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Europe Topics specific to Western and Eastern Europe, from UK to the Russian border, and south-east to Turkey.
Photo by Alessio Corradini, on the Salar de Uyuni, Bolivia, of two locals

I haven't been everywhere...
but it's on my list!


Photo by Alessio Corradini,
on the Salar de Uyuni, Bolivia,
of two locals



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  #1  
Old 24 Mar 2008
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UK to Atlanya (Turkey)
Hi

I have 2 weeks off coming up soon and have friends I'd like to see in Turkey and fancy riding there.
Does anyone have any experience or done a simular route so you can tell me realistically how long it would take to ride there. The AA route finder says about 55 hours - what does it account for?

I don't want to ride the whole 2 weeks and would like a holiday of about a week whilst there and don't want to put in a nick saunders attempt. I will be on a sports bike so tend to get a bit sore after 7 hours riding.

Any ideas?
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  #2  
Old 24 Mar 2008
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hi,

i did UK to Turkiye on 2006. my timings are:

0500 wake up at Dover, catch the ferry at 0600 to Calais
riding to Switzerland throu France.
next day (13 hours later)
0000 o'clock at the Swiss border. (i had problems on my rear shock so i had a lot of break)
0845 near Milan (including 2 hours sleep at the service station)
1000 miss the ferry from venice to igumenitsa
1300 small stop in verona for shock problems
1600 arrived venice and camp near the airport vasco de gama
next day
1000 catch the ferry to Igumenitsa
next day
1300 arrived igumenitsa
next day (13 hours later)
0200 arrived to Turkish border

if i hadn't the shock problem i could arrive 24 hr earlier to Turkish border. So, if you push hard like me, UK to Turkiye take about 60-65 hours (including small lost in France and Switzerland at night). my avarage speed was 70 mph.

and from the border to Antalya, you will probably need another 15 hrs.

ride safe!
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  #3  
Old 25 Mar 2008
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Hey

tahnks, i didn't know you could get the ferry. i was thinking of riding through bulgaria/romania
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Old 25 Mar 2008
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try this:

Greek Ferries, tickets on ferry routes Italy-Greece-Italy and Greek ISlands

hope this will help

have fun
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  #5  
Old 26 Mar 2008
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thanks, but other than a saunders attempt do you think 2 weeks is ample to get there and back at a leisurely pace with the best part of a week in between or should i just fly then hire ?
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Old 26 Mar 2008
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if you wanna ride to Turkiye, it will take almost a week go and return and you have one week for holiday. if it is ok for you then ride. other option is ride a bike as you say.

personally i dont want to rent bike abroad. it is up you.
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  #7  
Old 31 Mar 2008
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Antalya
thanks for the info you posted, just one more question: Were you meaning it would take a few days of riding to Antalya and a few days back (thus taking a week)? or did you mean it will take a week there and a week back?

I have 2 weeks to take off and would prefer to ride there - bit suspect about riding in bulgaria incase of theft
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Old 31 Mar 2008
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Hi,

I don't think that theft is a bigger problem in Bulgaria than elsewhere, but beware of speed-controls all the way through Bulgaria.

How about goin south on the coastal road down the Croatian Coast, a beauty in itself. Then through Albania, Macedonia into Greece and Turkey. This is already a holiday drive.

On the way back you could take the classic Autoput through Bulgaria and Serbia (long queues at the borders in the holiday season).

Turkey: the coast from Canakkale to Antalya is beautiful, but on the way back, I`d go straight up inland through Istanbul to Edirne.

All possible in 2 weeks, and nice if you really like driving.

Regards,
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Old 31 Mar 2008
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Ride
Martyn,

I think if you look at the Michelin site, it estimates it to be about 3,000 km. That means roughly 30 hours of riding time on freeways which can be six days at five hours per day, three days at ten hours per day, or if you have stupidly told your new girlfriend that you will pick her up at the airport in Istanbul on a specific day, you can do it one continuous push of thirty hours straight (not recommended). All depends on how much you would want to ride per day and still enjoy.

The perfect way is actually to spend one week riding one way along the beautiful roads and coast line, and spend the other week in Turkey which an amazing place to ride. It would be a classic trip to post on the HUBB and see if someone wants to share and ride the bike the other direction back for you. If that doesn't work out, I would rent a bike there and spend the rest of the time exploring more of Turkey. There are some great guys from Turkey on this site and they could recommend some rides that would easily occupy the two weeks.
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Old 1 Apr 2008
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Quote:
Originally Posted by martync View Post
thanks for the info you posted, just one more question: Were you meaning it would take a few days of riding to Antalya and a few days back (thus taking a week)? or did you mean it will take a week there and a week back?

I have 2 weeks to take off and would prefer to ride there - bit suspect about riding in bulgaria incase of theft
hi again,

i ment if you push a bit hard and take the ferry from Italy to Greece one week is enough from Scotland to Turkiye and back. you can rest on board in ferry. it is really good after 30 hours of ride. if you have time restriction ferry is the best option.

so, you will have 1 week for you to have a nice holiday in Antalya.

have fun, and contact me if you have any problem in Turkiye via my mobile
+90 506 5318025
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  #11  
Old 1 Apr 2008
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Guys thanks for the info

That pushing hard thing may end up a pain in the neck with a non faired bike but maybe worth a try

Will post my trip if I ride there
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  #12  
Old 1 Apr 2008
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Hi have a look at the thread called turkey trot on ::. UKGS'er.com .:: - Powered by vBulletin Some of these guys have just been there and back in 9 days. Im off at the end of may and hope to do it in 11 days. Also try All Greek Ferries routes from/to Italy, Greece and Greek islands, Albania, Turkey, Cyprus, Israel. Ferries in Greece. Sea Travel Ferries to Greek islands. Greek Ferries/Boat/Ship Schedules for Italy Greece Albania Turkey + Greek Islands. Greek Ferrie . When are you going/what on?
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Old 2 Apr 2008
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Thanks for the info spot

not sure when I'm going, pretty much easy for me to go when want, hoping in a few weeks, i have another trip planned for end of june/july so can't leave it too late.

I'm off on a hornet 900 - not the best travel/adventure bike but I reckon as good as anything else out there for Europe and not a huge bulky thing like BMW,i found last year a sports bike is much more fun when on the roads as apposed to a big trailie.

Why is everyone telling me to go to Greece and get a Ferry - why not ride all the way - is it so much quicker or are the roads in Turkey (Istambul to Antalya) murder?
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Old 3 Apr 2008
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Hi Martyn

I travelled from the Uk to Turkey by Land Rover in July, August 2008 the journey took 5 days to get from Dover to Istanbul. We travelled through France, Belgium, Germany, Austria, Hungary, Serbia, Bulgaria & into Turkey. We stayed in Turkey for 10 days then headed back home we camped when ever possible

cheers Eric
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Old 4 Apr 2008
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Hi, im not telling you to go via greece, its just the way im planning to go but we are coming back through as many different balkan countries as we can. Seems logical to go in a circular route somehow. We are going on those big bulky beemers aswell, its funny but they dont seem as heavy at 90 Mines an r1150rs and my lad has a k1200rs.

anyone got any must see places along the way? so far our aim is to get across the sea of marmaris at the dardanelles end and see a bit of turkey , visit mostar and a bikers pub in novi sad. Anywhere else anyone?
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