travel to middle east by 'bike

[jasecole]

i am trying to get to israel by motorbike but keep hitting dead ends. does anyone know about prices of local motor insurance in turkey, syria, jordan, lebanon, israel ? anything about import duties in same countries ? do i need a route carnet for syria (hope not - expensive ! ) does anyone know an alternate route from greece / turkey to israel, possibly by ferry ? would be most grateful for any help. i don't want to fly. jase.

[Sylday]

I think one of your main problems in going overland is simply that several of the countries have no/bad relations with Israel, especially Syria and Lebanon; and if they get a hint of your final destination will probably simply not let you in (or worse). It would certainly be easier to ship your 'bike to Israel from Greece. There are normally ferry services to Haifa in Israel from the Greek island of Rhodes; and you can easily take your 'bike to Rhodes from the mainland, either directly from Piraeus, or by island-hopping in the Aegean.