This section is quite a detailed diary with all my movements across the involved countries in Middle East. Besides functioning as a sort of “position tracker”, it will hopefully provide extra info (timeframe, logistics, transport, fares, etc.) to anybody interested in a similar route in the future. So let’s start the trip together !
ITALY:
February 2, 2018 – Milan > Beirut (Lebanon)
- by flight bought on Volagratis website , 101,17 €.
LEBANON:
February 10, 2018 – Beirut > Tyre > Beirut, 82 + 82 Km
- by local minivan: Beirut Cola Hub – Sidon 2000 LL; Sidon – Tyre 2000 LL; Tyre – Sidon 3000 LL; Sidon – Beirut Cola Hub 3000 LL.
February 11, 2018 – Beirut > Beit-ed-dine > Deir El Qamar > Beirut, 41 + 4 + 37 Km
- by local minivan: Beirut Cola Hub – Beit-ed-dine 3000 LL; Kfarhim – Beirut Cola Hub 3000 LL.
February 12, 2018 – Beirut > Tripoli > Beirut, 86 + 86 Km
- by local minivan: Beirut Charles Helou Hub – Tripoli 3500 LL; Tripoli – Beirut 2000 LL.
February 14, 2018 – Beirut > Baalbek > Aanjar > Beirut, 91 + 47 + 60 Km
- by local minivan: Beirut Michel Zakhour – Baalbek 5000 LL; Baalbek – Chtoura 3000 LL; Chtoura – Aanjar 1000 LL; Aanjar – Beirut 6000 LL.
February 15, 2018 – Beirut > Byblos > Beirut, 37 + 37 Km
- by local minivan: Beirut Charles Helou – Byblos 2000 LL; Byblos – Beirut 2000 LL.
February 16, 2018 – Beirut > Bsharri > Beirut, 108 + 108 Km
- by friend’s car.
February 20, 2018 – Beirut > Jeita Grotto > Beirut, 20 + 20 Km
- by local minivan: Beirut Charles Helou – Jeita Junction 1000 LL; Jeita Junction – Beirut 1000 LL.
- on foot from Jeita Junction to Jeita Grotto (around 6 Km) and from Jeita Grotto to Jeita Junction
UNITED ARAB EMIRATES:
February 21, 2018 – Beirut > Dubai (UAE)
- by flight bought on Flydubai website, 109 €.
February 23, 2018 – Dubai > Wadi Maidaq > Dubai, 103 + 103 Km
- by friend’s car.
OMAN:
February 25, 2018 – Dubai – Muscat (Oman), 420 Km
- by bus: ticket bought at Mwasalat’s office in Dubai, 55 AED.
February 28, 2018 – Muscat Azaiba > Bahla > Jibreen > Bahla, 179 + 8 + 8 Km
- by bus: ticket bought at Mwasalat‘s office in Azaiba, 2 OMR.
- by hitchhiking from Bahla to Jibreen
- by friend’s car from Jibreen to Bahla
March 1, 2018 – Bahla > Jebel Shams > Bahla > Muscat, 66 + 66 + 179 Km
- by hitchhiking from Bahla to Jebel Shams and from Jebel Shams to Bahla
- by bus from Bahla to Muscat, 2 OMR.
March 2, 2018 – Muscat Azaiba > Duqm, 538 Km
- by bus: ticket bought at Mwasalat’s office in Azaiba, 5 OMR.
March 3, 2018 – Duqm > Mahout > Shannah > Hilf (Masirah Island), 184 + 58 Km
- by hitchhiking from Duqm to Shannah
- by small boat from Shannah to Hilf, 2 OMR.
March 5, 2018 – Hilf > Shannah > Wadi Shab, 338 Km
- by boat: ticket bought at National Ferries Oman (NFC)‘s office, 3.60 OMR.
- by hitchhiking
March 6, 2018 – Wadi Shab > Muscat, 161 Km
- by hitchhiking
March 8, 2018 – Muscat Burj As’ Sahwah Roundabout > Dubai, 406 Km
- by bus: ticket bought at Mwasalat’s office in Burj As’ Sahwah, 5.50 OMR.
EGYPT:
March 9, 2018 – Dubai > Alexandria (Egypt)
- by flight bought on Edreams website, 112 €.
March 11, 2018 – Alexandria > Cairo, 220 Km
- by train: ticket bought at Alexandria Masr Station, 30 EGP.
March 14, 2018 – Cairo > Dahab, 537 Km
- by bus: ticket bought at Cairo Turgoman Bus Station, 150 EGP.
March 15, 2018 – Dahab > Nuweiba, 70 Km
- by bus: ticket bought at Dahab Bus Station, 30 EGP.
March 16, 2018 – Nuweiba > Aqaba Port (Jordan), 77 Km
- by boat: ticket bought at AB Maritime office in Nuweiba, 75 USD.
JORDAN:
March 16, 2018 – Aqaba Port > Wadi Rum, 71 Km
- by hitchhiking from Aqaba Port to Aqaba (9 Km)
- by minivan from Aqaba to Ar Rashidiyah, 6 JD
- by hitchhiking from Ar Rashidiyah to Wadi Rum
March 18, 2018 – Wadi Rum > Wadi Musa (Petra), 113 Km
- by hitchhiking
March 20, 2018 – Wadi Musa > Dana, 54 Km
- by bus from Wadi Musa to Shobak, 2 JD
- by hitchhiking from Shobak to Dana
March 21, 2018 – Dana > Karak > Dead Sea > Amman, 252 Km
- by bus from Dana to Karak intersection with King’s Highway, 2 JD
- by hitchhiking from Karak intersection to Karak
- by bus from Karak to Al-Mazraah, 1 JD
- by hitchhiking from Al-Mazraah to Amman
April 1, 2018 – Amman > Ajloun > Amman, 144 Km
- by bus from Tabarbour North Station, 1 JD
April 4, 2018 – Amman > Erbil (Iraq)
- by flight bought on Travel2be website, 238 €
IRAQ:
April 6, 2018 – Erbil > Hanara > Erbil, 31 + 31 Km
- by car
April 8, 2018 – Erbil > Lalish > Erbil, 128 + 128 Km
- by hitchhiking
April 9, 2018 – Erbil > Gali Ali Bag > Korek > Erbil, 108 + 108 Km
- by car
April 11, 2018 – Erbil > Akre > Erbil, 118 + 118 Km
- by hitchhiking
April 14, 2018 – Erbil > Deraluk > Erbil, 230 + 230 Km
- by car
April 21, 2018 – Erbil > Dukan > Erbil, 120 + 120 Km
- by car
April 22, 2018 – Erbil > Sulaymaniyah, 202 Km
- by hitchhiking
April 24, 2018 – Sulaymaniyah > Erbil, 202 Km
- by hitchhiking
April 28, 2018 – Erbil > Akre > Erbil, 118 + 118 Km
- by car
April 30, 2018 – Erbil > Piranshahr (Iran) > Teheran, 1009 Km
- by hitchhiking from Erbil to Piranshahr
- by bus from Piranshahr to Teheran: ticket bought at Piranshahr bus station, 555,000 IRR.
IRAN
May 1, 2018 – Teheran > Esfahan, 447 Km
- by car
May 4, 2018 – Esfahan > Teheran, 447 Km
- by car
May 26, 2018 – Tehran (Rahahan railway station) > Zahedan, 1465 Km
- by train: ticket bought online on Raja website, 998,000 IRR.
May 28, 2018 – Zahedan > Mirjaveh > Taftan (Pakistan), 91 Km
- by shared taxi, 300,000 IRR
