Euro Trip London to Istanbul Summer 2015

[RePT]

Hi everyone!

I'm thinking of planning a euro trip with a couple of friends from London to Istanbul. Most of us will be taking bikes, we plan to spend about 10 days on our tour mid June.

I would really appreciated it people can share experiences, advice, tips and any general information which may be of benefit.

Thanks!

[New Sarum]

Ten days is not very long if you are riding to and from Istanbul via the Balkans, as Istanbul warrants a few days for you to explore and enjoy the city. You could cut the mileage and time by usilising the ferry services from Italy (Ancona or Brindisi) to Igoumenitsa in Greece. The downside to that suggestion is the majority of your riding could be on major highways.

[Itchy]

This is from 2009 but:

Balkans Vignettes quickly add up in terms of cost.

The ferry from Brindisi is fairly cheap but it requires going through Italy which is very expensive. If you go there look for the biker hostel it's an ok place to stay.

If you go through Greece the roads are badly worn in the cities and outside (worse due to EU crisis) and they are actually smooth due to being worn down so much. So don't go balls deep into corners.

Turkish petrol is exceptionally expensive.

You have to buy insurance stamps on the border.

The road into Istanbul is pretty boring. The Greek roads to the Turkish border are uninteresting dual carriage ways.

Istanbul is horrible to navigate (you want to ask for directions to the Aya Sofia and there are lots of hostels around there). Following the coast doesn't work so well here.

The speed limits are low.

Chair ladies are EVERYWHERE.
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Spain 2008France 2007Big one 2009 We all die. The goal isn't to live forever, the goal is to create something that will. In the end, your life will flash before your eyes. Make sure it is worth watching.

[Monkeypony]

10 days is nowhere near long enough for a 4000 mile round trip.

That's 400 miles per day on dull as dull roads and not a single day off to actually see anything.

If you go via the more interesting roads, you can probably add another couple of thousand miles onto the route.

Double the trip days or change your destination and halve the distance.

Are you planning on camping or hosteling?
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Current bike - 2018 H2-SX, 2004 SV1000s, 2016 Aprilia RSV4 RF, 2017 Sherco SERF 300, 2003 Suzuki DRZ400 (stolen - AY53 JUU)

[John933]

[Itchy]

Yes it will be rushed. Off my head it took me about 8 days to get to the Turkish border and I was doing big heavy days as well not needing to stop for fuel/water all day.

At a stretch you can get to the South of France from Manchester in a day (Fox did this on a 636 in 21 hours). But once you get there you'll need to turn back.

Maybe go to Germany and put the bike on a train? they allow it there I read somewhere.
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Spain 2008France 2007Big one 2009 We all die. The goal isn't to live forever, the goal is to create something that will. In the end, your life will flash before your eyes. Make sure it is worth watching.

[John933]

You can get to Spain in two. A bit of a push. But can be done.
John933
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My trip

[Ste]

Spain to Amsterdam was 26 hours, albeit with four wheels rather than two.

[barrkel]

I reckon you'd have a hard time getting to Istanbul and back in 8 days, doing motorway / dual carriageway all day every day, and only stopping for fuel, meals and sleeping.

Doing it in 10 days, you'll still want to shoot yourself in the head with motorway boredom.
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Bikes: S1000R, SH350; Exes: Vity 125, PS125, YBR125, ER6f, VFR800, Brutale 920, CB600F, SH300x4
Best road ever ridden: www.youtube.com/watch?v=s2MhNxUEYtQ

[Enduro Numpty]

Definitely not enough time to get there, spend any amount of time there and get back. We were there as part of a 2 month trip in 2012 and it was the highlight of the journey. We spent 5 nights there and it wasn't enough. A sat nav is a must if you plan to navigate the city. Me and wife are planning on going back next year but by plane, we just don't have the time to ride there next year. It's a fairly expensive city but it's well worth visiting.

I would say 3 weeks would be a more realistic and enjoyable timetable.

Here's a link to my report - may be some info that will be of help.

https://www.bikechatforums.com/viewtopic.php?t=258584&highlight=

[RePT]

Thank you for your responses. I don't really want to be away for more than 10 days, and am travelling on a budget, let's says £100 a day? So about £1000 pounds.

It would have been nice to visit Istanbul, Im interested in Turkish culture, but now fear I won't be able to do it justice.

Given the fact that it has to be 10 days, and £1000. What would you guys suggest I do?

