Je pars avec mon mari et mon fils de 4 ans du 20/04/13 au 04/05/13 à Taba.
J'ai choisi cette destination pour sa position stratégique. Je rêve de revoir JERUSALEM ( que j'ai déjà visité en 2003) mais les voyages avec le TO sont pour moi pas du tout appropriés: je souhaite passer au minimun une nuit à Jérusalem prendre le temps de me balader et de me recueillir à travers les sites de la ville. Je cherche donc des personnes qui souhaiteraient partager cette expérience avec nous (et en même temps aussi partager les frais....ça fait pas de mal) ou tout simplement des témoignages, des infos ( transport en commun depuis eilat ou location de voiture; hôtel raisonnable dans la vieille ville.....) sur ce genre d'excursion.
En qui concerne Petra, idem sauf que là je n'ai pas du tout encore réfléchi à la manière donc on peut organiser l'excursions.
je vous conseille de parcourir ce forum sur le sujet..quant à trouver des personnes prêtes a se lancer dans l’aventure avec vous, je pense que cela risque d’être difficile...
Pour Jérusalem c’est assez simple : vous prenez un taxi ou un bus jusqu’à la frontière, puis vous traversez la frontière vers Israël (Eilat). Une fois arrivée, vous prenez un bus ou un taxi pour la station d’autobus Egged dans Eilat (attention : exigez que le taxi mette son compteur et ne l’écoutez pas s’il vous raconte que les bus sont en grève et qu’il faut aller à Jérusalem en taxi, c’est une arnaque classique le trajet pour la station prend moins de 10 minutes).
Compter entre cinq et six heures de trajet pour Jérusalem, en fonction des embouteillages à l’entrée de la ville. Une fois à la station de bus, prenez un taxi pour votre hôtel (là encore exigez qu’il mette le compteur, si besoin éloignez-vous un peu de la station de bus et prenez un taxi dans la rue).
Perso je vous conseille de passer deux nuits à Jérusalem. Le meilleur endroit pour dormir c’est la Vieille ville. Selon votre budget, vous pouvez aller dans des pensions chrétiennes très confortables (je recommande l’Austrian Hospice, sinon la Lutheran guest house ou encore la Christ Church guesthouse) ; si vous avez peu de budget vous pouvez louer une chambre dans l’une des auberges de jeunesse de la vieille ville. Pour les petits budgets il y a aussi la Maison d’Abraham, pension chrétienne pour les pèlerins gérée par le secours catholique, en dehors mais avec vue sur la Vieille Ville (demandez-leur de vous envoyer un taxi a la station de bus).
Pour le retour a Taba, même principe, N’oubliez pas de prendre de l’argent pour payer le visa de sortie d’Israël.
merci beaucoup pour ces infos. Actuellement quel est le coût du visa israël et egypte? un enfant de 4 ans paie également un visa?
pourquoi le bus met autant de temps il n'y a que 350 km entre eilat et jérusalem, non? j' ai un enfant de 4 ans avec moi cela risque d'être difficile pour lui.
LOL j'aime pas trop le suspens...... vous essayez de me dire que la clientèle de Taba n'est pas amatrice de virée telle que je la projette???? c'est ça?
LOL j'aime pas trop le suspens...... vous essayez de me dire que la clientèle de Taba n'est pas amatrice de virée telle que je la projette???? c'est ça?
C'est peut-être ce qu'il essaie de vous faire comprendre 😎😎
oui il y a de ca... mais c'est surtout le coté aventureux et pas si "simple" que ca ...on vous a gentiment donné un site pour voir les horaires mais avez vous réussi à les trouver...
indice la ligne est la 444 les horaires c'est bien mais rien ne vous garanti une place
Dans votre situation (avec un enfant si jeune) vous serez à la merci des prestataires taxis qui vont vous demander des prix exorbitants..
C’est tout à fait faux. Les lignes de bus fonctionnent très bien en Israël (attention, pas de bus le vendredi après-midi et le samedi sauf le soir, en raison du shabbat).
