travel from turkey via cyprus to greece

siegfried


Joined: 23/07/2009
Posts: 4

Message Posted:
23/07/2009 14:41

We want to make a long voyage with our campervan in Greece and Turkey in 2010.

We'll drive to Istanbul, visit Troj and the Izmir coast, till we take the ferry to Northern Cyprus. We will visit N. Cyprus, then cross the border in Nicosia and visit the other site.

Then take a ferry to a Greek island (Rhodos ?).

Is all this possible ? Meaning: coming in from Turkey and leaving trough Limmasol ?



Thanks !

crofter


Joined: 16/12/2008
Posts: 1035

Message Posted:
23/07/2009 14:49

NO WAY ! I very much doubt they will let you leave the Greek side when your point of entry is the TRNC.

Carndi


Joined: 12/06/2009
Posts: 613

Message Posted:
23/07/2009 14:53

Cant see why not. People go to the UK from the south even though they have entered Cyprus via the north.

Holding a UK passport gives you right of entry to and from all EU member countries.

crofter


Joined: 16/12/2008
Posts: 1035

Message Posted:
23/07/2009 15:24

Carndi - Yes agreed about the passport BUT entering the TRNC would be entering Cyprus through an illegal port which I do believe the Greek Cypriots would not accept.

mmmmmm



Joined: 19/12/2008
Posts: 8398

Message Posted:
23/07/2009 15:26

Dear Siegfried



re msg 1



As long as your vehicle is legal in the EU, then it is legal in the "rump" RoC..



I'd advise crossing over via the SBA - Sovereign Base Area - the British have two crossing points.



If you are checking ahead DO NOT call it a "border" if you wish a Greek Cypriot to be "helpful"..



YES, it might be an "issue" to leave via Limas(s)ol - as you have arrived via a "non recognised point of entry" - I would contact the RoC and get a response in writing what they want you to do - just to get it sorted BEFORE you arrive..



IF you don't get the answer you WANT to hear - then contact the EU for free 0080067891011 and they can advise how to get help. The RoC cannot impede your journey if you and your vehicle are "EU legal"..

siegfried


Joined: 23/07/2009
Posts: 4

Message Posted:
23/07/2009 15:53

Thanks for the info.

I was afraid it would not be easy...

Up date on us: we are a Belgian couple with a Belgian registered licenseplate on our campervan.

The idea of crossing via the SBA seems a good one.

Looking forward to more replys.



Siegfried

flightholiday


Joined: 19/07/2007
Posts: 3217

Message Posted:
23/07/2009 17:21

If I was to do this I would first ask the AA or RAC for advice (assuming you are a member of one of them).



I am guessing but I think that the smoother option would be Greece > Cyprus > North Cyprus > Turkey but you need to ask each countries tourist board or consulate to ensure there is not problem with cross border transits one way in any case

cyprusairsoft



Joined: 22/06/2009
Posts: 2066

Message Posted:
23/07/2009 19:55

never found a gc helpful yet

Fred8


Joined: 15/01/2009
Posts: 253

Message Posted:
23/07/2009 20:04

In theory, if the car is "eu" there should not be a problem otherwise forum members who travl to UK via south after having entered through ercan would not have been able to avil it.



mmmmmm



are the sba crossing open al night? which is prefereable the these or the methan one in the wee hours of the morning?

mmmmmm



Joined: 19/12/2008
Posts: 8398

Message Posted:
24/07/2009 10:06

Hi Fred8



to be accurate I said if the vehicle is "EU legal"...there shouldn't be a problem. The issue is not the passport holder - purely the vehicle.



YES, the SBA crossings are open 24 hours, but IF vehicle insurance is an issue - they you wouldn't be able to buy it.



Metahan / Ayios Dometios doesn't have 24 hour vehicle insurance cover south arriving to north - sorry don't think it has north - arriving south- either...



