Best way to Egypt from Europe
 

Hi,

I want to ask you what is the best (read as safest and an easiest) way to go to from Europe (Germany) to Egypt by motorbike? I read a lot in this forum and other forums, but the picture is still not clear to me.
The background is that I consider to go to Egypt in December / January and meet there with my 15 years old daughter (she has to go by plane, because there is only a limited timeframe). So I definitely have to arrive in time in Egypt or her mother will kill me :gun_bandana: with no doubt.
Form my knowledge there is no passenger ferry to Egypt. So I decided to take a ferry to Israel, but to my surprise there also no longer exist a passenger ferry :confused2:. There are two cargo ferries operated by Grimaldi and Salamis, but is seems that they are no longer carry passengers.
So the last option seems to be going thru Libya, is this possible and save for travelers? Are there any other recommendable options I missed?

Thanks for all tips,
Carsten

I don't think Libya is a very good idea at the moment!!
Also you may have trouble getting a visa for Libya.

If you ship into Egypt, don't underestimate customs clearing times!

Andy

I took a ferry from Venice in 2010. Not sure if it's still running. Look for a ferry into Alexandria.

Egypt is by far the most bureaucratic, dis-organised and dishonest country I have ever visited in my life. You will go grey there trying to sort anything out.

It's also an awesome adventure to travel through it.

No, the Venice / Alex ferry (viesmar), stopped some time ago now,

I have both containered to Alex & driven in across Libya 3 times, by far the least stressful was driving, but I don't think that via Libya is a sensible option right now. I have flown in numerous times & used a friends land cruiser while there, but there's nothing like exploring a place like Egypt with your own vehicle.

Hi,
thanks for all the answers.

I was afraid that going thru Libya would be a bad idea at the moment. What a pity. Yesterday I also talked to a carrier whether it is possible to send the bike by plane, but it seems that this is also not an option, because the custom clearance would be a pain and there is no reliable partner in Egypt. So I dropped the idea for now.

Carsten


Gesendet von iPhone mit Tapatalk

Hey Carsten,

perhaps you should try Rosenfeld shipping: alicia@rosenfeld.net
They have a ferry running from Lavrio/Greece to Haifa/Israel.
I will try to take that one as well, but with a normal bicycle, not a motorbike. Not sure if they are taking motorbikes...

Good luck and all the best! :)
Dominik

Hi Dominik and all who are interested,

Rosenfeld shipping indeed offers a passage to Israel. A cabin is € 300,- and a passage for the motorbike is € 400,- Nevertheless I postponed the trip for other reasons.

Carsten

So Europe-Israel is okay, but how do you get from Israel to Cairo (for example)?

normally, getting from Israel to Cairo shouldn't be a problem. As long as you don't have a 4x4 you can cross the Taba border (we just did it, albeit the other way round from Egypt to Israel) and had absolutely no problem.
Zhen you can ride from Taba via Sinai (probably have to go the long way round, i.e. through Dahab, Sharm, El Tur) and through the Suez tunnel to Cairo. Worst case is, they will make you go in a convoi (mostly between Dahab and Sharm, we didn't have one but we heard from others who were made to wait at the checkpoint).
As I said before, we did it the other way round: we went from Cairo to Sinai, stayed at Dahab for a while and then crossed into Israel with two motorbikes. we didn't have any trouble.

We'll be in five 4x4...

Rosenfeld
 

Rosenfelds Answer from today: Departures from Lavrio (Greece) usually every Saturday arrival Tuesday morning. Price per person one way 300 euro including a cabin/meals and taxes (based on waiting list until last moment). Price for the motorbike euro 400 including port charges at Lavrio not including port charges at Haifa Port about 260 shekels and 500 shekels at Rosenfeld shipping for Delivery Order (to release the moto from the port) Please make sure you have insurance to drive in Israel

Getting to Israel is not a problem, the issue is getting across Sinai with 4x4!

Some friends of me have done the reverse trip in July 2015 from Egypt to Europe, via Sinai (no bivouac except on coastline), ferry to Aqaba, Jordan then Israel.
RR.

Lucky? Or rules different if heading the other way?

Anyone know any way of getting a landrover Discovery into Egypt from Europe these days?

