How to get from Egypt to Europe?

[TobyG]

Hey,
I'm in a bit of a pickle here, I have an open invitation to Senegal and some 5 months off this year.

Hence I'd like to take up on that offer and ride down there, France, Spain, Morocco, Mauritania to Senegal.
Since I got that much time, I figured doing a round trip, coming up to Turkey/Greece may be an option worth looking into, at least.

Now the problem is, I could only get up to Egypt/Israel by land, really, and cannot quite figure out a way to get to Europe from there.

There might be a ferry from Port Said to Greece or possibly from Haifa (Israel) to Greece I read/heard? Anything to Turkey, maybe?

I'd be grateful for any tips on how to get there, since a more or less direct (mostly) land route doesn't seem viable either, with the current situations in Yemen, Syria and Iraq.

Thanks in Advance!
-Toby

[jordan325ic]

When I was researching it a year ago, the only way to get back to Europe from Egypt with a motorcycle was via air shipping. At the time there were no ferries running anywhere around there and no way to cross the middle east.

But looking at your plan... how are you going from Egypt from Senegal? Currently the only way to get from West to East is by going all the way down to Zambia. 5 months is a bit quick for a circumnavigation of Africa.

[TobyG]

To be honest I only took a quick look, yet, focussing mainly on whether or not I could even get back up to Europe.

From what did gather, it may be possible to do the following route, if most Visa are organized in advance:
Senegal
->Guinea
->Cote D'Ivoire
->Ghana
->Togo
->Nigeria
->Cameroon
->Chad
->Sudan
->Egypt

Figured I'd go and see if the problem to get from Egypt to Europe still persists before inquiring for current informations on entry restrictions on all the other countries.

And thanks for input, even though it is not what I'd hoped to hear
Did you go through with your trip, if so what did airfreight roughly cost you?

[jordan325ic]

Northern Cameroon is Boko-Haram territory, and if you make it through that then you have to hire a government guide (plus a truck to take him) through northern Chad, then if they let you into Sudan then you have to put the motorcycle on a plane to cross the country. So essentially it's expensive, dangerous and can't be done entirely overland anyway. Because of this, I don't think anyone has attempted it for a while now.

This pretty much sums up Chad transit.
https://sahara-overland.com/chad-2/

No, I didn't go to Egypt, plans changed. I seem to recall that was it was about 900 euro to ship a motorcycle from Egypt to Europe, but that's not an exact figure.

[road spirit]

try the info in these 2 threads here in HUBB:

• Ferry from Europe to Egypt see post #4
• shipping cars from Greece to Egypt

[TobyG]

Chill guys, Syria isn't gonna happen - don't get me wrong, I'm okay with certain risks but there is no way I'll enter Syria or e.g. Iraq in the current climate. Getting in legally is likely also nigh on impossible.


Right now I'm okay with only being able to go half-way and then turning around to ride back to Europe, but I figured exploring possibilities wouldn't hurt.

Originally Posted by jordan325ic

Northern Cameroon is Boko-Haram territory, and if you make it through that then you have to hire a government guide (plus a truck to take him) through northern Chad, then if they let you into Sudan then you have to put the motorcycle on a plane to cross the country. So essentially it's expensive, dangerous and can't be done entirely overland anyway. Because of this, I don't think anyone has attempted it for a while now.

This pretty much sums up Chad transit.
https://sahara-overland.com/chad-2/

No, I didn't go to Egypt, plans changed. I seem to recall that was it was about 900 euro to ship a motorcycle from Egypt to Europe, but that's not an exact figure.

Thanks for the heads up, I was aware of the situation in Northern Cameroon and partially of that in Chad, but did not yet look up details on the latter.

Why would you have to fly your bike through Sudan, though?
AFAIK you do need a permit for travelling with your personal vehicle, is there anything obvious that I missed, though?
As far as getting in is concerned, this is one of those countries where you better have a visa ready before you leave home.

Originally Posted by road spirit

try the info in these 2 threads here in HUBB:

• Ferry from Europe to Egypt see post #4
• shipping cars from Greece to Egypt

Thanks for that, read them & bookmarked, just in case.

Originally Posted by ta-rider

I would follow the "normal" route via Southafrica and then would still try to cross Syria. Bad news on TV i know but the tv never shows the nice parts. An Adventure has allways some rics otherwise it would not be an adventure. Syria is big and if you stay away from Aleppo im shure you will be just fine: [url=http://afrikamotorrad.eu/?report=en_westkueste]

I'd love to, but don't have enough time for the long way.

