Roads of Turkey

Nestled at the crossroads of civilizations, Turkey unfolds as a land of mesmerizing beauty and thrilling challenges for the road trip enthusiast. As you chart your course through its diverse terrains, the road itself narrates tales of empires, conquests, and nature's sublime artistry. The legendary D915, Bayburt-Of road, stands as a testament to this spirit of adventure. It's a drive that defies death, with precipitous drops, dizzying turns, and an aura that's palpably exhilarating.

Then, dare yourself to venture along the Kemaliye Stone Road. Carved into the mountains, its history spans over a century of relentless human effort. With harrowing drops, 38 unlit tunnels, and the sheer audacity of its construction, it speaks of mankind's indomitable will to conquer nature's hurdles. Such is the magic of Turkey, where every road is a journey through time. The Karabet Geçidi, standing tall among Europe's highest paved roads, offers panoramic views that seem to stretch across epochs.

Meanwhile, the road to Kuş Yuvası Pass weaves a spell of its own – where every twist and turn feels like a dance between the heavens and earth. Each of these routes, in its unique way, embodies Turkey's rich tapestry of history, culture, and natural wonder. So, buckle up and embark on a journey across Turkey’s roads, where each mile promises a tale, a thrill, and a memory to cherish.

The D915 stands as one of the world's most challenging roads. Nestled between the Black Sea and the Northeast Anatolia regions of Turkey, the road's treacherous terrains are not to be underestimated. Only seasoned drivers, daredevils, or those with significant experience should venture here, as a single misjudgment can lead to tragic consequences.

Kemaliye Taş Yolu (Kemaliye Stone Road) is one of the most extreme roads in the world. Located in Turkey, this handmade road is for drivers with strong nerves only, with drops of hundreds of meters unprotected by guardrails and 38 unlit tunnels. The construction of the road started in 1870 and was finished in 2002.

Karabet Geçidi is a high mountain pass at an elevation of 2,994m (9,822ft) above sea level, located in Van Province, in Turkey. It’s one of the highest roads in Europe.

Kuş Yuvası (Bird's Nest) is a mountain pass at an elevation of 1.388m (4,553ft) above the sea level, located in the District of Alanya of Antalya Province, in the Mediterranean Region of Turkey.

Turkey is located in the Middle East, with territory in both Europe and Asia. A glance at a topographical map of Turkey reveals that this is a country of mountains.

Babadağ (Father Mountain) is a high mountain peak at an elevation of 1.940m (6,364ft) above the sea level, located in Muğla Province, in Turkey.

Cam Geçidi is a high mountain pass at an elevation of 2.466m (8,090ft) above the sea level, located on the boundary of Artvin and Ardahan provinces, in the Black Sea region of Turkey. 

Ovit Dağı Geçidi is a high mountain pass at an elevation of 2.690m (8,825ft) above the sea level located in the İkizdere district of Rize Province in Turkey. It’s one of the highest paved roads of the country. 

Yağdonduran Geçidi is a high mountain pass at an elevation of 1.761m (5,777ft) above the sea level, located in Sivas Province, in Turkey.

Kop Dağı Geçidi is a high mountain pass at an elevation of 2.423m (7,949ft) above the sea level located on the boundary of Bayburt and Erzurum provinces, in Turkey.

Ilgaz Dagi Gecidi is a high mountain pass at an elevation of 1.866m (6,122ft) above the sea level, located on the boundary of Kastamonu and Çankiri provinces, in the Black Sea region of Turkey.

Gezbeli Geçidi is a high mountain pass at an elevation of 1.992m (6,535ft) above the sea level located on the border of Adana and Kayseri Province, in the Central Anatolia region of Turkey.

Dallıkavak Geçidi is a high mountain pass at an elevation of 2.349m (7,706ft) above the sea level located in Erzurum Province, in the Eastern Anatolia Region of Turkey.

Çukuryurt Geçidi is a high mountain pass at an elevation of 1.931m (6,335ft) above the sea level located in Konya Province, in the West Anatolia region of Turkey.

Geminbeli Geçidi is a high mountain pass at an elevation of 2.020m (6,627ft) above the sea level, located in Sivas Province at the eastern part of the Central Anatolia region of Turkey.

