Overland from Bulgaria to Palestine

[Deleted User]

A small group of us are planning to walk/public transport from Bulgaria to Palestine via Turkey, Syria, Lebanon and Israel.

We are clearly aware of the war in Syria, but would like to know if anyone has visited recently. We are not naive... we'll try and keep safe passage.

Our walk is in support of the right of the people of Palestine to a safe country. We hope to raise awareness and to help people that we meet either at the time or at a later date.

I have walked solo overland across Africa (Morocco to Botswana) and traveled and worked in war zones (Chad, Uganda) so I have experience of challenging travel. In addition, in December 2013 we hosted two Syrian refugee families whilst they waited for their paperwork to get to Germany - they left us in April this year, but are still in contact.

Our group want to do this trip to show our support to the people of Palestine. We know the risks. We just want to know if anyone's traveled to/in Syria this year who might be able to share their experience. The Syrians are getting on with their lives the best they can... hotels are still open in places.

Thank you in advance.

silvercar

Can you get insurance?

I don't know your exact route planned, but the FCO now advise against travelling in certain areas.

https://www.gov.uk/foreign-travel-advice/israel

Is regularly updated.
(Actually covers occupied territories too).

[Deleted User]

Thanks Silvercar. Worldwide insurance is available, with stipulations as to where you can travel and be covered. I have travelled solo as a female in countries of war and know there are areas within a war torn country that are open and safe (with necessary precautions). I spent Christmas Day 1995 in Chad in a cafe with half a wall missing (bomb) and the surviving walls having pock marks from gunfire. And it was a great Christmas!

We know families in Syria and hotels are still open - Syrians still need to earn a living even if conditions at the hotels are now entirely different from three years ago, before the war began. I'm managing expectations... being clear as to the risks, keeping up-to-date on issues in the area so that I can be prepared. I was arrested for being a South African spy in Zambia in 1996 (I've never been a spy... couldn't be as I can't hide when I'm lying!) but because I knew it was likely to happen, I was as prepared as I could be.

The Foreign and Commonwealth Office have to err on the side of caution. They advised all UK nationals to stay out of Uganda in early 1996, but I didn't. I worked there and it was an extraordinary and positive experience. It gives people in war torn countries some hope to see tourists - it shows them hey are not forgotten people. And it meant that I could communicate with those in the UK about things that media were not picking up. We hope for the same with this trip.

I appreciate your response. It helps me to be clear as to my aims and objectives and the risks I'm prepared to take... which are high, but not stupid or putting any other person at risk.

Sorry for such a long post!

zagfles

I thought the Lebanon/Israel and Syria/Israel borders were closed? The Lebanese certainly don't allow you to enter from Israel, and won't even let you in if you have an Israeli stamp in your passport! So I doubt the border is open. You'd probably have to go via Jordan.

Personally I think your trip is daft - the Syrians are in just as great a need of a safe country to live in, wars are terrible, everyone knows that, you don't need to walk through two war zones to prove it!

vegasvisitor

While I understand that OP's heart is in the right place, I also can't see how going a walk to support is helping anyone. I'm not sure if the others are prompting you to go or vice versa, but I think it's definitely risky, and possibly not very well thought out. Consider the loved ones of all involved, and how they will feel if anything happened. I don't think MSE is necessarily the best place for advice on making such a decision about such things.