Anyone been through Syria recently and can up-date us re. the political/safety situation? We're planning on being down that way towards the middle of October and plan to rush through en route to Jordan and Egypt. I understand the benefits of keeping away from big towns and especially on Fridays after prayers. Any inputs would be great.
Thanks, Dave

hi dave

I will be motorcycling into syria around late September until mid october so I can post back then to let you know!

Good luck

Andy

We are currently in Nairobi, Kenya and staying with the Chris at Jungle Junction who has a great place and a good workshop, and although a BMW guy he is good to us KTM bikers.

NOW we are looking at current situation and how to get from Egypt to Turkey. Of course, we want to ride Egypt, Sinai, Jordan, SYRIA and to Turkey and would appreciate any tips /advise on safety, visas, places to stay and safe and interesting routes. We will be there by Oct/November 2011 and will have to make a plan. Perhaps Libya will be possible by then, perhaps there will be some ferries... but 1st choice is overland through Syria.

By way of input, so far we have had fuel shortages in Malawi, fuel stations closed in Tanzania + poor fuel. Roads have been OK, although we have Nairobi to Moyale route to do that could be a challenge. Lake Turkana looks flooded just now


Bikes have been OK, although we are riding KTM 990 Adventures and the local KTM place made a hash of our service, had no good tyres and the tyres we shipped from SA were the wrong ones thanks to a less than honest salesperson at KR Motorcycles in Polokwane, RSA who shipped road tyres instead of the Continental TKC 80s we ordered. Only after 5 hours at customs at Nairobi did I realize and it was too late.

We have seen many bikes in poor shape coming from the north because of poor fuel, blocked filters and injectors and general damage from being bashed about on terrible roads.

Our hint would be go steady, go in a convoy, only get fuel from pump stations and check it with finger for kerosene and water, add octane booster, put in some injector cleaner now and again, carry spare filters and know how to replace them, and filter all fuel before it goes in the tank.... everyone who has used a filter has seen the debris and dirt from the pumps in Malawi, Tanzania, Kenya and Ethiopia and this is causing a lot of problems

Fanny Fang (and Rupert)
www.bigbiketrip.net

Hi,

I live and work in Jordan and keep a very close eye on what is happening in the region.

I would not currently recommend any through travel via Syria, the situation is deteriorating.

The risk of being stopped at a checkpoint is very high and if from the west could mean a very quick disappearing trick, never to be seen again.

I will happily update as the situation develops.

At the very best DO NOT attempt to cross via Ramtha/Dara'a into or out of Jordan, only consider the Jabber border (open 24/7).

I am not aware of the situation from Turkey into Syria but am aware the situation is as bad as it is in Southern Syria. The border into Lebanon is an unknown.

regards.

Juno

Hey everybody,

The three of us tried to enter Syria yesterday (25-sept-2011) and everything worked out fine till the saw the GPS units. Then they said it's not allowed to take a GPS-navigation with you into Syria. We could leave them behind and go without, but we decided to go back to Turkey. We sent the devices to Jordan and we will try it tomorrow (27-sept-2011) again.

Be aware that they don't mention anything till you have paid al the fees !!!!!

ASAP I will post another update.

Cheers Richard

Richard, thanks for the heads up regarding the satnav stuff.
Whilst I recognise the minor difficulty of sending the units on to Jordan, did you experience any other problems both entering and travelling in Syria? We're about to leave on the South Africa trip, and we've been assured by the Syrian embassy in London that the country is safe to travel through. Did you have any problems until now, or has everything gone to plan. Be good to hear from you.
Dave (JackoUK)

The advice I have from a friend in a UN-agency, which has evacuated from Damascus to Amman, is very negative.
The highway between Amman and Damascus is safe in daylight hours, all other roads are considered too risky. The UN now fly their people. The towns are also insecure for foriegners unless staying in the five star catagory.
I was told in '08 that "the only place you open your mouth in Syria is at the dentist", and that was before Bashir got nervous.
Even if you get a police/military escort and are rushed through from border to border, which is no fun, I would consider alternative routes. My understanding of the situation is that the country is a pressure cooker, and although they are naturally a friendly lot (shouting Merhaba - Welcome, and then cut you off in traffic) when the situation gets chaotic your average overland traveller could get some very rough treatment, robbery or taken hostage by some group with a grievience
Not a good message,
Peter, in Oslo

The good thing about Syria is that it's small. You can cross it in a short day so there is no need to spend a night there. It's only 480 kms so dependent on your bike you can do it without filling petrol.