Jordan, Israel & Egypt 19Dec to 2Jan

[barracuda]

I am planning a trip to Jordan, Israel & Egypt for the period of 19 Dec to 2 Jan. I need some advice from the experts here.

1. Should I apply for another Singapore passport just for the use of entering Israel? I heard that now they don't chop on your passport, but on a paper instead. Is it true?

2. What is the best way to travel from Israel to Egypt (Cairo) (and cheaper way than taking a flight)?

Many thanks in advance.

 

[bglow]

15 days might not be enough for you for cover three country. you have to either start from
Egypt to Israel to Jordan and fly back from Jordan. All depend on where are the places you are going. From Egypt to Israel there are buses but check point might be a bit inconvience and that goes for Jordan but direct flight to Tel Avi will be smooth other then normal airport
check. You get a new passport specially for Israel from Immigration or the form L17 from agent or at immigration in Israel.
For tour if you are going Petra can hired a Israel private guide or you can take a bus fro Eilat for day tour. You want more information you go to Trip Advisor website to post
the question on Israel . There are many who went and there are experts there to give u advise.

 

[ManWearPants]

I suggest you plan your trip in a different sequence. Leave Israel as the last stop. As Jordan and Egypt immigration may not allow you to enter once they see the Israel stamp in your passport. There are people who say they can get the Israel immigration to stamp on a piece of paper instead of the passport but these is not documented so is at best try your luck. I am also unsure how you can be in possession of 2 valid passport at the same time. So the best bet is to visit Israel last.

I know you can take a ferry between Egypt and Jordan but this will mean you need to take a 6 hour road journey from Cairo to Nuweiba at Sinai. Also the ferry service is quite unpredictable. Unless you wish to visit the biblical Mt Sinai and St Catherine Monastery, I would suggest you to take a flight. I am unsure of getting into Israel from either of these countries. I believe it may be hard to find a driver who will cross into Israel.

For a 15 day trip. I would suggest to avoid the cruise in Egypt as it can be a waste of time. Take the sleeping train from Cairo to Aswan or Luxor and hire local guides in advanced to meet you at the train station.

I personally find Jordan to be more enjoyable than Egypt but it depends on your area of interests.

I have an unfinished thread here for reference
http://www.clubsnap.com/forums/showthread.php?t=706287

 

[barracuda]

bglow: Thanks for the pointer to tripadvisor.

ManWearPants: Thanks for your input. You have nice photos from your Egypt/Jordan trip. How long is the journey from Cairo to Luxor? Thanks again!

 

[ManWearPants]

ManWearPants: How long is the journey from Cairo to Luxor? Thanks again!

Here is the sleeping train schedule. There are only 2 trains departing either way each day. Since it is a sleeping train, it only runs from night to morning. It takes about 10 hours via the sleeping train. 2 to a cabin. It is not luxury but good enough for a night sleep. I think dinner/breakfast are free but need to pay for coffee and tea (optional). Have ear plugs ready as the rail can be noisy. I have no problem sleeping though.

http://www.sleepingtrains.com/

 

[barracuda]

ManWearPants: Thanks for the train schedule.

 

[junliang78]

I am planning a trip to Jordan, Israel & Egypt for the period of 19 Dec to 2 Jan. I need some advice from the experts here.

1. Should I apply for another Singapore passport just for the use of entering Israel? I heard that now they don't chop on your passport, but on a paper instead. Is it true?

2. What is the best way to travel from Israel to Egypt (Cairo) (and cheaper way than taking a flight)?

Many thanks in advance.

Answer :
1) Does Singapore ICA allow you to apply for a 2nd passport ?
2) You can take a tour bus package from the Israel-Egypt border , a 10+ hour bus ride that will leave "burn" marks on your ass or take a 1 hour flight from Israel to Cairo .

A few tips

Of the 3 countries you plan ,Jordan is nice of the lot as Egypt ( Cairo especially ) has that big city feel , very big city .. Israel is a generally a country on guard mode , so the ppl there generally wont be that friendly I feel . Jordan has none of that ..

Places to visit in Jordan . Wadi Rum desert sight see is a must on a 4x4 + camp overnight in the desert. 25 USD for dinner , sight see and over night camp . The same is silky fine . Go bare foot is okay coz it will quite cold when you go . ( so be prepared to be frozen at night in the tent ) .So why suffer the cold ? Its the stars man ..bring new meaning to the phrase star-filled sky .

Depending on your sense of adventure , there's the old school camp( really the bedouins tents ) or the more commercial tent hotel where the facilities are better and perhaps less cold and dark ?

But for the period you are going , take the tent hotels

Another place to visit in Jordan is Petra , you need at least 2 days to fully visit that place . Its really a place of wonder... temples carved into the red cliffs. ( btw , between petra and cairo's pyramids it is NOT a day's drive like in Transformers 2 )

Visit these 2 places in Jordan if you have to choose and ration . Try the shish kebab . 1 Dinar ( 1.5 USD ) for a kebab a few years ago.

Always bargain in the middle east. Always . Especially in Egypt . Quote you 8000 you can bring it down to 1000 if you have the patience .

