Hi & hail to you hardcore travellers of the Middle East.

I'm travelling London-Melbourne late 08/early 09.

I need help with a route from Turkey to Syria to Jordan and then into Egypt. Preferably I want to take the ferry from Jordan to Egypt and bypass Israel.

I'll be going on to the sub-Sahara forum for similar help with routing Egypt through to Cape Town down East Africa, but if you've got such a route too...please feel free to recommend your route.

Waypoints are also welcome.

I have a Zumo 550 and am new to this.

Cheers, Discoenduro

I will travell on same route from 2. maj from Serbia to Jordan. If you be there, we can to meet and driving together part off the way. I will be there one months.
Istanbul-Ankara-Kajseri-Adana-Aleppo-Damask-Amman-Akaba-Nuweuba (Egipat)...

Hey Dragan, i see you're travelling 2 maj: Is that 2 May? I'd be happy to meet up and ride with you, only I'm travelling sometime around December 2008 to February 2009.
:confused1:

Hi discoenduro,

20th of september we're heading to Izmit,Ankara,Nevsehir(Capadocia),Adiyaman(Mount Nemrud),Gaziantep,Allepo(Syr),Tadmur(Palmyra),Dama scus,Amman(Jor),Petra,WadiRumm,Aqabah,Ellat(Isr),B ethleehem,Jerusalem,Tel-Aviv,Tiberias,Haifa on our three week tripp and return same way via Jordan and Syria,but Turkey via Adana,Antalya,Denizli,Kusadasi(Ephesus),Izmir,Cana kkale,Edrine and Bulgaria.
If you're interested be welcome to join us!!

Cheers,
Simon

Syria
Krak des Chevaliers: N34 45.416 E36 17.746
Palmyra: N34 32.974 E38 16.286

Jordan
Mount Nebo: N31 46.097 E35 43.534

Stephan

English name // Arabic name // Latitude Longditude // altitude // What is it ?
ALEPPO // HALAB// N36 12.182 E37 09.523 // Aleppo City
AMMAN // //N31 56.992 E35 55.993 // Amman City
APAMEA // //N35 25.319 E36 24.105 // altitude 267 m //Apamea (Roman ruins)
Apamea //(Afamia) // Afamea N35 25.055 E36 24.232 // Apamea (Roman ruins)
BAGDADCAFE // // N34 04.941 E37 30.452 // altiude 879 m //Bagdad Café between Palmyra and Damscus
CITADEL // // N36 11.886 E37 09.662 // altitdue353 m// Crusader castle
DAMASCUS// DIMASHQ // N33 30.000 E36 18.002 // Damascus city
Hama// (Hamah) Hamah // N35 08.001 E36 44.997 //Hama city
JESUS BAP// // N31 50.240 E35 32.958 // altitude -388 m // Jesus Baptism site (Jordan side)
KRAK de chevaliers// // N34 45.446 E36 17.740 650 m Crusader castle (Excellent !!)
LATTAKIA // AL LADHIQIYAH// N35 31.002 E35 47.000 // Lattakia City
Maaloula/ Ma`Lula // N33 49.991 E36 32.988 // Maaloula town
Dead SEA // //N31 43.133 E35 35.245// altitude -398 m //Dead Sea resort hotels
PALMYRA// // N34 33.229 E38 16.253 //altitude 408 m //Palmyra Ancient roman city (excellent !!!)
Tartus// Tartus// N34 53.092 E35 53.498 //Tartus town on the coast (nothing special)
WADI MUSA// N30 18.981 E35 28.966// Wadi Rum entrance
WADIRUM// WADI RUMMEN //N29 38.167 E35 21.657// Wadi Rum desert

__________________
...on the road to nowhere...

Biking roads by bikers for bikers www.bestbikingroads.com

Stephano, Gecko, brilliant guys. Thanks for those waypoints...now if only i could get some for Sudan from the sub-Sah forum!

Money63: mate, I think September might be too early for me. I won't find out until late July...it's all visa related.

Hello,

Stefano,Gecko...same thanks for the waypoints

Discoenduro,if you decide earlier heading down,please let me know.....hope to see all you guys on the road!

Cheers,

Simon

One important piece of advice for you... when you arrive at the port in Jordan to ship to Egypt, someone may tempt you into taking the "slow ferry" because it has more convenient sailing times, or it's cheaper, or etc, etc. DON'T DO IT! Hold out for the "Fast Ferry," my friend. It sails once per day from Aqaba, Jordan to Neweiba, Egypt.

