Cycling In Turkey - Diyarbakir To Malatya Via Nemrut Dag - Route Description

km

Cycling in Turkey – Diyarbakir to Malatya via Nemrut Dag (271 km)

0

Diyarbakir (660m) ride up hill, back up the same road you came down to reach the old town

4

Junction, turn left following signs for Sans Urfa

47

Petrol station - there have been several up to this point, mostly up to about 30km. This is the top of the small climb (1050m)

70

Gravel pit opportunity for camping

76

Petrol station (960m) The top of the hill

84

Starting to enter Siverek, Restaurant / Cafes on the right

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Urfa road goes left, road into Siverek heads straight on. Keep following this road onto cobbles

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(770m) Hotels on both sides at bottom of hill, Feran Palace, Otel Mercan, Otel Ayyildiz, all nice. The whole town seems very friendly and relatively prosperous. Many cafes, restaurants etc. To leave town go left and immediately right to cut across to another large road. Just say Feribot!

89

Reach larger road, turn right

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Reach roundabout and turn left on to the Feribot road. You are now leaving Siverek town

95

Small lake, possible hidden camping

108

Valley to right with options for hidden camping and possible water

124

Ferry Boat. Restaurants on both sides, easy to camp there. (560m) Boats are free for foot passengers nut make sure you get the one that just joins up with the Kahta road, don't go to Adiyaman!! The ferries go every hour from 8am until 9pm

128

Shop

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Narince village (830m). Go right through the petrol station on the right to cut through onto the Nemrut Road which is signposted (after a while) as 23km from Narince. You can't see Nemrut yet, it is behind the hills infront of you

149

Road climbs up to 965m and then drops down another spectacular valley, through rocky and completely different scenery

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Low point (820m).

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Go over bridge

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You are entering Karadut, you will see some places to stay. Turn left up the valley that leads to Nemrut Dag. Signposted 13km

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Karadut Pansiyon (1045m) We camped here for 10TL and the next morning they gave us a lift to the top (30TL for a vehicle) We did not cycle the 1100m up in 11km. IT would be fine but slow and there are plenty of places to camp higher up. You could even camp near the top, where they have water and also a cafe. The road up climbs very steeply and also has some downhill sections which would be very frustrating. It is beautiful up there. There is also the option to cycle 5km further and sleep at Cesme pansiyon, which would make the following day easier.

167

Summit cafe and car park. From here it is about 700m walking to the summit. If you want to go to Malatya you will need to push and carry your bike and panniers all the way to the Pyramid and statues on the summit. This is hard work but can be done in about 30-45 minutes.

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The summit. The track to Malatya and the Gunes hotel can also be seen below you from the Eastern (sunrise) terrace. The track is dirt for a while.

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Gunes Hotel (1930m) This is where the tar road starts. Great places to camp all around here. With water flowing from small and large streams.

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Big descent starts (1980m) Very steep road, your hands will ache, it is switchbacks all the way and in some places the tar is less than good

182

Village of Buyukoz starts

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Hotel on bend at lowest point (1010m)

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Tepehan – Shops and cafe (1400m); The road climbs 50m before a long descent

200

Camping park. Lots of trees, toilets, places to camp. No idea about price. There are also plenty of places in this section for camping. The descent is steep

209

Bridge over river at low point (840m)

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Road joins old highway at a small village (1090m) Shops and restaurants. There was one shop on the ascent but it wasn't open on Sunday when we cycled up.

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Cafe /Shop / Restaurant

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The very top (1900m) Just before here there are places to camp, and also just after the top there is a water fountain by the road and some hidden areas just over the hill

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Road flattens and climbs a bit (1810m)

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Descent really gets going (1835m)

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1360m, most of the drop has now been done. The gradient from here is less steep.

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There is a lake and possible camping around the shore, but you would have to ask permission as it is fenced. Over the bnext few km there are lots of orchards where you could hide your tent if it is getting late.

250

Road joins the main road (1040m)

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Petrol Station

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Lowest point and then gentle climb (940m)

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Highest point before Malatya (1055m)

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Turn left at traffic lights, signposted Museum. Turn right almost immediately to join the main road into Malatya which initially runs parallel to the highway. This is now downhill all the way

271

Inonu Square with the mosque and hotels behind the mosque (980m)

Information about this route This is an outrageous route choice, but great fun. It involves you carrying your bike over the summit of the mountain to get from the Southern to the Northern side. All the climbs and descents from Karadut to Malatya are very steep, nearly always involving climbing gradients of about 100m per km (1:10) The scenery is spectacular. The best time to be on the top of Nemrut is after sunrise when all the people have gone away because they have got cold. Unless you've not seen a sunrise before then the actual sunrise itself is nothing special. Don't bother being there much before 6.30am. Another option for the summit is to see sunset from a base near the Gunes hotel. Timetable for an enjoyable experience: Day 1 Cycle to the delightful town of Siverek, stay in a hotel Day 2 Cycle to Karadut Day 3 Cycle to top and then stay at Gunes Hotel (or camp nearbye) Day 4 Cycle to Malatya but be prepared for a long steep day Other options are to get a lift to the top, camp near Gunes hotel, sleep in Buyukoz's hotel at the bottom of the descent from Nemrut or camp near the top of the climb before you descend to Malatya. Look at the Route Profile for more ideas. The journey across the back roads between Nemrut and Malatya is viciously steep and involves lots of climbing. Do not underestimate it.

© Simon Taylor 2009

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