UK - Lebanon - quickest/best route?

Greasy Biker

Greasy Biker

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Hi,

I'm un-decided about the best route - on the one hand travelling down through Italy, and catching the ferry to Greece and then Turkey appeals as in theory it could save me some time - however, the ferry croosings appear to be only a couple of times a week (Italy/Greece/Italy) - so missing a ferry could cost valuable time.... (it looks like there might be an Italy to Turkey ferry, still researching this one).

Ther goal is Lebanon this year, as long as the political situation doesn't kick off too much - what do you reckon is a sensible transit time to aim for, travelling from the UK to Lebanon/Beirut, via Eastern Europe?

I'm happy doing 500-mile days, but road conditions and Border crossings might not always make this possible - My current guesstimate is around 6 - 7days each way, is this a realistic goal?

Views much appreciated, Cheers,


GB
 
You can either bomb along motorways across Europe - Germany. Czech Republic, Slovakia, Hungary, Roumania and Bulgaria then into Turkey and Syria or ride to Venice/Bari/Brindisi and take the ferry to Igoumenitsa, cross Greece and into Turkey...

Things not looking too great in Syria at the moment.

Good luck:thumb

Greasy Biker said:
Hi,

I'm un-decided about the best route - on the one hand travelling down through Italy, and catching the ferry to Greece and then Turkey appeals as in theory it could save me some time - however, the ferry croosings appear to be only a couple of times a week (Italy/Greece/Italy) - so missing a ferry could cost valuable time.... (it looks like there might be an Italy to Turkey ferry, still researching this one).

Ther goal is Lebanon this year, as long as the political situation doesn't kick off too much - what do you reckon is a sensible transit time to aim for, travelling from the UK to Lebanon/Beirut, via Eastern Europe?

I'm happy doing 500-mile days, but road conditions and Border crossings might not always make this possible - My current guesstimate is around 6 - 7days each way, is this a realistic goal?

Views much appreciated, Cheers,


GB
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Lebanon

One way is described in my ride report below; unfortunately there was fighting in Beirut so from Damascus, Syria I headed on to Jordan rather than Lebanon.

Simon
 
Hi GB
I'm in Damascus right now and travelled from Ireland to Italy through U.K France Lux, Germany Austria Italy , Ferry from Ancona to Patras (daily) and then short ride to Athens. Ferry from Pireas to Chios c. 6 hours, then short ferry to Cesme. Ride from from Cesme to south of Turkey via Fethiye Antalya to Mersin and Antayka.Border crossing at Reyhanli to Syria whick took me about 4 hours. Be wary of speed limits in Turkey. 80kms is the limit +10% so 88kms is o.k 89kms is not and a fine of 90€.Motorways (Toll roads limit is 100kms + 10% IMHO 500miles a day is undoable unless you have an iron butt.and from Alanya to Mersin my average speed was 70 kms per hours. Fantastic road for a bike breathtaking scenery but you will not do it fast. The road from Aleppo to Damascus is mostly good but be wary of the wind which was unrelenting and sometimes scary. Look at the trees at the side of the road and you'll know what I mean. Some potholes will eat bike and rider so keep good distance between traffic for visiblity. No sign of trouble on my travels and spoken to lots with the same story. Walk away from large gatherings and use common sense. One great plus is that there are few tourists here now and you can haggle like hell for accomodation. Saw one other biker only and they were heading for turkey. There is a ferry now back in service from Latakia in northern Syria which leaves every sat. evening and goes to Venice via Alexandria in Egypt. It Arrives in Venice on Wed. morning and costs nearly €400 for a shared cabin. This probably departs Wed evening from Venice. I'm considering taking that but latakia was a hot spot. Hope this is of some use Defay
 
Hi Defay,

That's some very usefull info., thanks very much for passing on your knowledge & experience thus far.

I'm watching the FCO web-site and scanning various other sources for info. on the situation in Syria - as you say, I'm getting the impression that as long as one exercises a bit of common sense then problems should be largely avoidable.

I'm working toward leaving in either August or October - probably October as it'll be a little cooler then, but if 'all-the-holes-in-the-cheese' line up earlier than that then it may yet be August. The Venice - Latakia ferry sounds like a good option, will have to watch how the situation in Latakia develops.

Many thanks for your help, and good luck with the rest of your trip.

Cheers,


GB :thumb2
 
Italy - Syria - Italy Ferry

Defay,

I've done a little research, and found some usefull information here:

http://www.visemarline.com/en/homepage.php

The ferry is run by Visemar Line:

Venice to Tartous: Wednesday 16:00 - arrive Tartous Saturday 12:00
Tartous to Venice: Saturday 18:00 - arrive Venice Wednesday 08:00

This route runs via Alexandria.

Not sure what the availabillity is like, last night I tried to dummy book a place for a 'bike with one passenger for today's sailing - nothing available, although turning up on the day might get something?

Hope this helps, Tartous is a way down the coast South of Latakia, so may not have the same civil disturbance problem.

Cheers,


GB
 
Last edited:
Thanks for that GB. Marooned in Jordan right now with border closed to Syria. Accurate info very hard to get. Reports of cameras and mobile phones being taken off some travellers if they do get through. Syria at the moment is best avoided and the only other way out is through Egypt and I haven't got a carnet de Passage. Got a quote of €700 for transit through Egypt to Alexandria. Too dear. Does anyone know of any ferries from Israel to Greece or anywhere else. Problem is its easy to enter Israel but impossible to exit to Syria again.So the info needs to be accurate please. If thats not possible I'll just have to sit and wait it out.Reports of lots of people being advised by their embassies to leave Syria at the minute. Anyone know of anyne got from Jordan to Syria in the last 48 hours. Any info appreciated thanks!!!!!
 
Defay,

I'll be back home in the UK from this coming Friday - t'internet access where I am now is diabolical, so once I'm home I'll get some research done for possible routes home - any luck with the link to James Shipping that simondippenhall provided?

GB



defay said:
Thanks for that GB. Marooned in Jordan right now with border closed to Syria. Accurate info very hard to get. Reports of cameras and mobile phones being taken off some travellers if they do get through. Syria at the moment is best avoided and the only other way out is through Egypt and I haven't got a carnet de Passage. Got a quote of €700 for transit through Egypt to Alexandria. Too dear. Does anyone know of any ferries from Israel to Greece or anywhere else. Problem is its easy to enter Israel but impossible to exit to Syria again.So the info needs to be accurate please. If thats not possible I'll just have to sit and wait it out.Reports of lots of people being advised by their embassies to leave Syria at the minute. Anyone know of anyne got from Jordan to Syria in the last 48 hours. Any info appreciated thanks!!!!!
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