Getting to Lebanon from Cyprus?
 

Hi there,

In the early stages of planning a new ride, just wondering if there is a way to get to Lebanon from Cyprus by regular ferry or cargoship ?

Also, is the ferry from Turkey (Tasucu ) to Tripoli still running ?

Thanks,

Levelo.

Hi Levelo,

Unfortunately, there is no ferry between Cyprus and Lebanon at the moment! These used to run during the civil war when every religious group needed a different escape route just in case. I took a ferry from Larnaca to Jounieh once - those were the days.

You could take a ferry from Girne (Turkish part of Cyprus, Greek: Kyrenia) to Tasucu and then continue to Tripoli with the ferry that still exists.

Just bear in mind that you can not go to Lebanon with a Diesel car! Gasoline cars and bikes are OK, though.

Greetings from Beirut,
Achim

Salam Achim,

Kulu bikhair fi beirut ?

Thanks for your input, again.

I will most probably enquire in South ( Greek ) Cyprus ( Limassol and Larnaka ) for boat connections to Trablous. Something might be available next summer, who knows... If I can't find anything I could still backtrack to North Cyprus and Tasucu in Turkey and hop on the boat there. Now that Lebanon is pretty much landlocked there might be more boats than advertised.

Another question : do you think I have to apply for the Lebanese visa in advance ( Ankara, Istanbul or Nicosia ) or can I just turn up in Trablous and get stamped in there ?

Back in 1994 I was also riding my bicycle through the Near East but I couldn't get to Lebanon, my visa applications were rejected in both Turkey and Syria, unfortunately ( I was told that I should apply in my home country, France ). I even made it to Lefkosa ( the Turkish-run part of Nicosia ) but the Lebanese Embassy was on the Greek side of town and crossing was absolutely impossible at the time...

I really don't want to miss Lebanon this time around !

Kind regards,

Yves.

Dear Yves,

Welcome to Lebanon - it's all worth it! Will you be travelling by bicycle, motorbike or car?

The last ferry to Lebanon has been about 20 years ago! And there is no need for it with Cyprus driving on the left and basically no onward ferry to Greece any longer (just the truck ferry which Lebanese would never use ...). So chances for something to come up next summer are zero, I'm afraid.

The aspect of Lebanon being landlocked does not count for Cyprus: Most Lebanese who want to spend their summer holiday in Lebanon will go by car to Turkey and take the ferry from there. Not too many do this, though, since the old ferry from Italy to Turkey also does not run any longer. So except for the few who need to transport a lot of luggage, the long car ride (with the horrific gasoline prices in Turkey) does not make sense for 99 per cent of the Lebanese anymore.

By contrast, you can today easily cross from the Greek to the Turkish part of Cyprus. I was told that at least as an EU citizen, you can then also leave from Girne. The other direction seems to be more difficult since then you would have entered Cyprus "illegally".

Greetings,
Achim