I have been sorting my diary in what is a busy year ahead for me and I have managed to arrange a 20 day period for a decent bike ride. I have a mate who lives in Fethiye Mugla which is in the S.West corner of Turkey. This will be a return journey consisting of about a two day stop over before saddling up and riding back home
That’s the good bit but unfortunately the timing is not perfect weather wise as my 20 days will be from 22 March to 10 April. My aim therefore is to try and develop a route that will be the most practicable considering the time I am going. To this end I am thinking of riding through Holland, Germany, Austria, Hungary, Serbia, Bulgaria into Turkey and on to Mugla. I have decided to go through Holland as I am going to get the ferry from Harwich to the Hook of Holland.
This route, as far as I can see from poring over my maps is one that I believe will enable me to keep as far as I can to the lower altitudes so as to avoid the highest passes and as such road closures and worst of the weather especially snow and ice.
Once across the Turkish border I am considering two possible route alternatives:-
One via Istanbul which is a more inland route to my final destination of Fethiye.
Or to go via Izmir which will involve a ferry at Canakke. This route will mean that most of my route in Turkey will be nearer the coast.
I am aware that document wise I will also need to sort green card, visa and international license none of which I don't anticipate being a problem. I already have my health insurance and checked that it covers Turkey. So other than these I don’t think that I have missed anything else.
I am not asking for detailed routes as I can sort the detail myself, but before I start to study my maps and plan all these finer details I thought it would be a good idea to seek out any wise advice, tips and views on my initial plans above.
As always your responses, wise, witty or otherwise will be very much appreciated (unfortunately going at a different time of the year is not an option for me).
Cheers
That’s the good bit but unfortunately the timing is not perfect weather wise as my 20 days will be from 22 March to 10 April. My aim therefore is to try and develop a route that will be the most practicable considering the time I am going. To this end I am thinking of riding through Holland, Germany, Austria, Hungary, Serbia, Bulgaria into Turkey and on to Mugla. I have decided to go through Holland as I am going to get the ferry from Harwich to the Hook of Holland.
This route, as far as I can see from poring over my maps is one that I believe will enable me to keep as far as I can to the lower altitudes so as to avoid the highest passes and as such road closures and worst of the weather especially snow and ice.
Once across the Turkish border I am considering two possible route alternatives:-
One via Istanbul which is a more inland route to my final destination of Fethiye.
Or to go via Izmir which will involve a ferry at Canakke. This route will mean that most of my route in Turkey will be nearer the coast.
I am aware that document wise I will also need to sort green card, visa and international license none of which I don't anticipate being a problem. I already have my health insurance and checked that it covers Turkey. So other than these I don’t think that I have missed anything else.
I am not asking for detailed routes as I can sort the detail myself, but before I start to study my maps and plan all these finer details I thought it would be a good idea to seek out any wise advice, tips and views on my initial plans above.
As always your responses, wise, witty or otherwise will be very much appreciated (unfortunately going at a different time of the year is not an option for me).
Cheers