Hey guys...

We are now stuck in Iskenderun, waiting for the boat to Egypt... We were here ready to board the Saturday ferry, but it never came. It is now Monday, and people from the Ramon agency say that boat is still in Egypt stuck in bloody customs... Who knows how much time it will take till it comes here... 150 trucks and hundreds of people (including Syrian refugees) wait for it... I just hope it will eventually come...

So whoever is planning to do the trip either way these days, should count at least on a longer wait...
I just hope it will eventually come, and ship us to the other side...

If not, what are the alternatives? Is there any?

We are a couple on a motorbike, travelling south to Africa.

Any other ferry boats from Turkey - or maybe Cyprus?

What about going overland through Syria?

Iraq - Jordan? Anybody travelled to Iraq overland, recently?

Cheers!

I am sure a few days' wait at Iskenderun is better than the alternatives like Syria. The last bike came through there in Feb. Not much chance now.
The northern Kurdish part of Iraq from Turkey is no problem (even Top Gear went there), but that only leads to Iran.
Non-Kurdish Iraq to the south is another country and for your own safety they won't let you in there - yet.
I've lost track, but I think there was a ferry Turkey-Cyrpus-Israel for Sinai?

Ch

Sorry to hear that. Hopefully you will come right soon as regards the Iskenderun ferry.


If the ferry turns out to be a non-starter then you could try contacting Grimaldi Freighters. Their Med route goes via Gemlik and docks in Alex but I'm not sure they will let you load/offload a vehicle at either. Still a bike might be different to a car - so perhaps worth the question. You can definitely get to Israel that way but then of course you have the stamps which may cause you a problem for Sudan.

GRIMALDI LINES FREIGHTER TRAVEL
13, Via M. Campodisola - 80133 Napoli
Tel. +39 081 496524 (direct), +39 3452503740 (mobile)
Fax +39 081 496551

e-mail: difalco.carlo@grimaldi.napoli.it
http://www.grimaldi-freightercruises.com

Otherwise there was a post here not too long ago about (not from) a polish guy who had managed to get a car from Greece I think to Egypt. I'll see if I can find it.

Finally failing all else you will probably be able to put the bikes in a container to Alex or Port Said and fly - maybe make enquiries at Iskenderun.

Which company is that?
Will you be able to exit the port and enter again?
Message private,I will search urgently for you..Talking against one is prohibited here...

After that,I will give you some local numbers to call discluding the problem one as none of them says that they have problems..

Currently there are 2 lines from Turkey to Egypt and 1 to Israel..Nomore lines to anywhere else in East meditarrenean from Turkey and North Cyprus...
İskenderun-Damietta
İskenderun-Haifa/Israel (just started)
Mersin-Port Sait.
All are roro carrying trucks and all king of vehicles..

Since beginning of July-2012 until today both lines are used by almost 10 friends and I am in touch with all of them..None of them have met any problems..I guess this problem is just started as it seems the ship is stuck in Egypt.

Best wishes

mehmet zeki avar
www.facebook.com/mehmet.avar.12

The ferry is stuck in Damietta because of a conflict between the ferry agency and the handling agent in Egypt which claims unpaid bills.

I have also heard of at least one other company running to Port Said. Please do some search on the HUBB.

The only feasible alternative (apart from the Grimaldi Freighter, which does not take passengers to Alexandria!, or the Israel option which is difficult for Sudan) is to go from Turkey to Iran and then further on to the United Arab Emirates and Saudi.

From Saudi, there are three options: You can go to Jordan, spend some time there and continue to Nuweiba on the Sinai (on the Sinai, the direct crossing is done in convoys right now, while the road to Sharm el Sheikh and from there to Suez is still free). Option number two is to continue with the Dubba to Safaga ferries (make sure that your Saudi transit visa which you can easily obtain in Abu Dhabi mentions Egypt as next destination!). Option number three is to cross Saudi and head straight to Sudan with either Baaboud or a second ferry agency operating the route from Jeddah to Suakin on alternate days. For any of the three options you need the onward visa for the next destination country.

I would strongly advise against the Iraq option (not to talk about Syria)!! Travelling through the non-kurdish part of Iraq is still suicidal. Busses between Iraq and Syria / Jordan have frequently been attacked. Al Qaeda is regrouping in Iraq and will be more than happy to get hold of such an easily identifiable target! It is difficult to circumvent Baghdad on any route, with Baghdad being a city with hundreds of checkpoints and walls. If you don't know your way exactly, you easily end up at the "wrong" checkpoint and are arrested. During one of my last visits in Baghdad in May 2012, I felt rather safe - only to be told at a security briefing the next morning that there had been 47 incidents like road side bombs in the city during that "safe" day. So please: Just forget about crossing Iraq for the time being!!