That being said , Egypt is really a mystical place with all the temples and pyramids . Try to plan a cruise down river nile . To really visit Egypt you need 8 days or so . If you have to ration , Giza , Cairo museum . 2 days . Den a train out to the river Nile to take a 4or 3 day cruise to visit the temples . You may have to miss the southern most one where Ramesses II temple is at with your time constraint.go with a guided tour though.

As for Israel . I would suggest you buy a road map of Israel ( in English ) , rent a car from either Budget or the local company . Drive to all the places you wanna go visit .

Hope this helps

 

[ManWearPants]

Agreed on the Jordan. Also visit The Dead Sea and Jaresh if you are in Jordan.

"You may have to miss the southern most one where Ramesses II temple is at with your time constraint.go with a guided tour though."
Abu Simbel is a must visit, so is Karnak Temple in Luxor.

I don't know about Israel. If there is no business there, try Syria or Lebanon. I have friends who have visited and like those places.

 

[ManWearPants]

Agreed on the Jordan. Also visit The Dead Sea and Jaresh if you are in Jordan.

"You may have to miss the southern most one where Ramesses II temple is at with your time constraint.go with a guided tour though."
Abu Simbel is a must visit, so is Karnak Temple in Luxor.

I don't know about Israel. If there is no business there, try Syria or Lebanon. I have friends who have visited and like those places.

 

[ManWearPants]

Agreed on the Jordan. Also visit The Dead Sea and Jaresh if you are in Jordan.

"You may have to miss the southern most one where Ramesses II temple is at with your time constraint.go with a guided tour though."
Abu Simbel is a must visit, so is Karnak Temple in Luxor.

I don't know about Israel. If there is no business there, try Syria or Lebanon. I have friends who have visited and like those places.

 

[ManWearPants]

Agreed on the Jordan. Also visit The Dead Sea and Jaresh if you are in Jordan.

"You may have to miss the southern most one where Ramesses II temple is at with your time constraint.go with a guided tour though."
Abu Simbel is a must visit, so is Karnak Temple in Luxor.

I don't know about Israel. If there is no business there, try Syria or Lebanon. I have friends who have visited and like those places.

 

[barracuda]

ManWearPants & junliang78: Thanks a lot for your information. :thumbsup:

 

[awslee]

Once you got a chop on your passport entering into Israel, then you will not be able to travel to many Islamic countries around the world. Syria is a good option, lots of history since the Roman times are still visible and well preserved and good is good.

 

[bglow]

Once you got a chop on your passport entering into Israel, then you will not be able to travel to many Islamic countries around the world. Syria is a good option, lots of history since the Roman times are still visible and well preserved and good is good.

Half true. Some Islamic countries might be difficult for you but they will still let you go. There goes for Israel when you enter by Islamic countries but if you enter by Ben Gurion Airport , they give you the option of whether you want your passport to be stamped or stamped on L17, the white form so as not to inconvience you from entering the Islamic countries. Jordan and Egypt are friends of Israel and is normal routine that at each border they do the security check. Many christain tours do cover Epypt,Jordan and Israel.
If you are travelling around this region you should not miss out Israel. I been to Israel twice on my own and will be going again before you around Nov-Dec. Jerusalem is special and unique in many different culture and religious group . Galilee and the north of Israel is very rich in vegetations , springs and water falls and there goes for Judean Desert , Masada , Quram where they discovered the dead sea scrolls , En Gedi Nature Park where King David hid from King Saul during the Biblical time and springs flowing in the deserts. There are many Biblical
Historical Site which can enrich you. Their National Nature Parks are beautitful and different seasons you see different scenes. Winter- snowing and Almond blossoms, Spring - Wild flowers blooming everywhere. Different seasons also harvest of different fruits. Towards the North , there are vineyard and winnery , Olives Trees are common sight in Israel and also Palm Trees and many more. Inter-city buses are cheap and convience, taxi are available .
Any informations regarding passport can check with Israel Embassy in Singapore. Don't miss out Israel after all if you are paying airfare all the way the Egypt and Jordan why miss out Israel. Shalom ! (Peace):angel:

 

[ManWearPants]

Join Date: Dec 2009
Posts: 4,294,967,266

You have 4 billion posts within 9 months!!! What have you been posting?? :bigeyes:

 

[bglow]

You have 4 billion posts within 9 months!!! What have you been posting?? :bigeyes:

Ha!ha! Good Question ! I have not post anything because I dont know how to go about posting them and is only this few weeks I ask question in the thread about Nikon lens. 4 billion is not me !!! I only share about Israel , Jordan and Egypt of what I know especially Israel because I find that there are too many beautiful things to digest there. When I find
the place interesting I should share it with others so that they will also be blessd!:bsmilie:

 

[barracuda]

Just to share some information on applying for a 2nd Singapore passport for travel to Israel. I called up ICA and they said yes I can do it. You can find the procedure here. It is very much like normal passport application (the cost too).

 

[barracuda]

Thanks for all the inputs from our kind forum members. Now I am back and want to make my contribution to people who want to visit Jordan/Egypt in the future.

You can find some information here. If you need any further information, just PM me, will be glad to help if I can.