Greece/ Turkey this Spring ?
 

My wife and I are planning our spring trip and I have a few general questions.

A few years ago we shipped my old higher mileage KTM 990 to Europe and each year we manage to get 2-4 weeks traveling two up on the bike outside of Canada. This year we have a little over three weeks to spend on our trip

The bike is stored in Heidleberg in the off season. Our plans this year are to take the Venice -Petras Ferry , explore the Greek Island and spend some time in Turkey.

Here is our list of places we would like to see, realizing that we will not be able to visit them all

Istanbul (Aya Sophia, Blue Mosque, Topkapi palace, Roman cistern, grand bazaar, etc.).

Ephesus, Roman ruins, near Izmir (formerly Smyrna).

Cappadocia (unique geography, early Christian caves, balloon rides).

Gallipoli (WWI battlefields).

Troy (Ionian ruins).

Bodrum (formerly Halicarnassus)

Obviously we plan to stay away from the the border areas with Syria, Iraq, or Iran and avoid the Ukraine.

From what we have learned from friends who have travelled that way recently we understand that the border between Greece and Turkey, can be a challenge, coming into Turkey moreso than in exiting and for that reason we are considering entering and exiting via Bulgaria. We know we can purchase our Turkish Visa online in Canada, to minimize our border wait.

Here are my questions

If we we were planing a route through the Greek Island what would people suggest as a good overview route?

Keeping a low profile in Turkey. We have a dark grey 990 and it is does not stand out like an orange one but still it is a tall larger motorcycle with black metal side cases. We strap a small soft bag on the back and attach it with a pack safe. We always cover the bike when we stop, park the bike overnight and do not look at all like we just stepped off a cruise ship when we are on the street. I am a hobby photographer and take very discreet camera with me and leave my SLR at home.

We have a limited decals on our motorcycle the CDN sticker and a reflective flag. I have always preferred to not stand out on the road and am wondering if we should even take the flag decal off the bike especially in light of Canada's involvement in the battles with ISIL? Our MC has a British Columbia license plate and were have Green Card Insurance.

Of course our families/friends are concerned that we are going to Turkey but my wife and I have travelled a reasonable amount including Africa, South East Asia, etc. We are not spring Chickens I will be 60 and she is 58 this spring and we don't camp on these trips but stay in reasonable Hotels.

My wife has a decent language skills including and can order meals , buy shoes, and get directions in French , Italian, Spanish, Swahili, and Khmer. I am not gifted that way and am for lack of a better term pathetically unilingual.


We have 3 weeks for our trip and will probably hire a guide for Istanbul.

Comments, suggestions, advice?

Crete...just spent 5 months here and will leave in 2 weeks for Rhodes then onto Turkey.
Crete for us is the largest and most beautiful. Green in the west and more dry in the east. It has the largest gorge in europe which you can walk and the 3rd most wonderful beach in europe..Elafonisi.

Go...to Crete it is great. Maybe see you in Turkey.

Bill - we toured through and visited all of the Turkish destinations you mention above during last October (2014). Believe me there is nothing, and I mean nothing, to worry about in-and-around Turkey.

It's probably a good idea to keep a sensible distance away from the Syrian border, but apart from that there are zero security issues to be concerned about.

Turks are extremely friendly, helpful .. indeed, I have to say absolutely charming folk. We quickly made and cultivated lifetime frienships during our time in Turkey. Still in touch with them all to this day .. and long may it continue.

My only observation is that a time-frame of three weeks may not be long enough to cover all the ground you have in mind.

Incidentally, we will be back in the Balkans (including Greece) from May-17th, and throughout most of June.

Keep in touch if you want to meet-up somewhere for a chat and a beer.

best

Keith

PS - we're the same age as you guys. "60 is the New 40! "

Merhaba,

Turkish hello.

1-No probems at bordergates between greece and turkey if greece side is not on strike.2 land gates which are popular and fast for bikers..just go to the front of the line for waiting vehicles..
you can also enter turkey from several greece islands by small ferries.

2-there is no isil inside turkey and west part is very very safe for touristic purposes.. dont take any historical piece of stone in your bag (many around in historical places) or buy historical looking gift..will be a time loss at gates..parking is a problem only in istanbul..all hotels around turkey has parking lots... go,see,make bargain and book is recommended for your stay at sultanahmet,behind blue mosque.....

3- road signs for free roads are in blue and for toll roads in green..if you wish you can buy a toll gate pass at any post office (PTT-Postane,written in black with yellow background) for your number plate...price is 5 tl for the card and ı guess 30 tl. credit fill will be ok for you...

All the places you wish to visit in istanbul are situated at sultanahmet part of the city and at a walking distance from eachother..what ı can recommend more for İstanbul are;just add a boat trip to bosphorus which takes start near galata bridge,have fish and bread at the golden horn side of the bridge and participate a dervish ceremony,whirling dervishes and listen sufi music in a mevlevihane......If there are other spesific historical,technical, etc.places you would like to visit,all questions welcome..you will also discover many colors while walking in old istanbul..

