Turning right through Jordan, Syria & Turkey is much more straightforward. If you add in Lebanon you will increase the amount of your carnet deposit as well as requiring re-entry to Syria. (Once is enough - they currently force you to change 40 dollars for 'customs & insurance' whether you already have Syrian currency or not and even if they didn't charge a second time you'd still need another/multiple visa.)

Egypt is notorious for its border bureaucracy and high carnet deposits and further along you will probably need to hire guides. If it's the first time, I'd go right, there’s a lot to see.
Stephan

Sila resthouse is here: N24 00.908 E51 45.913

For Wehj, head south out of Al Ula until you reach a petrol station (fill up here!) just before a T-junction then head south-west. The road snakes around but it's a nice ride.

One more thing, there are two incorrectly placed markers on Google Earth for 'Elephant Rock' near Al Ula. It is actually at N26 41.369 E37 58.893

If you check my coordinates on Google Earth, it tallies with an Arabic place marker/photo of the rock.

Stephan

thanks, useful!

I was in Madein Saleh a few years ago, very interesting, you can really feel the history...

.
.
Hi Stephan,

Looking at at trip from UK to Cape Town, but not wanting to go through Egypt, because of expensive vehicle, thus high carnet.
Would Turkey, Syria, Jordan, Saudi, (ferry from Jeddah to ???) Sudan, and then all the standard way south be an option?

Turkey, Syria, Jordan is straightforward apart from the usual paperwork at their borders. The Saudi leg really depends on whether you can obtain a transit visa. You can check that with the Saudi Embassy in London. If you got it, you'd have no problems reaching Jeddah from Aqaba in that time frame.

I used to live in Port Sudan (nearly 25 years ago!) and there were always ferries to Jeddah (and very few other places). I would imagine it's still possible to cross to Port Sudan/Suakin from Jeddah but again you should check in advance.

Stephan

Hello Stephan,
Thank you for your excellent reply.
Turkey visa get at Turkish border?
I am tempted to stay a few days in Marmaris, a great place we have always gone to every year.
Syria visa get at Syrian border?
Jordan visa get at Jordan border?
Should I try for a Saudi visa at the Saudi border, or in Damascus?
I would like to see Al Medenah, and Mecca, some of the images really look fantastic.
I enjoyed many cultural places in Turkey.

I believe it would be much easier for Muslim persons to cross these borders when the approach the border patrol and immigration in their long white robes and sandels.?

Graham

hi,

despite of i am muslim, coulnd't any kind of saudi visa from saudi embassy in london ın 2006. next time i will try to get it from damascus.

good luck to you all!!

Turkish visa for British nationals is obtained at the border by buying a stamp for around 15-20 dollars which is affixed in the passport. I can't remember the exact figure but I do remember that Germans don't need a Turkish visa.

Syrian visa should be obtained in your country of residence but travelers have obtained them at the border.

British nationals can get their Jordanian visa at the border.

Non-muslims are not permitted to enter Mecca and some parts of Medina (not presuming to know your religious persuasion but just advising).

Personally, there is no way I would rely on getting a Saudi visa in Damascus and certainly not at the border. I wouldn't count on getting it anywhere other than my country of residence. After all, what would you do in Jordan if you found that you couldn't go via Saudi (having already excluded Egypt)?

Good luck with your planning.
Stephan

Hello Stephan, and thank you for your very good reply.

I am sure it is many people reading this thread/topic, so hopefully many more than just myself will benefit.

For us, I will look to getting the Saudi Visa in London before we leave for our trip.

Yes, it would put one in an awkward position if a Saudi visa was not available in Damascus, or at the Jordan/Saudi border, for some reason of dispute or what ever.

From Jeddah, assuming a Saudi visa is forthcoming, Is it reasonable to get a visa for Sudan before we leave UK, or while in Saudi?

Just my opinion...
 

Since Sudanese visas are also sometimes problematic to obtain, I would advise making your application from the UK. Just make sure you calculate approximately when you will arrive to avoid it expiring before it's needed.

I understood that you would apply for a 3-day transit visa for Saudi Arabia which offers your best chance of successfully entering the country without having an invitation. That being the case, I don't think you would have time to hang around making Sudanese visa applications. The process for me (in Dubai) took about one-two weeks.

Already having the visa for your country of exit from Jeddah, i.e. Sudan, might also work in your favour when applying for the Saudi transit visa.
Stephan

tempting....tempting
 

Hi everybody! Esp Stephan!

I'm planning to go to Saudi someday.....by bike to perform my pilgrimage:innocent:. Whats the easiest & cheapest route.... yet interesting. I'll probably start from Nepal, India, Pakistan, Iran, Turkey, Syria, Jordan and finally Saudi! But if there's a shorter/cheaper route I might as well consider it. Ironically as a muslim I'm also having problems applying visa (espescially an overland visa)
If I get this Im probably be making history.....:clap:

Shorter would be from Iran with the ferry to UAE, then you are almost there. I remember reading somewhere that a pilgrimage visa restricts you where in SA you can go.

true
 

Yes it does restict you...Its usually meant for Jeddah & Medina. I actually have to use different passport for The Pilgrimage Its called the"Haj Passport" its green instead of the usual maroon! The situation is very vague.... But there are some Malaysians that have been abroad i.e study/work that are allowed to enter using the normal passport! It has been done but like I said but not via land. Usually like those studying in UK apply visa from London and fly straight to Jeddah, there are also some tourist in UK doing the same but not guaranteed 100%! Most embassies will say: "You have to apply from your country of origin!" Anyway Im just dreaming now..... InsyAllah one day I'll be able to fullfill it!