Um, that's what this thread is about!

I'm also researching hiring a small ship for a private passage at the beginning of December. Have five 4x4 (and crews) signed up so far, so looking good...

Cheers, Sam.

shipping Europe/Turkey to Egypt + Sinai crossing
 

Hi everyone. I live in Egypt and have done some research on this recently. I think Egypt is a great place and it is a pity that travelling through it is so difficult lately.

The rules of the game are changing all the time, so they may have changed by the time I stop typing.

Shipping:
- currently the only way that I know of shipping cars into or out of Egypt from the North is by using Grimaldi lines (see this other post for details). You cannot accompany the vehicle (car/motorcycle) which is a bummer

Sinai crossing:
- there is a war in North Sinai at the moment and the army is quite nervous. They have recently warned that any 4x4 which is not driving on tar is a potential target for drones … I guess that is pretty clear
- a friend of mine tried getting into the Sinai (to cross into Israel) 3 weeks ago and was refused 3 times (2 times in Suez, once in Port Said), even when he tried to ship it inside a 4x4. The reason for this is because motorcycles are being used for suicide bombing attacks :(
- I understand that 4x4 overlanders can still cross into the Sinai and through to Nuweiba (to take the ferry to Aqaba) or to Taba (to cross into Israel). The mountain roads through Sinai are closed at night and it is advised to take the coastal road. You will most probably be forced to drive in a convoy.

Will post if I hear that things are changing again.

Sounds promising!

Best way to Egypt from Europe
 

Rather than start another trend, I’ll just follow this one and ask my questions here. At the moment it appears Egypt too would be my main bottle neck …and persuading wifee [sic], I’m aware the political situation in Africa is quite dynamic and can change overnight, but I’ll rather start researching early on the possibility of riding through Egypt down to South Africa next year November/December 2016 and then riding back up via the Atlantic route …Insha’Allah.

Currently the plan is to break the trip into two legs, with a 2 to 3 months break in between depending on my final choice of motorbike.

1st Leg: Germany – Egypt – South Africa (East Africa route)
2nd Leg: South Africa – Nigeria –Morocco – Germany (West Africa route)

My questions for now are:
1. Is it advisable to do the East African route without a Carnet de Passage and hope on being able to buy laissez-passer (local temporary import permit) along the route?
2. What is the minimum amount of days I should reckon with from Egypt to South Africa (Cape Town)
3. Is Israel -Jordan - Saudi Arabia -Sudan a viable option round Egypt.
4. Is the East African route doable on a Honda CBR1000?…to put in perspective, I did Germany to Nigeria on a Yamaha R6 in Nov 2013 via Morocco-Mauritania-Senegal-Mali-Burkina Faso-Togo-Benin-Nigeria

1. I wouldn't.
2. World record is 11 days (CT-London)
3. Yes, but expensive and make sure you don't have any Israeli stamps
4. World record (see 2) was done in an unmodified Fiat Panda

Safe travels, Sam.

In response to your Question 3. Getting a Saudi Transit Visa going south is virtually impossible. Going north is better - you can normally get one in Khartoum outside the pilgrim periods. All else being ok, I suggest you go around Africa in the reverse direction. See my post Kenya to Europe for more details.

Just found this thread. I'm looking to take my 1190 Adventure from anywhere in the South of Europe, probably Greece or Turkey to Israel in February. Is 250 euro the cheapest you can get? That is going to kill my bank account!

Hello,

if i enter in Israel will i get problems at the border of Sudan?Even if i dont get stamped my passport,they can see that i get stamped my carnet at the border in Israel.

Regards

Mike

Dude I would just not use a Carnet for Sudan if that's the case, when all else fails - plead ignorance

Post here about getting into Egypt from Israel - Sinai closure is a possible problem...

We were just few months ago in Israel with our 4x4. We did it the other way around tho, Sudan before Israel. But they do not even stamp your carnet. They have never even hear about it matter of fact. We had EU registered car. In EU we have this insurance called green card, that is valid in Israel too. Otherwise the insurance even for a week is hundreds of euros..

Updates on Europe to Egypt for motorbike?
 

