From Istanbul to Cairo - Revision history

AHeneen: Reverted edits by Сталин - наше знамя боевое! (Talk) to last version by Wrh2

2012-09-26T07:24:09Z

Reverted edits by Сталин - наше знамя боевое! (Talk) to last version by Wrh2

Wrh2: +merge

2012-04-08T21:28:22Z

+merge

82.30.17.195: /* Prepare */

2011-11-12T17:21:00Z

‎Prepare

Ikan Kekek: /* Prepare */

2011-04-26T22:53:47Z

‎Prepare

Ikan Kekek: /* Prepare */

2011-04-26T22:51:21Z

‎Prepare

Ikan Kekek: /* visa */

2011-04-26T22:49:59Z

‎visa

Ikan Kekek: Undo revision 1668139 by 124.191.115.181 (Talk) Ask questions in the "discussion" page, not the guide.

2011-04-26T22:49:15Z

Undo revision 1668139 by 124.191.115.181 (Talk) Ask questions in the "discussion" page, not the guide.

124.191.115.181: /* Istanbul */

2011-04-26T22:44:19Z

‎Istanbul

Vidimian: /* Aqaba */ ferries to egypt for those wanting to bypass israel due to issues with syria

2010-08-19T19:48:19Z

‎Aqaba: ferries to egypt for those wanting to bypass israel due to issues with syria

Vidimian: /* tickets */

2010-08-10T10:32:39Z

‎tickets

← Older revision		Revision as of 21:28, 8 April 2012
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		+	{{merge\|Middle East}}
	{{itinerary}}		{{itinerary}}
	This route is in the [[Middle East]]. Countries visited are [[Turkey]], [[Syria]], possibly [[Jordan]], [[Israel]], and [[Egypt]].		This route is in the [[Middle East]]. Countries visited are [[Turkey]], [[Syria]], possibly [[Jordan]], [[Israel]], and [[Egypt]].

@@ Line 11: / Line 11: @@
 ==Prepare==
-It is essential to have a good guidebook and learn some basic rules of Middle Eastern etiquette. Like don't use your left hand, because it is considered dirty, and do not put your feet up on furniture used as a foot stool. (Traditionally the left hand is used to clean yourself with water after using the toilet.) Always wear long trousers, not shorts, and t-shirts instead of muscle shirts. At the very least, knees and shoulders should be covered. Long flowing ankle-length skirts and loose fitting men's t-shirts are recommended clothing for women. A headscarf is not necessary, but useful to have when visiting Orthodox churches and mosques. Learning basic survival-level Arabic is very helpful.
+It is essential to have a good guidebook and learn some basic rules of Middle Eastern etiquette. Like don't use your left hand, because it is considered dirty (traditionally the left hand is used to clean yourself with water after using the toilet), and do not put your feet up on furniture used as a foot stool.  Always wear long trousers, not shorts, and t-shirts instead of muscle shirts. At the very least, knees and shoulders should be covered. Long flowing ankle-length skirts and loose fitting men's t-shirts are recommended clothing for women. A headscarf is not necessary, but useful to have when visiting Orthodox churches and mosques. Learning basic survival-level Arabic is very helpful.
 As the area is volatile and subject to sudden political changes, it is essential to listen closely to the news before and during your trip. Read the travel warnings issued by your government carefully and heed them.

@@ Line 11: / Line 11: @@
 ==Prepare==
-It is essential to have a good guidebook and learn some basic rules of Middle Eastern etiquette. Like don't use your left hand, because it is considered dirty and do not put your feet up on furniture used as a foot stool. (Traditionally the left hand is used to clean yourself with water after using the toilet.) Always wear long trousers not shorts, t-shirts instead of muscle shirts. At the very least knees and shoulders should be covered. Long flowing ankle-length skirts and loose fitting men's t-shirts are recommended clothing for women. A headscarf is not necessary, but useful to have when visiting Ortodox churches and mosques. Learning basic survival-level Arabic is very helpful.
+It is essential to have a good guidebook and learn some basic rules of Middle Eastern etiquette. Like don't use your left hand, because it is considered dirty, and do not put your feet up on furniture used as a foot stool. (Traditionally the left hand is used to clean yourself with water after using the toilet.) Always wear long trousers, not shorts, and t-shirts instead of muscle shirts. At the very least, knees and shoulders should be covered. Long flowing ankle-length skirts and loose fitting men's t-shirts are recommended clothing for women. A headscarf is not necessary, but useful to have when visiting Orthodox churches and mosques. Learning basic survival-level Arabic is very helpful.
 As the area is volatile and subject to sudden political changes, it is essential to listen closely to the news before and during your trip. Read the travel warnings issued by your government carefully and heed them.

