Fri, 23 Jan 1998 09:35:52 +0100
- Message No. 2023
From: Thomas Born
Subject: Near East - Border Procedures
Hi ATICs !
At 17:28 23.01.98 +0100, Roberto Cravero wrote:
>>Don't forget Israel. You can't go from Egypt to Jordan without crossing
>Israel, even if you go through Sinai, Eilat and Aqaba in Jordan (Red sea).
>>From Israel to Jordan I believe you could cross the border only i
>Eilat/Aqaba or in the North, near Tiberiade Lake.
Yes, I entered Jordan coming from Israel in the NORTH (near Bet Shean) .
Some people told me before that it would be impossible to pass the border
there, but Jordan has changed some laws, thus it is possible to enter
Jordan with a motorbike. Note: in Jordan only the King, the Police and
Companies are allowed to have motorbikes.
Nevertheless I tried to enter Jordan (coming from Israel) and had success.
Be aware to declare any electronic equipment (mobile telephones, ...). BTW:
they didn't care for my GPS receiver ;-). Also the border-control likes to
see your 'Carnet des Passages aux Douane'.
To go from Jordan to Egypt I would recommend to go from Aquaba (Jordan) to
Elat (Israel) and then to Taba (Egypt). You can't use this way if you plan
to visit Syria as well. Even though there is a ferry from Aquaba (Jordan)
to Nuweiba (Egypt) it is more convenient to use the way over land. The
approx. 20 km over land can be done within 4 hours (including custom
controls).
Be prepared to pay about US$ 100 to enter Egypt ! You get 2 Egyptian plates
- 2(!) even you need only 1 for a bike. It may be difficult to leave Egypt
at another border-exit than that one you came in. Don't forget to tell this
to the customs and the guys which give you the 'driving-permit'. You must
have a 'Carnet des Passages aux Douane' !
[Sinai]
It's not worth to go to Sharm el Sheik. Just visit Nuweiba or Dahab, then
go to Catherine's Monastery and continue to Cairo. Do NOT go into the area
south of Cairo !
[Jordan]
Places you must go there: Jerash, Mount Moses, Maddaba, Petra and Wadi Ram.
[Israel-Jordan]
>The Allenby bridge border (Direction Jerusalem-Amman) was only for
>pedestrian last year.
Yes ! Thats still the case.
[Visa]
You should have VISA for Jordan and Egypt in advance. Otherwise you will
loose a lot of time. To drive around everywhere in Egypt you have to have a
full Visa. Note: there is a small VISA which is only valid for the Sinai.
[Travel direction: Egypt-Jordan-Syria]
If you have any Israel-Stamps in your passport -> you will have NO chance
to enter Syria !!! Thus you have to use the ferry from Nuweiba -> Aquaba.
RGDS, Thomas *visited Israel, Jordan and
Egypt in September 1997*

dipper@normans.isd.uni-stuttgart.de