The route reaches Kemaliye from Erzincan via İliç; from the city centre to Kemaliye the road is about 180 km. After Kemaliye you enter the Dark Canyon on the bank of the Euphrates, and the Stone Road between Kemaliye and Divriği begins.
Road conditions
The Stone Road is about 7 km long and passes through 38 tunnels. Its construction, begun in 1870, was completed in 2002, so it took 132 years. Originally passable only on foot, it was later made suitable for vehicles; today it is still a narrow road carved into the rock.
Things to watch for
- Water can collect inside the tunnels; the surface may be wet and slippery.
- In extreme rainfall the road can close: in spring 2023 a swollen stream cut the road in two and access was impossible for a long time.
- In heavy winter snowfall the road can stay closed for a long time.
- There is little room to pass oncoming vehicles; ride slowly with your headlight on.
Before setting out, confirm the current state of the road with the Kemaliye District Governorship. Top up on fuel and supplies in the Kemaliye district centre.