Driving ASIA END to END - TÜRKIYE 🇹🇷 - Australia to Scotland by road - Episode 90

The howling onshore was no more and the sea lie flat in the dawn light. As the moon sets and the sun rises the water returns to the crystal clear blue colour of days prior. After a quick breakie we break out our dive gear again and scrabble down the rocky outcrop to the waters edge. The sedimentary rock which makes up the steep bay walls is at mercy to the off season waves and in on place had collapsed into a water cavern. We could see it from the camp spot, and after having a look with the drone, decided to swim over and check it out. Armed with the dive torch we made the several hundred metre swim over to explore the cave. Like the rest of the area there didn’t appear to be any life inside ( that we could see). The cave was about 15 meters deep and about 20 meters wide with the ceiling about 4 metres from the water surface. The outside sunlight filtered through the crystal water and looked incredible from the inside looking out. With not a lot of life under the sea here this cave was a cool feature to explore.
Back at the Troopy, in the balmy comfortable sea breeze we throw up the hammock under the adjacent trees and decide to do nothing for the afternoon. Since restarting our little adventure we’ve been moving quite frequently so it’s good to have a down day and ‘hang out’ and Jolie puts it (Pun intended).
While travelling through Central Turkey we passed some other overlanders who were heading East, they sent us a message on Instagram and suggested this spot. Like the last beach camp, and the hundreds before, we found these spots simply using Google maps. We were surprised that someone else had also found this spot as it wasn’t marked on any maps/apps we were using. We also thought it was a little odd as the majority of other overlanders we meet, especially this close to Europe, hop from one marked camp spot to the next. After having this little slice of paradise to ourselves for the two nights, a German couple and their baby pulled up in a van, after a quick chat it turns out this spot is marked though on a paid app we don’t use. Proof that finding unexplored camp spots in this part of the world is very difficult! In saying that, perhaps it’s good it’s on a paid app and not one so freely available as it keeps it clean! If anyone is reading this that is keen to find it, please, if you do find it, use your head and think of the next person when you position your camp fire!
Leaving this dreamy rocky camp spot we make the steep bumpy climb out of the valley and onto the main west coast highway. The roads continue to improve in quality as we near the major coastal city of Izmir and are also full of friendly Turkish people who continually hoot, wave, or send us photos of us driving on Instagram; something we haven’t really experienced since Indonesia. For reference, one day while driving across Java in Indonesia we received potentially 200 messages on Instagram of nothing but photos of us in the Troopy!
Back to Turkey, previously as we neared the southern coast we noticed that the majority of campers, people in vans, or on touring bikes, weren’t foreign though Turkish. Vehicle based touring and camping is very popular in Turkey and one of the beaches in the area we had chosen to look for a camp was extremely busy with about 50 campers set up along the beach. Not our idea of idyllic conditions so we pushed on to a quieter less accessible beach which looked promising. The access to the beach appeared to be through the ruins of an old resort which provided several great level hard stand areas to park up with panoramic views over the sea. The steps down to the water was an added bonus!
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[@robertprestwidge7819]

So glad that you have done this trip! Fantastic

[@denisvincent3249]

Amazing photos and a great view

[@TheWayOverland]

Thanks Denis

[@bukitkatilmp]

Although my country, Malaysia has some of the most turqoise waters on earth, Turkey stands out for the most deep blue seas i've ever seen! . Beautiful!

[@TheWayOverland]

Cheers, yeah the colours of the waters here, and through the Balkans, is incredible! Unfortunately we didn't get to do any diving in Malaysia due to timing though it's definitely on the radar for future trips.

[@stevestott1514]

Wow what a spectacular & beautiful camping spot that first one . the water and the cliffs all so beautiful and relaxing . See why you spent more time there . Thanks for all the wonderful places you two have taken us to on your travels . And sharing all the times you have spent visiting the awesome people you meet along the way . What a beautiful video again you two . Thanks again for all the work you do to bring theses great videos to us . Cheers from Steve Stott in Sutherlin Oregon U.S..A. 😄🥂🍻😁👍🏼 :):) .

[@TheWayOverland]

No worries, cheers Steve!

[@ronellefiji8731]

Just....next level! Drone shots, music, underwaterscenes, nature...all and all. Thank you. Love your travels and your channel.

[@TheWayOverland]

👌🏻 Cheers!

[@mikerayner5938]

Indeed. Simple things. Lovely.👍

[@TheWayOverland]

Cheers Mike 👍🏻

[@oldandgrumpy6284]

Thanks for your great video

[@TheWayOverland]

No worries

[@muhammadibrahimmuhammadibr4390]

Hi. very nice video. love you Turkey. love from Pakistan.

[@johndiaz7240]

Only the best thanks 😊

[@TheWayOverland]

Cheers John

[@robkeith1776]

Hey Jolie and Mark. Greetings from Oz. What an amazing adventure - 3 years and 11 months ! It has been an epic journey from Perth to Europe. Thank you for taking us along.

