Day 5 - Greece to Turkey

Date: 23 April 2013
Origin: Ferry Port, Igoumenitsa, GREECE
Destination: Ipsala, Greece border with TURKEY
Approximate Distance: 411 miles
Approximate Departure: 11 am 
Approximate Arrival: 8 pm

The journey was as follows:

Drive from Igoumenitsa, Greece to Ipsala, Turkey

View Larger Map


Our friends stayed at the port with another Ambulance to get their Ambulance fixed and would join us later.

I would say this was a testing day for our Ambulances as today was a drive through mountains and Ambulances did struggle driving up the mountains. We were also very careful not to put much pressure on the clutches. For our heavy Ambulances it was important to pick up speed whilst going downhill and use the speed to drive uphill.

We reached Greece-Turkey border at around 8 pm and then had to wait for other Ambulances to arrive as they had the paperwork (Vehicle registration and MOT). We had some further paperwork issues at the border and end up spending the whole night in the Ambulance waiting to cross the border and finally managed to cross the border at around 7 am next day.

Car insurance is required to enter Turkey and this was arranged at the border. We also filled up at Greece because Turkey has one of the most expensive fuel in the world, roughly around £2 per liter.  

So, the drive today was scenic but very hard for the Ambulances and the sleepless cold night was not very good either.   

Ambulances as well as the drivers were fresh for the
long drive

Greece had a lot of tunnels

Greece - Turkey Border

This is where we spent the whole night and it was cold!

Finally we see Turkey!!!

Click here for Day 6