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Photo by George Guille, It's going to be a long 300km... Bolivian Amazon

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


Photo by George Guille
It's going to be a long 300km...
Bolivian Amazon



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  #1  
Old 18 Sep 2019
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UK - Turkey & Back in 3 weeks
Hi All,

Planning on taking a month out from work in Summer (likely June) next year and attempt to get to Fethiye and back, from Somerset.

Predicted route so far is to blat down through France and head to the East Coast of Italy and follow it down to Brindisi, ferry over to Patras in Greece. Then head for Piraeus and on to the ferry to Chios, then Cesme and finally follow the Turkish Coast down to Fethiye/Mugla region.

I'd like to think that that'd be achievable in 8-10 days of riding. A few days off in Fethiye/OluDeniz area and then back home via the overland route following the Adriatic Coast home over the following another 8-10 days riding.

I'm travelling solo, AirBnB'ing it on a R1200GS

30 days total should be enough right??

Still early doors so am open to suggestions. Really looking for validation that my time-frame isn't too ambitious.

Thanks all.

Rich
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  #2  
Old 22 Sep 2019
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Sounds feasible, until you get sidetracked and find yourself in Doğubeyazit ;-)
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  #3  
Old 27 Sep 2019
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An alternative to the route you suggested would be to ride to Ancona, Italy and then take a ferry from Ancona to either Igoumenitsa or Patras in Greece.

This is a significantly longer ferry ride than Brindisi to Patras, but I think that by the time you get to Northern Italy, your butt will be awfully sore from all that riding and you won't mind missing the roughly 500 mile that this longer ferry will save you.

The ferry ticket will be more expensive than the shorter Brindisi Patras ferry, but the difference probably won't be much more than you would pay in gas and road tolls in Italy.

You can get a bunk in a 4 person cabin on that ferry for a reasonable price - I have done that trip before.

Personally, I think that a round trip from the UK to Fethiye and back in 30 days is a bit of an "Iron Butt" ride - meaning, you probably won't want to see a motorcycle again once you arrive back in the UK - but that's your call to make. Have you mapped it out on Google Maps or similar and done the mileage calculation (and also researched the ferry costs)?

Michael
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Old 27 Sep 2019
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On a comfortable big bike like the 1200GS that won't be an Iron Butt experience unlike eg. on a 650 thumper.....
A friend of mine from OZ rode up to Nord Kapp from Munich and back in just over a week and a few days later the Haute Route along the French Alps without any qualms on a 1100cc Honda street bike.
Another suggestion would be to take the ferry from Venice to Igoumenitsa (25 hrs) which saves even more expensive Italian toll and petrol.
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Old 27 Sep 2019
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Originally Posted by PanEuropean View Post
An alternative to the route you suggested would be to ride to Ancona, Italy and then take a ferry from Ancona to either Igoumenitsa or Patras in Greece.

This is a significantly longer ferry ride than Brindisi to Patras, but I think that by the time you get to Northern Italy, your butt will be awfully sore from all that riding and you won't mind missing the roughly 500 mile that this longer ferry will save you.

The ferry ticket will be more expensive than the shorter Brindisi Patras ferry, but the difference probably won't be much more than you would pay in gas and road tolls in Italy.

You can get a bunk in a 4 person cabin on that ferry for a reasonable price - I have done that trip before.

Personally, I think that a round trip from the UK to Fethiye and back in 30 days is a bit of an "Iron Butt" ride - meaning, you probably won't want to see a motorcycle again once you arrive back in the UK - but that's your call to make. Have you mapped it out on Google Maps or similar and done the mileage calculation (and also researched the ferry costs)?

Michael
Hi Michael,

Yes, mapped out, costed both ferry and mileage, worked out 4 separate routes using a mixture of ferries and overland-only routes. with my sargeant seats and my already numb ar$e it shouldn't be too much of a hardship.

I had considered a 25 day ride to Fethiye and get the bike shipped home but MotoFreight are still waiting for their Agent in Istanbul to provide a quote.

Thanks for the tips though will look into the Ancona ferry option
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Old 6 Oct 2019
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I did similar route from Cesme-Chios-Piraeus-Albania-Bosnia-Croatia-Slovenia-Italy-France and . France-Italy (Venice-Ferry to Patras-Piraeus-Chios-Cesme...

To me it looks feasable...

I did mine on a 1996 R80 GS Basic

You can easily do it on a 12 GS in one month.
No hesitation...
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Old 6 Oct 2019
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Trip.
Yes, easily doable in that time, I've done virtually the same trip twice and from Scotland with my partner but we used the Venice / Patras ferry return to save time...we had 3 weeks.

If you are in Oludeniz you have to stay at Full Moon Camp...stunning
https://www.fullmooncamping.com
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Old 7 Oct 2019
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Originally Posted by mspenz View Post
If you are in Oludeniz you have to stay at Full Moon Camp...stunning
https://www.fullmooncamping.com
Oludeniz is the ultimate goal

A Seafood Platter at Buzz Beach bar is my reward!
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Old 9 Oct 2019
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Hi Rich,

Interesting to read about your planned trip. I'm also in Somerset (Weston) and initially was planning a couple of trips to the alps to meet with friends in June. However, I'm retiring in January and have just started to think about a longer trip as I have a sister in law in Athens.

Will keep an eye on the thread to consider routes. The last time I was in Fethiye I had to leave quickly after being arrested, held, searched and released by the the military police.. a long story which started with being accused of stealing a huge sum of Norwegian Krona from a campsite bar!

Cheers
Adrian
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