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MyTrunkshow
Joined: 21 Apr 2007
Posts: 234
Location: One map inch from Iraq
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 Posted: Mon Mar 23, 2009 3:44 pm Post subject: Driving from Riyadh to Lebanon |
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Anyone drove a car recently from Riyadh to Beirut or v.v.?
I have conflicting information as to whether my car, with Saudi plates, can drive through Syria. The driver has a Canadian passport.
Is a carnet de passage required? Any links to recent info. on the web?
mts. |
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15yearsinQ8
Joined: 17 Oct 2006
Posts: 462
Location: kuwait
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| Posted: Tue Mar 24, 2009 8:53 am Post subject: |
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you need valid residency in ksa (not a visit visa)
car must be registered to driver (or have poa?) |
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MyTrunkshow
Joined: 21 Apr 2007
Posts: 234
Location: One map inch from Iraq
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| Posted: Tue Mar 24, 2009 10:24 am Post subject: |
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Thx,
I have an iqama and an istmara for my car.
Do you have experience with the Syrian requirements of documents; carnet de passage, letter from Dept. Motor Vehicles?
I'm hoping to find someone who has driven it in the last year or two.
mts. |
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007
Joined: 30 Oct 2006
Posts: 2684
Location: UK/Veteran of the Magic Kingdom
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| Posted: Tue Mar 24, 2009 2:35 pm Post subject: Re: Driving from Riyadh to Lebanon |
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| MyTrunkshow wrote: |
Anyone drove a car recently from Riyadh to Beirut or v.v.?
I have conflicting information as to whether my car, with Saudi plates, can drive through Syria. The driver has a Canadian passport.
Is a carnet de passage required? Any links to recent info. on the web?
mts. |
Well, I think the Syrians will be very suspicious about you!
A driver with a Canadian passport, holding a Saudi Iqama, driving a Saudi car, crossing the Jordan border, and heading to Beirut!!! This by itself will raise a lot of questions to the secret agents of Uncle Sam, Uncle Bachar, and Uncle Nasrallah!!
I think they will interrogate you for 7 days before they clear you up for Beirut! Good luck.  |
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veiledsentiments
Joined: 20 Feb 2003
Posts: 17644
Location: USA
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| Posted: Tue Mar 24, 2009 3:50 pm Post subject: |
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You might try a post on Lonely Planet Thorntree to see if anyone there knows anything. Do a search there as I recall that driving around that part of the world has been discussed. (don't know how old it might be though)
VS |
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Stephen Jones
Joined: 21 Feb 2003
Posts: 4124
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| Posted: Tue Mar 24, 2009 7:29 pm Post subject: |
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I did it back in the 1990s. Perfectly feasible but you need the 'carnet de passage' or 'tripticket' as it is known in Saudi. I got one because a Moroccan friend persuaded a Saudi friend of his to sponsor it for me, but they weren't that easy to get.
Syrian customs will expect you to be smuggling something and will therefore expect a small payment to let you through (the idea that you're not smuggling anything would appear quite preposterous).
I wouldn't drive it unless you have a co-driver. I once drove back on my own from Aleppo, and it was a long drive to Riyadh. Wouldn't recommend it. |
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MyTrunkshow
Joined: 21 Apr 2007
Posts: 234
Location: One map inch from Iraq
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| Posted: Wed Mar 25, 2009 3:59 pm Post subject: |
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| 'carnet de passage' or 'tripticket' |
One riddle solved. I've been wondering about the difference of these terms. Thx.
As for the drive, whatever it will be will be too short. I relish the thought of road trips, stopping, checking things out, eating at the local schmoe's, and exploring, daydreaming, being on the road.
Syrian customs have a heavy 'tourist tax'. A fellow Danish traveler who I met in Jordan last December was back in Amman as his luggage was searched at the Syrian border. Syrian customs lifted his wallet that was in his backpack. He knew something was up, however, had little repercussion as they had guns, were highly aggressive, hence intimidating and didn't speak English. He wasn't allowed to enter anyway as he had evidence of a Jordanian stamp near an Israeli border which infers entry to Israel (yeah, yeah, but he thought he'd try...). His 6 month trip was abruptly cut to two months as his credit cards were not replaceable from outside Europe and complicated his life sufficiently that he had to continue his trip from a European country where replacing his cards was possible. Great Syrian ambassadors at the border!
I talked to a Saudi national yesterday who said that triptikets were no longer required for cars to Jordan, Syria or Turkey...just a note from the Dept. of Motor Vehicles. Or is the note the tripticket?
I have info..but not up-to-date info for a non-GCC national.
Anyone drove a car recently from Riyadh to Beirut or v.v.?
mts. |
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MyTrunkshow
Joined: 21 Apr 2007
Posts: 234
Location: One map inch from Iraq
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| Posted: Thu Mar 26, 2009 1:25 pm Post subject: |
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Answering my own question....
I went to dinner with a group of local Saudis last night and I was lucky enough that two of them had recently taken separate trips to Beirut. One fellow had driven to Turkey, Beirut, Jordan and Syria.
A tripticket costs 300sr and is required. It can be purchased at businesses (insurance companies) that are near the traffic police stations in cities in KSA or they can be purchased at strahas (rest areas/service stations) near the northern KSA borders.
One needs istmara, rosha (driver's licence), photo(s?) and passport.
It is issued on the spot and is valid for one year from date of purchase. It is effectively multiple-entry.
Now, if I can only locate a good up-to-date road map of the ME.
mts. |
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