[@TheWayOverland]

Cheers Rob, it's been a rollercoaster to say the least!! We were glad to have that milestone out of the way and moving forward, not so much about the increase in Diesel prices 😒. We're actually now much closer to you than to Europe, so we can thankfully return the G'day from Oz! 😉 Keep following though to see how things pan out.......

[@Thebluelandy]

So happy to see that you enjoyed the spot as much as we did! We actually removed one of the fireplaces. Who places a fireplace below a tree!???

[@TheWayOverland]

Good to know people read the description! It is a great spot isn't it. In addition to the nonsensical positioning under trees, we're always baffled why people build camp fires 2 metres away from one that's already built! We had to move one to get in position, thankfully cleaning the ash and soot off was easy in that incredible water.

[@rockingadventure2422]

Beautiful place 👍

[@chrisrea7347]

Hi Guys, I am Kiwi and have been following you since you caught up with Grizzn Bear (LR130) Leigh and Steph. I also have a house in southern Turkey which you would have passed by on your way around the southern coast. Its nice seeing familiar sights from a different viewpoint. When you cross over into Greece, (several points) there is a lovely Greek city called Alexandroupolis and from there you can cross over a mountain pass into Bulgaria. I had a LR 90 and have travelled through this top area of Geece/Bulgaria and Turkey many times and also drive through to UK. Enjoy your adventures - I am envious. KiwiChris

[@TheWayOverland]

Hey Chris, We're envious that you're lucky enough to have a house in that incredible region of southern Turkey! Thanks for the tips, we checked out some of those tracks in Northern Greece on several apps though the weather wasn't too kind when we passed through so we gave them a miss. The parts we did see of Northern Greece were a welcome surprise though and we went on to have a great time in Albania. Cheers

[@holgermuller2987]

Hi guys, I am relatively new described to your channel found it only last year. Your vids getting better and better by the time and very Interesting since you do the trip from down under up North.! Many things happen since 2.2020…. Covid time. Now the war in Ukrain and many NO go countries around there. Border closure too due to covid extreme more difficult. While looking at your YT info page it says you are currently at home?!? Where??? Current location? Would be interesting to know. Our trips are all pushed backwards over 2 years now and it will be 2023 that we can get our rig out of garage in MEL. Overlanding my way! Yep, I left home in 1991…. Living and Working in Asia since and countless trips here around. Did I saw enough? Nop, there are now so many infos on nice places never been before. Your yt vids inspires me “to go for a drive up north” after 2 rounds around OZ start next year. Malaysia Boleh! Yep, have been living in KL for 5 years… East Malaysia was fantastic diving in early 2000. To many tourist later on especially in Sipadan and around. After covid should be good now. Indonesia diving fantastic by live on board…. Now expensive adventure. Philippines all over is the cracker… annual visits to there before covid since 1993 ! Have seen a bit of it. Tubata reef… for diving. Nothing better than that. All others will be a new adventure crossing borders etc. Landing on the continent and driving through Indonesia, Malaysia Thailand Vietnam, China, Mongolia… Borders all closed in 2022. Looking forward you next episodes… Safe trip all time Cheers

[@TheWayOverland]

Hey Holger, Sounds like you've been around! Probably easier if you shoot us a email or message on our socials. Cheers

[@wildliveunit292]

so sick droneshots!! so awesome. You'll love the Balkans:) let us know if you need some tips. we spend a lot of time there. The blue and clear water is unbelievable

[@TheWayOverland]

Cheers guys, unfortunately the weather wasn't too great for our time in the Balkans. We've both travelled through the region before and enjoyed the coast so we know what we missed out on. It's easy to go back to though so not all bad!

[@wildliveunit292]

@@TheWayOverland haha oh I see. Then safe travels wherever you go next:)

[@fredbossenmeyer4123]

Superb video

[@TheWayOverland]

Thanks Fred

[@ammarsyed6321]

That's an incredible spot you guys found, how far was it from Canekkale?

[@TheWayOverland]

The second one is on the peninsula off Izmir. First is much further down around the coast.

[@martindavies4282]

love your videos keep up the great work would love to overland Turkey fascinating country

[@TheWayOverland]

Thanks Martin, great country to overland. Plenty of culture, history, varying landscape, and good food. Would recommend!

[@peteregan3862]

A 4-year journey across Asia - with a bit of a detour!! And 4 months for Australia. You have the time ratios about right.

[@TheWayOverland]

Could easily have done 4 years in Aus too Peter! We can do that later...

[@peteregan3862]

@@TheWayOverland However, the Australian continent is a very old land geologically speaking, it lacks the variety of newer 'land'. Love seeing the newer land. There was a time in the 1970s when it was pretty safe to go overland by local transport from Australia to London via Kabul and Iran, but then local, regional, and cold war politics intervened. Lets hope political and cultural issues develop in such a way that trips across Asia like yours are welcomed by the nations and their people. Apart from westerners, I expect many people across Asia would love to do your trip and have the resources to do it.