The paperwork is straight forward, it sails on time and it's comfortable. When I took the slow boat several years ago, I had to wait on board for three hours before we even left the dock. We arrived in Neweiba at an unholy hour in the morning after a long, uncomfortable journey.

I took the fast ferry this time round and had an enjoyable experience... details and some photos HERE. (Visit Dahab, in Egypt, too!)

__________________
Jeremy Kroeker
www.MotorcycleTherapy.com

[QUOTE=hopelessly lost;185093]One important piece of advice for you... when you arrive at the port in Jordan to ship to Egypt, someone may tempt you into taking the "slow ferry" because it has more convenient sailing times, or it's cheaper, or etc, etc. DON'T DO IT! Hold out for the "Fast Ferry," my friend. It sails once per day from Aqaba, Jordan to Neweiba, Egypt. [QUOTE]

ABSOLUTELY!!!! The fast ferry also leaves at a sensible 12:30 arriving in Nuweiba at 14:00. That give5 your 4 hours before sunset to get you and your bike through Egyptian Entry. This too is not as bad as it's made out to be. Just have 3000Gippos ready, latch onto a Tourist Policeman and run obidiently behind them. They wont cheat you and will get you through the procedure much quicker than you will ever...then pop round the corner to Soft Beach Camping and enjoy the sunset.

ps The slow ferry leaves at 10pm and arrived in the morning...NO THANKS!!!

__________________
If there's a will there's a way so I will anyway!
http://www.buyaikhaya.blogspot.com

Hey guys, thanks for the tips about using the ferry from Aqaba to Nuweiba. I'll be sure to take the fast ferry and have the 3k in gippos ready for the tourist policeman.

Each time i get a reply, it feels like a secret has been unlocked. Quite thrilling really. You guys are invaluable and make my inexperience less of a problem.

Thanks again,
Disco

My only "advise" I will give you which I would apply to myself now in hindsight:

1. I also loved planning the trip but don't overplan, rather take every day as it comes. Things will generally work out ok and when they don't interesting things usually happen. Most certainly do research into the various countries you are going to so that you don't miss out on something spectacular although most of our Wow places we heard of from other travellerds along the way.

2. Take a GPS along but only use it in times of serious uncertainty i.e.crossing north Sudan. Next time I will take a basic map and rather stop more frequently and ask locals instead of making the GPS dictate where I will go. Yes you say you wont do it...it's surprising how easily the GPS pulls you along by the nose.

I crossed Syria with a Google map printout and Jordan with a tourist map I got at the border and they worked out perfectly.

Oh yes: "LONELY PLANET IS RUBBISH!!!"

__________________
If there's a will there's a way so I will anyway!
http://www.buyaikhaya.blogspot.com

Hey Bossies, I won't over plan. What i want to do is have a route that is definitely well-travelled and relatively safe. The route will be a bit like a main artery, and when I want to get off the main route for a few days, say to see a game reserve or other place of interest, I can detour and then return to the main route again.

I have a Zumo gps and am looking for some basic 1:2 million maps for Syria, Jordan, East Africa and Southern Africa. And I know how to use a compass. Dunno how to find the North Star though! Somewhere on the right of the Plough init?

Meeting fellow travellers and finding out their recommendations for campsites and cool must sees is definitely a big part of the experience. If it aint clear already, I'm relying a lot on others who've done this trip before. The great thing is, my own trip will be unique.

What have you got planned?

Friends,

This is a fantastic thread. Horizons Unlimited never disappoints! I'm heading out from Rome on the 26th of May. I will travel to Greece - Turkey - Syria - Jordan - Egypt.

Couple of questions:


- First of all, if anyone's in the region then, let me know and let's connect.
- How long did it take to go from Istanbul to Cairo (or anywhere near) at a leisurely riding pace?
- Tips and hidden gems (place to eat, stay, visit, AVOID) most welcome.
- Any security issues?

- Finally, I'm hoping to find a safe and secure place to leave my bike in Cairo for a few months until I can return to it and continue the journey. Any thoughts?

Many thanks.

Tony

How are you planning to go back via Syria when you've been to Israel then?
Just curious, as they will send you back, or did you find a way to do it?

Jurgen

__________________
http://300td.org - The weblog of a W123 on veggie oil