
Palandöken Geçidi is an absolute must for road lovers
Turkey, europe
59 km
2,897 m
moderate
Year-round
Hey, fellow adventurers! Ever heard of Palandöken Geçidi? This stunner of a mountain pass sits way up high in Turkey's Erzurum province, clocking in at a breathtaking 2,897 meters (that's 9,504 feet!).
Winding through the Palandöken Mountains, this fully paved road – they call it provincial road 25-26 – stretches for about 59 kilometers (36 miles). You'll cruise from Erzurum, the province's capital, down to Taşkesen, heading north to south.
Fair warning: this eastern Turkey gem can get seriously snowy, so closures are pretty common. But if you catch it right, you're in for some seriously amazing scenery on one of the country's highest paved roads! Just be prepared for some potential delays and pack your sense of adventure!
Road Details
- Country
- Turkey
- Continent
- europe
- Length
- 59 km
- Max Elevation
- 2,897 m
- Difficulty
- moderate
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