Syria, Iran, Jordan...update anyone?
 

Hello

I'm planning on travelling around Turkey, Syria, Jordan and Iran in April this year.

Is there anyone who is there currently or can give an update on the situation in these countries in relation to the demonstrations that are reported to be happening? Is there any major safety concerns at this stage - other than the normal...stay away from large groups of people / demonstrations advice.

Has anyone been knocked back from entering the countries?

Thanks
Adastra

Syria and iran sides normal.borders are regular.next week end four riders of our club will leave turkey gürbulak gates to iran on the way to india.
In mid march pascal will be here on the way to sıbırıa from marocco.
Lets keep in touch. we will write here all the latest news from our club riders
about the surrounding countries.

who knows whos turn is next after Libya.Or will be there another following country.

I have some photos of syria gates and customs officers taken 2 days ago.
just small protesting groups but with neck ties for now.

Thanks - I appreciate that you can provide updates.
That is a long way to cycle!!! :thumbup1:
Cheers
Adastra

Into Syria
 

Hi, I cant be much help now but my plan is to cross from Turkey to Syria on the 7th April. As soon as I can after arriving in Aleppo I will post an update of the general atmosphere. Of course if there is any form of uprising and not wishing to participate in my first peoples revolution I might decide to make it a big Turkish tour!
Julian

I will be following a couple of weeks later so any info would be appreciated.

Hi julianww and Discoverer,

Do drop in if you are passing by


Kas-Antalya, Turkey - Horizons Unlimited

Cheers,

Dicky

Drop in invite
 

Hello Dicky,
Thanks for your kind invitation. Your place looks great and could well be the trigger for a new route home. Would you be able to provide accommodation for myself, adult son Alex and a dusty GS1200 around the 13th April?
Regards
Julianbier

Hi Julian,

Not a problem. We are around full time. Just bang off an e-mail to let us know when you are likely to be around so that I can make sure the dogs have been fed!!

Safe travels,

David

Que Sera Sera
 

This is one of the joys of travel, you can plan as much as you want but God still laughs.

Just turn up and play it by ear!

I guess there will be plenty of information for this year's road trips to Syria :thumbup1:

I'm planning to set off from Thessaloniki, Greece on about 15th of April for Syria, Jordan and maybe Lebanon.

There'll be two heads looking from a Bandit 1250s and I'm not so sure about the roads condition. There's no luck changing motorcycle so we'll go with what we have. I know that Turkey will be easy, especially until Ankara, medium easy until Nevsehir, I've been travelling round Turkey last year, but beyond Nevsehir and especially into Syria and Jordan I have no idea what the road condition is like.

Anyone with infos?

Also, is any paperwork needed rather than a green card and an international driving licence?

Hi
I'll be doing almost the same route so might catch-up somewhere along the way. As far as I have research you don't need a carnet for Turkey / Syria or Jordan, just purchase bike insurance at the borders.
Cheers
adastra

For Turkey that's for sure. For Syria and Jordan is more likely sure but not definately. It would be easier with paperwork at the border to have a carnet, but if you consider the 3000€ that the greek motoring organisation wants in advance, and which you get back when you return, plus the 105€ for issuing the carnet, I prefer some bureaucracy instead.

I'm waiting for a call from the Jordan consulate to solve this out, once and for all, and waiting for 13.00 hours local time to contact the Syrian embassy for further infos.

I'll post again with news and of course if I'll end up traveling south, I'll be glad to have a cup of tea with you

So, the Syrian embassy knew...nothing. They said that the green card and an international driving licence is more than enough but they didn't know if a carnet is needed.

The Jordan embassy was really helpful and polite. They said that a carnet isn't needed in order to entry Jordan from Syria. I spoke with a guy that drives very often from Athens to Amman and told me a very practical way to avoid the carnet.

Entering the Turkish ground, you ask the officer to write at the last page of your passport the plates and frame number of your bike. When you are exiting Turkey to Syria, you ask to "delete" the former writings and get new ones from the Syrian side. From Syria to Jordan that's not necessary. Also, on the way back you take the exact steps. He can't guarentee anything but he said that with a few dollars anything can be solved :cursing:

So, the question is one, do you take the risk getting down there without the carnet? And if you are able to pass, will you still have the same luck on the way back?

Information for Australians to enter Turkey...
 

As far as ı know you are Australian and you will enter Turkey via greece and exit once to Syria,then enter Turkey again, then exit again to İran.
So..
For australian citizens multiple visa for 90 days available at the gates as your country is among those in the A list.

Sınır Kapılarımızda 90 Gün İkamet Süreli Müteaddit Girişli Bandrol Vizesi Verilebilecek Olanlar:

A.B.D (diplomatik pasaportlara da bandrol vizesi verilebilmektedir), Avusturya, Avustralya, Belçika, Brezilya, Hollanda, Hong Kong (İngiliz Pasaportları), İngiltere, İrlanda, İspanya, İtalya, Kanada, Portekiz,

As you will enter from an EU country but exit the EU.borders and customs while going to Syria and İran, you MUST have the carnet.
You can buy your insurance at the gates for minimum 1 month.The cost will be about 10 euros.

To give you some adrenalin here are the photos of the gates you will enter and exit.
When your papers are ok.but you meet a problem, ask to talk the authority of the department. You can also fill a complaint form and put it in the locked box
named ŞİKAYET KUTUSU WHICH ARE CAREFULLY READ BY THE CUSTOMS MNGRS. CAREFULLY.Before starting a talk, a salute of Selamünaleyküm will make your formalities easier.
Wish you a wonderful stay in Turkey.