Again.. if your vehicle is EU legal ( Green card covering RoC, EU taxed and current EU based MOT ) you SHOULDN'T need to worry.



re msg 8



>>never found a gc helpful yet<<



Hmm, now if I posted on here that I had never found a TC helpful, yet << I would be roundly condemned as an IDIOT - making STUPID generalisations - and rightly so....

mmmmmm



Joined: 19/12/2008
Posts: 8398

Message Posted:
24/07/2009 10:11

re msg 6 siegfried



It really SHOULD be easy:



Please try writing here.. and if you get a complicated answer - let me know... I can show you how to get the EU involved to solve it ! ..



For any further information please contact the:



Consular Department of the Embassy of the Republic of Cyprus

Avenue de Cortenbergh 61

1000 Brussels



Tel: 02 - 650 06 10

Fax: 02 - 650 06 20

Email: ambassade.cyprus@skynet.be



or the



Consular Department

Ministry of Foreign Affairs of the Republic of Cyprus

Presidential Palace Avenue,

1447, Nicosia

CYPRUS



Tel: +357 22 401222 / 401124 / 401131

Fax: +357 22 661881 / 665313 / 665778

Email: minforeign1@mfa.gov.cy



You have the RIGHT to travel freely around the EU in a legally insured, taxed, and EU certified roadworthy car.



It is only if you intend to remain more than six months that you need to re-register the vehicle in another EU state..

fire starter


Joined: 19/06/2008
Posts: 3401

Message Posted:
24/07/2009 15:18

you can get a ferry to some of the greek islands from turkey on the izmir/bodrum coast.

why not give that a go.

Hippo


Joined: 02/02/2007
Posts: 2070

Message Posted:
24/07/2009 16:07

As far as i know there is no ferry from ROC to Greece it stopped many years ago. There is a car ferry from Datcha to Rhodos. There are passanger ferrys from Kas, Fetyie, Marmaris, Datcha and Bodrum some of those are only during the summer months they are also very expensive reletive to the inter island ferrys in Greece.

50 eroes return Marmaris -Rhodos 2 years ago.

Oleander


Joined: 03/05/2009
Posts: 302

Message Posted:
24/07/2009 17:25

I've recently had to research this situation for NZ pals who were planning to come into Ercan from Turkey and then over into Larnaca. Got such confusing info I drove to the SBA Agios Nik crossing and asked them. They phoned thro' to somewhere else to check what the definite situation is. Won't go into all the boring long details they gave but, in a nutshell



#They are in the group of non EU Nationals who require a Visa issued by their Cyprus Embassy in NZ.

#This visa has to be stamped when they enter Cyprus to validate it.

#It can only be stamped at a legal point of entry - there are 3 Larnaca Airport, Paphos Airport and Limassol Port

# If you fly into Ercan (in the North) they will stamp your passport or visa or whatever but you will not be allowed across the Border Crossing into the South



No probs doing it t'other way round coming into LCA first. They changed their plans to do this. I certainly would not want to rely on anyone turning a blind eye - having come that far!

mmmmmm



Joined: 19/12/2008
Posts: 8398

Message Posted:
24/07/2009 21:57

OK Ferries



info here: http://www.cruisecyprus.com/grimaldi_itineraries_and_prices.htm



found a link in Belgium.. http://www.diplomatie.be/nicosia/default.asp?ACT=5&content=19&id=28&mnu=28



re msg 14



The original poster is BELGIAN.. the RoC immigration laws are superseded by EU Directives that allow EU citizens to cross "north to south".



The vehicle is registered in the EU - same should apply.



ErolZ is quiet at the mo, but his NZ partner is never challenged when crossing "north to south".. The RoC seem to leave Caucasians alone - they SHOULD check all passports - but - esp at Ledra Palace - rarely do.

Oleander


Joined: 03/05/2009
Posts: 302

Message Posted:
24/07/2009 22:13

Ooops missed the Belgian bit!



I was told by the personnel at Ay Nik that Ledra is the place most likely to ignore any rules. But also told by them that the Ay Nik SBA crossing was the one my NZ pals would definitely NOT be allowed through coming N to S having arrived in the N at Ercan from Turkey.



