5500 mile Honeymoon

[Romulus]

Hi Guys,

Have been away so long I managed to forget username and password so have had to re-register again (sorry Grant )

As per the title of my thread, my future wife-to-be hit me with an interesting comment yesterday evening..... "Why don't we ride the Bike to Turkey for our Honeymoon?"

So after doing a bit of homework and a lot of reading today (Day off work ) I reckon I've found a Route.

In no particular order:

UK (Obviously)
France
Belgium
Netherlands
Germany
Austria
Switzerland
Italy
Greece
Turkey

With a few Ferry Connections in between.

I've read the Turkey "Sticky" on the HUBB and it's proved really helpful.

Can anyone comment as to whether there would be any issues that I haven't thought about (Visa's/Insurance Requirements/IDP's etc)

BTW - Will be riding my Ducati ST2 so will be sticking to surfaced roads.

Thanks guys - This place always proves helpful and I like to think I can contribute as best I can.

Will be setting aside 3 weeks for the trip allowing for a few days in Oludeniz and Fethiye in the middle.

[ewanhind]

I rode my Varadero out to Turkey in Nov 2008 to start a new job, and back to the UK in May 2009 (6 month limit on foreign reg vehicles). Similar route to your plan (out via France, Belgium, Holland, Germany, Switzerland, Italy (Venice), Greece, Kos, Bodrum. Back via Cesme, Chios, Greece, Italy (Ancona, Florence, Pisa), Switzerland (Chamonix), France. Great ride.

Turkey will be much more picky about your papers than anywhere else you go being non-EU. Make sure your green card is valid and states Turkey very explicitly or they can decide not to let you in.

Your bike will be noted in your passport, and you then can't leave the country without the bike, probably not a problem for you. If you do have to depart by air for any reason, you will have to have your bike impounded by Customs first, and reclaim it when you return.

Turkey is a beautiful country with friendly people and great food, I wish I had been able to spend more time touring round, but I was (in fact still am!) there for work. Just be prepared for more bureaucracy, papers, stamps and triplicate forms than elsewhere on your ride.

Oh, and the speed limits for bikes are lower than for cars, only 70km/h on normal A roads and 80km/h on the few motorways - which is frankly dangerous given that the limit for cars is 120! In my experience the limits of the A-roads are enforced pretty strictly - I got fined a couple of times for going slightly over the limit. I think the cops do pretty well out of baksheesh!

Have a great ride!

[Dicky]

I agree with ewanhind. If your green card doesn't cover Turkey then insurance can usually be bought reasonably at the border.

As you are heading to Fethiye you may wish to do the extra mile and take in Kas just down the coast. Glorious roads both along the coast and in the mountains. More info here

http://www.horizonsunlimited.com/cou...ey/kas-antalya

and here

DickyB's Turkish Delights - Page 24 - ADVrider

Cheers,

Dicky