Overland to Jordan

I hear that you can travel overland from Taba in Egypt walking through the borders to Aqaba in Jordan?

14 years ago, September 15th 2009 No: 1 Msg: #86362 Delete Edit

N Posts: 6

i hear that you can travel overland from Taba in Egypt walking through the borders to Aqaba in Jordan? has anyone ever done this? or do you have any other suggestions of getting safely but cheaply from Egypt to Jordan?
Thanks Reply to this

14 years ago, September 16th 2009 No: 2 Msg: #86462 Delete Edit

deleted_49612
deleted_49612

D Posts: 24.6K

Hello Zara 😊

I moved this to the Overland and Sea Forum. Hopefully it will get some replies here.

Mel Reply to this

14 years ago, September 28th 2009 No: 3 Msg: #87654 Delete Edit

diannas
Dianna

B Posts: 7

No bites? I was hoping to find out the same information. Travelling alone (woman) from Jan 2010 to March 2010 and would like some info on overland travel Egypt to Jordan and other parts of the middle east.

Thanks for any info.

D Reply to this

14 years ago, September 29th 2009 No: 4 Msg: #87750 Delete Edit

deleted_49612
deleted_49612

D Posts: 24.6K

No bites?

The more adventurous your trip, the less likely you are to find people who can give advice. But hopefully some will still come along and post here. 😊 Reply to this

14 years ago, September 29th 2009 No: 5 Msg: #87798 Delete Edit

diannas
Dianna

B Posts: 7

I didn't think it was over adventurous.... someone must have done it before. Reply to this

14 years ago, September 29th 2009 No: 6 Msg: #87799 Delete Edit

deleted_49612
deleted_49612

D Posts: 24.6K

It might be worth checking out the blogs for the various countries to find somebody who has done this. Not everybody visits the forums. Reply to this

14 years ago, October 2nd 2009 No: 7 Msg: #88131 Delete Edit

aspiringnomad
Jason

B Posts: 580

Hi, I can't work out why nobody has pitched in with an answer; It is a very simple answer; YES.

The whole thing should take less than an hour; Israeli immigration may give you some hassle. Why were you in Egypt,? Why are you going to Jordan? did you meet any Arabs in Egypt? Do you have any friends in Jordan? etc et al...though if you're Jewish you shouldn't have a problem.

Anyway, there will be a taxi driver waiting for you no doubt and then you just drive round to the Jordanian border through Eilat. Or you can wait for the bus at the border, to Eilat, I think they leave every half hour or so. You could take a taxi from the bus station onto Jordan or perhaps another bus.

There is a ferry from Sinai to Aqaba (I think from Nuweiba, I don't remember). It is more expensive but you get to avoid Israel i.e. an Israeli stamp in your passport. Which isn't something you want to have if you plan to continue on from Jordan to Syria, for example, because they won't let you in (as with most other Islamic states). Since your name is Zara, you probably would be better off taking the ferry, just to save you the hassle;-)

Hope that helps

Jason Reply to this

14 years ago, October 2nd 2009 No: 8 Msg: #88141 Delete Edit

zara
Zara McDermott

N Posts: 6

Thank you Jason, i think we have decided to opt for the planned ferry trip from sharm to aqaba! less hassle like you said although i never thought because of my name! -Im Irish?! haha
Thanks again
Zara Reply to this

14 years ago, October 2nd 2009 No: 9 Msg: #88145 Delete Edit

diannas
Dianna

B Posts: 7

Thank you Jason. I appreciate you taking the time to write.

I'm planning on doing the trip overland and avoid Isreal (at least one way) in case I decide to go into Syria.

I'm doing the trip alone (backpack) and I'm a female. It sounds like you've done the trip... do you anticipate any difficulties for a woman to do the trip solo other than the usual precautions? I've travelled through Thailand/Cambodia/Vietnam and India last year for 4 months alone, so I'm aware of the usual precautions... but I've never been to the middle east.