Ağzıaçık Geçidi is a high mountain pass at an elevation of 2.308m (7,572ft) above the sea level located in Erzurum Province, in the Eastern Anatolia Region of Turkey.

Gölyurt Geçidi is a high mountain pass at an elevation of 2.387m (7,831ft) above the sea level located in the İspir District of Erzurum Province, in the Eastern Anatolia region of Turkey.

Karasar Geçidi is a high mountain pass at an elevation of 1.939m (6,361ft) above the sea level, located in Sivas Province at the eastern part of the Central Anatolia region of Turkey.

Çimenli Geçidi is a high mountain pass at an elevation of 2.337m (7,667ft) above the sea level located in the Erzurum Province in the Eastern Anatolia region of Turkey. 

Eğribel Geçidi is a high mountain pass at an elevation of 2.236m (7,335ft) above the sea level located in Giresun Province, in the Black Sea region of Turkey.

Kireçli Geçidi is a high mountain pass at an elevation of 2.420m (7,939ft) above the sea level located in Erzurum Province, in the Eastern Anatolia region of Turkey.

Sertavul Geçidi is a high mountain pass at an elevation of 1.664m (5,459ft) above the sea level located on the boundary of Mersin Province (Mediterranean region) and Karaman Province (West Anatolia region), in Turkey.

Güzelyayla Geçidi is a high mountain pass at an elevation of 2.137m (7,011ft) above the sea level located in the Erzurum Province of the Eastern Anatolia region, in Turkey.

Çaykavak Geçidi is a high mountain pass at an elevation of 1.630m (5,347ft) above the sea level, located in Niğde Province, on the southern part of Central Anatolia, Turkey.

Kızıldağ Geçidi is a high mountain pass at an elevation of 2.167m (7,109ft) above the sea level, located on the boundary of Sivas and Erzincan provinces of Turkey.

Uzungöl Lake is a mountain lake at an elevation of 1.125m (3,690ft) above the sea level located south of the city of Trabzon, in Trabzon Province, in the Black Sea region of Turkey.

D-687 is a very scenic road running from Beyşehir to Serik, in Turkey. The road has a 22km (14 miles) gravel section very famous for cyclists.

Tahir Pass is a high mountain pass at an elevation of 2.496m (8,188ft) above the sea level, located in Ağrı Province, in Eastern Turkey.

Erciyes Dağı is an inactive volcano located in Kayseri Province, in Central Anatolia, Turkey. A challenging unpaved road tops out at an elevation of 3.330m (10,925ft) above the sea level near the peak. It's one of the highest roads of Europe.

Zigana Dagi Geçidi is a high mountain pass situated at an elevation of 2,050m (6,725ft) above sea level, located in Gümüşhane Province, near Trabzon Province, in Turkey.

Road D-400 in Turkey offers one of the most breathtaking drives along the Mediterranean Coast, where it's just you, the road, and the sea. The most captivating stretch covers 31.3 kilometers (19.44 miles), running from Yeşilköy to Kaş in the Antalya Province.

Osman Gazi Bridge is a 2,682m (8,799ft) long bridge located along the eastern end of the Sea of Marmara, in Turkey. Earthquakes and high winds are the main hazards. It’s one of the most spectacular bridges in the world.

Ilgar Dağı Geçidi is a high mountain pass at an elevation of 2,550m (8,366ft) above sea level, located in the Ardahan Province of Turkey. It’s one of the highest paved roads in the country.

Mount Ararat is a dormant volcano located in Ağrı Province in the Eastern Anatolia Region, in the extreme east of Turkey, near the Armenian and Iranian borders. A mountain road near the summit ends at 3.297m (10,816ft) above the sea level. It's one of the highest roads of Europe.

Mt. Uludağ is a high mountain pass at an elevation of 2.145m (7,037ft) above the sea level, located in Bursa Province, in Southern Marmara of Turkey. It’s the highest mountain of the Marmara region.

Soganli Geçidi is a high mountain pass at an elevation of 2.372m (7,782ft) above the sea level, located in Bayburt Province, in northeast Turkey.