I'm glad it helps someone!

BTW, I was planning to exit to Israel on a land border and from there going to Haifa to take the ferry to Turkey, but seems like this line is no longer working, so only option is to take the ferry in Port Said (I hate that....).

I'll keep the thread updated!

Cheers!

Thank you for the update!

Confusing that you need an carnet, where others are able to obtain the temporary import papers recently.

But anyway - you find a cheap way for handling it anyay!

Gratulations for geeting the "round" in such a quick way!

I hope you will write something like a blog or website, and add some pictures to it

Surfy

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Ok, so here is another update....

First: If you don't have a CPD, try to get it on Khartoum (Sudan), I was told in Aswan that is possible to get one for 1800 Sudanese pounds. (I paid 3500 Egipcian pounds for mine....)

Second: I was told my carnet will arrive on thursday morning but finally it did yesterday (saturday), so after waiting 2 extra days I managed to get all the paperwork done and my new license plates. I drove fast as hell to port said, arrived there this morning... just to discover the ferry that goes to Iskenderum leaves today at 5pm but they need 2 days (2 f*cking days!?) for the paperwork, so I have to wait here for 3 days for next ferry, next Wednsday. And now the best part of all, they ask me 850 US$ and 500 Egipcian pounds for the ferry tickets, customs and comissions... this is just insane! I've crossed 22 countries in Africa for less than 100 $ total, and crossing Egipt is going to cost me 1620 US$

That said. I'm 100% sure I will never again come back to egypt with my own vehicle and I suggest everyone to not try it. Is a total waste of time and money. I had to wait 2 days in wadi Halfa + 1 day ferry + 3 days in Aswan + 3 days in Port said + 1 day ferry = 10 days to cross 1000 kms and 1620 US$ spent. Way too much for me.

Sorry to said that but I hate how things work here.

This was my opinion in 1999: Chapter 5 The Big Trip Looks like we're on the same wave length.

Enjoy the rest of your trip. It can only ever be better than Egypt. I'm envious.

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Ok here's the last update. Seems like the ferry is not going on Wednsday but next saturday (and they are not sure about this...) So I'll be here for at least one more week... I've done South Africa -> Sudan faster than I will be able to do Sudan -> Turkey.

Cheers!

... and this is waaaaaay faster than it would've taken twenty years ago. ;-) I can't believe your times. Heading south from Egypt to Sudan back in 1994 it took 6 WEEKS just to get the Sudanese visa!
This is all fantastic research and we are all grateful!
Shukran, and have some fried eggplant and koushari for me.
Lorraine

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Yeah! I believe part of the problem is that everything else has been too smooth for me. I got all visas same day except Sudanese visa that took 1 day. No problems at all on any border (all passed in less than 30 minutes, without carnet). And then suddently Egypt appears and ruins everything.

Anyway, I'm going to enjoy my time here. I have to work but will try to spend some mornings driving around and enjoying what the country has to offer!!

Cheers!

Oh! BTW, before I forgot... Once in Egypt I was told that it is possible to get a carnet in Khartoum, and that it costs something like 1800 Sudanese Pounds. So almost half the price I've payed for mine in Aswan. It's worth a try!

HI All

I am about to plan a rip to Africa, and just read your posts.
Does anyone know if it is possible to get into egypt without a CDP when you arrive from Turkey?

Thanks!

/Kenneth

I met in person English biker(dentist)on 1200adv back in may 2013 on ferry from Hifa,Israel to Turkey,he was trying to go from Turkey to Egypt with out Carnet,Egypt said NO! and he had to turn around.
I cross to Egypt from Sudan with out Carnet back in December 24-2012.
I had to pay refundable $800usd deposit which I got back to the penny when I cross the border Taba Egypt into Israel.
I would strongly recommend, when you going back to Europe, go to Israel
NOT Egypt(port Said).
I took the same ferry(Sisa Shipping) from Hifa(Israel)to Turkey for only$370usd(I did some haggle with Tiran Agent)for one person one motorbike.

Hi guys!

I´m finally at home after a 42.000 kms trip (41 countries, 2,5 months long).

I just want to say: Avoid going to Egypt, it will cost you too much money and time. They just see you as a walking wallet, they will try to steal all your money and never care about you.

It took me 6 weeks to cross 21 countries in africa, doing about 27.000 kms and spending less than $100 total.
It took me 2 weeks to cross Egypt, doing about 1.100 kms and spending about $2000. It does not make any sense, really.

I´m sorry for the few good egipcians that may live there, but most of them are just thieves, not to mention the police or customs officers and fixers....

I hate Egypt.

