Motorhome to Cyprus

[Don Madge]

Motorhome to Cyprus
I've recently received a few E-mails on taking a motorhome to Cyprus, this
is the latest info as of the 13th September 2007.

There have been no car ferries sailing between mainland Greece and southern
(Greek) Cyprus for the last five/six years. There's a cruise line ferry that
runs from mid June to mid September but this has a height limit of 1.7
metres. There's also an all year RO/RO freight ferry but the cost can be
horrendous for a large motorhome.

The only way to drive a motorhome to Cyprus now is via Turkey, it's a long
trek, the distance is approx 2,200/2,500 miles depending on which route you
take

In the past one had the added complication of having to buy third party
insurance when one landed in northern (Turkish) Cyprus to transit to
southern (Greek) Cyprus.

My insurers Comfort (Norwich Union) have stated that a Green Card is no longer
required for southern (Greek) Cyprus and they can issue manually a Green
Card for northern (Turkish) Cyprus.

You can now drive to Turkey overland without leaving the EU, this makes life
a lot easier when crossing borders. Having said that you will still require
a manual Green Card for Romania, Bulgaria and of course Turkey/northern
Cyprus.

If you use the ferry option from Italy to Greece you will just require a
manual Green Card for Turkey/northern Cyprus.

Fergun Ferries (http://www.fergun.net/uk/) sail from Tasucu in Turkey to Girne
in northern Cyprus.

EU citizens can cross the border between north and south Cyprus. If you
arrive in Cyprus from Turkey you must leave the same way. If you arrive from
Greece you must leave that way. At present a round trip is not possible.

Don't bother contacting the Greek Cypriot tourist office in London for info
on travelling via Turkey. They will not even admit there is a way out
through northern Cyprus.

If you would like further info on travelling to Cyprus via eastern Europe or
via the ferry option from Italy to Greece please contact me by E-mail.

Don Madge
MMM Travel Consultant for Cyprus

 

[Big Westy]

I checked out the ro-ro ferry from Piraeus to Limassol (Crete)
last week. Cost one way, for me & Big Westy, (5.3 X 3.1 mtrs)
was working out at around 1200 euros....... gulp !!!
I'm off to Santorini tomorrow instead ;-)
(Ios to Santorini ..... 50 euros).

 

[Don Madge]

Hi Don Madge.
We did the same journey 18 years ago to southern Turkey and we were insured with Norwich Union!
I had serious arguments with them, pointing out how long I had been insured with them and eventually they conceded and gave me third party insurance after I crossed into the Asian side of Turkey. (The Golden Bridge).
I have to admit that this was with a car (new) and I took a chance!
I would not recommend third party insurance on a m/h unless the owner can afford to lose the money.
Anyway, when you go, I hope that you enjoy!
Why not go to the Turkish side of Cyprus, I understand that this is less developed and nicer!
regards Graham

Hi Graham,

I think you misinterperated my post. I'm not looking for any info for myself, we have been travelling to Cyprus for the last 40 years.

The post was to help people who could not get any sense out of the Greek Cypriots who maintain you can not cross the border from the Greek to the Turkish side or vice versa. We have crossed back & forth many times over the years.

We might venture there this winter if all goes according to plan.

Safe travelling

Don

 

[Don Madge]

I checked out the ro-ro ferry from Piraeus to Limassol (Crete)
last week. Cost one way, for me & Big Westy, (5.3 X 3.1 mtrs)
was working out at around 1200 euros....... gulp !!!
I'm off to Santorini tomorrow instead ;-)
(Ios to Santorini ..... 50 euros).

Hi Big Westy,

That quote was with out port fees, It's cheaper to go via Turkey.

Safe travelling

Don

 

[Don Madge]

Hi Graham,

I know what you mean.

We camped in northern Cyprus in the mid sixties well before the war.

The pan handle has some beautiful scenery and because of the partition has stayed that way.

We hope to revisit our old camping spots early next year.

Don