Motorcycle trip East Anatolia along the Turkish Silk Road

To start this motorcycle trip, there is a cozy ride where you can get used to the motorcycle, heading to the Sümela Monastery (a Greek Orthodox monastery with historical architecture. We continue with a short ride on a highway, before we reach the green forests of the mountain world on the Black Sea coast, which offers us an almost tropical vegetation. Riding a motorcycle in the mountains is really fun, as we go through one curve after another on a little-traveled road. At 2050 meters above sea level, there is delicious Turkish lamb chop for lunch. The landscape increasingly transforms into a hilly steppe and we reach the city of Erzincan in the Anatolian highlands.

We show the enduros what they were designed for. The day full of culture and nature begins on flat hilly land and the ride continues on a winding, adventurously paved path. The somewhat strenuous stage is rewarded with a fantastic view from the mountain peak at 2150 meters above sea level, of the largest and longest river and reservoir in Turkey. After a short hike, we reach Nemrut Dagi, the largest burial mound in the world and the monster stone heads. Here we see monumental graves and statues, including a statue of Antiochos (a king who ruled this region before Christ) and a statue of the Greek god Zeus. On the way back, we have another opportunity to enjoy the breathtaking panorama while we drive to our hotel in the city of Kahte.

Today we will ride on motorcycles through wind-swept hilly steppes and rugged rocky landscapes, until we reach the city of Hasankey, which is located in the rocks above the Tigris River and represents a kind of mini-Cappadocia. Part of the route runs along the Tigris and then through a hilly high plateau. In the almost untouched landscape of Lake Van (the largest lake in Turkey) lies the small town of Tatvan, our destination for today.

Today the tour starts later, which gives us more time to enjoy Van's famous breakfast. Our route today takes us away from Turkey's largest lake, toward Ararat, the highest mountain in Anatolia. The landscape is nearly untouched and enchanting, and the view of Ararat leads us to a unique complex of castle, palace, and mosque, called Isak-Pasha. We step into religious history, for according to legend, Noah's Ark is located in the Ararat region. To see this region and the panorama, we take a detour of about 7 km on an unpaved road through villages, before we reach the provincial capital Igdir in the evening.

Today we don't have to change the quarters and are taking a cozy day trip through the surroundings of Kars. We come to the ancient city of Ani through a steppe landscape. The ruins of this magnificent capital of the former Armenian Kingdom of Bagratuni are located on a windy plateau, from where we have a good view of the Arpa Cayi Canyon and the Armenian border. In the afternoon we park our motorcycles and take a city tour through Kars, where we can see the historical influences of the Azeris, Armenians, and Russians. We will also enjoy the delicacies known from Kars, such as honey, yellow cheese, and dried fruits.

Out of Artvin, located on the steep hill, we drive through forests, mountains, and along rushing rivers. The area is a charming Caucasian region. A well-developed, but narrow and winding road takes us through this breathtaking landscape. Today we will spend the night in the modest town of Yusufeli.

Our unforgettable motorcycle journey through Eastern Anatolia (eastern Turkey) is coming to an end. After the abundant natural breakfast, as is customary in the Yaylas region, we ride through the idyllic Soganleberge back to the coast. The unique culture of the Black Sea region allows us to taste a few specialties of the local cuisine. Passing by bays, tea plantations, and beaches, we arrive back in Trabzon, where we say goodbye to each other.