Travel Information

Middle East: Travel Information

Overland Truck Trips

In the Middle East you will camp in either designated campsites, or bush-camps using two person tents. You usually cook over open fires or gas stoves in a rota system. Driving days normally start around 8am and finish around 5pm with stops for lunch and buying food, seeing local sights etc. We won't be traveling every day, although there are times when we will travel for two days in a row. We will then be stopped for three to four days relaxing somewhere.

The Middle East overland vehicles can carry 24 people although the average group size is around 18.

The majority of these vehicles are Scania 93 series 4x2 trucks of between 220 and 280 horsepower. They are purpose built trucks made to deal with the terrain and climates we encounter along the way on trips in the Middle East. These vehicles are built with practicality and comfort in mind.

All trucks are equipped with:
Inward and forward facing coach seats with head rests, providing more storage space for your souvenirs and luggage as well as more leg room for our overland travel groups to stretch out on the longer journeys. It means we can't pack as many people in as with 'bus' type forward-facing layouts with narrow aisles, but the extra space is always appreciated!
The Beach - a unique feature which enables several people at a time to be up and out in the open with panoramic views on our Africa and Middle East tours.
Under-seat storage for your backpack so you have easy access even when driving
A mixture of side and rear roll-up and fixed windows, providing extensive viewing
All trucks are equipped with sand mats and, where necessary tyre chains
12V charging points for Video and Mobile phone batteries
On board stereo with MP3, MD or CD walkman adaptor
A comprehensive range of spare parts and tools
Large dried and fresh food storage capacities
Onboard truck safe for valuables and money
Overhead lockers for cameras and daybags
Large water carrying capacity
Internal truck buzzer system
Internal and external lighting
Long range fuel tanks

Accessory equipment carried:
Spacious 'Dome' or 'A frame' style two-person tents with in-built ground sheets and mosquito netting
Cooler boxes (for storage of fresh food and drinks)
All weather awnings for wet weather and shade
Professionally compiled expedition medical kit
All cooking and cutlery equipment
Well stocked on-board library
Gas cooker and fire grate
Camp stools

Starting and Finishing your Trip

The Middle East Overland trips start or end in either Istanbul, Damascus, Amman or Cairo - both of which are safe and interesting cities to visit. We recommend arriving a couple of days before the start of your Middle East adventure tour, or staying a couple of days after your trip is finished in order to explore these exciting cities at a relaxed pace. We can advise you on places to stay and can also book accommodation for you.

On all local transport tours that depart from Cairo, we organise free airport transfers and reservations at the hotel from where you will depart. Your Tour Leader will reserve accommodation for you at the end of the tour, if required. Accommodation that is reserved for you is a free service to clients. You pay the hotels direct on arrival.

Passports and Visas

Most nationalities require visas for most of the countries visited on our Middle East overland tours. However for most Nationalities we can currently obtain these en-route so you are not required to obtain any visas before you travel. Please ensure that you bring US Dollars to pay for your visas. You will need at least one blank page in your passport for each country you enter, which must be valid for at least 9 months. Passports or vaccination cards with an Israeli stamp, or any indication of travel to Israel, must be replaced if you are on an Overland trip. If you have dual nationality you can only use one passport.

Country British Aust NZ S.African USA Canadian

Turkey US$20 US$20 Free US$15 US$20 US$60

Syria US$25 US$25 US$25 US$25 ** US$25

Jordan US$30 US$30 US$30 US$30 US$30 US$30

Egypt £10/US$15 £10/US$15 £10/US$15 £10/US$15* £10/US$15 £10/US$15

Lebanon Please read below

Libya US$110 US$110 US$110 US$110 US$110 US$110

Tunisia Free US$30 US$30* US$30* Free Free

* = Must obtain visa before traveling.
** = Americans' must obtain a Syrian visa in your country of residence prior to entry into Syria with a group or for the start of a trip.

Lebanon - The visa for Lebanon is included in the price of the optional excursion (US$125 to US$175 dependant on numbers). You will need to bring a photocopy of the personal details page of your passport and your tour leader will apply for the visa en-route.

Jordan - All nationalities need a visa. We pre-book these and collect them on the border as a group visa so you do not require a visa before you join the trip. All travelers will be required to pay an 8JD departure tax leaving Jordan. (approx: £7)

Egypt - Most nationalities can obtain this visa on entry into Egypt. South African passport holders MUST obtain this visa BEFORE they travel. On northbound trips from Tunis/Cairo to Damascus/Istanbul there is a departure tax of EP 50 (approx. £6) at the ferry terminal when leaving Egypt.

Libya - All nationalities require a visa, and these need to be arranged in advance through the oasis office. At the current time, unfortunately citizens of South Africa* & China are not eligible for a Libyan visa. *South Africa Nationals - please contact the Office for more details

For Libya all nationalities need to obtain an Arabic Translation of your personal details from the front page of your passport. This translation needs to be written into your passport, not a separate piece of paper. This must be done through an official translator with an authority to translate & stamp your passport & we will require a scanned copy of this page and the translation sent to the office at least 5 weeks before your trip departs.

