Going to Syria and Jordan from Turkey
 

Hi friends, I am an Indian going around the world on my motorbike. I just crossed Iran and entered Turkey. Going to Syria, Jordan and then to Egypt any one traveling in this area...?

Yes!

A lot of people!

Try to search on HUBB!

Szabi

Hi nice to see u here
 

Hi buddy, at least someone replied, thanks. Been trying to meet someone on the road just to know I am not alone. But not many in this route may be no replies. I am right now in Van, Going to Nemrut Dagi National Park. From there I will proceed to Syria. If u r anywhere near just drop in a line.

Syria
 

If you arrived at Syria let us know, if is there unleaded fuel, or al the information you want to share us.

Thx.
Sz.

Reached Sanli Urfa
 

Hi just reached Sanli Urfa in southern Turkey about 60Km to Syrian border. Sure will let u know all the info when I enter Syria tomorrow. Where r u now and where u going?

I'm at work, not on the road .... :-(

I plan a trip to Jordan and Syria, so I need all information you can give me.

Do you have carnet de passage?
Do you have international drive permit, or just your national?
Do you pay any tax to be allowed to entry in Syria or Jordan?
Do you get back the money when you leave the country?
How much is the insurance?

etc, etc

thx.
Szabi

In Aqaba
 

Hi Reached Aqaba. I thought you were already on road. Yes i have a carnet and international driving permit. Syrian insurance was $44 and Jordan charged me 21JD for 1 month insurance and !!JD for temporary import. dont think they will return that. See u soon on road.

what bike?
 

I am curious to know what bike you are riding ?

1. Were you asked at the border for these papers?
2. How much was the temporary import fee? (and why had you pay if you have carnet?)

Thanks
Szabi

Santhasz -

In this thread: http://www.horizonsunlimited.com/hub...-carnet-4219-2 I posted some information about the Carnet in Syria that is probably interesting to you. I hope I can pay back for your great itinerary for Romania :-).

Kris

Thx!

I ask, because the informations are very ambiguouse! I know people who came back from Syria and said there is no carnet requirement. Others were asked for carnet and had to pay a lot of money for temporary import. At Lonely Planet you can find: "forget unleaded fuel" and after a paragraph they write: fuel, even unleaded, no problem. At Libanon: no carnet but international drive permit, according to LP. Some people say they were there and had neither carnet nor IDP, so I don't know what to think ... maybe because we are foreigners and don't know the local laws, and don't want to wait hours at the borders, we pay some dollar just to be allowed to enter .... or exit.

In Cairo, Egypt
 

Hi I am riding a Honda Karizma. Its an Indian made bike. 223cc. nothing much. And for Jordan I paid 11JD for the permit that alone with your carnet. But Jordan you can manage with a stamp in your passport and temporary permit. Not Syria. They need carnet. And you need to have a IDP and drivers license. You cant say who will ask for it. Petrol is available but quality is doubtful unleaded or not. Presently in Cairo.

Thanks for the good info. We're in Turkey at the moment and are planning to move through Syria to Jordan, Lebanon and back. I then make a right turn to Iran etc., and my travel partner returns to Greece etc. Bharadwaj, you said you needed a carnet for Syria, but we've inquired numerous times in Holland, ADAC in Germany and now at the Syrian Consulate in Istanbul and they all said my travel partner does not need a carnet. I have one, so we're going to try and get across without a carnet, and worst case he needs to turn back and I keep going. Did they ask for a carnet or did you just present it to them?

In Luxor
 

I Entered Syria from Akchakale border which is very small and always closed. I was the only one entering the border. The Turkish officers said its no problem for Turkey but the Syrians may not allow. So they took my passport and went to the Syrian post and asked and returned with a NO then I said I have all documents and showed them the Carnet. They took it to them again and said ok. So I think they need a carnet. There are situations which u can magage without one always. but if u dont mind turning back. I m right now in Luxor, Egypt will be coming back to Jordan by 5th and then to Syria. Keep in touch. hope to meet u somewhere.
BJ

Thanks for the info. We're heading East now in Turkey and will cross on the main road to Aleppo around the 20th. Maybe we'll see you there. I'm interested to hear about your Iran/Pakistan crossing, as that is now more of a concern. I need to get to Pakistan as well. Have fun.

Kevin

Petra and Ali Baba !
 

Hi,
Too late to answer. Don't miss Petra before Aqaba. If you passed, go back and visit. You may not have that opportunity once again !

Can you please tell me how you pass to Egypt from Aqaba? Bo boat or land?

In Aqaba try to eat at Ali Baba fish restaurant.

Enjoy,

Me no Pakistan :-(
 

Just when I started some killings took place in the Zahedan province and some 22 people were killed by the armed men. They attacked a convoy and all my friends and family objected for me to go there...so I flew from India to Tehran with my bike and started from there. see u soon.
BJ

From Aqaba to Egypt by ferry
 

From Aqaba I have taken the fast ferry to Nuweiba, Egypt. It cost me $40 for me and $30 for the bike. The journey is only 1.50mins. easy.

