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The peaks of the Kackar Daglari. |
August
27 - September 4,
2011
Plan your arrival
in Erzurum, Turkey for August 27
Plan your departure from Trabzon, Turkey for September 5
Printable version of
itinerary
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Join us for this hiking journey in Turkey's
Kaçkar Mountains (Kaçkar Daglari), the highest portion of the Pontic Alps which stretch along
Turkey's Black Sea coast. The Kaçkar Mountains, protected in a national
park, are rugged and glaciated with a true alpine character. The flowering
alpine meadows, crystalline high country lakes, and craggy peaks have led
some to call the Kaçkars Turkey's most beautiful mountains. During the trip,
you'll have the opportunity to hike across the Kaçkar Mountains traversing
the heart of this outstanding mountain group. Start your journey in the
Turkish city of Erzurum set in the dry landscapes of eastern Anatolia and
conclude in the city of Trabzon, built on the Black Sea and back-dropped by
the well-watered foothills of the Pontic Alps. |
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Day 1
Overnight in Yusufeli
Dinner included
Arrive in Erzurum in eastern Anatolia (Turkey) by air from Istanbul. Travel
by vehicle to Yusufeli, a town of about six thousand inhabitants nestled in
a mountain valley along the Çoruh River in Turkey's Artvin Province. The
town is a center for the production of grapes, olives and citrus fruits as
well as being an important base for explorations into the nearby Kaçkar
Mountains. Enjoy a welcome dinner this evening. |
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Day 2
Overnight in Yaylalar
Breakfast, lunch & dinner included
Transfer from Yusufeli to the Yaylalar mountain village (6,200
feet above sea level) on the southern slopes of the Kaçkar mountain range.
Enjoy a "warm-up" hike
in the Korahmet Valley. High alpine pastures (yayla in Turkish) cover
the upper reaches of this and other high mountain valleys in the Kaçkar.
Traditionally, the inhabitants of this region leave their lowland villages
in the late spring and early summer to drive their herds up to the alpine
meadows for grazing. Stone or wood-built huts that serve as summer
residences can be found picturesquely scattered through the highlands.
Cheese and yogurt are made in the high pastures until the onset of winter
signals the return to the lowland villages. Spend this evening in a village
pension at Yaylalar. |
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Music from a tulum (Turkish bagpipe) resounds
in the Kaçkar highlands. |
Day 3
Overnight in Yaylalar
Breakfast, lunch & dinner included
Enjoy another day hike in the Kaçkar Mountains to the upper reaches of the Modut Valley. Overnight in a pension in Yaylalar. |
Day 4
Overnight in Dilberduzu Camp
Breakfast, lunch & dinner included
Begin a two-day hike across the Kaçkar Mountains. Today, hike from
Yaylalar (or Olgunlar) to Dilberduzu Camp (9,600 feet above sea level) at the base of the
Kaçkar Peak.
Strong hikers can ascend to Deniz Golu (a beautiful alpine lake tucked in a
glacial cirque whose name means "Sea Lake") and return to camp. Overnight in
a fully supported mountain camp at Dilberduzu. |
Day 5
Overnight in Dupeduzu Camp
Breakfast, lunch & dinner included
After breakfast, hike to Deniz Golu (if you didn't make it the day before)
before striking out for the Dupeduzu Camp (9,300 feet above sea level) in
the neighboring valley. Overnight in a fully supported mountain camp at Dupeduzu camp. |
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Day 6
Overnight in Yukari Kavron
Breakfast, lunch & dinner included
From Dupeduzu Camp, hike over the Caymakcur Pass before descending past a
series of lovely alpine lakes including Karadeniz Golu. Our destination is
the mountain village of Yukari Kavron set in a valley on the northern flanks
of the Kackar Mountains. The well-watered northern slopes of the Kackars are
home to the Laz people (whose traditional language is related to Georgian)
and the Hemşinli (of Armenian origin). Overnight at a village pension in
Yukari Kavron. |
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Day 7
Overnight in Ayder
Breakfast, lunch & dinner included
From Yukari Kavron, hike to the high mountain pastures of the Samistal
plateau before descending to the village of Ayder for an overnight in a
village pension.
Day 8
Overnight in Ayder
Breakfast, lunch & dinner included
Day hike up to Derebasi Golu (a mountain lake) and overnight once again
in Ayder. |
Day 9
Overnight in Trabzon
Breakfast, lunch & dinner included
This morning depart the Kackar Mountains bound for the Sumela Monastery.
This picturesque, cliff-hanging monastery (Sumela Manastiri, in
Turkish) is a Greek Orthodox monastery established in the fourth century AD.
It overlooks the forested Altindere Valley and is a key feature of Turkey's
Altindere National Park. After the visit to the monastery, continue to Trabzon,
a port city on Turkey's Black Sea coast. Once known as Trapezus (or Trebizond), Trabzon is situated on one on the branches of the
old Silk Road and served as an important trading gateway to Persia and
India. Overnight in a hotel in Trabzon. |
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Visit the Sumela Monastery near Trabzon. |
Departure Day
Breakfast included
Depart Trabzon by air for your flight to Istanbul and onward
connections. |
Stone bridge, northern slope of the Kackar
Mountains. |
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Other Details about this
Trip
Trip Dates: August 27 -
September 4,
2011
Price: $3,950 (8-9
participants); $3,795 (10-11 participants); $3,595 (12+ participants)
Single Room for entire trip: $375
Trip Begins: Erzurum, Turkey
Trip Ends: Trabzon, Turkey
Lodging: Nine nights lodging is included (five nights in mountain
pensions; two nights in fully supported mountain camps; two nights in
hotels. During the two nights
spent in mountain camps, sleeping accommodations will be in portable
backpacking-style tents. Tents, supplies and meals will
be provided and packed in by mule.
Meals: Nine breakfasts, eight lunches, and nine dinners are included.
There may be limited Western-style food options at some meals.
Arriving in Erzurum, Turkey: To arrive in Erzurum (airport code ERZ)
on August 27, plan your departure from the U.S. on August 26 at the
latest. You can fly to Istanbul and make a connection there to Erzurum.
Please plan your arrival in Erzurum Airport for no later than 1:00 PM on
August 27. You may find it more comfortable to plan to spend a day or
two in Istanbul before flying on to Erzurum. Flights from Istanbul to
Erzurum depart from Istanbul's Ataturk airport (airport code IST) and Sabiha Gokcen
airport (airport code SAW).
Departing from Trabzon, Turkey: Plan your departure from Trabzon (airport code
TRX)
for September 5. From Trabzon, flights are available to Istanbul's
Ataturk Airport or Sabiha Gokcen Airport. (Note that flights to/from the U.S. normally land at Ataturk
Airport.) Early morning departures from Trabzon will arrive at Istanbul
Ataturk in time for some flight connections to the U.S. on the same day. Note that the
transfer from the hotel in Trabzon to the airport on September 5 is not
included in the trip price, but we will be happy to arrange a private
airport transfer for you. |
Printable version of
itinerary
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A mountain lake in the high Kackars. |
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this trip, you can submit them to us by using the form below:
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The
image in the top & bottom banners are from photos by John Osaki.
The Kackar
Daglari
image is a derivative work of a
photo by user Wikimol available under a
Creative Commons Attribution-Share Alike 2.5
Generic license.
The Sumela Monastery
image is a derivative work of a
photo by user Babbsack available under a
Creative Commons Attribution-Share Alike 3.0
license.
The mountain lake
image is a derivative work of a
photo by user Doron available under a
Creative Commons Attribution-Share Alike 3.0
license.
All other photos
are courtesy of A. Erturbey |
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