BootsnAll Travel Community

Hi,
I'm doing a tour around May 08 and I am hoping to do the above trip. I just wondered would having Syrian and Lebanese visas affect my entry at the Israeli border? And what is the best way into Egypt from Israel.
I will have a flight into Damascus and out of Cairo so was hoping to do the trip overland.
Any advice would be gratefully received

Thanks

This will do fine, so long as you have a multiple entry visa for Syria since you can't go direct from Lebanon to Jordan. The Israelis don't have any rules about not allowing people in for visiting certain countries, but their border guards are a suspicious lot, so expect some more in depth questioning. (A friend of mine who lives in Amman, and has travelled to Syria, found Israeli customs to be such a hassle when she flew through Tel Aviv that she's now quite happy to spend extra to go a different route.)

There's only one place to cross the Egypt-Israel border, so that would be the way to go. Once across, you should be able to catch a bus to Cairo...a guidebook should be able to fill you in on where and when.

To go overland from Israel to Egypt, I believe you would use the Taba border crossing (Eilat, Israel to Taba, Sinai, Egypt). More info here:
http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Taba_Border_Crossing

You can find resonable flights from Sharm el-Sheikh in Sinai to Cairo if time is an issue.

idioteque - are you still planning a trip to the M.E. this May, and how are you plans progressing? If you have dates, please do let us know - there are some celebrations to go on in May in Israel (actually, throughout this year as it's our 60th Yom Ha'atzma'ut - Independence Day), which will involve lots of high level visitors from abroad (like Bush, maybe, among others) which will change traffic patterns and accommodation availability during the beginning of May in Jerusalem, but later on in the month, everything should be fine.

You shouldn't have any trouble at the border between Jordan & Israel, BUT I suggest you cross at either the northern crossing, near Beit She'an in Israel OR at the Arava Crossing, near Aqaba/Eilat to avoid the more problematic Allenby Bridge/Sheikh Hussein Crossing near Amman/Jericho/Jerusalem. The main thing, since you will have been in Syria, is to just answer the questions asked; do not offer any more information; be calm and patient. It should be fine.

One other warning: do NOT let anyone in Syria know that you are headed to Israel - make sure you do not have any such paper trail in your personal items... no guide books about Israel, no notes or names of people with contact info that mentions Israel - nada, nothing, nil. I've been told many times that the Syrian government might not even let you in if they know you are planning to visit Israel. That might have changed recently, but I would be careful, that's all.

Going to Egypt from Israel is NOT difficult, BUT the only way right now overland is through the Eilat/Taba border crossing and then a regular bus from there to Cairo. There is a service offered by Mazada Tours which has bus service from Jerusalem to Cairo, via Taba, regularly. Click Here: Mazada Tours for more on what they offer.

You can also fly from Ben Gurion Airport to Cairo via El Al and, maybe, Air Sinai.

It might be good to consider this as a possible itinerary: Tour Jordan, except Petra and the south; cross into Israel at the northern border area; explore the Galilee and then head to Jerusalem - you can do day trips from Jerusalem to Tel Aviv and the coastal areas; leave from Jerusalem to visit Masada & the Dead Sea area and then continue on down through the Negev (much to see and do there, really! - how about a camel trek for a couple of days?) to Eilat. You can do a day trip to Petra easily from Eilat. Cross to Egypt at the Taba border and continue to Cairo... or stop at St. Catherine's at Mt. Sinai, and even head down to Sharm al-Sheikh for some diving and Red Sea fun before heading over to Cairo.

Let us know any other questions and concerns... so we can help you plan your visit. Whatever you decide, have a wonderful time!

suzanne

Looks like an awesome itinerary! As already mentioned above keep Israel out of the, luggage, documents, conversation.... before and while in Syria and Lebanon or they will not allow you in. Very little love between those folks... the Syrians were not intersted in any conversation about Israel, no matter how causual and innocent it was, not even travel stories about ....
My only other advice would be to make sure you have enough time for this trip. All of these countries have plenty to offer on their own. At a ridiculous minimum you will need 4 weeks but that would be rushed. 8 weeks would likely be perfect.