Egypt - Gilf / motorbike
 

Me and my friend are going in September 2005 for a trans-africa trip on two TT600R'2001.
I would like to do some desert riding in Egypt (2-3days piste, ~450km). In the Sahara-Overland book it is written that some special permit is needed.
1) How to get this permit? I'm thinking about going on my own for the Siwa-Bahariya piste and Farafra-Abu Ballas-Dakhla piste.
2) If going to Gilf Kebir I would need to join a organized group (car with fuel+water); Has abybody tried to join a group on his own motorbike?

Best regards

Maciek

Siwa- Bahariya is a mere local on the spot formality I believe (by Egyptian standards) - its a regular piste but Farafra (or Abu Mungar?) to Abu Ballas is no piste - just cross-country through the dunes (via Regenfeld) and then between hills to Abu B - it was initially hard in heavy cars and it will be the same on a loaded bike.
Better I think to explore a few kms (or as far as you like) either side and parallel to the Oasis loop road between towns where they have checkpoints which may well be keeping track of you. Even then they might wonder what took you so long (I'm not sure how strict they are)
I've heard of local bikers organising support with agencies - and Edi Orioli* (ex Dakar racer) has led organised bike tours

Chris S

* I guess I meant Franco Pico then - they all looked the same doing 140kph in the dust!

[This message has been edited by Chris Scott (edited 14 May 2005).]

hi
we met Franco with his bikkers in the Gilf http://www.francopicco.com/2004/fr/html_fr/egypte.htm
Ursula

WE organised our own support for the gilf last dec. Included in the requirements is the need for a police/army bloke to accompany. You can organise support in Bahareya or Farafra but I think only Franco Pico plans it fully in advance.

Lots of opportunities for smaller trips around the oasis towns, the Gilf requires significant planning. Fantastic if you make the effort.

JT

Hi

Siwa-Bahareya is fine, just checkpoints at either end of the track (which is tough on tyres - some interesting diversions to oases on either side, Ive never done it solo on a bike, a friend has and had real reliability issues, the checkpoints do NOT alert anyone if you dont check in at the other end)

Gilf - do-able independently but be prepared to get real hassle if you are caught in the desert without a desert permit and military escort. Be fast and make sure your navigation and logistics are top notch if you go for this option - Libyan and Egyptian military patrol the area and are unforgiving.

As Chris says, Pico is a good guy and reliable, will happily take you. He can often be found stooging around Farafra with a big Russian truck and some 600TTs. Buy him beer. Also in Farafra is Sa'ad Ali (at Hotel Badawiya) and he is perhaps the most reliable of the Egyptian tour operators, he will help with a car as logistic support, dunno how he deals with bikes. If you get a guide from him ask for either Sa'ad himself or Hamdi.

Other good routes in Egypt are from Bahareya east to the Nile Valley and Fayoum basin (old trade route, lovely dunes, interesting ruins and temples), the caravan route from Qasr Dakhla to Farafra, and general unsupported exploring anywhere within the central plateau encircled by the New Valley/oasis loop. Ive done this regularly in a single Land Rover and you can just disappear into the desert for days and not see a soul. Wonderful! Also within the New Valley road loop you dont need desert permits. Be aware that there are restricted military zones there and be careful around Siwa as the desert patrol is quite active on both sides of the border. That said its quite easy to set off from Siwa and vanish into the Great Sand Sea for a few days - just keep an ear out for military entanglements (to paraphrase Star Wars)

Enjoy http://www.horizonsunlimited.com/ubb/smile.gif This is the desert of Bagnold and co.....

we were talking (in french)to the bikkers at the top of the Aqaba-Pass. They enjoyed their trip very much, but they made the same expedition as we did in half of the time!
Ursula
PS as far as I know only an registrated travel agency can get a permission for the Gilf and because it is a military aerea you have to be escorted also by a military person

[This message has been edited by ursula (edited 17 May 2005).]