Greetings
Achim

Looks like you aren't on your own. Have you met up with these guys?

http://www.horizonsunlimited.com/hub...529#post401801

Thank you all for answers...

So Syria and Iraq are unfortunately still out of question.
Iran to Saudi Arabia sounds very tempting, but i guess that's too big loop around, and i think Iranian visa is not so fast to get...

What about Israel.. I know its forbiden to enter Sudan with Israel stamp, but has anybody managed some trick to enter Sudan - stamp on a piece of paper, changing passports in Egypt, etc... ?

Still hope the boat will sort out... Where do you get that info Achim? How can i follow what's really going on? People in agency just repeat the same story every day: "Problems... boat in egypt... come tomorrow"

Mehmet Zeki Avar - i contacted you on email and FB - but no reply yet... I'm looking forward to your answer and hope you have some good info about some boat alternatives...

I read here on the forum that ferry from Mersin doesn't run anymore. That's why we came to Iskenderun... But you mentioned there are (stil?) two options? So what about Mersin?

Best!

Davor

@itchy feet... No we haven't met them... It seems they are stuck on the Egyptian side and that they are in a much worse situation than us. We can at least wait in the hotel. I'm sorry for them, and hope the things will get solved soon...

But now another question comes up my mind... Even if two agencies manage to solve problems, will the boat continue running, or maybe they'll stop the service?
Well we can only speculate that, which makes not much sense,
but if somebody knows why Mersin-Said boat stopped running (if it has) maybe that has the same pattern...

Hope not!

private message is just sent as made several telephone calls here.

CURRENT AND FIRST HAND information for everyone...:

Egypt government is protesting the new line from İskenderun to Haifa which started 2 days ago so all roro ships are waiting in Egypt to get port services..
New ship ARIADNE is faster and more comfortable.

Meeting between 2 ministries are continuing..Passengers at Turkish side are in hotels, and under government controls,being visited by company authorities..
It is expected that the schedule will be normal within 2-3 days.

Seems just a bad luck,being at the wrong place at the wrong time.
So hope all will be regular very soon and wish you all the best...

mehmet zeki avar


Note..There is no possibility to reach Africa from Turkey besides these options..

Just had this email from Aslihan Ozsen at sisa shipping

"Our service is operating at the moment, hopefully there will be no negative effect. However, please contact us one week prior to your departure and will make your reservation."

Sisa Shipping
aslihan.ozsen@sisashipping.com
Gsm +90 544 765 73 06 | Tel +90 216 338 27 28 | Fax +90 216 338 26 58
Address: Degirmen Sok. No:18 Kat:18 Nida Kule Is Merkezi Kozyatagi - Kadikoy / Istanbul

we also had a delay one month ago with that ferry, because the ^%$@$@-Egyptians closed the harbour. From the beach we could see 4 ferries waiting at anchor.

TAKE EXTRA FOOD/SNACKS WITH YOU ON THE BOAT, as you may get stuck on it for a few days.

Egypt is simply a horrible country to get in/out of, and these delays of a few days happen all the time.

In the end, bribes are paid and business continues...

Hi davor,

got that info from Swiss couple stuck in the port (not in the hotel!) in Damietta. Fortunately, they have a roof-tent, nice atmosphere squeezed between the Turkish trucks ...

Greetings
Achim

Aparently the boat has taken off from Egypt and is approaching Turkey...
Hopefully we'll boarding it tomorrow or Saturday.

If everything's true and boat keeps on running normaly, that will be a week's delay.
Great rite of passage for the entrance to Africa. Cleansening by waiting... More than obvious sign to leave the European time concept behind.

Thanx guys for your information and suggestions!

A big selam to Africa from us.
(never to bloody Egyptian customs)

Wish you all the best..
Güle Güle.

mehmet.

We are in Alexandria right now ( 2 bikes ) and thinking of moving to Port Said after tomorrow. Is it nessecary to go to Port Said or can we directly go to Damietta to get all the customs stuff done ?

Can one estimate how many days the process will take and has anything changed in the last month with fixers /agents and their prices or general ticket prices ?? We expect to pay less than 500 dollars to get to Turkey per person + bike, is that realistic ??

greetings from Alexandria,
Chris

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