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Rally vehicles on a road winding through the Anatolian highlands at golden hour
The Anatolian Drive×TÜV Türk

Silk Road Rally e.V. · TÜV Türk · 2 – 12 August 2026

THEANATOLIANDRIVE

Where every road tells a story

11
Stages
2,246
Kilometres
Aug 2
Departure
Ankara
Finale
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A lone vehicle in the vast Anatolian landscape

The idea

This is not a race. It is a conversation with a country.

For eleven days the Anatolian Drive traces a line from the Bosphorus to the heart of Anatolia — past Troy, through cotton-white terraces, over a mountain pass at 2,550 metres, into valleys carved from ash.

There is no podium. The reward is the road itself — the people at a roadside table, cities that were old when Rome was young, the silence of a camp beneath the Taurus stars.

Where every road tells a story.

The journey

2,246 kilometres. One road.

The experience

Not a race — a discovery

Discovery, not competition

No racing licence, no stopwatch. The Anatolian Drive is a journey, open to any vehicle with a sense of adventure.

Culture & cuisine

Eleven days of ancient cities, local tables and roads that connect three thousand years of history.

Camp & convoy

From seaside towns to a mountain camp at 2,550 m — nights shared with a small, like-minded fleet.

All roads, all cars

Asphalt passes, offroad sections and cotton-white terraces. Bring the car you love — we map the rest.

The journey

11 stages across Anatolia

Aug 2Istanbul — ÇanakkaleTroya special stage308 km
Aug 3Çanakkale — AkçayKaz Dağları · Zeus Temple120 km
Aug 4Akçay — EfesAncient city special stage273 km
Aug 5Efes — BodrumHalikarnassos · local cuisine170 km
Aug 6Bodrum — PamukkaleCotton Castle traverse250 km
Aug 7Pamukkale — OlimpusMountain camp at 2,550 m304 km
Aug 8Olimpus — KonyaOffroad route255 km
Aug 9Konya — NiğdeMevlâna Türbesi tour240 km
Aug 10Niğde — KappadokyaValley & cave tour95 km
Aug 11Kappadokya — AksarayBalloon flight · Ihlara Valley99 km
Aug 12Aksaray — AnkaraAnkara finale ceremony232 km
IstanbulAnkara

Hover a stage to trace it on the map

The crossing

From the Bosphorus to the heart of Anatolia.

Along the way

Moments on the route

A morning above the fairy chimneys

Stage 09 — 10 · Cappadocia

A morning above the fairy chimneys

Before the heat, a hundred balloons rise over Göreme's tufa valleys. You drive the floor of a landscape carved by ash and time — cave churches, hidden monasteries, roads the colour of rose.

Distance194 km
RegionNevşehir
The white terraces of Hierapolis

Stage 06 · Pamukkale

The white terraces of Hierapolis

Thermal water has built a cascade of snow-white travertine over millennia. Above it lie the ruins of Hierapolis and a pool where ancient columns rest beneath the surface.

Stage250 km
FeatureThermal springs
The highest camp of the rally

Stage 07 · Olympos

The highest camp of the rally

At 2,550 metres the convoy stops for the night. No hotels, no signal — just engines cooling, a long table under the stars, and the silence of the Taurus mountains.

Altitude2,550 m
NightCamp
Driving into the ancient world

Stage 03 · Ephesus

Driving into the ancient world

The marble streets of one of antiquity's greatest cities. The Library of Celsus at golden hour, the great theatre, and a special stage that ends where history began.

Stage273 km
EraRoman Ionia

Latest

From the road

Stage preview

Day 7: Olympos mountain camp — the highest point of the rally

Day 7 takes the convoy to 2,550 metres — the highest point of the route. No hotels, no signal: just engines cooling under the Taurus stars and a long table shared by the whole fleet. Here is how we prepare the mountain camp.

28 May 2026 · 3 min read

Announcement

Registration now open for the Anatolian Drive inaugural edition

Registration for the inaugural Anatolian Drive is officially open. Eleven days, eleven stages, from the Bosphorus to Ankara — places are limited and allocated in order of registration.

