Hello everybody
We planned the trip around Black sea (we will go clockwise, not counter ) and part of trip will be over Turkey, where we prefer to ride mostly on gravel or minor roads.
We will start from Georgia border and travel toward Istanbul and now we need advice what to see along our route. At this moment we don't have exact route plan - we will do it according "must to see" places, but we don't want go deep to south side.

Thank you for any ideas

p.s. We will start from Vilnius in the beginning of June, 5 enduro bikes.
p.p.s maybe someone from Turkey advriders would like to join us along the route?
p.p.p.s sorry for double post - here and in advrider.com

Tentative route: Lithuania, Belarus, Ukraine, Russia, with ferry to Turkey, Georgia, again back to Turkey, Bulgaria, Romania, Hungary, Slovakia, Poland and back to Lithuania

Cappadocia
Çorum, Hattusha, Alacahoyuk (Hititians' Capital)
Trabzon, Sumene Monastry
Sinop - City and the old Sinop prison
Ankara - Gordion (Capital Of Phyrigians)
Eskisehir - Midas City (Phyrigian City)
Sivas, Divriği - Ulu Mosque. (Also the tas Yolu (stone road) from kemaliye to divriği)
Kutahya, Çavdarhisarlı - Aizonai (Roman city)


These are the ones first come into my mind. When you have a better idea about route, let me know that i could advise you interesting places if there are. Also if your way passes thru Ankara, let's meet for a .

Cheers,
Ozgur

Hello Edas,

Have a good trip.
You don't see much in Turkiye with this route!

Please tell me what do you like to see especially? Off roading or seeing beautiful landscapes with interesting culture of Turkiye?

Black sea coast is very beautiful and you can go up to plateaus there (yayla in Turkish). If you are interested I can give you some routes. (make o google searc of Ayder Yayla for example).

Cappadoccia are (do another search pls) close to Kırşehir and Ankara on your route is a must. If you are not intended to go south you can ride to Safranbolu (another search pls) and see interesting houses, arcitecture. Kastamonu and Ilgaz is also magnificient.

Beypazarı around Ankara is interesting. If you like thermal bath, we have some alternatives on route (Kozaklı and Kızılcahamam). Bursa is a nice place with good history and food. Bolu and Yedigöller (make a search for Yedigöller) is not to miss. Istanbul is full of history and beauty.

If I have time (prefer it to be weekend) can join you. Actually I live in Kayseri near Cappadoccia area.

Hope this is helpful,

Sami

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"where the traveller goes, nobody knows ! "

Kobold, thank you for tips.

Sami,
actually we would like join to the real Turkish culture, speak to local people, want to see places untouched by civilization and don’t want to ride along busy roads like “Black sea coast”.
Actually our trip will be not just like simple trip – with this trip we officially will mark Millennium of Lithuania. Why around Black Sea? Because Black Sea was the most distant border of the State of Lithuania some ages ago. We will travel through many countries; we will try to visit local people with their culture and traditions. During this trip we will do documentary film which will be shown on our local TV’s (maybe it will be translated to other language, who knows). So that’s why we prefer to go by minor road and not by main lines. So generally I could say as you say Sami - our task is to find most beautiful places (landscapes) with interesting culture of Turkey ant to meet local people.
I hope now its more clear about our goal and idea.

p.s. more info about Millennium of Lithuania here: Lietuvos tûkstantmeèio minëjimo direkcija
p.p.s. sorry for my not perfect English

Quote:

Originally Posted by Samy Hello Edas, Have a good trip. You don't see much in Turkiye with this route! Please tell me what do you like to see especially? Off roading or seeing beautiful landscapes with interesting culture of Turkiye? Black sea coast is very beautiful and you can go up to plateaus there (yayla in Turkish). If you are interested I can give you some routes. (make o google searc of Ayder Yayla for example). Cappadoccia are (do another search pls) close to Kırşehir and Ankara on your route is a must. If you are not intended to go south you can ride to Safranbolu (another search pls) and see interesting houses, arcitecture. Kastamonu and Ilgaz is also magnificient. Beypazarı around Ankara is interesting. If you like thermal bath, we have some alternatives on route (Kozaklı and Kızılcahamam). Bursa is a nice place with good history and food. Bolu and Yedigöller (make a search for Yedigöller) is not to miss. Istanbul is full of history and beauty. If I have time (prefer it to be weekend) can join you. Actually I live in Kayseri near Cappadoccia area. Hope this is helpful, Sami

I agree with you. Avoid the Black Sea coast. It's one touristy beach front after another; there are far lovelier places in Turkey.