Il est conseillé de venir à la station de bus une heure en avance pour être sûre d’avoir un ticket. Si le bus est complet, on peut toujours prendre celui pour Tel Aviv puis, une fois à la station de bus de Tel Aviv, prendre un second bus pour Jérusalem (temps de trajet 50 minutes).
Vous pouvez aussi acheter les tickets en avance. La ligne Eilat-Jerusalem-Eilat est la 444.
Ce trajet est très simple, pour peu que vous connaissiez les horaires. Vous pouvez les trouver en ligne ici, comme pour un avion:
Note: entrez la ville de départ, la ville d'arrivée, la date du voyage et cliquez sur « Find trip ». Le trajet demandé va s’afficher avec sa durée et le nombre de kilomètres. Vous devez alors cliquer sur « view » dans la colonne « timetable » pour obtenir les horaires qui vont s’afficher dans une fenêtre « pop-up ».
Vous pouvez aussi obtenir les horaires par téléphone en anglais : 972-3-6948888.
Ne prenez pas de taxi, ils sont hors de prix, c’est souvent meilleur marche de prendre l’avion entre Eilat et Tel Aviv...
Pour se rendre à Petra depuis Taba, deux solutions sont possibles : le ferry entre l’Egypte et la Jordanie, ou le passage par voie de terre via Israël. Avec un enfant, je pense que la seconde solution est plus facile, car les personnes avec enfants font rarement l’objet de longs contrôles et interrogatoires par les autorités israéliennes.
Vous passez de Taba à Eilat (voir mon précèdent mail), à la frontière vous prenez un taxi pour la frontière avec la Jordanie et passez à Aqaba. Une fois là-bas vous prenez un taxi pour Wadi Musa (la petite bourgade où se trouve le site de Petra). Vous trouverez facilement un hôtel sur Internet, il y en a tous les prix. Notez qu’il faut au moins deux jours complets et trois nuits pour visiter le site (aucun intérêt d’y aller si vous ne passez pas minimum deux nuits et une journée complète). L’entrée du site est relativement chère, mais décroit proportionnellement si vous passez plus d’une journée sur place.
merci merci pour les infos, effectivement j'ai pensé que la présence de mon fils et ma grossesse en cours de 4 mois me faciliteraient les passages aux douanes et différents contrôles 😎
c'est vrai que que sur le site pour les bus j'étais un peu perdu, mais avec vos explications je pense mieux m'y retrouver, de toute manière je pensais appeler deux jours avant pour réserver.
merci pour les infos de Taba car je pensait prendre ferry qui a réouvert récemment, mais je vais y repenser à deux fois.
Catw, vous avez l'air de très bien connaître la région, vous y êtes originaire?
oui il y a de ca... mais c'est surtout le coté aventureux et pas si "simple" que ca ...on vous a gentiment donné un site pour voir les horaires mais avez vous réussi à les trouver...
indice la ligne est la 444 les horaires c'est bien mais rien ne vous garanti une place
Dans votre situation (avec un enfant si jeune) vous serez à la merci des prestataires taxis qui vont vous demander des prix exorbitants..
Je reste confiante, car chaque fois que nous sommes partis en voyage, nous avons toujours rencontrer des gens, des couples, touristes ou locaux... avec qui partager un bout de voyage, un resto, etc... Nous sommes très sociables et ouverts d'esprit, je compte sur notre bonne humeur et notre enthousiasme pour enrôler des troupes....lol
l'aventure ne me fait pas peur: j'ai déjà voyagé avec mon fils dans des destinations lointaines avec un guide du routard en poche quand j'étais enceinte ou quand il était tout petit, cela attire souvent de la sympathie et de la complaisance.😎
Après on verra.... je ferai un retour sur mon périple en rentrant.