Ephesus is in selçuk area and st.mary hill is very close..so if you start your turkey trip from istanbul, my recommended route is as follows..

istanbul-gelibolu (WW-I arenas and monuments)-çanakkale-Troy(25 km. on the right side after çanakkale)-ayvalık-aliağa-izmir(boring crowded city with rush traffic so for me better to take transit road to aydın.)selçuk.(ephesus and st.mary hill-seven sleepers here) then add Denizli Pamukkale(hierapolis will be a high spot of the trip together with cappadocia)..bodrum marmaris and antalya are full of discos and russians,quite expensive for less quality so ı guess not so good for us (another 60 and total 116 here)...from pamukkale you can take the road to eğridir,nice lakeside place for relaxing and fish dishes..then konya and aksaray cappadocia for minimum 2 days..then north to safranbolu (old ottoman style town)passing outside another boring big city ankara..from safranbolu to istanbul the main 2 roads are full of trucks and buses..if you want to have more relax time by the seaside,then can head north to blacksea coastlines for some beaches and scenery.then possible to head greece or bulgarian gate without entering istanbul again..take the second bosphorus bridge,fatih sultan mehmet bridge and follow edirne roadsigns..

wishing you a great holiday and happy,safe,lucky trip,
Best regards.

Problems in Turkey ?

100% NO!

Went there last August with the wife. Had several weeks travelling all over. No problems at all Nothing even remotely problematic.

Great country and fantastic people. I can't wait to go back again.

I made a video of our time in Turkey on youtube search "g6snl" shows many of the places you mention if you are interested.

Don't understand why you and your family worried about your visit to Turkey? May be because they are called as a bird !

You think you will be riding in the hell?
After your trip to Turkiye, hope you will see it was a stereotype only...

I rode into Turkey several years ago on my Canadian-registered motorcycle, and did not encounter any difficulties at all. The Turkish officials (customs, immigration, & the insurance vendor) were all very thorough, but they were also very friendly, helpful, and courteous. The overall impression I got from the whole process was actually quite reassuring, in the sense that I felt that the Turkish officials were being very meticulous about exercising control over who came into their country. To me, that's a good thing, especially when you consider who Turkey's neighbors are to the east.

I wrote a couple of paragraphs about the whole process of entering Turkey in a post I made about my tour that year - that post is here: Notes from a September 2011 ride through Romania, Bulgaria, Turkey, and Greece.

As for stickers on the bike, conspicuity, etc. - don't worry about it at all, there are 75 million people in Turkey, fer Pete's sake, no-one is going to take any notice of you at all. It's a well-developed country.

Michael

PS: I'm also 60...

BTW you must get your Turkey visa on-line before getting to the border. Need to print it out. Valid for 12 months and good for 3 months multiple entry. Pay with a credit card.

Once you have been to Turkey you will be spoiled rotten as far as being an easy place to tour around. We are here now and the people are nice and friendly, not at all pushy (well except maybe in some big cities) the roads are good - even most of the back roads - and there are a million places where you can set up a tent and feel perfectly at home - and maybe safer than home.

Weather is about right for us at the moment - pleasant along the coast and cold in the mountains, but I'd hate to be here in high summer. I get the impression that many of the locals feel the same way.

Having been there virtually all of August 2014 I can say yeah sure it can be hot, but most of the time it was comfortable, we were also wet & cold at times. Turkey is a very big place and you get all climates. Like here in the UK its can be hot at one end of the country and cold and wet the other end. I did my research and knew where it would be hottest and adjusted plans to accommodate that, mainly by ditching the camping in favour of a bedroom with air con !

It's all about being sensible and knowing your limitations, and understanding your bodies requirements.

If you are inexperienced in hot climates, perhaps August is not the time to go. I actually thought coming through Bulgaria was the hottest part of the whole trip, it certainly felt like it. Also the border control into Bulgaria was probably the most time consuming and the one where I was thoroughly searched - just me no other motocycle or car.......... I'm lucky like that:thumbup1:

Greece/ Turkey this Spring ?
 

Bill, we've been to Turkey twice in the past 2 years and it's probably one of our favorite countries to visit. In Istanbul, don't miss the scientific museum next to the Topkapi park. In the Ephesus area, a visit to Miletus would be worth it. On the southern coast, we really liked Anatalya. It's still on our list to visit Cappadocia and the country's interior sites.

Tim


Tim in Burien, WA

Sorry to say this Bill but .... you can not belive in some biased media coverage ...

I've been in Turkey last spring, riding ALONE. It's a wonderful country!!!

Take a quick look to the Turkey ride report I'm publishing here http://www.horizonsunlimited.com/hub...el-tales-81220

have a nice trip

As a UK passport holder i understand that i can still get a visa on arrival....Is this true???

Hm...
I'm from Croatia, been in Turkey many times, for buisniess and for fun with bike.
I think i visit all your destinations with bike, some of them two times...
Now I'm temporary worker here in Calgary...When i was in Prince George with bike i feel much more fear than ever in Greece or Turkey...
And i can't understand why are people so alergic on line splitting/sharing here in Canada!?
If you have time go on Croatian coast, specialy if you by any reason want enter Turkey from Bulgaria...
Hope you will enjoy your ride in Europe/Asia ;)
I can't wait to come back :)

All I am going by is a blog by a Brit motorhomer who had been going to Turkey year after year, who posted that evisas were now required.
So easy to do and has a long validity period

That said, I know an Australian couple who rolled up to the border without one (9 months ago) and did manage to sort it all out with the help of a cooperative official.

The evisa website mentions saving time compared to doing the paperwork at the point of entry, so it should be possible.

No. You now have to get your visa on line before you arrive

Cheers