driving to saudi?

ok so we will get our passports back from the saudi embassy tomorrow unless they pull a surprise on us anyways dh has a wild idea to drive there...... i know it would take forever and a day lol, but it would be a great way to see many countries:) i think its about 4000 miles, what do u guys think? we have LPG on our car its bifuel and the car is in great condition.. volvo, also the gas in ksa is so cheap!  but my concern is do we have to pay taxes of anything to drive through the countries, plus we need to map out the journey... has anyone ever drove far like that? i mean maybe to another country?  please give opinions and advices:) thanks, amy

Haven't driven quite that far but have done a 2700 mile trip from Arizona to Massachusetts in 2001.   It took a week.  A week spent in the car with my parents.  In MY car which my father insisted on driving the whole time.  I would not repeat that experience for a million dollars.

This may be naive, but will you be allowed to drive in Saudi? Is it still illegal for women to drive?

I've never done it, no, but after having watched Ewan McGregor's trip "Long Way Round", I realised that it can be tough getting through the borders of some countries. You may have to pay toll charges and/or fees to get through. I've heard border control in eastern european countries can be hard. I don't know if this is true, it's just what I heard. Only experience I've had was when I was on a bus trip for other exchange students and our guides thankfully took care of everything for us. But we were detained at Czech border for about an hour.

I'd just make sure you really planned thoroughly and knew what to expect. My worry would be going through some of the countries with an American passport. They're not as welcome in some places as a British one is and then again, British passports aren't that welcome in some places too.

http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Long_Way_Round

Saying all that, it'd be a really interesting trip. If I wasn't too afraid of being on the open road with just Jon and I, I'd probably think about it too.

hi kayla, yeah women cant drive there, however on the american army bases they do i think.... but i wont be near one;) i would drive in europe and egypt, i used to live in egypt, so i can drive there, and if anyone has ever been to cairo, they are horrible drivers and very rude to say the least, they love to honk their horns... thanks slicesmissus i can understand that would be a long drive:) when i go home to the states i go from maryland to tennessee to see my family and i drive it alone... so i love to drive but with a husband and my stepson.. i dont know

You'd need a lot of planning time and money if you were to do it!

I'd think you might find it hard to find insurers willing to insure you through that part of the world. Through Syria is the most likely route as going through Libya would be too tough visa wise.

My experience through Eastern European has been pretty good since those countries have joined the EU. It would be the middle eastern countries that would be trickier and possibly require visas in advance especially taking a car. Most people in that part of the world travel overland via public transport and borders still hold them up depending on the mood of the person that day. Having an American passport through the middle east isn't too bad if you've done your homework.

Check Lonely Planet's Thorn Tree if you are serious. I am sure it has been done by someone out there!

http://www.bbc.co.uk/radio4/womanshour/02/2007_38_fri.shtml

You might want to check into all the aspects of Saudi, hon.  Unless something has changed drastically, women's rights are, well...they don't have much of any rights there, as I understand it.  I can recall talking to a British woman who was actually jailed for driving...or was it appearing in her car without being totally covered...or both?  My point is you'll need to be totally up to speed on what is and isn't permitted there.  The law is very circumscribed and harsh on women and it makes no difference who you are or where you come from. 

http://www.state.gov/g/drl/rls/hrrpt/2007/100605.htm

hi tam2 thanks:) this is my 8th visit there, my inlaws are from there... i miss driving whilst there but to be honest the way those guys drive, lol i wouldnt want to drive on the same street.  we go every summer, and its so hot like 50 sometimes, again thanks for all the advice, i think we will fly...

hi tam2 thanks:) this is my 8th visit there, my inlaws are from there... i miss driving whilst there but to be honest the way those guys drive, lol i wouldnt want to drive on the same street.  we go every summer, and its so hot like 50 sometimes, again thanks for all the advice, i think we will fly...

Ah, I see!  And I know about the Hot--I lived in Dubai for awhile and summers there are almost as scorching!  Good luck to you on your trip!   

For driving from the UK, my own experience is that it's a clean shot all the way to Istanbul, no problems at all unless you are trying to pass through Albania. 

I can't say anything about what happens once you cross the Bosphorus.  Hopefully at least petrol would be cheaper.

I have a friend who drives to Gandhinagar every year in a beat-up old black cab.

well we bought the tickets to day on eithad airways, and we will lay over in dubai! YAY.. im so ready for the sun! but its so miserable there too.....

Howl ong will you be in Dubai for? I love UAE!

hi britwife, we will be there just for 8 hours, but we will go out of the airport. i love UAE too, espically the gold, i always try to buy some but this year i am selling some of my heavier items as the gold prices are really up....