Si vous avez l'expérience de l'aventure , nous voila un peu rassurés...mais vous n' êtes pas a l'abri d'un évènement qui pourrait compromettre vos projets par exemple comme celui ci
http://www.tourmag.com/Egypte-deux-touristes-enleves-dans-la-peninsule-du-Sinai_a58043.html
Si cet enlèvement tourne mal il est possible que la destination soit supendue par les TO, ou que l'on vous mette la surpression pour vous décourager de faire des excursions en solo...
Il y a eu quelques cas d’enlèvements dans le Sinaï mais pas du côté de Taba, qui est ultra-sécurisée car près de la frontière stratégique avec Israël. A chaque fois les touristes ont été relâchés au bout de quelques heures, ou le lendemain.
Les tribus bédouines prennent les touristes pour obtenir quelque chose du gouvernement : l’ouverture d’une école, la libération d’un Bédouin, etc.
Le problème est que le gouvernement égyptien gagne beaucoup d’argent avec le tourisme dans le Sinaï, mais y réinvestit peu, excluant les Bédouins des fruits de cette activité. Par exemple, il n’y a aucune université dans le Sinaï, et les stations touristiques n’emploient pas les bédouins du Sinaï mais plutôt de la main d’œuvre « importée » d’autres coins du pays. Les stations touristiques ont été en partie construites sur les terres des Bédouins qui, bien évidemment, n’ont jamais été dédommagés par Moubarak. Certains proches de l’ancien président se sont fait des fortunes avec des opérations immobilières sur des terres que les tribus bédouines considèrent comme étant les leurs. Du coup les Bédouins se sont dit que le seul moyen de se faire entendre du gouvernement était de kidnapper des touristes quelques heures ou quelques jours. Le dernier enlèvement en date ne semble pas déroger a cette règle, même si l’une des personnes enlevées est de nationalité israélienne, ce qui pourrait compliquer la situation.
Nous nous rendons sur la mer rouge à Dahab dans une quinzaine de jour pour plonger comme nous avons pas mal de temps (2 semaines) nous avions l'intention d'en profiter pour faire autre chose que la plongée Découvrir le désert et peut-être visiter Petra. Comment s'y rendre ? (à Pétra de Dahab) Nous n'avons pas pris de visa pour l'Egypte et comptons en prendre un a notre arrivée mais est-ce suffisant pour effectuer une excursion en Jordanie ou nous fau-il un visa particulier pour sortir et rerentrer ? De plus les infos du site du gouvernement français sont assez alarmantes en ce qui concerne les déplacements en Egypte. Prenons nous des risques inconsidérés en nous éloignant des stations touristiques, les organismes sur place qui travaillent avec des bédouins pour des sorties dans le désert poursuivent-elles leurs activités ? (treks dans le désert) Sont-ils fiables ou sont-ils prêts a prendre des risques pur sauvegarder leur business ?
Avis avisés de personnes connaissant bien la région actuellement bienvenus !
Hello Fellow Travelers,
I’ve just returned from a week-long trip to Azerbaijan, covering both Baku and the country’s main sights.
Contrary to what the "Travel Advisory" from the Ministry of Foreign Affairs says, you can travel everywhere safely—the Azerbaijanis are lovely to foreigners, and the police are absolutely helpful.
Just follow the local laws, as you would anywhere, to avoid any trouble.
I highly recommend visiting this stunning country.
Antoine
Hi,
We’re supposed to go to Oman from October 17th to 30th for a 4x4 road trip. We’d already bought our flight tickets before the war started... We’re looking for recent traveler feedback from anyone who’s been there lately. Obviously, we plan to avoid areas around American military bases as well as the Salalah, Duqm, Musandam regions, and the border with Yemen.
Thanks in advance for your input.
lili
Hello, we’re two senior couples who often travel with a guide and driver. For this trip to Oman, though, we’d like (for various reasons) to have a fixed base and visit the must-sees with a local guide but on a hub-and-spoke basis. Do you think that’s possible, and what would be the best place to stay?
We’ll be in Oman for 7 days in March 2026.
Thanks in advance for your suggestions.
