Turkey Aegean Coast Road Bike Toruing

The Aegean coast is substantially less developed than the Mediterranean and is perhaps the best place to take a road biking holiday in Turkey. The absence of a major coastal highway, combined with a maritime geography of wooded peninsulas, inlets and islands and a blissful climate makes this a perfectly idyllic and intriguing area.

We take to a network of less travelled roads that link mountainous olive groves with meandering, relatively flat seaside areas and exquisite coastal peninsulas. Average daily distance is 80km but the route is quite hilly in places and this can represent a good challenge for any cyclist.

Note: this tour is also available on a Self Guided basis- fully vehicle supported but with guiding and meals excluded- so you can go at your own pace and eat in the restaurants you choose.

Highlights:

• The Bozburun peninsula with it’s beautiful coves, fishing villages and towering green mountains.
• Discovering little known beaches on the Dilek Peninsula
• Dalyan’s protected turtle beach and unique fresh water lagoon.
• Lake Bafa national park and it’s unique rock formations
• Getting away from it all in the remote hilly wilderness of the Latmos Mountains
• Exploring the ancient city of Ephesus
• A week of perfect, traffic free cycle touring with the most perfect Mediterranean scenery!

Why?

The southern Aegean region is in our opinion the best place for a road biking or cycle touring holiday in Turkey. The weather is generally fine, beaches are superb, roads are good, and the quality of restaurants and accommodation excellent.

When?

Possible at any time of the year but best between April and June and September and November

How?

Fly into Izmir and back from Dalaman- international airports where a host of affordable flight options are available. Easy Jet now has cheap flights from London Gatwick to Izmir, and a range of UK regional airports to Dalaman.

Full Itinerary:

Although this tour spans a relatively short direct distance, its route from coast to mountains is pretty hilly at times and a decent challenge to any keen cyclist. However, the rewards are great, with some of Western Turkey’s most perfect coastal scenery and a huge variety of meandering roads with panoramas guaranteed to keep you enthralled as you ride.

Day 1: Arrive Izmir Airport and transfer to Selcuk / Sirince- a beautiful and very old fashioned wine producing village where you will stay in beautifully restored Greek “Konak” houses at Kirkinca. We have time to relax here, enjoy a nice dinner, unpack and build up our bikes and then have a pre-tour briefing. If your flight arrives early, possible to ride from Izmir.

Day 2: From Sirince we follow the hairpins downhill to Selcuk, and start our tour visiting the wonderful ruins at Ephesus- perhaps Turkey’s number one must see site! From there, our route takes us through fruit orchards and vineyards as it winds up and over rolling hills to Kirazli, where we eat a picnic lunch in the town square. We continue on a very quiet country road before dropping down to the coast in Kusadasi- the region’s most famous seaside town. We escape the town directly, however, heading down the coast to the wonder Dilek Peninsula National Park. We ride to the end of the peninsula road and then have time to relax on the beach, swim or take a walk up a fantastic canyon path. We then take a transfer to Lake Bafa and have time to explore the wonderful surroundings there.

Total 80km- an easy first day on the bike!

Day 3: Bafa is a protected Nature Reserve area, and the northern shore of the lake, where steep slopes are covered by wild or semi-domesticated olive trees, is virtually untouched to this day. We stay in our own little slice of paradise at the very friendly Selenes Pension. Today we go inland, through mountains and hills strewn with massive granite boulders. After meandering round the lake for 8km we descend on the main road to Selimiye before starting our climb into the Latmos (Besparmak) mountains. We ride through pristine mountain scenery through a landscape of huge granite boulders and mature pine trees, past small villages such as Sakarkaya where time really has stood still. We continue to Kizilcaboluk where we picnic besides a river (no need to carry it though- driver will meet us there!). We carry on eastwards until a massive 18km downhill will take us down past Yaylakavak Lake off the mountains to Karpuzlu where the support vehicle will transfer us to the youthful student town of Milas. Overnight Milas Han Hotel

Total 80km / One big hill in the morning

Day 4: From Milas we transfer to the village of Mumcular and ride through rolling, pastoral hills to arrive at the coast in adorable fashion- on a deserted asphalt road that runs right along the beach! We ride east, on small roads through mountainous scenery to Oren, where we have lunch on the beach. From there on, although the big hills continue, the seaside panoramas are breathtaking and eventually we arrive at Akbuk- a nature lovers paradise and a well hidden secret. Hotel Altas Pansiyon, Akbuk

90km / Party hilly

Day 5: From Akbuk we follow a very easy, very beautiful single track coast road that may perhaps be the best cycling road in Turkey! Continuing on back roads where possible we bypass Marmaris, and have lunch in a restaurant at Hisaronu, heading for the unspoilt Bozburun Peninsula, where the coast road is unforgettably picturesque. Our hotel is very special- views to die for and some the best food in Turkey. Hotel Kekik Boutique Otel, Selimiye.

100km / Partly hilly

Day 6: Today we explore the undeveloped and quintessentially Aegean Bozburun Peninsula. From Selimiye we pass Bozburun before heading into the mountainous hinterland, climbing into the hills a to Bayirkoy- a wonderfully picturesque place set in lush, green hills where we eat a picnic lunch. The ride is a mixture of awesome coast roads and steep mountain lanes through pine forest but it’s an intense morning, and the beach resort of Icmeler will be a welcome sight below- plenty of home comforts and an afternoon off the bike to relax and recuperate! From there it’s an easy spin besides the beach to meet our vehicle in Marmaris.Transfer to Dalyan. Hotel Dalyan Pension, Dalyan.

70km / Often Hilly

Day 7: Our final day of road biking takes it a little easier- which we must do in order to appreciate the incredible diversity, uniqueness and picturesque splendour of Dalyan. Our base overlooks the clear blue waters of the Dalyan River, where you can often see fresh water turtles, amongst a host of wildlife that visits this natural haven. Our tour takes in Koygegiz Lake and it’s incredible hot springs and mud baths- perfect for relaxing road weary muscles! We ride through Sultaniye and Candir before stopping to explore the ancient city and admire the massive Lycian rock tombs at Kaunos. It’s an easier day cycling wise, but just what the doctor ordered to go home feeling refreshed and relaxed! Plus, an optional 2 wheeled excursion to the famous Iztuzu Beach (or indeed the viewpoint 800m above) is available for those with any oomph left! Hotel Dalyan Pension, Dalyan.

70km / Mostly flat (unless option 2 above is taken!)

Day 8: Our last day together- time to pack up bikes and enjoy a lazy breakfast on riverside, exchanging stories about the trip no doubt!… We transfer to Dalaman Airport for flight home. Tour ends here. *Potential for more riding depending on flight time.

About Us:

We run a range of road cycling and mountain biking holidays in Turkey- from relaxing cycle touring to hard core off road singletrack trail biking. This site offers cycling tours in a variety of destinations across the country, catering for everyone from keen cyclists to holiday day trippers!

At Middle Earth Travel we do everything possible to make your time cycling in Turkey truly memorable. Expect genuine, impartial advice at every stage of your trip planning. Whatever your question, whatever your concern, we’ll do our very best to help. Expect qualified, multilingual, highly experienced local and international guides to lead your way and make you feel at home. Plus only the very best accommodation and logistical support- classy boutique hotels wherever possible and the best drivers, minibuses and bike trailers. All these things explain our high rating and critical acclaim.