A step at a time. Perhaps go Istanbul another year, I would like this one to be an slow and enjoyable experience.

the landscape and beautiful country is what I'm interested in, Stop around and familiarise with local cultures and perhaps make a friend or two.

I will be carrying minimal luggage, so hosteling. Also if like to avoid ferrying, but would love any encounter with tunnels

Just took a quick look at your report, looks interesting I'll have to read it over a cup of tea!

What would you guys advise? And what route?

i look forward to your responses! Thanks again.

[LooseBanana]

Somewhere like Zadar, Croatia, would make a good destination point, explore the coast there a bit then a different route home? Still looking at 3,000 miles all in probably, but doable, and it's 1,000 klicks from Istanbul so a good way to explore the 3/4 of the route down there for future expeditions...

I'm a big fan of AirBnB, if you go on that site and limit your budget to say max £30 or £40 a night then you will have a huge choice of places to stay. Great way to meet people on your travels and stay in places that are a little bit different, adds to the sense of adventure.

Depends how you want to travel? Book in advance or just go with the flow and look for places a day or two beforehand, en route?

If it were me then for £100 a day I would absolutely just do it with only 1 or 2 things booked in advance (first night, last night, that sort of thing). Then, if one day you spend over budget, the next you can look around on AirBnB for somewhere for £20. Internet cafes are everywhere. Or take tablet/smartphone and get free wifi easily.

[Monkeypony]

When I'm planning a trip, I tend to stick to around 250 miles per day and avoid motorways and dual carriageways unless absolutely necessary.

It may not sound like much, but by the time you've factored in pee stops, coffee stops, lunch stops and sightseeing stops and getting lost in strange cities looking for the damn ferry terminal whilst suffering from a terrible dose of the 2 bob bits (thank you Barcelona ) You'll struggle to average much over 40mph per day.

This means a 250 mile day will take you 6-7 hours. This will give you plenty of time in the afternoon/evening to find somewhere to stay, get a bit of sightseeing done and get something do eat and drink.

It also means that if there is a day when the conditions are totally appalling and you can't ride, or you find somewhere that is worth an extra day, you can make the mileage up the following day and still make any ferry or train connections you might have. This would be tricky if your route was 4-500 miles per day.

Remember, it's a tour, not a race. You're supposed to see new places and enjoy yourself, not batter your arse to death in some sort of endurance marathon!

This route:

https://i293.photobucket.com/albums/mm52/monkeypony/route_zps1160cae1.jpg

Was around 2000 miles and took 10 days (if you discount the week buggering about on a boat in Menorca!)

Lots to see and some fabulous roads to ride. Just work out what you actually want to see, then work out how best to see it all!
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Current bike - 2018 H2-SX, 2004 SV1000s, 2016 Aprilia RSV4 RF, 2017 Sherco SERF 300, 2003 Suzuki DRZ400 (stolen - AY53 JUU)

[LooseBanana]

Nice route, Europe is massive innit? About ten days exploring a couple of thousand miles of it is a nice holiday.

And yeah, it is a holiday, you want to enjoy yourself. Don't make it in to an ordeal of endurance. Be flexible, you are taking your own transport so can afford to be.

Thousand quid means flexibility all the way.

What's important?

Distance?

Food?

Beer?

People?

Sights?

Recreation off the bike? (You can fill in your own requirements here)

You need a good group dynamic, same as anything, tons of 4 wheelers head to Morocco every year on 'tours' and do it quick style, a mad dash, been there, saw it, went back, leaving the slower people frustrated.

[c-m]

10 Days if just enough to enjoy some of southern France if you actually want to do anything other than ride every day.

If you're doing big distances every day all you're going to see is motorways.

Everyone is different, but on a 10 day break I'd only expect to be riding 5 days. The rest would be exploring the site, chilling on the beech, and enjoying a few bars.

[Enduro Numpty]

Mid June, 10 days. You could do a lot worse than the Pyrenees. We were there in June this year and the superb roads on the Spanish side were more or less empty.

Alternatively, a quick blast to Bodensee (Lake Konstanz) and you've got easy access to the alpine passes of Austria, Italy and Switzerland.

As previous poster said, depends on what you're looking for.

[LooseBanana]

Empty roads, empty rooms, the OP wanted to head to Istanbul.

Croatia is where I'd go.

[John933]

[RodYork]

As MonkeyPony said- its a tour not a race..
Personally- I would choose somewhere nearer, again as MonkeyPony has suggested...Perhaps France through to Spain ...
..But above all; wherever you go...it will be enjoyable and memorable ..Keep us updated!
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