Route Istanbul → Çanakkale → Ayvalık → Selçuk → Pamukkale → Fethiye → Kaş → Antalya → Eğirdir → Istanbul Distance 2400 km Duration 10 days, ~38 hours in the saddle
8 overnight stops, one a rest day Best Months May to June, or September to October
July and August are hot and busy on the coast World Heritage Archaeological Site of Troy
Pergamon Multi-Layered Landscape
Ephesus
Hierapolis-Pamukkale Parks & Protected Areas Gallipoli Peninsula Historical Site
Patara protected area
Lake Salda
Beydağları Coast NP (Olympos – Çıralı) Signature Roads D400 Fethiye – Kaş – Antalya
Taurus climb, Antalya – Eğirdir

Route Map

Open in Google Maps The Plan

Ten days, clockwise down the Aegean and back over the plateau. Four world heritage sites, a rest day at Antalya, and the D400 as the centrepiece. This is the route that made Turkey famous among riders. The question is whether it survives the fame.

Notes

All tarmac and mostly excellent. The D400 is flowing rather than technical, so suitable for any confident road rider.

Averages under 250 km a day with the rest day built in. Day 10 is the long one at 520 km; split it with a night in Bursa if preferred.

Accommodation everywhere from pensions to boutique hotels. No booking anxiety outside peak summer.