Hello!

Can somebody help me? I just need to know the actual timetable for period of beginning Dec'2007 for 2 ferry's routines:

Bandar e-lengeh(Iran) - Dubai(UAE) - Bandar e-lengeh(Iran)
AND
Bandar e-Abbas(Iran) - Sharjah(UAE) - Bandar e-Abbas(Iran)

And 1 additional question: what are the odds that these ferries(or one of) will be canceled due the bad weather in this period(1-5 of Dec'2007)?

I thank in advance for your answers!!

Did the ferrywork out ok? As I'm considering the reverse option Iran->Dubai->India - anyone know if that is possible, easy, at short notice - looking at avoiding pakistan

Actually, the ferry used to go to Sharjah, not Dubai and the office is also in Sharjah.

There are no other vehicle ferries in the gulf that I know of and there are no boats anywhere else, i.e. Oman, India, Pak... except wooden dhows, but the bureauprats won't allow you to use them yourself, althoug you may be able to ship your bike on one. AFAIK there is a passenger ferry from Bandar Lengeh to Dubai, but when I enquired I was told it wouldn't take bikes. Now that the roro is gone this may have changed, as Trui & Gaea took a catamaran.

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Cheers,
Peter.

Europe to NZ 2006-10

The RO-RO is not gone, personally used it on December 23rd from B. Abbas to Sharjah. The case is that due to jetty rebulding process at the usual Bahonar port in B. Abbas now it uses the Rajaee port, just some 10 km from B. Abbas. However, the catamaran they usually use as a fast passenger ship can also take up to 10 normal cars (they said 4x4 are too high for that vessel).

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My notes from the process of using the Ferry from Iran to Sharjah

Iran side:
Notes: All caged up
Photos: My Images - /20071217 - ISAAC 3

Sharjah/Dubai side:
Notes: See Dec 24th on this page


From this I suggest if you use the ferry you check whether the tide is in or out!! And also whether there is a public holiday the day after you land!

I'm planning to drive (yes car not bike) from UAE back to UK next year via iran and turkey. The info here on ferry possibilities is really useful. Does anyone have any comments on the conditions of the roads in iran and Turkey? Talking to various people there are pretty good roads in iran on main routes and anything else is up to individual preference of how far off the beaten track you go. turkey seems more variable. anyone got any comments on this?

That seems about right. I've just crossed Turkey east to west mainly along the southern coast and though roads are good, there are some with truck ruts and uneven surfaces. They are more of concern to a bike though and, for the most part, you probably wouldn't even notice them in a car.

A few that we took in the hills north of Antalya turned into dirt tracks without any warning but even these would be easily navigable in a car in fair weather.
Stephan

That's really good news for other travellers, thanks for posting that here. It just goes to confirm that if you talk to 10 different officials you get 10 different answers.

__________________
Cheers,
Peter.

Europe to NZ 2006-10

Hi folks,

a bit late, but here are my experiences with the ferry Sharjah - Bandar Abbas (May 2008)

Contact Oasis 3-4 days before you want to go. Earlier is useless, as they don't known the exact schedule of the boats either.
Phone the friendly Mr Nazar +971507868280 and ask for the schedule, show up 2 days in the office before boat leaves.
I took the "speedboat", leaving in the morning. You can do the customs the day before departure. If you're not a UAE resident with a UAE number plate, don't let the guys at the harbour entrance tell you that you have to get an exit permission at the police! This applies only to residents.
My bike was put into a cage and lifted onto the upper deck. But don't think they are really well prepared for that.....

If you arrive around 5 p.m. in Bandar Abbas, the Valfajre office is already closed and you have to leave the bike overnight at the customs.
The next day, try to get a local to help you through the customs, otherwise you will go mad. I had a taxi driver translating and helping me and I still needed 4 hours (faster is impossible).

Officials are (very) friendly, but procedures are hillarious....
Be aware that nobody asks you to get an insurance if you arrive per boat. I was never stopped by the police in Iran so I don't know what would happen if you can't present one...

Roads are excellent in Iran, but traffic (especially in cities) can be breathtaking.

Cheers

Robert