From Danilovgrad to Antalya with car

 Good morning,

At the end I; we made the trip from Zelcestan to Antalya with cat kids. 

Asked to the people several times who made this route before but couldn't get a proper answer. Was planning to go via Montenegro - Albania - Greece - Turkey route but couldn't take an answer from Greece Embassy at Podgorica except than my first mail what I send in September and answered as to get in touch on closer date due to Corona measurements and bans, then no answer until our return. Even Turkish Embassy on Athens did not answer my mail as if we can go true Greece. Only Turkish Embassy at Sofia gave a proper answer and information (once more I wish to say thanks to them. 

Based on lack of the communication and risk of rejection for passing or entry, I planned to go true Montenegro - Serbia - Bulgaria - Turkey route. Normally my break point was Sarkoy, Tekirdag which is so close to Ipsala border by and between Greece and Turkey. 

Bad chance, just before Montenegro - Serbia border, they closed the road just one truck before us. They said that the road will be opened 5 hours later. That made no sense to stay in the middle of no where without toilet, etc for 5 hours.

Then I drove back, it was shown another route passing from Kosovo and Macedonia to Bulgaria. Fun started after this decision!

I am a Mediterranean person; snow, ice, cold make no sense. Also due to not shared information, summer tyres were installed on my car and environment was as this!

First time Benek and Haylaz saw the snow and even they were trying to understand what is this 😁

Of course "the fun" did not finish yet. On both sides of the road were full of snow, they cleaned the roads very well.

This is the photo of the border from Montenegro side to the direction of Kosovo.

This border is almost on a top and then the road goes down with very very sharp turns. Imagine to make this path with snow, fog, ramp down, screaming Benek and two sided one line road. This was my nightmare! I couldn't drive more than second gear, the visibility of the almost zero, no way to see anything on a big part of this path. Strictly advise not to take this route especially during winter.

After this, it was mostly OK. Crossed Kosovo, entered to Macedonia and then Bulgaria. On Bulgaria, they are using an online toll payment system. Until the last minute I was hopeful to take information and confirmation from Greece to make this trip via Greece (also was hoping to have uzo and calamari, they make it amazing) hence couldn't buy the vignette before the trip. Asked to border police and they said that petrol stations are selling this. Entered to the first one to buy one. Paid 21 Euros for one month valid vignette. You van buy for weekend, week, month and more. Without vignette, you can have punishment up to 4 times of the amount. If you buy directly from internet will be much more cheaper.

I was not sure what they will do for Benek and Haylaz as if they will check the microchips, if yes is there any dog or cat around, do I have to take them out of the car, bla bla but they even did not check the documents. But wish to underline that, on every border I gave my passport and vaccination certificate and told that I have my cats with me and intended to give the documents. They know very well to read the body language. 

At the entrance of Turkey you have to register your car. You need your passport, green card insurance and car registration. If the car is not registered under your name, then you also need POA. 

We stopped by Sarkoy on a friend house. It should take more less 14 hours if we could pass from Greece. With the new route, it took 27 hours with one hour sleep break on the back seat with kids. Slept a few hours at Sarkoy then continue to Antalya and crossed with ferry. This was another challenge for me actually. With zero knowledge and experience I made this too. Asked to my friend who passed several times. We used the departure port of Gelibolu to Lapseki.

From Europe part of Turkey to Asia part of Turkey, there are plenty ferries are operating by and between. You can check the routes, prices and time tables directly from their web pages. Based on weather, wave, season, etc all of them are changing hence better to check before you start.

With our case, there was a time table but mostly they move when the ferry is full. On the line I asked to a truck driver as what to do, how to do, which line to enter, etc. Normally on the web page of the operator the price was written 52, 50 TL (around 5 Euros) but on cash point before enter to the ferry I paid 72,50 TL (around 7 Euros). 

After the payment point, follow the instructions of the officers as where to park your vehicle. 

As far as I know, a big part of the car drivers do not like to drive close to trucks; me either. This is where we parked on the ferry! 

In Turkey also they are using type of vignette system named HGS. To be able to buy this you have stop by a PTT (or even some petrol stations are selling this) with registration of your car. The price of the card is 12.50 TL (12,5 Euros). And advise to put minimum 100 TL credit inside. You see on the entrance of the motorways as HGS, use that one for enter and exit. The system will read your number plate and deduct the fee from installed credit. Even they have application on play store to check your credit and pay online if missing payment.

So, it took much more than planned but we did it and arrived to Antalya more less within 1.5 days. Will share the return steps individually.

Take care and stay safe

We