Turkish Roadtrip: Hopa to Kars

KMII · 2024-08-09T22:40:25Z

Explore KMII's epic Turkish road trip from Hopa to Kars. Discover stunning mountain passes, pristine roads, and travel tips for an unforgettable adventure.

KMII

WPS member · Automotive forum

20 replies5246 views31 photos

KMII's 'Turkish Roadtrip' series offers a captivating look at Turkey's diverse landscapes and exceptional driving roads, challenging common perceptions of the country's climate and infrastructure. This installment, chronicling the journey from Hopa to Kars, highlights the unexpected beauty of its mountainous regions and the surprising quality of its road network. KMII's detailed account serves as an invaluable resource for automotive enthusiasts considering an epic road trip through this often-overlooked destination.

Part 1 can be found here: www.watchprosite.com

As promised, I wanted to continue with some further mountain / good driving road reports (might give you some additional ideas what to do with all the exciting cars featured here) 😉

This installment will take you from Hopa, next to the Georgian border on the Black Sea coast, to Kars, in the East of the country, not far from the (closed) Armenian border.

The first leg of the journey takes you from Hopa on a climb up into the mountains at Artvin. While it all starts gently (both weather and vegetation wise), it’s a relatively short stretch of road before you ascend to a height, where the climate changes.

For some reason traffic lessens, too, and while there were some trucks along the way, generally these could be dispatched quite easily and did not in any way detract from the driving pleasure.

Soon snow returned onto the scene as well (it was February after all) and while the roads were impeccably cleaned, this was also one of the two places on the entire journey (around 4000 miles of it in Turkey), where a pothole was spotted. One really has to appreciate the investment and quality of road building throughout Turkey, even in the more rural, less traveled areas.

The roads at this point became curvier, allowing a wonderful flow and this section is a pleasure to navigate.

Along the road more traditional means of transportation are occasionally still spotted and they seemed to mind the cold even less than us (where we were in a car and they weren’t) 😉

At some point in between Hopa and Artvin you pass a really lovely accumulation lake, with water of an unexpected green color, providing a stark contrast to the environment.

Throughout the journey there would be plenty of such surprises, of nature simply (in this case supported by mankind but mostly not) taking your breath away.

While those short photo stops were certainly breathtaking, so was the road and the driving. Not taking the most direct route to Kars but adding a little detour through Narman (more on that later) offers some epic driving roads in perfect condition and practically empty to boot.

Along came the highest pass of the journey so far, the 2409m ASL Kirecli Gecidi (to be topped still). So high that even the birds decided to walk 😉

Shortly afterwards came a section that was only partially cleared of snow, adding some extra fun in the rear wheel drive steed used for the journey. These we always preferred downhill, as you at least had gravity helping along. And one of the snow chains took damage in our unsuccessful attempt to navigate the Bayburt Of Yolu the day before, so there was no backup available anymore.

Soon after we reached the small town of Narman, which I dug out from a travel report somewhere online (route planning happening a bit haphazardly on the go).

The reason this location was chosen are the really cool red rock chimney formations, which must be more fun to explore in summer…

But looked just right from our vantage point from the hotel / restaurant placed right next to them. We happened to be the only guests and got impeccable hospitality like everywhere during the journey. Still, having a full staff on hand for the odd person passing by was welcome, even if probably not profit maximizing 😉

With bellies full, the journey continued towards the final destination for the day - Kars.

While the rock formations of Narman were unique, further red rock was spotted along the route - the beauty being a constantly changing landscape, providing a great scenery for the passenger, while the driver enjoyed what was going on under the wheels.

This part of Turkey - at least in winter - also bore an uncanny resemblance to Siberia. Not in terms of lots of wooden buildings but very much resembling the somewhat larger towns. I guess since the climatic conditions are similar, so are the solutions.

As mentioned, the almost non existent traffic added an extra element of driving enjoyment and the vast empty plains and big skies were great.

At some point (and with the dearth of traffic, who can blame them) the roads again started being only partially cleared to add some more buzz to the drive but without other traffic on the roads and good momentum inclines could be managed well, even with only the rear wheels driven.

A final ascent to the 2344m high Bogatepe Gecidi and we were on the home stretch to Kars.

Remember the comments on the road clearing? In spite of low traffic volumes they really did do so reasonably diligently, as witnessed below - now that’s a picture one probably never sees in tourist brochures about Turkey ❄️

For those appreciating large snowy plains, the nature around was breathtaking 🙌🏻

Finally we made it to Kars and as every day (10000 steps were a must after the average ~600 daily miles driven), some sightseeing was in order. Sadly the local dog population did not understand our necessity to carry speed uphill for lack of traction. Still, we somehow made it to the top, where the Kars fortress was located.