Thanks,

D

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14 years ago, October 2nd 2009 No: 10 Msg: #88152 Delete Edit

aspiringnomad
Jason

B Posts: 580

Apologies Zara, I thought your name meant 'radiance' in arabic. but then maybe it's just me and Israeli border guards who notice such things...anyway, McDermott FOR SURE is Iranian, right? Reply to this

14 years ago, October 2nd 2009 No: 11 Msg: #88153 Delete Edit

aspiringnomad
Jason

B Posts: 580

Hi Diannas,

Yes I have done this trip (couple times). Once with a girlfriend, which though doesn't exactly mirror your experience; hopefully can offer some help.

Firstly for hassle, Egypt is the worst country on the planet for man, woman, or beast. Once you get to Jordan things calm right down, despite a little overcharging in Petra.

Syria is probably one of the safest countries on the planet for travellers, due to the police state that it is. I am pretty certain you'll experience only hospitatility. Though if you have a male partner whilst travelling, you may be invited to more peoples homes, as it is not really socially acceptable for a male to invite a single female home, although that is not to say you won't be invited by a female.

Then of course you can pop over to Lebanon for drinking and nightlife party scene.

enjoy

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14 years ago, October 2nd 2009 No: 12 Msg: #88163 Delete Edit

diannas
Dianna

B Posts: 7

Hi Jason,

I'm so excited about the trip. I've just received my Lonely Planet guide books today and will likely call on you once I have a rough itinerary - that is - if you don't mind.

Thanks again,

D Reply to this

14 years ago, October 3rd 2009 No: 13 Msg: #88216 Delete Edit

bally10
Bally

B Posts: 5

Hi there, my girlfriend and I did the Egypt to Jordan trek this February. We are both Canadian, and had no concerns about the Israeli stamp in our passport. We were just doing a side trip to Petra during our Egypt trip, so we actually went overland through Israel on the way in, and on the way back took the ferry from Aquaba to Nuweiba. In hindsight, we would definitely do the Israeli route and is was cheaper, and much quicker. But if you are going to Syria, the ferry is not as bad as some people made it out to be. A little unorganized and chaos on the Egyptian side, but if you are heading to Egypt to will get used to it. Reply to this

14 years ago, October 3rd 2009 No: 14 Msg: #88218 Delete Edit

diannas
Dianna

B Posts: 7

Thanks Bally10,

So no problem with the Isreali stamp in the passport? Is there a problem with the stamp if I decide to go to Syria after Isreal, or should I go to Isreal after Syria?

I'm a little concerned about the time of year I want to go... I would like to go in early February, 2010 or late January. Will it be cold? I too live in Canada and would like to avoid cold weather if I can.

Also, has anyone gone into Libia? It sounds like a very interesting place.

Thanks,
D Reply to this

14 years ago, October 3rd 2009 No: 15 Msg: #88258 Delete Edit

bally10
Bally

B Posts: 5

No problem with us for the Israeli stamp, but we were not going to Syria. From what I read you definitely will have a problem with an Israeli stamp if you plan to go to Syria. I would plan to go to Israel after Syria, or if you're just commuting through the Egypt, you can avoid Israel altogether with the ferry from Aquaba to Nuweiba.

We hit Jordan late February, and the weather was gorgeous. But we were also shown video on a cell phone from a local at Petra of a snow storm (very rare) that hit a couple weeks before. You should be fine, but just be aware that it can get very cold at night, particularly in the desert. Reply to this

14 years ago, October 4th 2009 No: 16 Msg: #88272 Delete Edit

aspiringnomad
Jason

B Posts: 580

I'm actually in Canada, Alberta, myself now...studying anthropology (thesis on the cultural motivations of tourists, and the like). Anyway, seems you both have pictures of yourselves riding camels in desert-esque landscapes;-)

So I have a question: have you heard of Edward Said's Orientalism?

Diannas; what are your opinions of the Middle East, before having been, and what do you expect to find?

bally10; did your preconceptions of the region come true, and what are your opinions now?

Thanks Reply to this

14 years ago, October 4th 2009 No: 17 Msg: #88337 Delete Edit

bally10
Bally

B Posts: 5

Nomad, I had not heard of Edward Said's Orientalism. Took a quick wikipedia look at it, interesting topic and I think I have a grasp of your thesis.

In my own personal trip, I feel that my idea of what the region would be like was certainly different from what we encountered. But I also feel that that happens in just about any trip I take to a vastly different culture.

