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**Arow** · #1 6 Oct 2009

Do I need multiple entry visa for syria in this instance or can I apply at the border again upon returning from Jordan?

foc site says 15 days is max stay in Syria without renewing is this correct. It also says muliple entry visa required?

Whats the score with campsites in Syria/Jordan?

**dmitrij** · #2 6 Oct 2009

just buy the visa again on the border, in fact get all the visas at the borders, will save you money.

forget campsites, find a hotel, cheap as chips or camp any where.

I was told by the Syrian chief of immigration ' In Syria you can camp any where, it is your oyster, welcome to Syria'

**Arow** · #3 6 Oct 2009

Thanks for clearing that up dmitrij

I much prefer camping to hotels - unless it is one of those hotels that has individual chalets.

**Adrian DXB** · #4 7 Oct 2009

Hi,
I went through a couple of weeks back. For Syria, when you arrive at the border you have to go to the bank counter, they will then issue with currency & corresponding voucher for the exact amount covering Visa & Insurance. Check the costs with the insurance desk first, then make sure the guy producing the slips knows you're on a bike - they just assume a car. I also had a visa which I obtained prior, so they had to start again. Once that was done you have to get a stamp on the carnet (SP100) since the bank only exchanges the exact amount make sure you have the SP 100 for your carnet stamp!!

FYI I did not have to use the my carnet in Turkey - I was told not required.
All the best,

Adrian

**Arow** · #5 11 Oct 2009

Thanks for the border procedure Adrian hope you had a good journey.

However I thought a carnet wasn't necessary for Syria. The ADAC carnet pdf map lists Turkey and Jordan as not required and Syria as Carnet accepted, but not mandatory as for Egypt and Iran.

**Adrian DXB** · #6 11 Oct 2009

I have seen posts where other have said a carnet is not required As I saw it, I was not the only one running around with a brightly coloured pad of paper. I am based in Dubai, & was advised by the Automobile & Touring Club here it was a requirement. I really wanted to avoid any excuses for having to "dash" someone. Even at the Bank counter, fixers were offering their services, which really was not necessary, it is nothing difficult, you just accept that the experience will take a couple of hours - my longest wait was 1 1/2 hrs.

For all the borders, I basically parked the bike, helmet off, then off to the nearest official asking, "Can you please help me?" Never had a problem.

All the best,

Adrian

**Arow** · #7 11 Oct 2009

Do the officials speak some English then? I can just about get by on the basics using French.

**Miquel-Silvestre** · #8 11 Oct 2009

Broken English every border. Visa at the border. Nice people. Camp where you want. Go to Israel, no problem. Ask for stamp out passport. Lebanon, bad traffic, Beirut so expensive. Jordan, get lost in the desert looking for ruins. Cheap gas. Keep water, have fun. Enjoy the oldest land in Earth. Middle East, rider paradise.

Holy Land

**ghorian** · #9 13 Oct 2009

Quote:

Originally Posted by Adrian DXB

I have seen posts where other have said a carnet is not required As I saw it, I was not the only one running around with a brightly coloured pad of paper...

If Syria is the only carnet requiring country on your route, I suggest you go without. You'll get a temporary carnet at the border. That's an official process, no need to bribe anybody. When I was there last year, the temporary carnet fee was somewhat lower than what I would have paid for the carnet in Germany.

If you have other carnet countries on your itinerary, too, then you certainly want to get your carnet up front at home.

**Arow** · #10 14 Oct 2009

I just read this Syrian border procedure written March 09 - for a car.

Quote:

The Syrian side was also relatively straightforward. Armed with my passport, hard cash and a copy of the car registration I approached the customs officer. He very quickly pointed me in the right direction to start the paperwork trail. First you need a small A5 piece of paper in Arabic (this cost Syrian pounds 50) where you have to complete some personal and car details. Once you have this and you have the signature of the captain on it, you ready to move on. The costs of the relevant pieces of paper are as follow. Car insurance for 1 month is US$ 52, diesel tax of US$ 100 and US$ 78 as customs fees for the temporary carnet permit (your customs fee will be US$ 9 if you have a valid carnet from your own country). As it turns out, the $78 carnet fee is a lot cheaper for us than the 470% temporary import duty it would’ve been to include it on our carnet. The next step is to change the $230 at the exchange office. He will give you 3 different receipts with the 3 different Syrian pound amounts so that you can pay for the car insurance and everything else. The next link in the chain is to get the insurance, then back to the custom guys where they issue the temporary carnet. The final link in the chain is to show all the docs to the captain and his pals where you have to pay a final Syrian pound 100 for another small piece of paper and where they write some details in a book. No idea what it’s for though. Oh yes, you also need to have your passports stamped. You get this done in the same building at the police window. With a lot of stamps and a much lighter pocket, you’re free to go. Welcome to Syria!!

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