Route

The latest political unrest along Israeli borders has resulted in the cancelation of our boat from Haifa to Cyprus, an alternative that took several weeks to secure following the need to find a way around the closure of Syria’s borders.

It seems fitting therefore that we make a start and begin our travels in Egypt, which has experienced much of what has stopped us traveling elsewhere at one level or another. Our disappointment of not being able to reach the Black Sea and northern White Sea until later has been lessened  by the chance to cover more extensively the many rich diving and biking destinations of Egypt.

The Coloured Seas section will resume when it is safe and logistically possible. We hope in the meantime that you enjoy following this extensive preliminary trip around Egypt. We leave on the 4th June for an estimated two to three weeks.

Read more  about the preliminary trip>>

Below the plan for the Coloures Seas trip.

Countries on route:

Egypt, Jordan, Port Haifa Mediterranean, Cyprus, Turkey, Bulgaria, Romania, Ukraine, Belarus, Russia, Egypt (via plane from Ukraine). See also the distance table.

Egypt (Part 1) (view route on map)

Sharm El Sheikh to Nuweiba. Ferry to Aqaba

The Sharm El Sheikh biking community is only ten years old but extensive and growing with off-road bikes in the Sinai, custom bikes, Vespas, and some racing bikes. There is a KTM centre and the Sharm Motor Club for bike riders. The quad-bike community is also big and long established. Many years ago there were only half a dozen off-road bikes in town, many held together with duck tape and cable ties! Motorcycling in the Sinai is now big business and several motorcycle shops, dealers, mechanical services and of course riding clubs have developed to service the needs of this growing and highly popular sport. It was the participation of so many scuba divers, especially instructors, that made us appreciate how closely related these two sports really are. KTM Sharm facilitates a purpose built off-road track where you can learn the skills of motocross - Sinai Desert Style! Riccardo of The Sharm Moto Club runs trips and courses there for new and experienced riders. He takes riders around Egypt and also through the spectacular trails of the Sinai Desert.

Cairo is home to an official Harley owners club with dozens of custom bikes, some valued at over $40,000 each. The club runs regular trips to Sharm and around Egypt. They have invited us to visit and ride with them on our trip. Egypt is also home to the Pyramids and Pharaohs rallies. Wreck diving commences with a very appropriate visit to SS Thistlegorm containing the WW2 cargo of dozens of motorbikes that were destined for the troops in Upper Egypt. The trip begins at a popular bikers bar, T2, near Hadaba. Then to Sinai Blues at the Four Seasons for the big off. Then it's to Dahab and Nuweiba to board the ferry to Jordan. This is one of the few travel exceptions to road. (Sharm to Aqaba 215km)

Jordan (view route on map)

The Jordanian Red Sea has a number of wrecks and is also a popular scuba destination. The biking community is currently in a transition period with a temporary ban on some motorbikes over 200cc owing to a series of high-speed accidents involving untrained and inexperienced riders. King Abdullah owns a 1,200cc vintage Harley. He is also a big scuba fan. We have a kind invitation to visit the members of Royal Jordanian Motorcycle Club in Amman. This organisation are leading the way in biker education, the setting of standards and promoting biking tourism in the Middle East. Have a look at their website under our bikers and divers section. (Aqaba to Amman 325km)
 

Amman to Turkey

It is here that our route to Turkey has to be delayed until further notice following the cancelation of our boat from Port Haifa to Cyprus due to yet more new political unrest - now affecting Israeli boat travel. See details under the 'amendment to route section' of this site.

Turkey (view route on map)
Wartime wrecks in both the Med and Southern Black Sea. Turkey is a wreck paradise because of its proximity to Europe and Asia and its long history of war. We travel to Anatalya and Bodrum and hook up with One More Mile Riders www.ommriders.com Wreck diving takes the shape of Paris II, sunk by Turkish gun batteries in WW1. Another wreck in Antalya is The Society, a French ship sunk by the British in 1941…much to French Yann’s displeasure! He points out that the Victoria ship actually sank itself through the negligent actions of its own British crew! The Dardanelles sea straits are home to dozens of quality shipwrecks. We are currently researching the best choices.

