Hi,

I just landed in Ethiopia with my bike and I was hoping to get a visa for Yemen. But, it seems kind of mission impossible although throughout our correspondence they said it was no problem at all! So I´m thinking of alternative routes kind of last minute and under time pressure. As my final destination is Central Asia via Iran the whole thing is a bit inconvenient as it means a big detour for me. So I would appreciate if you could guide me a little bit.

May main route was:

Ethiopia, Djibouti, Yemen, Oman, Emirates, Iran, Turkmenistan...

But now it seems that my options are as follows:

1. Ethiopia, Sudan, Egypt, (Israel)?, ferry to Greece or to Turkey?, Iran,Turkmenistan, Uzbekistan, Tajikistan.... The question is how do I get from Egypt closest to Iran or Eastern Turkey as I heard that there isn´t any ferry from Egypt to Europe. In this case where shall I take the ferry, how long does it take & how much does it cost for myself and the bike?

2. Ethiopia, Sudan/Port of Sudan, Saudi Arabia, Emirates, Iran... The question is if as a female solo rider I´ll be given a transit visa for Saudi Arabia. I have heard that solo female travelers under 40 will not be given any visa. No idea if riding will be help! And if so as I´ll be given only a 2 weeks transit visa for Sudan does anybody know the schedule of the ferry from Port of Sudan to Jeddah and the price?

3. Djibouti, Aqba and then...? Any idea if there is a ferry connecting the two ports or if I rather have to ship the bike and take a flight (would not like the idea at all)?

Btw, If anybody is going to be around Ethiopia I´ll be in the north for a few weeks. Just drop me a line and come by for a delicious cup of Ethiopian coffee .

Thanks a lot.
Mahsa

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I think you need a 'friend' at the Yemeni Embassy. More tea, more shmoozing. Find out where they hang out. Seriously. Don't give up on Yemen yet!

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Zero chance you will get a Saudi visa of any kind if you a woman alone. Need to be with your husband (with proof) or brother etc by law.
Maybe you if you are over 45 I think there is a slimmer of a chance?
You can't take a motorbike in either - at least from Sudan to Jeddah. Others who have managed it have locked it firmly for others.

Yemen is one of the more dangerous countries in the world at the moment. You have done some research and know what is going on there right now?

Best of luck...

Last time I was in Saudi Arabia
1) no female could be the driver of any auto/motorcycle.
2) there are no tourist visa, only business (sponsored) and transit.
Like allowing a person to travel from Kuwait to Jordon within 24 hours.

Info from 1990. I have no reason to doubt that it has changed.

In mid 2000s was still like that BajaExplorer. Women weren't allowed to drive. Well, as a matter of fact they weren't even allowed to walk on the street alone. There had to be always a male companion.

So, to the original poster, if you are a woman, then, the Kingdom of Saudi Arabia is off-limits for you. At least the way you intend to visit it.

Dear Mahsa and all,

Sometimes it is amazing how these threads pop up again and again:

1.) No driving / riding for females in Saudi Arabia, even though the Islamic scholars in this last bastion of "male driving only" have indicated there might be changes in the future.

2.) No visa for women travelling alone in Saudi Arabia.

3.) No motorcycles for tourists in Saudi Arabia, except it seems for some short transits on the Eastern coast (Qatar to Dubai etc.).

4.) And please: No travelling in Yemen at this time!!! The murder of two more hostages a few days ago is just another indication that this country is very definitely off limits for overlanders.

5.) Please let us stick to updated information! What sense does it make to report that women couldn't drive in Saudi in 1990?? Yes, true, it is still the same. But situations tend to change on such a short notice with regard to overlanding that in general only the most recent experiences are helpful.

Greetings,
Achim

Hi all,

Ok. Just for your info: there was a female rider, Benka, who I got in touch with through Ken Duval. She rode in Saudi by herself back in 2000. So, lone female rider was given visa and granted riding back then! Did anybody know that? Weird right?! Anyway ,it´s been 14 years ago.

I just met some Italian overlanders who are sending their car from Djibouti (no idea if ferry or cargo boat) to Jeddah.

I´m trying all Saudi embassies to see if there is any luck. In case I need to have a male family member to be given the visa I will try to find one who can do it on a contemporary way! Will let you know.

As for the FERRY (no cargo boat) from Port of Sudan or Djibouti to Jeddah, Achim you said it´s not possible anymore. Why? Is that really so? Sorry to ask but I have heard so many opposite reports so far that I really don´t know what to believe or not! In this case is there any ferry from Djibouti to Jeddah (I mean passenger and car) then?

Cheers from Mekele, Ethiopia is just beautiful

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Dear Mahsa,

To be honest, I don't believe that any woman was able to officially drive around Saudi, and even less so on a bike - she might have done it clandestinely, but even that is doubtful.

