We left Istanbul around 07:30 and were in Kemer around 19:00. The distance in between was exactly 730 km. We were excited, buzzing inside, and this was only the beginning.
How did the tour start?
Istanbul to Kemer was 730 km, our first leg. We were tired but just as eager to explore. We had prepared a route with many locations: places we had never seen, plus ones we wanted to see again. We set aside 10 days for discovering, wandering, resting and enjoying ourselves. It did us so much good, and hello to everyone who is happy on the road. We rode a BMW R 1250 GS Adventure.
Which stops did it include?
- Kemer and Mount Tahtalı: a cable car to the summit in Beydağları Coastal National Park.
- Kaş: our second stop after Kemer, with an early walk, street photography and a visit to the ancient theatre on the last day.
- Göcek: between Kaş and Akyaka, with bays as small and lovely as its centre.
- Akyaka: the end of the route, a calm place to rest, with the sea, a river, small riverside restaurants and forest.
The tour began at Istanbul and Antalya’s Kemer, and ended at Akyaka and back to Istanbul.
What does a motorcycle holiday mean to us?
Holidays mean many things: rest, more discovery, being on the road, seeing few places or many. For us, a motorcycle holiday means being on the road, seeing a lot and resting a little less. That is why we organised everything around staying at most two days in one place.
Long-distance riding notes
Our first day was 730 km. As an instructor, Doruk’s general reminders are to ride the early hours of a long day cautiously, to stop before fatigue forces you to, to slow down as light fades, and to load the bike evenly.
We also planned to share video from the 7,000 km tour on YouTube, though work kept us busy and the archive is waiting. A Rider Healthcare Tour Pack and a Galata Healthcare capsule were in our bag, and Educated Moto Riders offers trips for those who prefer to ride as a group.
Read the full story in Turkish with photos and videos: Ege–Akdeniz Motosiklet Turu.