My F800GSA motorcycle is arriving in Holland soon after completing Texas, USA-Ushuaia -Suriname. I'd now like to ride the Eastern Africa route.

However, after quite a bit of researching, I'm a little stumped about how to actually get TO Egypt from Europe. I'd like to take a ferry from Greece, etc, but can't seem to find anything (from Greece, Italy, Turkey).

Any help is much appreciated.

Thanks, Clark

Hi Clark, you won't get a ferry direct (anymore - count yourself lucky, anyway). Look for a ferry to Israel from Greece or Cyprus, then overland from there via Jordan (and another ferry) or direct to Egypt at Taba.
At least that's how it worked last time I looked.

Hi Chris,
Thanks for the info (and all your support here, the great Adventure Motorcycle Handbook, etc).

-just to confirm- a Carnet looks mandatory for the East Route? Egypt, Kenya (and possibly S Africa). And looks like a c US$1,000 cost for a US registered F800GSA (ouch).

And, I thought Central America border crossings were annoying. Looks like that was a warmup for Africa. Oh well....

Clark

Hi,

Tried this a few months ago - problem is getting through Sinai (near impossible).

We have a cargo plane flying Crete-Mersa Matruh in November which might be an option (and you could fly with) but I'd need to look at that closely. Otherwise you can just ship it unaccompanied and the collect in Alex...

Cheers, Sam.

Carnet is needed for east Af, yes.
$1000 sounds a bit much but AMH 7 write up is out of date, see update here:
https://adventure-motorcycling.com/c...r-overlanding/
or latest here
http://www.horizonsunlimited.com/hubb/trip-paperwork/

Fly a bike if there is no way across Sinai north or south.
Save sea freight for cars or 250,000 tons of coal.

Hi Sam,
What is that (unaccompanied) shipping Route and Carrier?

Hi Clark
This is the email of the shipping company nannou@minoan.gr I have been in touch with them and they have a ship going every week from Piraues and they say it's a 3 day salling.

When are you planning on sending your bike? I'm should be making the trip at the beginning of October

Randy

1. Hi Randy, likely around late October to Egypt, IF I can get the logistics sorted.
Thanks for the info- will check rates and schedules

2. Chris, et al- just got a quote for Carnet from Boomerang USA for East Africa, and 2015 F800GSA (USA reg) at $9,000 value.
$1,350 total costs, plus $9,000 deposit! Or $2,350 with no deposit.

Ouch. That's a lot for a 'worthless' piece of paper.

Clark

bakercdb I have sent you a PM.

Regards

Hey Guys,
I am doing the same route, starting early November. Going to ship from Piraeus and collect in Alex too.
I'd be interested if you come across a cheaper fixer for getting the bike out of port....or not needing a fixer at all. All I have heard of is CFS for about $900.

We have yesterday put our Toyota Hilux X-cab 2007 on a RoRo ship from Sweden to Alexandria. Shipping line is "van Uden Shipping" (vanudenshipping.com). They pick up cars in Rotterdam, Hamburg and Wallhamn (Sweden) twice a month for Alexandria and other Mediteranian harbours. Cost is 1250 €. Please note that a Carnet is needed to get the car on board (we tried with TIP but van Uden requested a valid Carnet). The Carnet for Egypt and most other African countries cost us 10.000 SFr. Andre Looij (a.looij@vanudenshipping.com) at van Uden helped us with everything. Now we only need to get through customs in Alexandria. I'll keep you posted with our progress.

Thanks a lot for these infos!

RR.

Hi Randy,

Is this from Piraeus to Israel or to Egypt?
I'm hoping you mean Alexandria?

Tx
Helen

It is to Alexandria Egypt

Great Tx!

Hi Clark,

You might have seen it already in the other thread, but if not, I shipped two bikes from Greece to Egypt a couple of weeks ago. Details here: http://www.horizonsunlimited.com/hub...712#post548094

It's maybe not a particularly pleasant process (at least on the Egyptian side), but it's definitely manageable :-)

Now we're just waiting for Sudanese visas in Aswan...

- Andreas

Hi Andreas,
Thanks- great information. The carnet for a USA registered bike is $1,400 plus a $9,000 deposit from Boomerang in USA. I checked ADAC, but they won't do USA registered bikes.

