The key visa seems to be Syria. Jordan is available at the border.
There's a lot of fairly recent info about Syrian visa on various threads. Try a search or look at middle-east threads. This is what I've found and what I plan.

Officially you have to get the Syrian visa in your home country (unless it has no Syrian consulate).
But, in London consulate at least, it's only three months validity. It'll take me three months to get to Syria so can't apply in London. In London, a 6 month visa is available, but as far as I can ascertain that's a business visa only.

Word on the threads is to apply in Ankara. Word on the threads is that you will be asked for a letter of identity from your own embassy in Ankara. Have read that the UK embassy charges over 30 pounds each person for the letter (don't remember exact amount). I've also read that the US embassy in Ankara has stopped issuing these letters, don't know if that's correct.

Word on the threads is that, at one particular crossing from Turkey to Syria, visas are available easily at the border, and probably at other crossings too. Don't remember which one, have it stored somewhere for reference later.
The border visa is only 14 days or so, but can be extended once in the country, and as far as I can ascertain, the total cost is less than the £30 demanded by the UK embassy for the letter.

So my plan is to check in Ankara first that a letter from UK embassy is needed, and if the price is that high. If that's the case, go to Syria border and apply there.

Here's one thread I've noted:
http://www.horizonsunlimited.com/hub...s-urgent-42617

and another:

How to get a Syrian Visa at the Border


If anyone reading this can correct this info or update it with good recent info, I think that would help a lot of people.

Cheers.

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TTR250 - London to Cape Town