A memorable road trip to Hanlar Geçidi

A memorable road trip to Hanlar Geçidi

Turkey, europe

Length

N/A

Elevation

2,271 m

Difficulty

hard

Best Season

Year-round

Okay, wanderlusters, buckle up for Hanlar Geçidi in Kars Province, Turkey! Right near the Armenian border, this asphalt ribbon of road (aka the D070) climbs to a whopping 2,271m (7,450ft). Think stunning Eastern Anatolia scenery as you ascend between Kars and Digor. Word to the wise: this climb gets seriously steep, and winter can bring some gnarly storms, so plan accordingly.

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Road Details

Country
Turkey
Continent
europe
Max Elevation
2,271 m
Difficulty
hard

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