syria - visa
 

hey there,

i'll be returning with my motorbike from africa to europe, thinking about the middle-eastern route.

- can i get a syrian visa at the border?

- can i get it in jordan or in egypt?

- is the ferry from egypt to jordan the only option (because of the israel problem)?

- any other useful info?

thanks,

cheers,

steven

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online diary and travel info from the road in africa:

west coast to cape town
east coast to zurich

www.contrast.cx

Hello Esteban,
I tried to get a Syrian visa in Amman, but was refused, since I'm a Canadian citizen. They said that the Syrian embassy in Jordan grants visas only to Jordanians. So I crossed border to Israel and took the ferry from Haifa to Piraeus, no problem. There is a regular ferry from Nuweiba, Egypt to Aqaba, Jordan. I suggest you try to get Syrian visa in Cairo. If you don't get it there, you can cross Egyptian-Israeli border near Gaza, and save yourself the detour through Jordan. On the other hand, there is lots to see in Jordan on the way north, e.g. Petra, etc. The choice is yours.

I'm really not sure that the Israel-Cyprus-Greece ferry is running at the moment.
Search for Poseidon or Salamis ferries.

When were you there Werner?

Any recent info very welcome.

JT

I took the Haifa-Cyprus-Greece ferry in April 2001. There could be some changes since.

There is no ferry from Israel.
You can get the visa for Syria in Khartoum or maybe in Cairo.

I took the ferry from Egypt to Jordan in septmber 2002. There was no problem at all, it run everyday from Nuweiba to Aqaba in about three hours. Jordan do not require previous visa (I'm italian, but I think it's the same for a swiss). It's the only option just because of the israel problem. Otherwise, if you go in Israel, you cannot enter neither in Syria nor in Lybia and you are blocked. To ask the israeli custom not to stamp your passport is not enough because it will be stamped on the Jordan or Egyptian side of the border, and it's enough for Syirian and Lybian.

The previous issued Syrian visa is mandatory, but I obtained it in Rome before the trip, so unfortunately I have no information about other embassies.

There is a ferry from Hifa. Not Regular but sure there is.
On the other hand I'm sure the dead sea is a must.
whether you travel from the jordenian side or from the israely side!

I asked yesterday here in Cairo, and the Syrians are now only issuing visas to Egyptian citizens.

Since the rules have changed since I left the UK (they told me in London that it wiould be no problem here) they have said they "may" be able to get me the papers if I get a special dispensation letter of request from the British Embassy.

Humph.
Trying the Jordanians tomorrow. Will keep all posted re: ferries and visas and the like for the Middle East route to Europe...

http://www.horizonsunlimited.com/ubb/biggrin.gif

wow... and now everything worked out without a problem!

we got our syrian visas within 24 hrs from the embassy in cairo: 140 egyptian pounds and two photographs...

hope they'll keep it up, cheers!

steven

------------------
online diary and travel info from the road in africa:

west coast to cape town
east coast to zurich

www.contrast.cx

sorry, forgot to say that you need a letter of recommendation from your embassy!

cheers,

steven

hey traveller
happy that every thing is ok with you,
where are you now???
try to publich your easy story with the syrian visa,it will help alot of other travellers,for me the best thing if you have egyptian nationality that you can go to jordan or syria without visa,haha
takecare man