Cycling In Iran And Turkey - Border Crossing - Orumiyeh To Van - Route Description

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Cycling from Iran to Turkey – Orumiyeh to Van (293 km) Orumiyeh (1400m) We stayed at Reza Hotel, friendly, cheap and central. From here head back to Roundabout and take road NW, signposted 'Turkey border'

20

Village with shops (1400m) and then road starts to climb

30

The top – great camping everywhere (1825m)

43

Iran checkpoint / Shops / Village

51

Turkish supermarket on right in the middle of nowhere

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Serou Border – Iran side very simple – just a stamp in passport, no forms, customs check. Bank on Iranian side for changing money..OK rates. Turkey side, visa available from Border official in small office, very easy process. In May time change was 1½ hours. The day becomes very long

54

Small village + Shops

74

Small steep track on right to completely hidden camping area 50m from road. Stream flowing and flat grass

76

Tunnel (labelled 2100m but actually 2200m)

92-98

Yuksekova (1870m) – Major town. Main street at 94km on left. Supermarkets etc

126

Footbridge, Old-road bridge to left to good camping, followed immediately by a tunnel for the new road (1700m)

130

Bagisli (1600m). Army checkpoint, shops

139

Village with shops

148

Village with shops (1835m) One shop on the right has a cafe inside it makes good food

155

Village with shops (1890m)

175

Baskale starts (2240m) Petrol station on left has Hotel above the restaurant, 20TL/night. Hotel not signposted.

176-177 Centre of town (2290m) Road drops steeply as you leave town 182

The river at the bottom (2030m) followed by a steep climb back up to the plateau (2120m)

189

Pit on left for camping

190

Army Checkpoint and junction (2030m)– go straight up the valley following the river

199

Shops and restaurants on the right (2225m)

203-208 Good camping opportunities up side valleys on either side. Plenty of water. (2385m-2600m) 210

The top. (2770m) Just below communication towers. (Labeled 2730m)

216

Quarry for camping if you have water (2465m) This is in middle of a long descent

227

Gas station / Shops (2050m)

232

Guzelsu. Castle, plenty of cafes/shops etc. Good one at petrol station as you enter town.

237-248 Road follows edge of reservoir hovering around 1990m all the time. 250

Road has dropped from reservoir to 1910m

265

Petrol Station, cafe

270

Junction at edge of Gurpinar,( 1800m) turn right for Van. Edge of town ahead of you. From here the road climbs steeply up switchbacks

275

Spring on corner with seating area. Could get water and camp on the top.

277

The Top (2260m) labeled 2230m. Great views of Lake Van. Good camping up track to left. From here a fantastic long descent to Van, one flattish section near the top.

290

Van starts. The road you are on becomes Cumhuriyet Caddesi and enters town from the south eventually reaching the roundabout near the mosque.

293

Roundabout near mosque (1755m)

© Simon Taylor 2009

http://hk-to-uk.blogspot.com