Syria, Lebanon, Jordan, Israel paperwork
 

I am in Tel Aviv, in 1 hour heading Haifa to take a ferry to South Cyprus (really expensive: 360 euros). I can give some information now about paperwork to ride the Middle East.

Turkey: Expensive petrol, beautiful country. I did the whole service on my GS 1200 in Istambul including new tyres Metzeler Tourance instead the Karoo I was wearing since Tashkent. But they are also BMW dealerships in Ankara and Tarsus. No problems, they know their job. Cappadocia is worth to visit. Good unsealed roads there. Nice people and better sceneries going South.


Syria. Crossing the border from Antakia heading Aleppo (Halab in Arabic) is not difficult and definitely is possible to get the visa there. But one has to pay about 20 $ for visa and 20 more for tax road even producing Carne du Passage. Plus the insurance, minimal one month and about 15$. Really friendly people in Syria. When one leaves the country has to pay again 10$. Internet censored: I was not able there to check my own blog.

Lebanon. Dirty roads, traffic jams everywhere and chaos on the road. Free visa in the border for 48 hours, not taxation if producing Carne du Passage, but the insurance should me for one year and is 65 $. After a really hard negotiation I got it by 40$. I don´t remember me paying for leaving the country.

Jordan: Great country to ride. Good roads, mountains, deserts, ruins, friendly people but a little bit clever to get the tourist money. 15$ visa, minimal insurance 3 days, 12$, and import tax (no carne accepted) about 30$. Leaving again 10$, but you can ask about stamped out the passport to avoid anyone knows from where you left the country.

Israel: long wait to cross the border from Jordan, they checked everything but not paying for visa or import tax. No carne accepted but 3 months for free. Green card is valid there but you can also get insurance at the border. If asked, stamp in separate paper. Good roads but too many cars.

Palestinian Territories: no problem to visit Bethelem from Jerusalem on a motorcycle.

http://www.myholylandjourney.blogspot.com/

Syria won't let you in if your passport shows any sign that you have been to Israel. Even if you manage to get a syrian visa outside Syria and your passport only has a stamp from the arab side of a border crossing with Israel you will not be granted acccess to Syria.

thanks a lot for posting this info. Hope this will help many.......

Getting away from Israel
 

Hi. I am in Cyprus right now. The easiest way to leave Israel, but really expensive one.

I got a tiket for a ro/ro boat from Hayfa to Lemassus, South Cyprus. A. Rosenfeld Shipping Ltd., Israel The boat was Ok, Greek Flag, Hindu crew, cabin for two (sharing with a brit guy who rides a biclycle), shared toilet and shower with 4 more guys. Who needs a five star cruise? The boat leaves every 7 days, the trip takes one night and no too many headache with israelians policemen (they do not really take care of foraigner means of transport and they seem to be happy if you leave the country).

The problem is the price: motorbike and one person: 360 euros, but in Cyprus you should pay fees for another 105 euros and get import permit. So 465 euros just for crossing a little island. European green card is valid as insurance.

And do not forget, they drive in the left and use flat plugs because they were British Colony. I will tell how is crossing the border to North Cyprus and getting ferry to Turkey.

About the Jordan stamp. I meant one coud ask for the stamp out the passport when leaving Jordan and heading Israel. They won't know you leave the country by an Israelian border. If you do not come back to Jordan maybe someone could know you do not have out stamp in the passport, but if you go back into the country they will see the out stamp in the Jordan/Syria border. Anyway, I saw them doing their job and they were much more worried about if I liked most Real Madrid or Barcelona than in my passports stamps.

getting out of israel by boat
 

The website from rosenthal states that all ferry's are suspended until further notice.
I guess that's not the story since you obtained a passage to Cyprus (hefty price undoubtly) Where and how did you get the tickets? You went to the agent yourself?

And what's the deal in getting from Cyprus to Turkey? Another serious shakedown in ticketprice?

Greetz

Marco

Thanks for this great up to date information. I will be in all these countries before the end of this year, and it is great to have a first hand report. I think I will try to go from Israel back into Jordan by getting a double entry visa for Jordan, and stamping outside the passport etc. Not sure if this works, but will have to do more research into it.

I guess not many people have done this recently but...

Does anyone know how long one can temporarily bring in a vehicle to Lebanon?

Thanks

EO

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