@@ Line 18: / Line 18: @@
 Most travelers from Western countries can get visas for Turkey, Egypt, Jordan and Israel at the airport or at the border. Syria requires travelers to apply beforehand at the embassy of their country of residence. Travelers from a country which does not have diplomatic relationship with Syria can reportedly get the visa at the Syrian border too, but there seems to be no certain rule about it.
-One reliable alternative for securing a Syrian visa is to apply at the Syrian Embassy in Istanbul.  Processing time was less than 8 hours, so it is possible to apply in the morning and return later in the afternoon to retrieve your passport.
+One reliable alternative for securing a Syrian visa is to apply at the Syrian Embassy in Istanbul.  Processing time has been reported to be less than 8 hours, so it is possible to apply in the morning and return later in the afternoon to retrieve your passport.
-Since Syria is technically still at war with Israel, any proof of a past or future visit to Israel will result in being denied entry to Syria, even with a valid visa. Thus people intending to visit Israel on their trip travel from Turkey to Egypt, not the other way around. It is possible to keep a visit to Israel out of your passport if you enter and leave Israel through the Allenby-King Hussein bridge border crossing and request the Israeli officials to stamp a piece of paper instead of your passport. But this method is not very reliable.
+Since Syria is technically still at war with Israel, any proof of a past or future visit to Israel will result in being denied entry to Syria, even with a valid visa. Thus people intending to visit Israel on their trip travel from Turkey to Egypt, not the other way around. It is possible to keep a visit to Israel out of your passport if you enter and leave Israel through the Allenby-King Hussein bridge border crossing and request the Israeli officials to stamp a piece of paper instead of your passport, but this method is not very reliable.
-===tickets===
+===Tickets===
 It is difficult or not practical to pre-order bus or train tickets online as most ticketing in the Middle East is still done by hand, although you can book airline tickets online nowadays. Travel agents in [[Istanbul]]'s Sultanahmet area can be of help for some parts of the trip and it can be worthwhile to email a trustworthy agent for help and pay for your tickets with credit card. This is frequently done for flights within Turkey or originating in Turkey, bus tickets departing Istanbul on not-so-frequent routes and for train tickets to Syria.

@@ Line 15: / Line 15: @@
 As the area is volatile and subject to sudden political changes, it is essential to listen closely to the news before and during your trip. Read the travel warnings issued by your government carefully and heed them.
-===visa===
+===Visa===
-Most travelers from Western countries can get visa for Turkey, Egypt, Jordan and Israel at the airport or at the border. Syria requires travelers to apply beforehand at the embassy of their country of residence. Travelers from a country which does not have diplomatic relationship with Syria can reportedly get the visa at the Syrian border too, but there seems to be no certain rule about it.
+Most travelers from Western countries can get visas for Turkey, Egypt, Jordan and Israel at the airport or at the border. Syria requires travelers to apply beforehand at the embassy of their country of residence. Travelers from a country which does not have diplomatic relationship with Syria can reportedly get the visa at the Syrian border too, but there seems to be no certain rule about it.
 One reliable alternative for securing a Syrian visa is to apply at the Syrian Embassy in Istanbul.  Processing time was less than 8 hours, so it is possible to apply in the morning and return later in the afternoon to retrieve your passport.

@@ Line 32: / Line 32: @@
 Most people go to the Syrian border by bus.
-Border crossings:
+Border crossings: Mardin-Nusaybin-Kamışlı (railroad, currently open), Mardin-Nusaybin-Kamışlı (highway border crossing, currently open), Mardin-Şenyurt-Derbesiye (highway border crossing, currently closed), Şanlıurfa-Ceylanpınar-Ra’sal Ayn (used during religious festivals), Şanlıurfa-Akçakale-Tell Ağabeyyat (highway border crossing, currently open), Gaziantep-Karkamış-Carablus (highway border crossing, currently open), Gaziantep-Çobanbey-Akderun (railroad and highway border crossing, currently closed), Gaziantep-Islahiye-Ekbez (railroad, currently open), Kilis-Öncüpınar-El Selame (Azez) (highway border crossing, currently open), Hatay-Cilvegözü-Bab Al Hawva (highway border crossing, currently open), Hatay-Yayladağı-Kesep (highway border crossing, currently open).
-"currently open" When is that? 2005,2006...2011????
 Mardin-Nusaybin-Kamışlı (railroad, currently open), Mardin-Nusaybin-Kamışlı (highway border crossing, currently open), Mardin-Şenyurt-Derbesiye (highway border crossing, currently closed), Şanlıurfa-Ceylanpınar-Ra’sal Ayn (used during religious festivals), Şanlıurfa-Akçakale-Tell Ağabeyyat (highway border crossing, currently open), Gaziantep-Karkamış-Carablus (highway border crossing, currently open), Gaziantep-Çobanbey-Akderun (railroad and highway border crossing, currently closed), Gaziantep-Islahiye-Ekbez (railroad, currently open), Kilis-Öncüpınar-El Selame (Azez) (highway border crossing, currently open), Hatay-Cilvegözü-Bab Al Hawva (highway border crossing, currently open), Hatay-Yayladağı-Kesep (highway border crossing, currently open).
 Antakya-Aleppo is the crossing most frequently used by travelers. There are buses across the border.

@@ Line 43: / Line 43: @@
 ===[[Jordan]]===
 ===[[Aqaba]]===
 ===[[Jerusalem]]===
 The bus is useful within Jerusalem on all days except Sabbath; There's a relaxing and inexpensive bus ride to Eilat.

@@ Line 23: / Line 23: @@
 ===tickets===
-It is difficult or not practical to pre-order bus or train online as most ticketing in the Middle East is still done by hand, still you can book airline tickets online now. Travel agents in Istanbul's Sultanahmet area can be of help for some parts of the trip and it can be worthwhile to email a trustworthy agent for help and pay for your tickets with credit card. This is frequently done for flights within Turkey or originating in Turkey, bus tickets departing Istanbul on not-so-frequent routes and for train tickets to Syria.
+It is difficult or not practical to pre-order bus or train tickets online as most ticketing in the Middle East is still done by hand, although you can book airline tickets online nowadays. Travel agents in [[Istanbul]]'s Sultanahmet area can be of help for some parts of the trip and it can be worthwhile to email a trustworthy agent for help and pay for your tickets with credit card. This is frequently done for flights within Turkey or originating in Turkey, bus tickets departing Istanbul on not-so-frequent routes and for train tickets to Syria.
 ==Get in==