15 May 2026 · 2 min read

Partner news

TÜV Türk confirmed as official co-organiser and technical partner

TÜV Türk joins the Anatolian Drive as official co-organiser and technical partner, supporting scrutineering, safety and logistics across all eleven stages.

10 May 2026 · 4 min read

The mornings

A hundred balloons over Cappadocia.

Gallery

Photos & media

Partnership

Become a sponsor

Trusted by partners & supporters of the Silk Road Rally

Lightvertise
hirnworx
Mutlu
Opet
VFD
Klasik
Partner
Partner
Partner
Partner
Partner
Partner
Partner
01

Visibility on the road

Your brand travels 2,246 km across Turkey — on rally vehicles, route banners and the start and finish stages from Istanbul to Ankara.

02

An exclusive audience

Reach an international, adventurous community of participants, partners and followers gathered around the Silk Road Rally.

03

Media & storytelling

Feature in the editorial coverage, films and social content that document eleven days of landscapes, culture and camaraderie.

04

Tailored partnerships

From product activations to naming opportunities, we shape every collaboration around your brand's goals.

Same team

Born from the Silk Road Rally

The Anatolian Drive is created by the team behind the Silk Road Rally — the same organiser, Silk Road Rally e.V., together with TÜV Türk. The Anatolian Drive distils years of expedition experience into eleven days across Turkey.

Founded in 2022 by Nadir Serin, the Silk Road Rally is one of the longest road trips in the world — roughly 15,000 km from Europe along the ancient Silk Road, run with the support of governments and automobile clubs across more than ten countries.

Explore the Silk Road Rally →
15,000+
Kilometres
31
Days on the road
10+
Countries
2022
Founded

Good to know

What the entry covers

The entry fee is an organisation fee, not an all-inclusive package. It covers everything that makes the route run — each team arranges its own travel, accommodation and fuel, and we share recommendations and stage destinations along the way.

Included

  • Participation in all 11 stages, start to finish
  • Roadbook & GPS route for every stage
  • Official rally plates & starter kit
  • Welcome & finale ceremony in Ankara
  • Daily stage briefings & organiser support on route
  • Listing in the official entry list & media coverage

Not included

  • Travel to the start and home from the finish
  • Accommodation & meals
  • Fuel and road tolls
  • Vehicle & travel insurance
  • Visa and border fees, where applicable
  • Personal expenses & vehicle repairs

Questions

Frequently asked

Who can take part?

Anyone with a valid driving licence and a roadworthy vehicle. The Anatolian Drive is a discovery rally, not a race — no competition licence is required.

What kind of car do I need?

Any vehicle you trust on long tarmac days with occasional light offroad sections — from a classic to a modern SUV. It must be registered, insured and pass a basic technical check with our partner TÜV Türk.

What does the entry fee include?

It is an organisation fee covering roadbook, rally plates, route support, briefings and the start and finale ceremonies. Travel, accommodation, meals and fuel are organised by each team — see “What the entry covers” above.

Where do we sleep?

Mostly in hotels in the stage towns, with one unforgettable mountain camp at 2,550 m on day 7. We share recommended accommodation for each stage; booking is up to you.

Do I need a co-driver?

No — you are welcome solo or as a team. A co-driver simply makes the long days and navigation more enjoyable.

How do I register and pay?

Send the form below and we will reply with confirmation and payment details. Places are limited and allocated in order of registration, so early entries are recommended.

Is insurance required?

Yes. Each participant is responsible for valid vehicle and travel/health insurance for the whole route. We are happy to point you to suitable providers.

The nights

Beneath the Taurus stars.

Join the run

Registration 2026

The Anatolian Drive is open to all vehicles and drivers with a spirit of adventure. No racing licence required — this is a discovery rally, not a competition.

Start date
2 August 2026, Istanbul
Finish
12 August 2026, Ankara
Entry fee
≈ $88 (₺4,000)
Organiser
Silk Road Rally e.V. · TÜV Türk

Silk Road Rally e.V.··Inaugural Edition