Hi there,
This year we want to go to Georgia. We have a ticket to Istanbul and would prefer to avoid an Istanbul/Tbilisi flight to see a bit of Turkey, which I love.
I found a train from Ankara to Kars (25h): why not?
But how do we cross the border: which town? Is it easy (or not)?
I’m leaning toward Batumi, but I’m not sure about anything—thanks for your tips!
Thanks for your insights
I’m planning a two-week trip to Iran in September and I’m reaching out for some valuable tips....
After doing a bit of research, I’ve sketched out a rough itinerary.
I plan to spend 2–3 days in Tehran, then head down to Isfahan for 4–5 days with an overnight stop in Kashan. After that, I’m thinking of going to Shiraz for 2–3 days, including a visit to Persepolis.
Then back to Tehran with a 2-day stop in Yazd.
What do you think? Is this doable? Are there any other must-see spots?
The north, with Tabriz and Masuleh, also caught my eye, but what should I cut to fit them in?
If you have any recommendations for high-quality, authentic hotels, I’d love to hear them.
And one last (silly) question—I’m a smoker (unfortunately!), so is it allowed for women to smoke in Iran? If so, under what conditions?
Thanks in advance for your help, and I’m all ears for any advice!
hi,
do we absolutely have to get the ETA before traveling to Israel these days?
some people say it’s not mandatory, others say it is.
any feedback, please?
thanks
Hey everyone!
A comeback after so many years... but my question is simple:
"Has anyone wandered around these two countries recently? (The posts and travel journals I’ve read are a bit dated.) I’m planning a trip for late spring—one I had mapped out for 2023 but never got to do.
For any info on transportation, border crossings, cost of living, and interesting hostel/GH addresses, thanks in advance! 😉
Hi,
We’ve got flight tickets for a two-week trip to Georgia from April 8th to 23rd.
Should we go ahead with our trip or postpone it to September, given what’s been happening in the Persian Gulf since late February 2026?
Are there any impacts in Georgia?
Thanks for your help
Hi there, I’d like to spend a few days in these two countries. How many days do you recommend? Any ideas for things to see? Which airline should I take to go from one to the other? I think there are no more direct flights? Thanks
Hi,
We’re heading to Asia this summer, and to avoid arriving in the middle of the night, we’ve decided to stop over in Dubai for a day and a half on the way there and back. Any ideas for activities during this super-hot period? Bonus points if they’re reasonably priced 🙂 Which neighborhood is best to stay in?
Thanks in advance, and have a great day!
Bruno
We visited the northern/northeast part of Oman, the most touristy area, last February over 11 days there. It’s a great time to go because the temperatures are pleasant and there aren’t too many tourists, even though the country is only just starting to develop its image. 11 days was enough for us to see the essentials, but you can always extend your stay depending on what you want.
2 days in Muscat, 2 days in the desert—we would’ve happily stayed longer—2 days in the mountains, 3 days in the wadis, and the rest for the cities, villages, and the coast.
Oman offers stunning landscapes and a genuinely warm welcome. We always felt safe, never experienced any malicious looks or gestures.
As usual for our trips, we chose to organize everything ourselves but with a guide to better explore and soak up the local culture.
The point of my post isn’t to recount our journey but to encourage and reassure anyone considering this destination.
If I can be of help, I’m happy to answer your questions based on what I know.
Living in Amman, Jordan, I’d like to visit Jerusalem and the surrounding areas during the Christmas season.
I’d love to hear your thoughts on:
- the security conditions in Israel/Palestine,
- sightseeing in Jerusalem during the Christmas period.
Hi! If anyone has been to Georgia recently and could tell me if it's feasible to travel around the country using public transport. My itinerary would be Kutaisi (my arrival airport), Tbilisi, Mestia, Ushguli, Batumi, and back to Kutaisi (departure airport) in ten days. My flight arrives late at night, around 1 AM—would it be possible to take a taxi to get to the city center?
Any advice is welcome, and regarding the language, can you get by with English? Thanks in advance.