T E Lawrence traveled extensively through these regions (and Egypt) in the early 20^th Century. His death in the UK, caused by a motorcycle accident, resulted in the invention of the crash helmet. The neurosurgeon treating the injured Lawrence investigated such head wounds and it is to him that today’s bikers owe their thanks. (Aleppo to Antalya 380km) (Antalya to Izmir 480km) (Izmir to Istanbul 600km)

Bulgaria (view route on map)

Coastal roads along the Med and Black Sea are our ideal chosen route for the long stretches by bike. Of course, that’s where the diving locations of the coloured seas are to be found; however, occasionally there will be deviations to major cities inland with a strong biking community. Sofia in Bulgaria has a major diving and biking community and more importantly… a KTM service centre! Black Sea Scuba www.blackseascuba.com are a well established dive operator with locations in the South and North of Bulgaria along the Black Sea coastline. They will take us to a number of wrecks including an airliner, submarine and ancient vessels containing many artefacts. (Istanbul to Sofia 550km) (Sofia to Burgas 400km) (Varna to Constana 160m)

Romania (view route on map)

Bucharest also has a KTM centre, dive and bike community. Romania borders the Black Sea and our diving takes place in Constanta where there are a number of quality shipwreck sites. Research continues. (Constanta to Bucharest 260km) (Bucharest to Odessa 600km)

Ukraine (view route on map: 1st part, 2nd part)

The Ukraine is the last stop in the Black Sea. Significant wreck diving is to be found off the coast of Sevastopol and Yalta which were home to the Russian fleet. These areas have been off-limits to tourists for years but recently opened in the late 90’s. The Black Sea is linked by the saltwater of the Mediterranean Sea and the freshwater tributaries such as the Danube, which is causing pollution. The result is that shipwrecks suffer less from erosion and are in better condition than their ocean counterparts. High levels of hydrogen sulphur prevent bacterial growth on wrecks. The contrast between Middle Eastern and Ukrainian and Russian bike clubs is sharp. We head straight through Ukraine to Belarus and then return to Ukraine (see below) after visiting Moscow. 

(Odessa to Yalta 630km) (Yalta to Kiev 860km)

Belarus (view route on map)

A land-locked country but noted for having 10,000 lakes. They call it ‘the country with blue eyes’. The biggest lake is Lake Naroch, 80sqkm big with a maximum depth of 25m. This lake saw action in WW1 where the Russians and Germans clashed. Unlikely to be any wrecks but will be nice to carry out a dive or two in this unlikely scuba destination. We’re in and out of Belarus via the capital, Minsk. (Kiev to Minsk 560km)

Russia (view route on map)

The largest single nationalities to visit Sharm El Sheikh, Egypt are from Russia and Ukraine. Keen motorcycle and scuba divers, the Russians dominate the holiday scene in the Red Sea. With several diving clubs and a well established biking community our trip goes to Moscow following a short visit to Murmansk in the North. (Minsk to St Petersburg 800km) (St Petersburg to Kem 850km)

Along the way we visit St Petersburg and Lake Lagoda, popular for scuba divers. On the final push north we visit the White Sea and base ourselves in Kem. A ferry leaves daily for the small island Solovetsky where there are several spectacular diving locations. And then to Murmansk. (Kem to Murmansk 560km)

In Murmansk, we will swap flags of the Sinai donated by our mayor for those of their city. We will also place a small memorial for those killed in the Kursk submarine wreck disaster of 12^th Aug 2000. This was a flagship nuclear sub that suffered an internal explosion resulting in the deaths of 118 sailors following unsuccessful rescue attempts. We are researching diving and biking destinations in the Barents Sea near Murmansk.

The homeward leg takes us to Moscow travelling 1,980 km from Murmansk. We have many diving and biking friends in Moscow and will spend a few days visiting major sites of interest.

Our trip has been adjusted to accept the kind invitation of the Moscow Night Wolves motorcycle club who have their annual bike show in Sevastapol on 15^th and 16^th July. They will introduce us to wreck diving in that area (some of their members are divers) and also take us on a bike tour of the major attractions in Yalta, Sevastapol and the Volga. http://www.nightwolves.ru/en/ The bikes will then be loaded on a plane from Kiev or Sevastapol and we will reunite with them in Cairo.

(Murmansk to Moscow 1,980 km) (Moscow to Kiev 850 km) (Kiev to Odessa 476 km) (Odessa to Sevastapol 570 km) (Sevastapol to Cairo by Air 1,600km).

Egypt – Part 2 (view route on map)

Riding into Northern Egypt taking in Alexandria and Cairo. More wreck diving in the Southern Egyptian Med. We will spend a day or two in Cairo city to visit friends and sponsors and exchange flags between the Night Wolves and the Cairo bike club. Following a trip to the Pyramids it's then home to Sharm via the Sinai road. We exit through the flood damaged wadi road outside Nuweiba and then the final leg to Sharm El Sheikh for a well-earned beer in T2 after stopping at the official finishing point of Sinai Blues Diving Centre at the Four Seasons Hotel in Sharm.

Distance table