Overland Route

jardap


Joined: 08/08/2008
Posts: 318

Message Posted:
09/09/2008 02:24

We are driving over in October, Calais-Brindisi then Cesme-Tasuca has anyone used this route and can they recomend anywhere to stay in Turkey also are there any problems we will have to look out for on the way

Regards to all D&J

Jenks


Joined: 05/06/2008
Posts: 13

Message Posted:
09/09/2008 06:36

Firstly i was under the impression that the Brindisi-Cesme stopped in September but they operate Ancona-Cesme up to a limited date in october. Its worth checking out anyway. Cesme- tasucu you have two choices - you either take the fast route via aydin and denizli to antalya or the slower but more scenic route along the coast. We chose the coast route and took several days. basically from Izmir you follow the Aydin signs - nice fast motorway then you make your choice. The benefits of taking the coast road is that there are tons of good cheap hotels along the way and you can visit many wonderful places not least ephesus. Regardless of which route you choose don't try to put too many miles in each day - the roads are winding and difficult (especially after Alanya). I can add to this post if you want me to.

No1Doyen


Joined: 04/07/2008
Posts: 16617

Message Posted:
09/09/2008 10:30

PtePike will give you the Route. He's done it before.

PtePike



Joined: 20/05/2008
Posts: 2334

Message Posted:
09/09/2008 10:41

Yep. The one I've taken is either Hull or Newcastle ferry - Zeebrugge/Rotterdam- Holland - Germany - Austria - Slovenia - Croatia - Repupica Srpska/Bosnia HG (for all your bootleg needs) - Serbia - Bulgaria - Turkey - Tasucu ferry - Kyrenia. Seven days easy and relaxed with two very young kids but adults alone could do it quicker. Great drive and a good way to experience several countries on the ground.

wearytravellers



Joined: 27/04/2007
Posts: 249

Message Posted:
09/09/2008 11:23

PtePike



Please email off forum with the directions,roads you took and hotels you stayed in, ferry you used etc etc. We planning the Overland Expedition and my Wife is South African and would be the trip of a lifetime for her/us !!



Ta very much

PtePike



Joined: 20/05/2008
Posts: 2334

Message Posted:
09/09/2008 12:09

WT,



We were pretty relaxed about the whole thing and planning was minimal, despite having a baby and four-year-old with us. We printed the route off the internet and just started looking for hotels/B&Bs at dusk. The route is basically the same road across Europe (N65?) and in ex-Yugoslavia it's the Highway of Brotherood and Unity (quite) all the way to Bulgaria, where you skirt through Sofia and into Turkey. By this distance you've become something of a minor celebrity when people see "GB" on your car. Then you leave Europe as you cross the Bosphorus, passing Istanbul into Asia Minor. The drive across Anatolia takes a couple of days which is good for stopping off in places like Konya, the home of Sufi and the Whirling Dervishes.



Tasucu on the Med coast is a pleasant resort. Enjoy it because the ferry, known as the Fergun Express, I can only describe as a challenging (and chaotic) experience, especially in heavy seas (and I was used to a wooden-hulled minesweeper). The crossing will take you all night and may not leave until 3am, by which time you will be expected to have all your paperwork in order from various offices with nobody to hold your hand. You may want to familiarise yourself with locations of life-jackets and rafts as there is no drill, though I'm sure it's safe enough.



When you dock in Kyrenia make sure you have all the paperwork for your car. There's a big trade in stolen and ringed motors and they will impound your car if there is any doubt about its origin. Next you will need TRNC driving insurance. There is a booth selling policies but no competition, so they may try to rip you off. I complained to a policeman on duty who had a stern word with the bloke in the kiosk and drove me in his own car into town, where I got a much cheaper policy. So you do have to stay switched on and polite but assertive.



Places to visit: Plovdiv, Bulgaria's second city and an Ottoman experience, Sarajevo, also very Turkish (and Bosnia HG itself has to be one of Europe's most beautiful countries), Belgrade and Nis on the Silk Road. Istanbul I'd say is worth a weeekend ex-Cyprus, and you'll be back for more. You can vary your route on the way home and catch places you missed. But be self-disciplined as we loved Slovenia so much we bought another holiday home there!



Things you will need: Passports, international driver's licence (about £5 from the GPO/VLO) Green Card for your car in non-EU countries, insurance for outside Europe and small, traditional gifts, biccies etc from your home town area. You may encounter humbling kindnesses from people far off the beaten track and at least you can give them something in return. And make sure you have your camera and camcorder as you'll be dining out on the experience for years to come!



Enjoy and good luck!

wearytravellers



Joined: 27/04/2007
Posts: 249

Message Posted:
09/09/2008 12:17

Brilliant...........Look forward to a nice trip.

jardap


Joined: 08/08/2008
Posts: 318

Message Posted:
09/09/2008 14:59

Thanks for all the information,jenks you where right about the ferry from Brindisi it stops running on the 9 sept but by pushing the wrong key on my computer we are now booked on the last ferry out of Ancona on the 18 Oct. I now have to tell my wife i feel harsh words are coming my way, any more information you can post will be off great help

Many Thanks D&J

no1doyen


Joined: 04/07/2008
Posts: 16617

Message Posted:
09/09/2008 19:00

John,how long did the whole journey take?

no1doyen


Joined: 04/07/2008
Posts: 16617

Message Posted:
09/09/2008 19:02

Sorry, just saw it in message 4.

Jenks


Joined: 05/06/2008
Posts: 13

Message Posted:
10/09/2008 09:43

Great advice from PP regarding entry into NC.



My route from Cesme would be-



Follow signs for Aydin - if the weathers ok stop off for 2 hours at Ephesus on the way (its well signposted) - stay the night in Marmaris. Its a big blousy Brit tourist resort but the food is good and the hotels are cheap and good.



Next day head for Antalya - on this road when presented with a choice of antalya direction always choose the left option - you might want to choose the right option as long as you know it takes you along the coast road which is lovely scenery but it takes forever! I shall be doing this road in reverse on saturday. Again Antalya is a big blousy resort loads of hotels and eateries. And Russians.



Next day Alanya. Another big resort. Interesting castle. tons of hotels etc. And germans.



final day head for Tasucu (signs are for Mersin). This is the really windy but scenic route. you should bear in mind that the ferries dont run on weekends so if you arrive fri or sat you'll need a hotel. there are a few good ones in tasucu. We stayed at the "Best".



I like PP's idea of just setting off and then finding somewhere at dusk - but my wife doesnt! I booked all my hotels ahead using http://www.booking.com and i sorted out my route and driving times using http://www.viamichelin.com - good luck with it all

Mr Vince


Joined: 24/07/2008
Posts: 696

Message Posted:
10/09/2008 09:53

Wearytravelers



Be carefull if you cross into Austria. There is a road duty to pay, they call it a vignetta, however there are no staff at the crossing to direct you. We carried through the border because there were no staff and 20 mins later we were stopped by police and fined 120Euro. On the spot fine or car is impounded. We were also given 2 days to leave the country. Not very hospitable. Hungary and Romania both have a similar tax but at least they have someone on duty to direct and advise you.

PtePike



Joined: 20/05/2008
Posts: 2334

Message Posted:
10/09/2008 12:26

I should have added - avoid driving on Turkish roads at night if at all possible.

Coachie



Joined: 29/07/2008
Posts: 2135

Message Posted:
10/09/2008 14:37

Could I just add take a spare fan belt.fuses and bulbs,and one of those little compressors which you plug into your ciggy lighter,and of course your Triangle.Wish you a happy and trouble free trip.