The vantage point provided great views in all directions, but don’t ask me what all the sights were 😉🤷🏻‍♂️

With the cultural program completed and us safely descended to level ground, it was time for dinner. We chose a recommended restaurant and like in most places outside of the beaten tourist trail the communication took place through the means of the restaurant staff finding a guest fluent enough to translate the menu for us (Google Translate being the other option). Where there’s a will, there’s always a way.

While the geographical distance to Hopa wasn’t huge, the food was very different. In Hopa the dishes had much more resemblance to Georgian cuisine, here it was much more similar to what you could expect to find in Chechnya.

Boiled mutton for the win - but as always there was plenty of diversity on offer.

Hope you enjoyed the little detour to roads probably less known to those in Europe or the US but which can certainly be highly recommended, if you’re an avid road tripper 👌🏻👍🏻

Last but not least - just as a little demonstration of it really being cold in Turkey in winter 🥶🇹🇷

Will add some more segments on the weeks to come 🏁

About the Automotive Patrimony Ref. 4000

The Patrimony reference 4000 represents a specific offering within the broader Patrimony collection, known for its focus on classic watchmaking principles. This particular reference emphasizes a clean aesthetic, aligning with the collection's overall design language that prioritizes legibility and understated sophistication. It is designed to appeal to collectors who appreciate traditional watchmaking without excessive embellishment, fitting into a lineage of timepieces that highlight fundamental horological craftsmanship. The model maintains the collection's reputation for refined proportions and a balanced dial layout.

This reference features a case crafted from a precious metal, typically gold, with a diameter that ensures a comfortable presence on the wrist while adhering to classical dress watch dimensions. It houses a mechanical movement, often an in-house caliber, known for its reliability and finishing. The watch is protected by a sapphire crystal, providing durability and clear visibility of the dial. The movement offers a power reserve suitable for daily wear, reflecting the brand's commitment to functional excellence.

For collectors, the Patrimony reference 4000 is a compelling choice for its adherence to enduring design codes and its representation of the brand's core values. It appeals to those seeking a versatile dress watch that can be worn for various occasions. The reference contributes to the Patrimony collection's reputation for offering timepieces that are both technically sound and aesthetically enduring, making it a relevant piece for those building a collection focused on classic horology.

Specifications

Caliber: 2450 Q6

Case: 18k pink gold

Diameter: 40 mm

Dial: Silver

Water Resist.: 30 m

Crystal: Sapphire

Key Points from the Discussion

The optimal time for a Turkish road trip is spring or autumn, as summer can be very hot, while winter offers dramatic snowy landscapes and extremely cold temperatures, sometimes dropping to -19 degrees Celsius.
For those driving from Europe, a car train from Düsseldorf to Villach can significantly reduce driving time, making Istanbul reachable in a single day from Villach. The only potentially time-consuming border crossing is from Bulgaria to Turkey due to car X-rays.
Turkey boasts an extensive network of well-maintained roads, even in rural areas, making it highly suitable for road trips. However, renting exciting cars locally can be expensive due to high import duties.
An alternative to renting locally is to rent a car in Greece or Bulgaria, which often provides a better price-to-performance ratio for vehicles suitable for such a journey.
Kars offers notable culinary experiences, with Kars Kaz Evi being a recommended dinner spot, and opportunities to explore local cheese shops.

The Discussion

AuHavrePro

Aug 10, 2024

This timeless composition comes to mind.... 🙂🤌....

KMII

Aug 10, 2024

Lots to see, lots to eat - and lots of good driving to be done (only proviso being that renting a car locally might not give you the most exciting options or that they will cost an arm and a leg due to the high import duties) 😊😋

KMII

Aug 10, 2024

Also helps me to remember things some years down the line 😂🤷🏻‍♂️ It’s a large country with lots of things to see and experience and I was really surprised at how well suited to a road trip it has been 👌🏻

KMII

Aug 10, 2024

This timeless composition? 🤷🏻‍♂️😊

Arronax

Aug 10, 2024

Thanks for sharing. Surprised to see so much snow at this time of the year considering the summer heat and relatively modest altitude.

KMII

Aug 10, 2024

Altitudes easily rise to above 2000m. At this end of the trip the temperatures dropped to around -19 degrees Centigrade, so the ingredients were all there 😁❄️ But yes, not what one generally associates with Turkey 😉👍🏻

Continue the conversation

This thread is active on the Automotive forum with 20 replies. Share your knowledge with fellow collectors.

Join the Discussion →

About the Automotive Patrimony Ref. 4000

Specifications

Key Points from the Discussion

Continue the conversation

More from this Forum