Hi everyone, I’m married to a Kurd from Iraq, and we’re heading to Kurdistan in November with our two-and-a-half-year-old son. Even though I’m really excited about this trip and happy to go, I’m a bit nervous because as a European woman, I feel like there’s nothing to do and I have this image of a dangerous country… To put my mind at ease, I’d love to chat with other Europeans who’ve been there. Thanks! !
Hi there
Does anyone know if it's allowed to use a drone (under 250 g) in Oman?
If so, is there any registration required for the device?
Thanks in advance for your feedback.
Laurent
Hi there,
We’re traveling from 12/23/2025 to 1/9/2025 in Oman.
However, our flight lands in Dubai.
So I’m looking for a car rental company that allows crossing the border into the Sultanate of Oman.
Thanks for your recommendations!
I think I saw there’s also the option of vehicles with rooftop tents…
Hello... nothing new for several
years now...
Can you go there independently from the rest of the country? Any recent experiences, either in Kurdistan or the rest of Iraq?
Thanks a lot
Hi, we’re traveling to Georgia soon and want to go to Azerbaijan. I’m having trouble finding info on crossing the border.
Is it possible to do it by car or train? Are the land borders between the two countries open? Or do we have to fly?
Thanks in advance
Since I had trouble finding up-to-date info, here’s an update on some key points for Jordan/Egypt ferries as of August 2025.
Right now, AB Maritime is the only company still operating ferries. Other companies sometimes mentioned (Jordan Sinaï Hotel and Tour, Sinaï Ferry, etc.) have stopped running (no response by phone or email, and confirmed on-site).
On the Jordanian side, the fast ferry doesn’t leave from the port of Aqaba but from Tala Bay (20 km further south). There’s supposedly a slow ferry that departs in the evening from Aqaba port (according to a taxi driver), but I couldn’t find any info about it.
Currently, there’s one ferry per day in each direction for Aqaba/Taba and another for Aqaba/Nuweiba. But the schedules aren’t great for backpackers—and they’re not the same every day.
On the Jordanian side at Tala Bay, you access the port by walking through a large resort, go through border control before boarding the ferry (+ luggage check). You have to pay the exit tax of 10 JOD (12 €) to "someone sitting on a bench in front"!!! It’s true—you need to ask who to pay, or customs won’t let you through without the magic coupon.
Oddly, I arrived early and managed to take a different ferry than the one I’d booked online by insisting (it wasn’t open for online reservations).
I bought the ticket on the AB Maritime website. Confirmation by email was brief. Then you have to find another person outside the port who has the passenger list and will give you the actual ticket. (What a joy this organization is!) Luckily, everyone’s really friendly with tourists.
On the Egyptian side, arrival in Taba isn’t in Taba itself but at Taba Heights (20 km further south), in a hotel zone. Immigration can be more or less quick depending on your place in the queue at the single office... (free Sinai visa or paid Egypt visa). And outside... nothing. Nothing: no exchange bureau, no ATM, no drink or SIM vendor... A nightmare. No bus station. One or two taxis at prohibitive prices. Personally, I walked about fifteen minutes to the Strand Hotel to find someone who could actually help me (ATM out of service in that big resort). From there, two bus companies currently operate: Webus in small vans but you have to book at least 2 days in advance (frequent, fast, reasonable prices) or GoBus with large buses (only one per day, even cheaper). They head south to Nuweiba, Sharm El Sheikh, etc. A taxi from Taba to Sharm was quoted at 120 USD at the port exit!
For me, the ferry and GoBus schedules didn’t align at all. If I’d known about Webus earlier, I could’ve saved 6 hours of waiting...
On another note, a Taiwanese traveler I met also mentioned that the Hurghada-Sharm El Sheikh ferry is no longer running.
Basically, these border crossings and ferries are more suited to organized tours than backpackers, but it’s still doable.
Hello everyone,
We’re just back from a wonderful adventure exploring Wadi Rum.