P.S.: Seems like the sisa line between Haifa and Iskenderum is not working anymore, and for me ticket costs for that ferry was 450$ for the bike, 200$ for me and 50$ for the cabin in the ferry...

Safe travel everyone!

Hi all

We are travelling much slower than Issac and are now in Sudan. Our first post a few months back was when we successfully crossed into Kenya without a carnet. We travelled via Lake Turkana to Ethiopia entering at the Omorate border (absolutely stunning route and worth carrying extra fuel and water even though we are 2 up and already very heavy - besides you can get enough fuel on the way at small shops. If you want more info on this route PM me).

We got the Ethiopian TIP with no problem and it was free. Leaving Ethiopia at Metema into Sudan was not as straight forward but no real hassle. They asked where our carnet was, we said we didn't have one just the TIP. After a few questions and confused looks, to which we responded with confidence saying its not necessary in Africa, they finally asked for a Comesa (which we had), took a copy of that and the TIP we had been issued and let us go.

Entering Sudan we were able to get a TIP, again after a little confusion, mostly because little English was spoken. Once we found the one English speaker who knew about TIP's, and once he found the forms (which took some time) we were issued a TIP free of charge.

So our next challenge is Egypt...

Issac, we have 2 questions about the two ferry services 1. Egypt to Turkey and 2. Wadi Halfa to Aswan.

You mention in 1 post the cost for the ferry to Iskendrum was $920 (ie $850 + 500 Egyptian pounds (approx $70). This was in the same post you mention the figure of $1620: $920 for the ferry + $500 for the carnet + $200 for fixers etc = $1620.

But then above you say the ferry to Iskendrum was $450 for the bike and $250 for you ie $700. So was the initial quote for the ferry to Turkey $920 but the actual cost you paid was only $700.

And then the Wadi Halfa/Aswan ferry - how much was this and how much were the fixer fees in Sudan? Do you pay arrival/fixer fees in Egypt for this ferry or only when you are leaving Egypt for Turkey?

Appreciate your help.
Glenn

Hi Glenn,

Let me answer your questions:

The costs for ferries:
Port Said to Iskenderum:
450$ for the bike
200$ for me
50$ for the cabin (I´ve heard of people asking 150 for the cabin... just get it on the ferry, there is a nice reception there).
200$ for the fixer and customs clearance
500 EGP for... I don't know...
100 extra EGP because the ferry did not leave on wed but sunday, so that was the parking tax (ridiculous....)
Total: 900$ and 600 EGP.

Wadi Halfa to Aswan:
on sudanese side:
ferry ticket: 250 SdP
moto ticket: 206 SdP
Tax, customs, office and fixer fee... 280SdP
Capitain Tips: 40Sdp
Passport Registration (I forgot to do so in Khartoum): 240 SdP
Total: 1016 SdP

on egypcian side:
3500 EgP for Carnet
200$ for fixer, customs, etc..

Total cost for everything together:

1100$ + 3500 EgP + 1016SdP = Aprox 1840$, and that is without adding the hotel + food costs for the 2 weeks I had to wait total on sudan and egypt....

You need a fixer to exit sudan and a fixer to enter/exit egypt. For sudanese part i would recommend Magdi Boshara (nubatia51@yahoo.com / Tel:0121730885), for the egypcian part i would not recommend Mohamed Abouda. I have the contact data for another fixer, but i don't know how good or bad is he: Eslam Elshamaa (eslam_elshamaa@windowslive.com/ Tel:00201289220002).

If you are in Port Said I recommend hotel de la poste, good rooms at good price (75 EgP per night). On Wadi Halfa, I don't remember the exact name of the hotel but sounds like "CanGam hotel" (not exactly that), they have some rooms with A/C that are just ok, but I was told that was the best hotel in the city, it is also cheap.

Hope that helps, if you have more questions, just ask!

Good Luck with those borders and beware Egypt is now in a very unstable situation....

Thanks for the super quick response Issac - just like your riding style! We are aware of the current situation in Egypt, hence why we want a full understanding of costs so we can consider our options. It could even be cheaper/same cost to fly? I wonder if there are services from Port Sudan to Turkey? Does anyone know? We are aware of a RORO from Djibouti to Naples then Marseilles, but this would mean backtracking to Ethiopia to Djibouti. Any advice/suggestions are welcome (I will create a seperate post about this so as to not hijack the TIP/Carnet post completely).

I'm glad to help!

I was told there is a ferry service between Port Sudan and Europe (Possibly Italy or France), but I have not researched that. If you do not have CpD and you want to enter Egypt, try to get it on Khartoum (I was told it cost approx 1800 SdP, too late for me of course!).

Good Luck!