We have previously used the official translator below for this in the UK. You must check with them the current required processing time. We suggest at least two weeks. The cost is around £30 for British Passport holders and £45 for all others. You will also need to send you passport to them by special delivery, and enclose a special delivery envelope for return. The address of our recommended authorised translator is:Mustafa Qawatin, Phone: 07957391043 or Emad Qweitin, Phone: 07956238129, TripVisa Ltd, Suite 45, 22 Notting Hill Gate, London, W11 3JE www.tripvisa.co.uk

Passengers travelling from Australia have previously used the following source. Again you should check the current required processing time, and will need to specify that you only require an Arabic translation of your passport.
You need to send your passport to the Libyan Peoples Bureau, to the attention of Khawla Alkhazraji, who will translate the passport before forwarding the application to the Visa Section for processing. The fee for the translation will vary according to the nationality of the passport & the number of passports which require the translation. Please contact Khawla on 0402 207 983 before you send your passport for translation in order to determine the fee payable. The fee must be payable to "Khawla Alkhazraji" in the form of money order, bank cheque, travel agent cheque or cash.

Passengers travelling from New Zealand can contact the Translation Service of New Zealand Department of Internal Affairs. The translation cost is approx $80 and can take up to five working days.

Once we have received your scanned copies, we will then forward all of the information to Libya for a visa application number to be issued so that you can obtain the visa on arrival at the border.

Tunisia - Most nationalities do not require a visa, Australians can obtain this visa on entry into Tunisia. New Zealanders and South African passport holders MUST obtain this visa BEFORE they travel.

Personal Spending Money & Local Payment

At the beginning of all Middle East overland tours, the crew will collect the Local Payment in Cash, Sterling or US Dollars. For personal spending we suggest an average of £80 to £120 per week. Personal spending habits vary hugely depending on individuals. We cannot specify every cost, however you need to allow for visas, drinks, occasional meals out, curios and local crafts, telephone calls and emails etc. Budget on optional side trips separately. Credit cards are virtually useless outside main cities so you need to bring at least a third of your spending money in Cash US Dollars and the rest in Dollar Travelers Cheques. Please note that most historical sites give 50% reductions with a valid International Student Card or Youth Card.

Climate

The Middle East overland tours cover fairly large distances and so we find that the topography affects the climate as much as seasons. As a general guide, Turkey is best visited from around April to October. From November to March most of Turkey experiences cold winters. Cappadocia has cold nights year round so you will need warm clothes and sleeping bag. Syria and Jordan have hot days year round but nights are cold in the desert and more so from November to March. Egypt is hot all year round and has very high temperatures in the south at Aswan and Luxor in the summer months of June to August. Of the countries we visit, only Turkey has a high rainfall.

Average Night and Day Temperature (°C) Average Monthly Rainfall (mm)
	Jan	Feb	Mar	Apr	May	Jun	Jul	Aug	Sep	Oct	Nov	Dec
TURKEY Istanbul	03-08 109	04-09 92	04-11 72	07-16 46	12-20 38	16-25 34	18-32 34	19-27 30	16-25 58	12-19 81	09-15 103	05-11 109
SYRIA Damascus	01-13 89	04-14 64	06-18 38	09-24 28	13-29 8	16-33 3	17-36 0	18-37 0	16-33 0	12-27 25	08-19 56	04-13 84
JORDAN Amman	01-11 69	07-11 74	08-15 31	09-21 15	12-28 5	18-32 0	18-33 0	18-34 0	16-30 0	12-26 5	10-21 33	06-15 46
EGYPT Cairo	08-18 5	09-21 5	11-24 5	14-28 3	17-33 3	20-35 0	21-36 0	22-35 0	20-32 0	18-30 0	14-26 3	10-20 5

Vaccinations

There are no compulsory jabs needed although it is advisable to be immunised against Tetanus, Polio, Typhoid and Hepatitis A. Consult your doctor or a medical clinic for up to date malarial and medical advice.

Local Customs

Remember that all the countries we visit on our Middle East overland tours are Muslim countries. People are usually extremely friendly and helpful, but please respect their customs and beliefs. This means that both men and women should dress modestly, especially when in small villages and towns in rural areas and women particularly should wear clothes that cover their legs and arms. However, on the Mediterranean and Red Sea beaches attitudes are more western and relaxed.

Ramadan

This is the Muslim holy month during which Muslims do not eat, drink or smoke during daylight hours. Although non Muslims are not expected to fast it is courteous to respect the restrictions when in public places. During this time (which varies from year to year), many shops will be shut during daylight hours. However, in the evening market stalls and restaurants hum with noise and activity. For up-to date information of when Ramadan will fall over the next few years follow the link through to this site: www.when-is.com/ramadan.asp

Websites that may be of interest:

FCO Travel Advice

www.fco.gov.uk/travel

UK Government run site with loads of good information on all aspects of travel abroad

Medical Travel Advice - www.nathnac.org/travel/index.htm
Useful information and advice for travellers about what vaccinations they may need and general health related issues when traveling abroad. The site is funded by the Department of Health and is based at the Hospital for Tropical Diseases.

World Medical Advice - www.wmc-card.co.uk
World Medical Center offers a Card for a nominal fee that enables you to carry any medical information such as medication, allergies and blood type and next of kin information in a credit card style format. The information is then readable by doctors anywhere in the world with a scanning device or by breaking the seal and reading the text inside. The Card is not insurance but is designed to give you safer medical treatment if you need it when abroad.

Where to find a Visa card ATM overseas - www.visa.com
Find an ATM machine (some locations will only issue cash in local currency)

Where to find a Mastercard ATM overseas - www.mastercard.com
Find an ATM machine (some locations will only issue cash in local currency)

Currency Exchange Rates - www.xe.com
Currency exchange website

World time zones - www.timeanddate.com
Time zones around the world

Worldwide weather - www.weatheronline.co.uk
Weather around the world