We spent 3 days and 2 unforgettable nights there. Our guide, Mohamad, introduced us to the desert—its beauty, its mysteries—with rare skill, kindness, and generosity. We hiked through breathtakingly beautiful places, slept in a Bedouin tent and under the stars, enjoyed delicious meals, and shared moments of incredible quality.
Mohamad honored us by sharing songs, poems, and stories, and introducing us to his family. His humor, life philosophy, and empathy will stay with us forever.
Without a doubt, one of the most beautiful experiences we’ve ever had.
Mohamad’s contact details can be shared via private message.
I’m also happy to provide any info about this unforgettable trip.
Michèle
So happy to be back with you all that I’m rushing to share my trip report!
We chose to stay exactly 14 days to avoid paying for a visa. As a result, we didn’t have time to explore the south—we’ll be back because Oman is a great destination in January. Temperatures were a perfect 25–27°C during the day. No rain for us, but it can happen.
We bought the *Évasion Oman* guidebook. We started with the Jebels (the mountains), abandoned villages, then the desert, wadis along the coast, and finished in the capital. For us, it was easier to go from cold (2,000 meters, after all) to hot before returning to our freezing Normandy in January.
The people were incredibly welcoming and lovely. We camped in natural camping areas where you can make a fire (free, no facilities or water). Easy to find—just search "camping" on Google Maps (an essential app). We traveled as a group of five and rented a 4x4 seven-seater from Europcar before leaving (price included our insurance): 800 euros for 14 days. Essential for getting everywhere, as there are lots of dirt tracks. We brought our camping gear from France since the baggage allowance is 30 kg. Oh, and also two liters of rum and a box of white wine—also essential.
Food was tricky if you don’t like spicy dishes or just chicken. You have to eat at international restaurants, which cost about the same as back home. We’d packed vacuum-sealed meat for the first three days and a few cans. For beaches, stick to the ones marked on Google for swimming—otherwise, they can be dirty and full of oil.
We arrived at 6:30 AM, bought a SIM card (make sure to remove yours before arriving and tape it to the back of your phone), exchanged money (not great rates at the airport—better in malls or souks; no exchanges in banks), and picked up the car. Then we headed to a Carrefour supermarket, but it was closed. We drove to Jebel Al Akhdar, the Sayq Plateau, where we found markets along the way. There are also bazaar shops where you can get gas bottles—they’re everywhere in mid-sized towns. There are even hypermarkets.
We hiked the well-marked old Sayq trail (red and white markings). Our return was improvised. We camped on the plateau and got cold—bring 0°C sleeping bags! The next day, we visited the abandoned villages of Wadi Bani Habib: juniper forests, canyon viewpoints. Then Birkat Al Maws on the way down—a beautiful palm grove. Next, Nizwa Hotel. The beds were really hard there—ask to see the rooms and test the beds before booking. There’s always availability, with prices starting at 35 euros for two.
On the third day, we went to Jebel Shams. Hiked along the canyon starting from Ghul, then descended. Camped on the road to Balha Fortress, which we visited the next morning (stunning!). Then we explored Nizwa before heading to the Wahiba Desert. Camped along the way, then drove to our accommodation: two days in the desert. We found the Thousand Nights Camp 40% cheaper a month before. Note: you have to leave by 1 PM in a convoy to reach the hotel.
On the sixth day, we hiked in the desert on our own because the activity prices were outrageous.
On the seventh day, we headed to a wadi, Bani Khalid, then to Sur, a seaside hotel. We booked just one room for five of us—hotel apartments are huge, and since we had our camping mattresses, it wasn’t a problem to set up in the living room. There’s even a kitchen. In cities, camping spots are poorly located—near intersections, etc.
Beach time and sightseeing on the eighth day, then we drove to the white sand beach in Fins, where we stayed for two nights (we left the tents set up but empty). This was our favorite campsite—go all the way to the end of the road, there’s a small cove and a stunning spot.