Turkey, Siria, Jordan
 

Hi Guys

Thank you for the useful information you shared in this thread.
I am currently organising a trip from Italy down to Greece, Turkey, Syria and Jordan.
I am planning to leave Italy around the 15th of December 2007 and get to Aqaba on the 6th of January 2008.
I have few questions and wonder if someone could answer them:
1) Whether: is the wheater decent in winter time (can you drive bikes in these countires in Winter time or is it too cold)?
2) Safety: is it currently safe to travel in Syria and Jordan?
3) Documents: what documents are required to cross these borders?
4) Bike: Would a BMW F650 GS the right bike for this kind of trip (I am planning to buy one)
5) Shipping: can I ship my bike back from Aqaba to Italy
6) Petrol: I read on the LP too that unleaded etrol is not available in Syria and Jordan. Is that true?

Thanks

Paolo

Many Thanks

Hi Paolo
I'm in Syria at the moment so can hopefully help with your questions...
1) It's not too cold at all but can rain a lot and snow is a possibility on high ground
2) Both are very safe places and people extremely hospitable
3) You need a carnet and will have to buy insurance at the border. Haven't been asked for a driving license but I guess it's wise to have an IDP
4) An F650 would be fine. Roads are generally fairly good and there are a few nice pistes you can take too
5) Shipping Aqaba to Italy would I guess not be ideal - why not take to Egypt and ship from Alexandria or Port Said or ride through to Tunisia and catch the car ferry home?
6) Unleaded is available but even if you ran on leaded for a while it shouldn't hurt your bike
Hope that helps
Cheers
Richard

Shipping from Italy to Egypt
 

Hi Richard

Thank you for your fast reply and useful answers.
Unfortunately I only have 3 weeks to visit Turkey, Syria and Jordan. i won't be able to go as far as Tunisia.
Are you sure I can ship the bike from Egypt back to Italy (or even England)
I searched the net and I could find any ferry....
cheers

Hi Paolo,

Sorry - when you wrote 'ship' I thought you meant to send the bike without yourself. If you want a ferry to take you and the bike back homewards bound then as far as I know the ports you can get back into Europe from are Haifa in Israel, possibly Latakia in Syria and Tunisia. 3 weeks for all 3 countries plus Greece and then riding home again sounds fairly stressfull! I think the Haifa and Latakia options will only get you as far as Cyrpus / Greece. Good luck!

Cheers

Richard

shipping back home
 

Hi Richard

I see you are from Bournemouth.
I am in London (not too far)
Maybe when you are back we could go for a pint, so you can tell me all about your trip.

Sorry for the confusion.
I intend to ship the bike back home (either England or Italy)once I get to Aqaba and catch a flight.
I think I should be able to cover Turkey, Syria and Jordan in 3 weeks.

I have a Fazer in London and a speed triple in Milan. I am planning to buy a 3rd bike specifically for this trip. Today I went test riding a BMW 650GS and I was very disappointed (it feels like a maxi scooter!).
I would love to get the BMW 1200 GS but unfortunately I am too short (5 foot7)
any suggestions?
cheers
Paolo

Hi Paolo,

Definitely up for meeting up for a pint after getting home. Won't be back before you leave though so it'll have to be after we are both home sometime in 2008....

I'll be in Aqaba in a couple of weeks so I'll try and have a quick ask around to see what possibilities there are for shipping home from there. Still reckon it may be easier from Egypt though - Suez or Alexandria, though of course going to Egypt means more paperwork hassles.

As for bike choice, got to be honest on this one and say that pretty much all my experience is on BMWs and old Brit bikes. Maybe have a go for suggestion from other hubbers on the which bike thread?

Cheers

Richard

Testing BMW in Morocco first
 

Hi Richard

How is your trip going?

Being short I have eventually opted for The F650GS.
It comes with a very low seat (78 cm)
I am going to test it in May and June in Spain and Morocco.
Then I will be off to Middle East in December.

Due to the fact that I can't take much time off work I am experimenting a new way of travelling.
I take the bike on location (i.e. Barcelona) travel during the weekend and on Sunday night I park it at the airport and fly back to England to work during the week. Then on Friday I fly back and pick it up to carry on travelling for 3 days to the next city/airport.
It works quite well in Europe where you can get a return flight for £50.

Speak to you later

Paolo

Hi Paolo,

Sounds like lateral thinking with the between airports travel! Good luck with it. We're in Aqaba in Jordan at the mo and about to cross into Egypt - have finally hit some warm weather after travelling through winter for the last four months.

I'm thinking of trying to come back from South Africa via Yemen and Saudi sometime around December / January so lets keep in touch and maybe try to meet up.

Cheers

Richard

I bet the weather is nice.
I was in Cairo few days ago for the Easter weekend.
We had sun and 30 degrees.
No comments on how they drive over there!!! It's madness.

Paolo