So, I'm having my agent in Amsterdam (bike just arrived from Suriname) check into other options like possibly Sudan.

I'd love to see Egypt, but not sure I'm up for the costs/deposit of carnet, plus the fees. Also, I understand the Sudan visa takes 4 weeks for an American, so that won't work getting it in Egypt. If I can ship to Sudan, I can get the Visa sorted while my bike is in transit.

Clark
ps, I'll post any information if I find shipping to Sudan or other.

hello Randy are you already in Alexandria ??
if so sure we can meet for a meal or a drink ,
cheers

My importer on the receiving side in Holland (I shipped from Suriname) claims he can arrange shipping from Rotterdam to Sudan for my (USA registered) motorcycle. Thus, I bypass the Egyptian shuffles and hopefully the Carnet.

And, having a USA passport, a can deal with the (4 week?) Sudan visa while my motorcycle is in transport.

That's the plan today, and I will post when I have details on the shipping from Rotterdam to Sudan. (After seeing a little of Eastern Europe first).

Clark

I get in this weekend. Will definitely meet you for a drink, I'll pm you when I get to Alexandria

Hej Omar and Randy,

Could we join you for that drink. Me and my partner are right now in Alex waiting for our car. The RoRo vessel is estimated to come tomorrow and we hope, with the help of CFS, to be on the road on Monday next week.
Would be great to get some info and share experiences.

Styrbjorn

:thumbup1:

hello just saw your post
sure lets meet
give me a call or whatsapp
(+2) 011 100 00 474

I just want to make a summary of our experiences with shipping our car from northern Europe directly to Alexandria. We used "van Uden Shipping" (vanudenshipping.com) to get our Toyota Hilux from Wallhamn Sweden directly to Alex.

It was very easy to work online and over the phone with van Uden through their man in the Netherlands Andre Looij (a.looij@vanudenshipping.com). After providing all documents by e-mail we just needed to show up in Wallhamn and drop of our car. Took 5 minutes. No extra fees or anything. Total cost for shipping was 1150 €.

We then flew to Egypt and used CFS as fixer it took them 2.5 working days to get our car ready. Cost was 850 € plus 1500 EP for storage in the harbour.

It is more expensive to ship from Sweden then from Greece (+700 €) but is also quite expensive for us to drive down to Greece (maybe + 500 € in total) and would take an extra 5-6 days including time in Pireaus so it is not so bad actually.

Also met up with Omar in Alex while waiting and got some invaluable info on where to go and not in Egypt. Thanks Omar! I'll make another poster about those experiences.

Was the car in a container? Did you feel it was secure (from theft) all the time?

No it was a RoRo ship and you just have to expect losses when shipping. We lost some minor items like a torch and a cap but nothing essential like tools or spare parts.

That's good news, I'm too tall for a container, so RoRo is good. I can lock the camper unit securely, so perhaps OK then.

Exiting africa to europe
 

Hi there everyone,

apologies for a bit hijack on this thread, please advise if i need to remove the post :)

I am looking to go from Cape Town to northern europe ... leaving in april.
should be in Egypt in June/july.

Would love to go to Jordan and israel and exit that way ... but seems like option from Port Sudan to Saudi are not there ? unless i am wrong?

That leaves Egypt to ... greece i guess.

What would people with recent experience recommend ? CFS? Marina Shipping or something else?

I am looking to make contact with shipping company and get my head squared away :) to some extent as to what to do.

Thank you all for your advice

Europe to Israel
 

I just emailed Alicia at Rosenfeld shipping and she replied with:

"Shalom

We can offer our cargo service for the meantime only for the motorbike no passengers

Departures usually every Thursdays from Haifa arrive at Lavrio Port (Greece) Sunday morning (based on alternations or cancellations without previous notice)

You can release until 1000 am on Sunday or Monday from 0800am

Return from Lavrio Monday

Price round trip including all charges at Greece Euro 800

Not including port charges at Haifa each way about 250 shekels

And 500 shekels at Rosenfeld Shipping for Delivery Order

Documents required

Passport/ motorbike license translated by MMSI and Green Card (insurance to drive in Europe)

For further information please don’t hesitate to contact me

For the GREEN CARD please contact KNOPF STEFAN EMAIL knopftours@aol.com"

HOWEVER, I asked Grimaldi Lines whether they could ship bike+rider to Israel and they said:

"we don’t offer Piraeus as port of embarkation/disembarkation. Instead we can offer voyages from Salerno to Ashdod."