Sumele monastry, near Trabzon, is worth visiting though. It's at N40 41.148 E39 39.253

It it were me, I'd cross at Çanakkale and then ride up towards Istanbul. It depends on how much time you have but Gallipoli is beautiful in summer.
Stephan

Hi Edas

Do you have to buy Georgian Moto insurance to travel in Georgia?

Your English is good - everything is clear

Hello Edas,

How long time you are intended to spend in Turkiye?

I will have some work on it and give you some advice about your project and aim.

Don't worry. We can solve it. Just tell me how long time you are intended to spend time in Turkiye?

Will you be using a GPS?

What are your motorbikes?

Cheers,

Samy

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"where the traveller goes, nobody knows ! "

Hi Edas,

We did not take gravel roads, but still perhaps you can get some insperation from our Turkey movie on Going East - Home of Life Is Joy - Home

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Movies from our motortravels around the world: www.LifeIsJoy.nl

Hello Samy

Regarding time - quite difficult to say exactly. Total trip time should be 30days more or less, for the Turkey I suppose we could spend about 10-14 days - it will depends how quick we will catch the ferry from Russia Sotchi to Trabzon, as I know they don't have strict schedule.
We will go with 5 bikes - 5 bikers and one cameramen (6 ppl)
Bikes: BMW R1200GSA and F650GS, two Africa Twin, and Yamaha Tenere with 50/50 gravel/tarmac tyres.
We all use Garmin Zumo.
And one more thing - we will travel without any stops at hotels or motels - we decided strictly to stay at locals or somewhere wild in tents


Hi Caminando,
we don't have insurance (green card?)for Georgia. As I know we should buy it on border.
Thank you for my English appreciation

Hi Jopos
Thank you for links, I will study them.

Thank you all guys for respond

Hi Edas, We are also travelling a loop of the Black Sea on trails as much as possible. We are leaving Scotland on 12th June heading to Romania for 5-6 days trail riding (check out route DN67C), then onto the Crimea travelling along the Arabat Strip (130km gravel track). South of Trabzon there are excellent trails. (between Trazbon and Bayburt) and then onto 'The Road of Stones' at Kemaliye.
The best part of the Black Sea coast in Bulgaria is in the South towards the Turkish border, much less touristy.

Andy

Hi Edas,

Give me a few days please. I will prepare a route for you suitable to your purpose.

Will yo be having good papermaps? Yeah but as good and detailed as can find/see willages on the map ?

Do you have a map of Turkiye for your Zumo? If so I can make a route on it and e-mail you.

First we have to agrre on the papermap route I guess.

Cheers,

Samy

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"where the traveller goes, nobody knows ! "

This Ride report from ADVRIDER may interest you Ride to Blacksea Coast of Turkey - Report - ADVrider

Andy

Edas can you tell me :
1. which customs/place you will enter and leave to Turkiye?
2. how long intended to stay in istanbul?

Could you find the roads between willages? Or only secondary roads?

Not going to take you to historical ruins but real local Turkiye and the landscapes. ! ? Please inform me...

Samy

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"where the traveller goes, nobody knows ! "

Hi Edas and hi Sami :-))

A few suggestions for Turkey:

1- Istanbul (never miss out)

2- All the way down from Istanbul down to Antalya either via Troy, Assos, Pergamon to Izmir or via Bursa, Bandirma, Gonen, Balya, Ivrindi, Allianoi, Pergamon, to Izmir and regions.

3- Two options from Izmir:
Ephesus - Priene - Denizli (Hierapolis) - Konya - Cappadocia

or

4- Ephesus - Priene - Heracleia (Bafa lake) - Bodrum (via ferry) Datca - Marmaris - Elmali - Antalya

5- Antalya - Mersin by the seashore (for motorcycling fun with curves and curves. It takes more than you expect and you either lve it or hate it)

6- Mount Nemrut - Adiyaman

7- Zeugma, Harran and Mesopotamia

7- Antakya (Antioch) - and even a daily trip to Halep (Aleppo) in Syria

8- Van lake and regions

9- Dogubeyazit / Ishakpasa palace

10- Black sea and inland Turkey: see Ride to Blacksea Coast of Turkey - Report - ADVrider as mentioned before

11- Safranbolu (near Kastamonu) and Devrek if you can make it

12- Places like Iznik (Nicosea) and Goynuk (near Bilecik city for being far from the madding touristic crowd and hot weather in june/july.)

... and cold in Izmir if you happen to pass by. Send PM for possible routes and details. I know it is a little bit of confusing to connect these points but not impossible.

can

i am agree with the above posts.. i live in istanbul and always welcome for coffee and/or (if not riding)

enjoy

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ozhan u.
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