Shipping to Ankara from the UK
 

Hi.

Just looking for some advice. My partner and I are planning a hopeful Post Covid trip in 2022. We both work, so are limited for time but are fortunate that our employers will let us take a month off so the intention is to start in Ankara -> Cappadocia -> Konya -> Pamukkale -> Ephesus -> Cannakale then Balkans, Italy and France as a leisurely ride back to the UK.

I am looking to avoid Istanbul, although I love the city I do not want to ride there. Also if we started in Istanbul we would not be able to visit all the places we want to see during our trip.

The advice I am looking for is around shipping. Wanted to see if anyone had used air freight to Ankara, or by truck to the same destination? And if they have any recommendations about shippers and mode?

Many thanks

Dave, check the Shipping Info page here for a lot of great information and reports on over a thousand previous shipments by travellers.
Hope that helps!

I’m fairly sure that there are bikes shipping to Bulgaria......you could think of finding a sea route into Turkey.

If you don’t want to go through Istanbul then Ankara won’t be much better and this way you avoid any complications getting your bike out of Turkish Customs.....


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If you transport your bike by road to Greece or Bulgaria you can ride into Turkey and get a ferry across the Dardanelles avoiding Istanbul, Ankara is no better and also best avoided if you don't like big cities. I have no experience of getting a bike out of customs in Turkey but crossing the border is fairly straightforeward and insurance is available there if you do not already have any.
You will have to come back the same way but it sounds like you have time.

Thanks for the responses.

Indeed - while I'm sure any competent freight forwarder will find you two europallettes' worth of space on a truck headed from the UK to Turkey, the problem becomes that the vehicle is crossing at least one external EU border without the owner. Which complicates paperwork a lot - you would have to convince the Turkish customs that this is not an imported vehicle intended for the local market!

Whereas if you ship it to a terminal just on this side of the Turkish border, and ride it across the border yourself as the owner, it'll probably be a much simpler matter.

Easy to ship it to Bulgaria and then short ride to Turkey. Contact Dave Hyde at Bulgaria Bike Shipping

Thanks for the feedback