Safety in Syria&Jordan
 

Hi;

I am planning to ride up to Aqaba (jordan) and have to pass through Syria as well....Does anyone have any info about the safety situation in these countries under the present conditions ?



Cheers,

right now, yes, tomorrow, who knows?
 

Hi,

I'm following this on the LP thorntree. Syria is ok as long as there're no bombs falling, and if you're with your own transport, if the worst would come true, I guess you could drive way south to avoid the ugly stuff.

I'm planning to go to Syria end of september till halfway october, and the plan still stands (why don't they drop the ticket prices right now?). I just read the Syrian army is preparing itself to defend the country if needed (If they're only starting now I don't think they feel it's too hot).

Foreign ministry is advising against non-essencial travel in Syria, which can be important for insurance claims.

Jordan doesn't seem to be in the focus right now.
;-)

Rob

In Syria, just prepare for a lot of dinner invitaions and try to hang with the Bedouin in Jordan.

extremely fine
 

I'm back from Syria and Libanon since a few weeks now. No safety issues whatever. The 'adventurous travel destination'-label needed reviewing when we ran into a bus of retired italian tourists visiting the same site.

Traffic still is a challenge though, even as a passive participant. One way or another cars seem to turn into fluid in order to re-appear unscratched at the other side.

Just back from Jordan as a family of 4 (incl. two young kids) - flew in/out but then drove the country, and no security concerns at all. There are several checkpoints on the Kings Highway near the Dead Sea, but all very polite and friendly. Highly recommend taking a couple of days at Petra - and if you can, after doing the Siq once, the second time use the back way in (through the Wadi Muthlim) - it's really pretty and a nice hike/scramble (but DONT do it if there's a chance of rain anywhere in the region - it's NOT a place you'd survive if there were a flash flood!). (By the way, although the guidebooks will tell you that you have to be fit and agile for the Wadi Muthlim, and although that's true, the fitness level required isn't massive - our hiking-loving 4 and 7 year olds handled it just fine.)

Can't comment on Syria, though.

I rode around Syria and Jordan earlier this year. Super-safe from a personal property perspective. Except for Turkey, the Middle East (Jordan, Syria, Iran, Pakistan) are safer than Europe or the US. Drivers are another matter ... Take it slow and you'll be ok. In Jordan, take the Kings' highway to Aqaba. Higher, less traffic and much cooler than either of the two other options.