I cross back and forth all the time (just came back thro Ay Nik earlier today). Even some of those working at the crossings are unaware what the situation is themselves (as I said, when I enquired, they had to phone for confirmation).



There is a lot of misinformation and mixed info regarding visiting and crossing over. On holiday in Egypt earlier this year, we were speaking to a Brit Army lad from Akrotiri who said he wasn't 'allowed' to visit the North. But I've just returned from 3 days in Kyrenia where one of my fellow hotel guests is serving with the Army in RoC and he said he goes over everytime he gets enough time off.

Brinsley


Joined: 04/04/2009
Posts: 6858

Message Posted:
24/07/2009 22:22

At least the Kiwis don't rip off the visiting Turks to NZ hence no visa fee for Kiwis entering Turkey.



Richard

mmmmmm



Joined: 19/12/2008
Posts: 8398

Message Posted:
24/07/2009 23:18

Hi Oleander



re msg 16



The SBA merely enforce the EU Green line regulations - it is ironically easier to break the EU/ RoC laws at the RoC manned crossing points...



Conversely, If you are an EU Citizen - I would cross at the SBA - if involving a vehicle - that is arriving via the north - as long as you are certain of EU compliance in all areas.

siegfried


Joined: 23/07/2009
Posts: 4

Message Posted:
26/07/2009 20:39

Confusion enough !!



I posed the question ,via mail, to the EU in Brussels. It takes them 8 days to sort it out. I let the forum know their answer. I also found out that their is indeed no ferryline from RoC to Greece (mainland or island), only Grimaldi. So I guess the plan will be: ferry from mainland Turkey to TRNC, via some checkpoint to RoC and back (!) then again to mainland Turkey. Later via some Turkish port, islandhopping, to mainland Greece.

All posters : thanx a lot for your help !



As a Belgian, I know about surrealistic situations...

siegfried


Joined: 23/07/2009
Posts: 4

Message Posted:
02/08/2009 11:16

The EU answer !

I received an answer to my question (see msg1), I will translate it from Dutch.

Question 64526-28/07/09 (case_ID: 0178647/0000000)

"The regular points of entry of the RoC are the ports of Larnaca and Pafos, and the seaports of Larnaca, Limassol, Latsi and Pafos.All other points of entry are forbidden. Altough EU citizens are allowed to cross the border between the Northern and Southern part of the island, no matter where there point of entry on the island was. You need an IDcard or passport. There are 5 borderpoints: 1) Nicosia Methan, 2) Nicosia Ledra, 3) Guzelyurt/Astromeritis (cars must pass here), 4) Black Knight (British zone) and 5) Pergamos Crossing (British zone)." The EU advises to contact the RoC before travelling, see here-under.

My conclusion: you can leave the RoC by ferry, no matter the point of entry on the island (meaning TRNC).

More info: RoC - http://www.mfa.gov.cy/mfa/mfa2006.nsf/index_en/index_en?OpenDocument

Thanks to all posters.

Siegfrie

Cyprusquest


Joined: 09/12/2008
Posts: 428

Message Posted:
02/08/2009 18:50

Siegfried I would be careful with your conclusion as the ROC people can have a mood and if nothing else delay you.



Good luck - keep us informed.

magalan


Joined: 17/01/2009
Posts: 227

Message Posted:
02/08/2009 21:53

What a extremely interesting and superbly conducted thread. If only ALL threads were as well run.



Good luck with your travels Siegfried - please keep us posted.

flightholiday


Joined: 19/07/2007
Posts: 3217

Message Posted:
03/08/2009 10:21

Good luck on the journey - please keep us informed of how it goes on this thread.

Hippo


Joined: 02/02/2007
Posts: 2070

Message Posted:
03/08/2009 11:21

As regards NZ nationals we have had a number of NZ friends visit us and they have experienced no problem in crossing from North to South.