Hi !

After 2 years touring around Africa i am about to take the ferry from Egypt to Turkey and will land in Iskenderun, not far from the Syrian border.

I am in a very big hurry to get back to Germany before chrismas, that is why i wonder what would be the fastest and shortest route to Istanbul ? How high are the motorway fees in Turkey ? I cannot go faster than 80km/h anyway.

Which mountains are to cross and very important, how are the temperatures I can expect ?? Any snow / icy streets to expect in the next 2 weeks ?

I am riding a old 1975 125cc vespa scooter, so too mountainish woulndnt be ideal either.

Any advice hightly appreciated !

greetings from Alexandria / Egypt

Chris

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Route 1....
Hatay-Adana-pozantı-aksaray(discluding cappadocia) 476 km.
free camping by the salt lake side available.or many hotels in aksaray.

Aksaray-ankara-istanbul (rush traffic route) 685 km.
istanbul/sultanahmet-edirne 275 km.(Bulgaria bordergate)
istanbul/sultanahmet ipsala 256 km. (greece bordergate)

Route 2...
Or if you want to leave Turkey to Greece at once,you must disclude istanbul.In this case, you will take adana-pozantı-konya-afyon-kütahya-balıkesir-edremit-ezine-çanakkale route. which is 1323 km...plus 135 km.(30 km.climb).from çanakkale to ipsala.(greece bordergate)After the ferry from lapseki to gelibolu you are in europe side then about 2 hours to greece border by vespa.
(Also another ferry line between çanakkale and eceabat)
eceabat gelibolu road is narrow and not in good condition.almost 1 line..

When you enter Turkey after africa, you will be africa lagged so please be carefull and dont rush.(similar to jetlags) Roads are good asphalt,wide..free roads available next to toll roads..

At all post offices (Turkish postane amblem PTT),you can buy toll passes... 5 tl.deposit and minimum 35 tl credit must be loaded..this amount will cover all your needs..
Toll roads are between İskenderun pozantı and ankara istanbul.Then istanbul edirne to exit to bulgaria or istanbul kınalı to exit to greece..

On both routes by free road sides,many hotels,restaurants and gas stations available..(o each toll road only 1 gas station with a cafe)..gas is most expensive here..almost 2 euros per liter now..
Mountain climbs between adana / pozantı and ankara/bolu..bosphorus bridges are free from asia to europe...
Bogaziçi bridge route is shorter than Fatih Sultan mehmet bridge route to city center.Or after the toll booths at the entrance of istanbul,follow the road signs to harem to take the ferry to sirkeci which is city center and next to touristic sultanahmet area....

weather; partly rainy everywhere, colder at inlands..evenings are cold also..no snow yet between your landing point and bordergates to europe..Weather around istanbul, is like woman we call..you can never imagine the following mood!!!

Hope will cover all the information you need..any more questions always welcome.

wish you all the best..
mehmet zeki avar
https://www.facebook.com/mehmet.avar.12?ref=tn_tnmn

In addition to the information above...:

weather forecast of Turkey for the following 5 days..
Turkish State Meteorological Service Official Web Sites

+ 1

This is good advice.

Another option:

From Aksaray ride directly to Izmir and Cesme and take a ferry to Chios and from Chios to Piraeus (Athens) almost hassle free.

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"where the traveller goes, nobody knows ! "