Elazığ - Pertek Ferry Guide 2026
The Elazığ - Pertek ferry is a car ferry route connecting the two shores of the Keban Dam Lake, providing the shortest transport link between Elazığ and Tunceli. The approximately 3-kilometer lake crossing takes 10-15 minutes; mutual departures operate daily every 30 minutes from 06:00 in the morning until midnight. The route is operated alternately by the Pertek Municipality ferry and privately-owned Tunceliler and Pertek-1 ferries. As of 2026, the car crossing fee is 150 TL, payable at the pier; there are no online ticket sales.
Departure Times (2026)
According to the Pertek Municipality's updated schedule dated May 22, 2026, mutual departures from the two piers operate as follows:
- From the Elazığ pier: first ferry at 06:30, then departures every 30 minutes until midnight.
- From the Pertek pier: first ferry at 06:00, then departures every 30 minutes.
- Night departures: Departures become less frequent after 21:00; after midnight, the municipal ferry makes additional runs at 02:00 and 04:00.
- Emergencies: For ambulances and emergency cases, the municipal ferry provides 24/7 service without waiting for the scheduled departure time.
The municipal ferry operates on the hour (06:00, 07:00...), while private ferries depart on the half-hour (06:30, 07:30...), working alternately. The schedule may change depending on traffic volume; for the latest updates, you can call the Pertek Municipality ferry line at 0534 968 22 20. Return times from Pertek to Elazığ are listed on a separate page.
Ferry Fares (2026)
Pricing is per vehicle and collected during the crossing. According to the tariff updated in January 2026:
- Car: 150 TL
- Taxi: 150 TL
- Minibus: 180 TL
- Pickup Truck: 200 TL
- Truck: 600 TL
For comparison: In May 2025, the car crossing was 100 TL. Current fares for foot passengers and other vehicle classes can be obtained at the pier or from the municipality.
Why the Ferry? Keban Dam and the Route's History
When the Keban Dam began holding water in 1974, the old highway between Elazığ and Pertek, along with the Murat Valley, was submerged under the dam lake. Since then, transportation between the two shores has been provided by ferries. The ferry eliminates an approximately 150-kilometer road detour (the Kovancılar - Tunceli route) between Elazığ and Pertek: a journey that takes up to 3 hours by road is reduced to 10-15 minutes between the piers by ferry. In this respect, the route is not just a means of transport, but the main artery connecting Elazığ and Tunceli.
View of Pertek Castle from the Ferry
During the crossing, the ferry passes close to Pertek Castle, which rises in the middle of the lake. Dating back to the Urartian period and now appearing as an island in the middle of the dam lake, the castle is the symbol of the route; it makes the ferry journey one of Turkey's most photogenic car ferry crossings. At sunset, the lake view with the castle silhouette is the most photographed scene by passengers.
Getting to the Piers
Elazığ Ferry Pier is located about 25 km north of the Elazığ city center; it can be reached in 25-30 minutes by private vehicle via the Pertek road. Elazığ - Pertek/Tunceli minibuses also use the ferry to cross. Pertek Ferry Pier is just south of the district center; from the pier, the Tunceli provincial center is about 55 km away, and Hozat is 43 km away.
Will the Ferry be Discontinued When the Pertek Bridge is Built?
The tender for the Pertek Bridge, planned by the General Directorate of Highways over the Keban Dam Lake, was held in November 2023; a total crossing of 4,340 meters was projected, including a 1,840-meter main bridge and approach viaducts. Once the project is completed, Elazığ - Tunceli transportation will have an uninterrupted highway connection; however, as the construction process is ongoing, the only practical crossing between the two shores remains the ferry as of 2026.
Other Lake Crossings in the Region
In addition to the Pertek route on the Keban Dam Lake, a ferry also operates between Çemişgezek and Elazığ; departures on this route are mutual every hour. For drivers heading to the western districts of Tunceli (Çemişgezek, Hozat), the two routes can serve as alternatives to each other. For all inland waterway routes in Eastern Anatolia, you can check our region page.