Obviously my choice to visit the middle east meant that I had a more favourable opinion of the region than many Westerners do. When I was planning the trip and chatting with people about it, the majority of the reactions from friends and family were based on the stereotypes created about Muslims in our western world. The most common reactions, "Is it safe?", "Why would you want to go there?", and even as far as some clearly racist comments about Arabs, Muslims, and links to terrorism.

My preconceptions of the region were probably more accurate than what most people in the West have. But I would have to say that it was formed more by reading personal blogs and trip reports, rather than the mass media. Not sure if I answered the question directly, but hopefully its of some use. Reply to this

14 years ago, October 5th 2009 No: 18 Msg: #88435 Delete Edit

deleted_49612
deleted_49612

D Posts: 24.6K

I think many of the negative perceptions people have of the Middle East(or Islamic countries) are true, but luckily there is more to it than politics. Most of what you will encounter is just people getting on with the everyday ordinary aspects of their lives.

There is a wariness about the west, but there is rarely aggression shown towards western tourists because of it. The only time I had any aggression at all shown towards me for being western(I presume) was in Kyrgyzstan). Egypt and Iran were peaceful in this respect.

The attitudes towards women are true, but most of the time you will have guest status which will prevent you from being judged as harshly as a local women would be for things such as travelling alone, smoking..... But there is the western women are more free, and thus more promiscuous thing so lets try it on thing that happens very regularaly.

If you dont break the rather restrictive laws in these countries you will likely have a very peaceful trip and be treated to exceptional hopitality and innocent curiousity.

I am going to Syria soon I hope. From what I have been told about it, I will like visiting there.

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14 years ago, October 5th 2009 No: 19 Msg: #88450 Delete Edit

aspiringnomad
Jason

B Posts: 580

Hi Mell,

Thanks for the input,
was wondering if you could elaborate what you mean by these;

I think many of the negative perceptions people have of the Middle East(or Islamic countries) are true

There is a wariness about the west

The attitudes towards women are true

For the record, Kyrgyzstan is a secular state and isn't situated in, or considered, Middle Eastern. The devastating affect, and the cultural legacies of Soviet colonization is marked; Today the majority still speak Russian and Kyrgyz only became an official language after the soviets 'pulled out' in 1991. Reply to this

14 years ago, October 5th 2009 No: 20 Msg: #88452 Delete Edit

deleted_49612
deleted_49612

D Posts: 24.6K

Well, I will give it a try but the ins and outs of this are a long discussion, which I have made into a short one in msg 18.

A few examples of stuff

I think many of the negative perceptions people have of the Middle East(or Islamic countries) are true

When I was in Iran I met one British traveller who because he didnt see anybody being tortured in the streets or making bombs in their garden completely dismissed the concerns of the western governments about Iran. It is as if rather than opening the mind, travelling causes some to go from one extreme to the other. ie Iran if full of war mongers to 'I saw not uranium enrichment happening, so therefore there is not security risk at all from Iran'.

And another(Swiss guy) insisted that things are OK for women in Iran, and complained about the way the Lonely Planet described the restrictions. He said this to me, despite that I wouldnt dare go out in public without a headscarf, I wouldnt dare smoke in public, I wouldnt dare mention womens rights for fear that I may be speaking to a member of the secret police......

Well, those are just a couple of examples of tourists dismissing political issues, because they are having a nice time. There is not doubt that it was nice there, but I would not have thought that without the foreign passport and ticket out of there.

There is a wariness about the west

People in Iran used to ask me worried questions such as whether they could be bombed any time, whether it is really true that all the freedom here in the west makes it so dangerous that you cant go out at after 9PM, and the wonder how bad our(western womens) morals are and if freedom for women will cause islamic women to have bad morals(which they certainly dont want to risk happening)......

The attitudes towards women are true

When I was in Iran, the police decided to take the waterpipes away from the tea houses. The reason given is that women were smoking and a stop is to be put to it. After that, only the tea house that did not permit women were allowed to keep their waterpipes.
In the middle east, there are constant reminders that you are a women and thus have fewer rights about all kinds of things.

Well, dont include Kyrgyzstan if you dont want. I just included it because it is an Islamic country. Defining continents and cultural boundaries is always a complicated affair.

But these are just a few examples......

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