I don't know what the cost is, how to get a ticket etc but if and when I find out more will let you know. In the meantime if anyone else has any idea how to get Europe to Israel I'd love to hear!

I got the ticket, just emailed Grimaldi (chap called Flaminio was very helpful), came to €957 for a cabin and motorcycle. Probably not the cheapest or most 'adventurous' option but I'm on a tight schedule so it'll have to do!

Also looking for up to date info on Egypt
 

Hi there,
has anyone recently crossed through Egypt, Sudan and Ethiopia? I am planning on shipping my vehicle from Greece to Egypt and then driving down, however, I have heard that they are not allowing 4x4s in? Especially Land cruisers due to hi-risk of hi-jacking and your vehicle being used for terrorism... Can anyone fill me in on up to date info with regards to this?

Thanks in advance
Jess

Hello Jess
how are you ? good luck with your epic trip
regarding 4x4 in Egypt no problems to drive from Alexandria all the way to Sudan borders ,
following the river Nile roads or the red sea coast or the Oases
you are jut not allowed to enter Sinai with a 4x4
i live in Alexandria if you need any help that i can do you can ask me
cheers

Best way to Egypt from Europe
 

Hi Jess,

We are currently in southern Egypt heading north in a 4x4.
We're shipping from Alexandria to Piraeus with neptune lines at the end of the month.
All totally fine, except HOT !! In Sudan and Egypt, in Ethiopia it was pretty cool in the mountains.
As Omar says, only the Sinai is a problem for 4x4, in particular landcruisers, which you are avoiding by entering at Alexandria.

I have heard the checks on arrival or departure are more rigorous for landcruisers, but still not a problem.

We drive within sunflower on our air filter and some tassly things like the truck drivers use: partly to make us not look like military and be more obvious as tourists, though we've used our sunflowers since our first roadtrip in the 90s, just because we like them :-)

Enjoy your trip!

See also this post
http://www.horizonsunlimited.com/hub...859#post570891

Shipping 4x4 from Europe to Egypt
 

Hello,
Can anybody give me some up to date info on getting a 4x4 vehicle from Europe to Egypt for a drive down the East coast of Africa? I will be driving with an Land Rover Defender and a Toyota HJ next year.

have heard of an on/off ferry from Southern Turkey? Iskendrum to Alexandria? What is the actual situation?

I have hear of a container shipping option from southern Italy to Port Said or Alexandria but can find no further info of who, where, and when.

I have heard that the Nuweiba ferry from Jordan no longer allows 4x4s to board, but am not sure if this still valid in 2017.

Maybe somebody can give me his/her recent experiences and/or tips on finding a shipper and getting through the apparently nightmare like customs formalities.
Thank you very much for any info that provides a solution to this problem. I have been surfing through forums but most of the info is vague or out of date.

If you end up shipping to Alexandria make SURE you are sending your container to the "OLD" port as this port can handle personal imports. At the "New" port there are no facilities for you to import your vehicle and will be face with very expensive bills.

Turkey to Egypt over land
 

Hello guys,
I'm heading from Lithuania to South Africa on a small bike Suzuki Drz 400s. I got to Izmir and I found that there is no ferry from Iskenderun to Egypt...my bad, and I know it.
I'm trying to figure out what chances do I have to get in to Egypt.
Does anyone has done recently it recently by air or land?
If I make it I will share it. If someone has done it would be nice if you can share it.
I know that situation is not the best in this part of the world. But I'm not willing to give up with it :)
Cheers, Karolis

Lots of information here:
http://www.horizonsunlimited.com/hub...t-europe-82274

or in this index:
http://www.horizonsunlimited.com/hub...pt-index-63126

Hi Karoliis,
I sent a message last week but havent heard back. Just thought I'd chase you up again. Hope youre enjoying christmas. Have you had any luck getting to Egypt yet?
Thanks,
Jordan