Hello all,

We're planning a trip thru N.Africa and on to Syria, Jordan, Turkey and back to the UK. Apart from being dependent on the wargames Mr Bush and Mr Hussein, things are going well.

The problem is that I want to visit Tunisia, after doing loads of academic research with satellite imagery of the region. Childishly I also want to ride to Tataouine of StarWars fame... There are a couple of questions I could do with the answers to:

Is it easier to enter Libya through Tunisia or Algeria? What are the official entry points? We already know about the legendary invitation letters and restricted visas...

It probably won't make that much difference to our route, but I want things to be as easy as possible. We both speak reasonable French, and I have *very* basic Arabic, too.

The second question refers to carnets, and Egypt. We will be entering from Libya at As-Sallum on the coast. Is this possible? Are there still restrictions on Carnet availability for Egypt from the RAC/AA?

Since it's the only place we need one, it would be great to do without, but we don't want to be caught out. Thanks very much for your knowledge guys, and hope to see some of the London adventurers on the 11th

PS - we are 2 blokes using a Tenere 3AJ (me) and a Honda Dommie.

__________________
=-=-= ON THE EDGE! =-=-=
My XR650L Pan-Med Expedition Site!

More info on my trip:

OBJECTIVES:

* To investigate themes of cultural continuity and change around the Mediterranean.

* To document environmental continuity and change.

* To raise money for Riders For Health(www.riders.org).

* To raise the profile of Riders For Health through the media.

* To produce an information-rich web page and photo-journal.

* To successfully ride around the Mediterranean Basin, overland.


OK, so here goes:


OUR ROUTE (ongoing and subject to change):

From the UK we will ride south, via France, Spain and Portugal, to Algeciras, where a well-established contact can provide maintenance if necessary, and the appropriate tyres for Saharan use. From there, we will take the ferry to Ceuta (a Spanish enclave) in northern Morocco, and cross the border, driving east through Chechaguene and Oujda to Algeria. Despite recent political troubles, we intend to cross Algeria via Mascara, Djelfa and Biskra. Recent FCO advice suggests that the less populous desert interior is safer than major towns and the coast road. Crossing the border, we will head for Tunis, where we will travel south, via Hammamet, Kairouan, and Tataouine. Entering Libya (probably via Nalut), a route will be taken to the Egyptian border at As Sallûm, where we will follow the coast, travelling through desert towards the port of Alexandria and the Nile Delta. This will be the venue for maintenance, and a possible return home in the event of unassailable problems (or escalating problems in Iraq and the Middle East). Crossing the Red Sea via the small ferry at B’ir Tãbã - Al’Aquaba (running?), we will enter Jordan and bypass the town of Ma’An, passing through to Syria via Al-Malfraq. As-Suwaydã provides a stopover in the Syrian Desert before continuing north through Aleppo to Turkey via the border control at Kilis. A stopover in Istanbul (after following a route through Konya and Ayfun) provides an opportunity to perform more maintenance before returning home via Bulgaria, Croatia, Austria and Switzerland.

For more route information, please do not hesitate to contact Lewis Miller (PanMed2003 AT Hotmail DOT COM).

Does this sound at all realistic, logistically? I've been glued to the Sahara Overland and FCO websites for months!

Thanks guys, will also post this in Route Planning...

[This message has been edited by POB/London (edited 04 January 2003).]

[This message has been edited by POB/London (edited 04 January 2003).]

__________________
=-=-= ON THE EDGE! =-=-=
My XR650L Pan-Med Expedition Site!

Lewis.
I had no problem crossing through from Tunisia to LIbya,
although I had a hell of a time getting through Libya into EGypt.
After keeping me in a room for 2 hours, the egyptians only gave me leave to remain for 1 week (even though I had a 3 month visa), which apllied to my carnet as well.
Busy trying to sort the shit out in Cairo now.
Keep an eye oon my website, when i have time i'll post the proceedings up there.
Geoff