Go Back   Horizons Unlimited - The HUBB > Ride Tales, Trip Reports and Stories > Ride Tales
Ride Tales Post your ride reports for a weekend ride or around the world. Please make the first words of the title WHERE the ride is. Please do NOT just post a link to your site. For a link, see Get a Link.
Photo by Ulrike Hahnel, Rock Formations on the Lagune Route, Bolivia

I haven't been everywhere...
but it's on my list!


Photo by Ulrike Hahnel,
Rock Formations on the
Lagune Route, Bolivia



Reply
 
LinkBack Thread Tools Display Modes
  #1  
Old 28 Nov 2011
rupertu's Avatar
Registered Users
HUBB regular
 
Join Date: Jun 2008
Location: China
Posts: 42
Lightbulb Update on going north from Egypt - Nov 2011

Hi all,

Like many other in same situation, we have been researching forums and making enquiries about getting from Egypt to Turkey or Greece for a few months. Of course when we started we planned to ride through Jordan and Syria ... or perhaps through Libya or even take a ferry from Egypt. All the above pretty much impossible at this moment. The real options available are to ship or airfreight bikes onwards.

Luckily we have a Chinese SOE cargo ship taking our bikes from Alexandria to Mersin in December (thanks to Chinese Ambassador to Egypt helping Fanny... the British embassy was no help to me), and we will have to fly or swim over to collect them.

There is now (allegedly) a ferry route from Tripoli to Malta and then onwards to Italy, but of course Libya is still reeling from the war and there are too many hyper loons around with guns. Buts its doable I think, perhaps, maybe... depends on luck I guess and ones appetite for risk. We did meet some people who blagged their way into Syria at the Turkish border and rode through in a couple of days. Also a a group of Europeans who already had valid Syrian visas and got through with no hassles. However, we could not apply for Syrian visas and its likely things will get worse in Syria in coming months with tighter sanctions from EU, UN, US and Arab League and threat of civil war looms nearer.

The email we received about Malta - Tripoli is below

Details : timesofmalta.com (@timesofmalta)
11/2/11 4:57 PM
Shipping operations between Malta and Tripoli to start on Wednesday dlvr.it/tLlxY
The newly set up Mediterranean Maritime Serice will be organising it first trip to Libya on Wednesday and will be offering two weekly services thereon.
The company, made up of the Maltese companies Zammit Group and BH Group and the Turkish company Fergun Shipping will be offering roro services for vehicles and passengers.
The trip to Tripoli is 14 hours and will be organised at night.
The t rips will be on board the six star Azzurra, which can take up to 700 passengers and 170 cars. It is 99.8 metres long and has 38 cabins. During the conflict in Libya it was used to evacuate people from Libyan ports to Tunisia, Eygpt and Syria.


In the meantime we rented an apartment in Dahab, in Sinai ... relaxing and having fun in glorious sunshine next to the stunning Red Sea. We used our time and learnt to free dive and wind surf and serviced bikes at KTM in Sharm El Sheikh who did an outstanding job.
btw - very easy to extend visas and carnets and stay in sun. EU passports can extend up to a year for 152 Egyptian Pounds and Carnets for 50 Pounds (for duration of visa period). Fanny being Chinese had to be interviewed by security police in Nuweiba who were thoroughly professional and granted her another three month extension to her Chinese passport visa if she needed. A bit of a faff but doable and builds in flexibility.. just in case.

As reported by many, the customs in Egypt operate a huge scam ( I know as I am a forensic investigator by trade) and so you need to make sure all paperwork is accurate to the digit otherwise its an excuse for them to impound your bike/car... They have also cottoned on to the fact that adventurers and travellers are between a rock and a hard place and so they are abusing their authorities and collaborating with their friendly "fixers" and others in a conspiracy to defraud. Just a visit to Cairo airport customs and their "car graveyard of misery" where we extended our permits proved how many vehicles get confiscated each year...literally hundreds.. mostly German and South African judging by the registration plates.

There seem to be no ferries at all and the country, and many public services seem to be grinding to a halt and a sort of apathetic anarchy prevails. There used to be a ferry from Hurghada to Sharm El Sheikh in Sinai, but it was broken down and so we took the route via Suez. Actually the 1000km + route was cheaper than than ferry cost as petrol is less than 2 pounds a litre or less if you want 92 octane and below and the ride across the Sinai is stunning, perfect motorcycle country.

We are roughly half way on our big bike trip and now (instead of Syria) we have Pakistan to worry about as there are Taliban insurgents and NATO has just killed 24 soldiers to muddy harmonious relations. We have permission to cross border along Karakoram Highway into China, but again we have been warned the northern region is hostile and especially so given recent news. The UK FCO travel warnings and Control Risks group risk assessments are not good. Therefore we will review the situation and either stay south and cross into India and through Nepal into Xinjiang or as planned and preferred, carry on north through Pakistan and into Xinjiang and onwards through China to our finishing points of Shanghai and HK.

Any advise on safe routes in Iran and Pakistan, or any bikers or other adventurers wishing to join us and group together through Iran and Pakistan in April/May 2012 very welcome. Please reach out to us any time.