On the ninth day, we visited Wadi Shab and the Salma Plateau to find the tombs. The hike up from Fins was way too long—probably better to take the route suggested in the guidebook for a round trip. Meh, no one really enjoyed it.
On the tenth day, we went to Wadi Al Arbiyyin and drove to Seeb Al Mouj to book a diving trip. Stayed at Al Ferdous Hotel Apartments until the end—well-located for visiting Muscat and a great value. Just make sure to check the room first, as some beds are very hard and others aren’t.
Eleventh day: diving and beach time.
Twelfth day: visited the Grand Mosque (unlucky—first day it became paid, and not just a little: 8 OMR). Then explored the old city.
Thirteenth day: the Grand Opera and beach at The Village, where we found a great pizzeria: pizzawifi.com.
Fourteenth day: And that’s it—back home, thrilled to have discovered this magical country. We’ll be back!
Hi everyone!
I’m giving this a shot, hoping to get some answers that can help clear things up.
We’re planning a trip to Oman in February and want to rent a car.
The catch is we probably won’t have received our international driving permits in time.
After some research, we still can’t figure out if there are any rental companies that only require a French license...
or possibly a certified translation of it.
Given that the French license is recognized in Oman, we’re hoping for some advice.
Any tips would be hugely appreciated, and thanks in advance to those who can help!
Best regards,
Olyana
Hi there, 😄
my friend and I are leaving in 15 days for Kurdistan, by road, in our little converted van... The only thing we're sure of (well, the only thing we've actually thought about! The adventures will take care of the rest!) is that we're planning to take a month to get there, 15 days on site to visit my sister-in-law who's been living there as a teacher for a year! and 15 days to rush back, because my boyfriend has to go back to work on November 3rd!! After that, the itinerary isn't set yet—I've just bought a map of Europe... and still haven't found one of Kurdistan! or Iraq! I just finished work yesterday... and until now, this trip felt so far away... I didn't imagine much about it... I kept telling myself, "You'll see when you're done working, your brain will be more available!" Well, now my brain is in "gooo go go!" mode 😮 and it's going fast! I've got tons of questions popping up all at once!
- The itinerary... (we're thinking of lingering a bit in Greece on the way there... and taking a more direct route back). I don't think we've fully grasped what it's going to be like to cover at least 5,000 km in such a short time! Bibi's tinkering with the van (a Peugeot Expert that goes anywhere) and I'm the tour guide!
- Camping in the van... where? Under what conditions? Areas to avoid? Places not to miss?
- The borders... especially the Iraqi one! What are the formalities? Visa or no visa?
- The political situation in the countries we'll cross... (with our entourage putting pressure on us—they're right, of course! How many times have we heard, "You're crazy! Oh, you're really going? We've been hearing about this for a year but didn't think it was so soon... and with everything going on right now, isn't it risky? Aren't you afraid of getting kidnapped?" 🤪 To be honest, we don't know much, we've been a bit out of the loop, working hard... and just craving adventure! But I admit, sometimes I get little waves of panic 😕 when I check official websites... then I go back to daydreaming!
- Why not Couchsurfing?
- Oh crap, the most annoying part... the paperwork, insurance, health stuff, blablabla...
- Will the van hold up? 😐
- Should we prepare for the possibility of not making it all the way, and accept that not as a failure but as a different kind of adventure? Well, there you have it—a little peek into the chaos in my brain! 🤪/😎
So if any of this resonates with you... if you feel like sharing ideas, advice, or stories... we're all ears! Well, I am, and I'll pass it on to Bibi, the fearless warrior, wrench in hand, new tires at the ready, changing the oil and fine-tuning the beast! When I ask him what he expects, what he thinks, what his fears are (with me being the eternal scaredy-cat about wild camping in places I can't picture when we arrive at night—apparently a typical female fear, according to my surveys!—and the wonder of waking up to discover our surroundings... we made the right choice!), his desires... he just says, "Well, we'll start the car, go straight ahead, and see what happens. What do you think could go wrong?!" We complement each other well!
