The route

I hope to cycle from my home in Oxfordshire, UK, to Istanbul. This is a very rough map of the route. I have just under ten weeks to get there. I have a rough idea of the route, but want to retain a degree of flexibility for contingency and providence.

I’ll start in early August 2025 by taking two days to cycle to Harwich, where I intend to take the overnight ferry to the Hook of Holland. From there, I will follow the Eurovelo 15 route south, following the course of the Rhine through the Netherlands, Germany, France, Switzerland, and Liechtenstein.

After crossing the Alps, I have three options across northern Italy. Most likely I will take the via Postumia east. This is a Roman military road that morphed into and became part of the European-wide Camino Santiago pilgimage network. It appeals because of its history, but also because it will take in a few more hills and off road sections. If I want to go more directly than that I can take the Eurovelo 8 east as it follows the valley of the River Po. Or if I’m feeling stronger and more adventurous, the Veneto Divide route through the rather more “undulating” and remoter Italian pre-Alps and Dolomites, which I can nonetheless flick into and out of from the via Postumia.

I want to avoid the coast roads through the Balkans, so will take the Trans-Dinarica route through Slovenia, Croatia, Bosnia & Herzogovina, Montenegro, Kosovo, and North Macedonia, where that trail ends.

From that point I’ll somehow get over to Bulgaria to pick up the Eurovelo 13, before following my nose south into Istanbul.

Simple!

I have to finish by 11th October 2025, just under 10 weeks from my start date. There’s a pre-planned a week out in the middle, which will limit my riding time, so if necessary I may end up having to take a local train here and there to make up time. I’ve no idea how many kilometres it will end up being….I’ll let you know at the end!