans won`t know the diference

[cedar]

Hi Marcos.
We did the same trip but the other way around last year. I don't see the fuel being a problem, but you will need a carnet for Egypt, price depends on where you live, Brits pay 5 times value of the vehicle, French x2! If you have a new frame, make sure you have a serial number stamped on it to match the paper work as they will check this.
Bruce

[pietro.spera]

I did the Round the Med trip in 2002.

If you plan to ride along the coastal route, no need of carrying fuel for 1000 km. I rode a GS 1100 in two up, with a 25 liters tank, and I never had any problem (it burns much more gas then your bike). To be on the safe side, just bring with you an empty 10 liter plastic jerrican to be possibly filled up in Libya.

There is no way to go directly from Egypt to Greece. No ferry boat operates, just some unreliable cargo which is not likely to load a bike and the driver. You have to go to Jordan and then Syria and Turkey.

The carnet is needed in Egypt, highly recommendable in Libya and convenient in Syria. They check you chassis number VERY careful, so if you have a new frame you might have problem if it does not match the number you have on your logbook.

The cost itself of a carnet is few hundreds euros or less. Then you need the deposit related to the value of the bike, but you don’t need to have that amount in cash. A bank, or an insurance, guarantee is fine, and you pay just a small fraction of that amount as a fee to the bank or the insurance (of course, as long as you exit with your bike from the country which requires the carnet).

Finally, it’s likely the Libyan pretend you to have an escort (guide + policeman) with you for the all time you are in the country, of course at your own (high) cost. It was not mandatory for small groups in 2002 (we were in two), it became mandatory for everybody later, now it’s quite uncertain, especially if you travel only along the coast. But it’s something that you have to find out before asking for the visa.

Good luck!

[Hadi Bkai]

Hi Marcos
Hi pietro.spera

concerning Libya part, let me explain:
you are right Pietro the guide is required, but the the policeman is not, just for groups up 5 peolpe.
- also for your knowledge the guide is very helpful for travelers even for those crossing the north coast of the country, at least he will sort all official paperwork required, leading to through roads where all boards and traffic signs are written in Arabic ... and so .
- invitation is high required for all kinds of visa .
- border formalities in Libya are very easy if you, specially if sorted by the tourism agency in advance before your arriving time.
- a carnet de passage is not required in Libya, even insurance. they will issue for you new insurance by on of the local insurance copmanies.

good luck

Hadi

[Marcos]

Well, the new frame is registered , so the serial number matches the one in the paper.
Well, i want to carry the extra fuel becouse i want to make full use of my 300mm suspensions and go through more unpopulated areas. (south libya)

Regarding the ferry from egypt to greece, at a travel agency they said there is one that links port said to athens. If not, i will go through jordan , syria and turkey, bulgary and finally romania.


Thanks for the tips

[PaulJ]

By the way, hope someone hasn't already said this and I missed it but the Carnet for Egypt is now 8 (yes that EIGHT) times the value of the bike i the UK...not sure if that affects other countries too.

[zigyphoto]

marcos,

you wrote that you are going Italy-tunis-libya-egypt in late Jan.

i am planning a similar trip, but want to start marocco. can you email me directly at zigyphoto@aol.com to discuss and perhaps meet somewhere along the way?

i am just beginning to plan this trip and so any info, help, advice or coordination we can share would be good.

parlo l'italiano, ma non si bene come tu parli l'inglese. sono nato a Merano, ma habito negli Stati-Uniti (Colorado) per tanti anni. ci parleremmo?

zigy

[Luciano]

I'm just back from a trip in Egypt and we had the yellow FIA Carnet de Passage
The value on it was "as used", but ACI (Italian automobile club) ask a 10 years bail from your bank like twice the declared value (not 8 times).

L.

[NAMSA]

Hi Luciano,

Have you, or are you planning to go through Libya?

We are planning to go that way in May and are very interested to know about the guide situation in Libya?

Namsa.

[Luciano]

Hello yes we went through Tunisia-Libia
In Libia the guide is mandatory, poilceman only for groups over 5

L.