Mind you, I am very much aware that news mostly show the bad news,
but for Syria there's not much else to report atm. Not gonna happen.

[Grant Johnson]

We are constantly telling people to listen to what the news says - and then check out the reality here on the HUBB with people who have been there recently. WE ALL KNOW that the news sells blood and tragedy, and that we shouldn't pay attention to most of it, that the local people are generally wonderful and helpful - but this is clearcut.

In the current climate, suggesting that anyone should ride through Syria is, to put it politely, not thinking. At all.

Syria is currently a war zone, and while we're sure the people are great and we sympathize hugely with them, it's NOT SAFE to go there. If the locals are LEAVING by the millions, shouldn't that tell a thinking person SOMETHING?

Ta-rider, unless you have been there RECENTLY - like in the last month AT LEAST - your opinions are worthless on this subject.

An Adventure has allways some rics otherwise it would not be an adventure.

There's risk and there's stupid...and I don't use that word often, or lightly.

If you want to go, go - but don't recommend it to anyone else unless you want to be the one that tells their loved ones that they died on your recommendation.

[Jay_Benson]

I realise that this is a somewhat late reply but I have been looking at how to get to Egypt from Europe so face similar questions to the original poster, just in reverse. The solution I came up with is to avoid Syria and Israel entirely.

From Hurghada (and Safaga) there is a ferry across the Red Sea to Duba in Saudi Arabia. From there I am looking at a ride across Saudi Arabia over to Dubai in the UAE. From there by ferry across the Persian Gulf to Bandar Abbas in Iran. This part is the trckiest for some people as there are visa restrictions in place for anyone that has been to Israel (don’t try, you won’t get in) and for those from The UK, USA and Canada - you can get a visa but you will need a tour guide sorting out to get you across Iran. From Iran it appears to be straight forward to get to Turkey on then into Europe.

I would be interested to see if I have missed something but the borders, at the time of writing appear, to be open and the ferries running.

[markharf]

Jay_Benson, I'm curious what you've learned about entry to and travel within Saudi Arabia. This has long been difficult or impossible.

Mark

[Jay_Benson]

Hi Mark

I have been reading around HUBB and it is clear that people are being able to get in - with or without a tour guide depends on your nationality - on a tourist visa for 30 days (this is extendable once there I understand). The traveller Silke is currently there I believe. http://www.horizonsunlimited.com/hubb/route-planning/denmark-iran-help-youngster-prepare-96080-2

This is backed up by reports I have read on another website - (https://www.seat61.com/Iran.htm) - look towards the bottom of the page and the trains are running once again between Turkey and Iran. Turks have always been able to travel to Iran but this is now opening up more than before and British travellers are using them (though probably not many).

Lonely Planet also give information on getting visas. https://www.lonelyplanet.com/iran/visas

The main problem for most of us is that British, American and Canadian passport holders have to have guides arranged - but it is still possible to get in. One thing is clear and that is that to get a visa you need to visit an Iranian embassy and leave time to get hold of it.

Edit: the ferry from Dubai to Iran. Details here : https://caravanistan.com/transport/persian-gulf-ferry/bandar-abbas-sharjah/. The ferry between Egypt and Saudi Arabia is with Namma Shipping - website here

All the best

Jay

[markharf]

Yes, thanks. I've been following reports from Iran with interest. However, I was asking about Saudi Arabia.

Mark

[Jay_Benson]

Originally Posted by markharf

Jay_Benson, I'm curious what you've learned about entry to and travel within Saudi Arabia. This has long been difficult or impossible.

Mark

Doh! I really must read the full post - I was expecting to see Iran so didn’t see Saudi Arabia. I really am a muppet. Back in a bit with some answers.

[Jay_Benson]

OK. I hadn’t realised that there were such severe restrictions in place to get into Saudi Arabia which will present some difficulties for some. I was always planning on going to see some old colleagues in Saudi Arabia anyway but informally - this may mean that it has to be more formal and potentially involve doing a presentation to railway engineers that are working out there - sad I know but it paid the bills for years and the presentation is still relevant for now.

One thing I don’t know is whether this will allow me entry via a port or land rather than an airport. Time to get thinking about other ways - possibly talking to the Saudi embassy would be a start.