The Italians must have sent there car as cargo to Saudi since there is definitely no ferry on that route. It might be a RoRo ship where you actually drive your car on but it still means they will have to battle with customs in Saudi to release the vehicle. How they are going to manage that with only 72 hours on a transit visa is not easy to imagine. I would never take the risk!

There are two ferry companies running the Suakin - Jeddah route (please use the search function to find all relevant information here on the HUBB). I did not state otherwise on this route. If you don't have a motorcycle, if you don't own a RHD vehicle and if you are not a single female traveller, you should still be able to obtain a 72 hour transit visa in Khartoum and do the route - unless that has most recently changed with the deteriorating security situation in Saudi (there have been at least three armed attacks on foreigners in Riyadh alone in the last two weeks or so).

My advice would always be to ship the bike to Salalah on Maersk or to another port in Oman or the United Arab Emirates. Getting the bike out of customs is - compared to Saudi, Egypt or other countries - reasonably easy.

If you go to Egypt, there were reports on the HUBB that there is still one ferry running (though you have to fly yourself) to Turkey until the end of March 2015. The other option would be to continue to Jordan or Israel and take the ferry to Greece from there. But given that your destination is Central Asia and that you are short on time, I would probably recommend the Djibouti - Oman - UAE - Iran and on version.

In any case: Lot's of luck and keep us posted on how you managed to get your bike to Ethiopia in the first place!

Greetings,
Achim

That law is based on their interpretation of the Qur'an and Hadiths.
It's not going to change. Saudi has stated before that women will
not be allowed to drive because they are the religious capital of
that religion.

Last year 2013, seems like every other year,
there is a protest where women do get in the car and drive. They are
pulled over and arrested.

It is not something to take a chance on...
All it takes is one hardliner to start it.

Don't even think about it.

Hi BajaExplorer,

It's purely political and meant to keep male dominance in all spheres of society. And therefore, it can change anytime:

Saudi Arabia considers lifting ban on women drivers
(The Telegraph, drawing mostly on an AP report, 8 November 2014)

But I agree that no female foreigner should even think about daring to drive unless the rules are perfectly clear.

Greetings,
Achim

Today (17 december, Khartoum) we (married couple) received our passports from the Saudi Embassy in Khartoum WITH a 3 day transitvisa for Saudi Arabia. Next monday we'll be on the ferry with our Landcruiser to Jeddah and will continue to Jordan.

Congrats!

Enjoy and make sure to take the road from Jeddah along the outskirts of Medina towards Mada'in Salih (great stay at Al Ula Arac Resort) and then along the scenic road 8776 down to the coast road again to the Aqaba crossing with Jordan. the detour is worth the effort!

Greetings,
Achim

Hello Togians,

Wauw....... Driving trough SA. Our rout also.
We want to do the same in march next year. In january we pick our car in Nairobi and then drive through Ethiopia and Sudan to Djibouti.

Can you give details about the shipping (company and price) and how you got the visa.
We are a dutch couple (57 and 60)

Enjoy your journey and keep safe!!
Kind regards, Ans and Tom

Hi Ans and Tom,

When you go from Ethiopia to Djibouti, make sure you have a double-entry visa for Ethiopia! From Sudan you cannot go to Djibouti. From Djibouti there are no ferries to Saudi, only from Egypt and from Sudan.

From Sudan, there were two companies plying the route from Suakin to Jeddah at the end of 2012:

1.) Baaboud Shipping

Headquarters in Saudi Arabia (they do respond to e-mails):
Ahmed S.Ibn Ishaq
Phonel:+ 966 2 627 0000 Ext.333
Fax:+ 966 2 627 1111
E-Mail: info@baaboud.net

Office in Port Sudan:
Mr. Abu Mohammed (end of 2012)
Mobile: +249 (0)918016554
Phone: +249 311 823185/770640
Fax: +249 311 828376
E-mail: btsaport@hotmail.com
GPS: N 19°36'32.6", E 037°13'08.8" (at the "Corniche")

In November 2012, I paid, coming from Sudan, 890 SDG (approx. 155 USD) for a 4WD and 485 SDG for a "First Class Cabin" (= approx. 85 USD).


2.) Namma Lines:

This Egyptian agency serviced both the Duba - Safaga route and the route Jeddah - Suakin. I don't have exact information but these contact details:

Safaga (Egypt): 065 - 921 21 90 (Fax)
Duba (Saudi Arabia): 04 - 433 0000, 04 - 433 1888 (Fax)
Jeddah: 920 00 32 32 (office next to Trident Hotel in the center of town)
Suakin (Sudan): 09129 - 45924 and 09009 - 111927 (both mobile numbers)

Best,
Achim

Thank you Achim,
I will certainly check out the adresses.

I have a multiple entry Ethiopia and I know that Djibouti is only possible thrue Ethiopia.

Kind regards,
Tom