Fang Yi and Rupert
KTM 990 Adventures
www.bigbiketrip.net
Rupert & Fanny's Big Bike Trip | Facebook
Reply With Quote
Reply

Tags
egypt, iran, nepal, pakistan


Currently Active Users Viewing This Thread: 1 (0 Registered Users and/or Members and 1 guests)
 
Thread Tools
Display Modes

Posting Rules
You may not post new threads
You may not post replies
You may not post attachments
You may not edit your posts

BB code is On
Smilies are On
[IMG] code is On
HTML code is Off
Trackbacks are On
Pingbacks are On
Refbacks are On


Similar Threads
Thread Thread Starter Forum Replies Last Post
PAKISTAN: an update + new info re visas at Sost luckro SE Asia 25 2 Jan 2016 06:39
Does anyone know the best way in to egypt by bike from the north?... Multi Adventurer Trip Transport 5 6 Feb 2012 16:29
Niger Update danielsan North Africa 4 24 Nov 2011 12:44
Ferry ablaze between Jordan and Egypt roamingyak Middle East 7 8 Nov 2011 17:30

 
 

Announcements

Thinking about traveling? Not sure about the whole thing? Watch the HU Achievable Dream Video Trailers and then get ALL the information you need to get inspired and learn how to travel anywhere in the world!

Have YOU ever wondered who has ridden around the world? We did too - and now here's the list of Circumnavigators!
Check it out now
, and add your information if we didn't find you.

Next HU Eventscalendar

ALL Dates subject to change.

2024:

  • California: April 18-21
  • Virginia: April 25-28
  • Germany Summer: May 9-12
  • Québec: May 17-19
  • Bulgaria Mini: July 5-7
  • CanWest: July 11-14
  • Switzerland: August 15-18
  • Ecuador: August 23-25
  • Romania: August 30-Sept 1
  • Austria: September 12-15
  • France: September 20-22
  • Germany Autumn: Oct 31-Nov 3

2025 Confirmed Events:

  • Virginia: April 24-27 2025
  • Queensland is back! May 2-4 2025
  • Germany Summer: May 29-June 1 2025
  • CanWest: July 10-13 2025
  • Switzerland: Date TBC
  • Ecuador: Date TBC
  • Romania: Date TBC
  • Austria: Sept. 11-15
  • California: September 18-21
  • France: September 19-21 2025
  • Germany Autumn: Oct 30-Nov 2 2025

Add yourself to the Updates List for each event!

Questions about an event? Ask here

See all event details

 
World's most listened to Adventure Motorbike Show!
Check the RAW segments; Grant, your HU host is on every month!
Episodes below to listen to while you, err, pretend to do something or other...

Adventurous Bikers – We've got all your Hygiene & Protection needs SORTED! Powdered Hair & Body Wash, Moisturising Cream Insect Repellent, and Moisturising Cream Sunscreen SPF50. ESSENTIAL | CONVENIENT | FUNCTIONAL.

2020 Edition of Chris Scott's Adventure Motorcycling Handbook.

2020 Edition of Chris Scott's Adventure Motorcycling Handbook.

"Ultimate global guide for red-blooded bikers planning overseas exploration. Covers choice & preparation of best bike, shipping overseas, baggage design, riding techniques, travel health, visas, documentation, safety and useful addresses." Recommended. (Grant)



Ripcord Rescue Travel Insurance.

Ripcord Rescue Travel Insurance™ combines into a single integrated program the best evacuation and rescue with the premier travel insurance coverages designed for adventurers.

Led by special operations veterans, Stanford Medicine affiliated physicians, paramedics and other travel experts, Ripcord is perfect for adventure seekers, climbers, skiers, sports enthusiasts, hunters, international travelers, humanitarian efforts, expeditions and more.

Ripcord travel protection is now available for ALL nationalities, and travel is covered on motorcycles of all sizes!


 

What others say about HU...

"This site is the BIBLE for international bike travelers." Greg, Australia

"Thank you! The web site, The travels, The insight, The inspiration, Everything, just thanks." Colin, UK

"My friend and I are planning a trip from Singapore to England... We found (the HU) site invaluable as an aid to planning and have based a lot of our purchases (bikes, riding gear, etc.) on what we have learned from this site." Phil, Australia

"I for one always had an adventurous spirit, but you and Susan lit the fire for my trip and I'll be forever grateful for what you two do to inspire others to just do it." Brent, USA

"Your website is a mecca of valuable information and the (video) series is informative, entertaining, and inspiring!" Jennifer, Canada

"Your worldwide organisation and events are the Go To places to for all serious touring and aspiring touring bikers." Trevor, South Africa

"This is the answer to all my questions." Haydn, Australia

"Keep going the excellent work you are doing for Horizons Unlimited - I love it!" Thomas, Germany

Lots more comments here!



Five books by Graham Field!

Diaries of a compulsive traveller
by Graham Field
Book, eBook, Audiobook

"A compelling, honest, inspiring and entertaining writing style with a built-in feel-good factor" Get them NOW from the authors' website and Amazon.com, Amazon.ca, Amazon.co.uk.



Back Road Map Books and Backroad GPS Maps for all of Canada - a must have!

New to Horizons Unlimited?

New to motorcycle travelling? New to the HU site? Confused? Too many options? It's really very simple - just 4 easy steps!

Horizons Unlimited was founded in 1997 by Grant and Susan Johnson following their journey around the world on a BMW R80G/S.

Susan and Grant Johnson Read more about Grant & Susan's story

Membership - help keep us going!

Horizons Unlimited is not a big multi-national company, just two people who love motorcycle travel and have grown what started as a hobby in 1997 into a full time job (usually 8-10 hours per day and 7 days a week) and a labour of love. To keep it going and a roof over our heads, we run events all over the world with the help of volunteers; we sell inspirational and informative DVDs; we have a few selected advertisers; and we make a small amount from memberships.

You don't have to be a Member to come to an HU meeting, access the website, or ask questions on the HUBB. What you get for your membership contribution is our sincere gratitude, good karma and knowing that you're helping to keep the motorcycle travel dream alive. Contributing Members and Gold Members do get additional features on the HUBB. Here's a list of all the Member benefits on the HUBB.




All times are GMT +1. The time now is 00:39.