Trekking
in Kackar Mountains of Eastern Turkey
Aug – Sep
Itinerary: Trabzon, Kackar Mountains, Kars, Ani, Cappadocia
We’ll trek for 7 days from the lush, misty slopes of
the Black Sea foothills, to the drier plateaus and valleys of the Kackar range
with passes up to about 10,000’.
Following herders’ trails and ancient foot paths, we’ll walk through
yaylas (summer herder villages) and see evidence of some of the former
occupants, Armenian and Georgian churches and forts, and perhaps share mountain
tea with their descendants.
[MAP]
The area is
noted for its many glacial lakes, wild flowers, butterflies and wildlife of
deer, ibex, wolves, bears and birds of prey. Next we’ll traverse the arid
plateaus and hills of Eastern Turkey to visit Kars, and the ancient Armenian
capital of Ani. Surrounded by river
gorges on 3 sides, projecting into Armenia, Ani has an evocative setting with
many fine (although crumbling), frescoed Armenian churches and other
ruins. Archaeological work is ongoing
on this site that once was a major hub of the Silk Road, with a population over
100,000 in the 10th century. Finally,
we’ll fly to Cappadocia for several days of hiking among the area’s famous
geological oddities and exploring cave dwellings and underground cities.
The trip is 19 days long, classified as moderate hiking, about 5-6 hours per day on
the trekking portion, less on the hiking. Trekkers’ gear will be carried by
mules, except for a light daypack.
Outfitters priovide all tents and camp equipment; hikers bring their own
sleeping bags. Hikers carry
light daypack. There will also be an
optional 8 day posttrip extension for Nemrut Dag, Urfa & Antakya in Eastern
Turkey. [MAP] A sense of
adventure is required – many of these areas are not visited very often, and we
may adjust the itinerary due to local conditions, weather or other
opportunities
3 or 4 star hotel accommodation in double
occupancy
R/T transfers to and from Istanbul airport
Entrance fees to all sites listed in itinerary ($5-20
pp per site)
All meals
Licensed English speaking guide
A/C deluxe minibus
3 domestic flights in Turkey (Istanbul – Trabzon,
Kars – Ankara, Kayseri - Istanbul)
Group tips for hotel staff, porters, and restaurant
staff
Beverages at lunch and dinner ($1-3 per day)
Single Supplement $600 (see above)
Trip insurance (estimated about $100)
Tips to guide & driver (optional suggested $3/day
for bus driver, $5 /day for guide)
Personal expenses
(Phone, internet, laundry, and similar items)
Day 1- () Leave
home /US.
Day 2- Arrive at Ataturk International Airport,
obtain visa ($20 US cash), clear customs and meet guide for transfer to
hotel. Afternoon free to explore
Istanbul. Welcome dinner.
Overnight in Istanbul.
Day 3- Full day
Istanbul walking tour:
Visit the Hippdrome with its granite Egyptian obelisk,
Blue Mosque (with its
shimmering interior of blue-patterned tiles),
Hagia Sophia, and the Basilica
Cisterns. After lunch, our afternoon
ends at the Grand Bazaar, an exciting, bustling maze of more than 4,000 shops
covering 50 acres
Day 4 Morning flight to Trabzon,Sümela, Overnight in Ayder
Day 5 Free day and overnight in Ayder.
Day 6 Trekking- from Ayder to Cengovit (camp)
Day 7 Trekking -Dupeduz (camp)
Day 8 Trekking –Dilberduzu (camp)
Day 9 Trekking –Dilberduzu (camp)
Day 10 Trekking –Olgunlar (Pansion)
Day 11 Trekking–Okuzgolu (camp)
Day
12
Trekking
to
Barhal and Out
-
transfer to Yusufeli overnight in Yusufeli
Day 13 - Kars- explore the medieval Armenian ruins of Ani . overnight in Kars. [250 km]
Day 14 Fly from Kars to Ankara,
then drive to Cappadocia
Day
15 Hike from Kizilcukur (Red Valley) down to Cavusin village,
stopping to see the frescoes in ruined churches along the way. Relax in the
village and hike to provocative formations and Pasabaglari [about 3 hrs]. After lunch, visit
pottery factory in Avanos for demonstrations.
Overnight in Cappadocia.
Day 16 From near Ortahisar, walk down to the
Göreme Open Air Museum. Visit the museum, and then continue down by way of
‘Love Valley’ to Göreme [about 2 hrs]. Lunch near Uchisar, then hike down the castle hill to
Göreme. Visit Carpet factory and return to hotel.
Day 17 Start the day with a tour of an
underground city, which descends more then twelve stories underground. Drive to Ihlara Canyon. Hiking in the tufa
gorge of the tree-shaded river that carved the Ihlara Valley
[5 km], we’ll visit
several of the churches hidden in the towering canyon walls
Day 18-
Morning flight (about 9 am) to
Istanbul, overnight in Istanbul (or drive to Nemrut Dag if continuing on the
Eastern Turkey
extension)
Day 19 - Transfer to airport for flight home
Additional information for the Kackar trek:
- Daily trekking time: Average 5-7 hrs each day through the most beautiful and wildest mountains of Turkey ; moderate difficulty. Highest elevation is about 4000 meter
- Equipment: Trekkers need good quality thick-soled waterproof walking boots, daypack, warm clothing, sunglasses, sunhat, sun cream, raingear, sleeping bag. Walking sticks are recommended. Sleeping mat is available in the camps.
- Accommodation: 5 nights in tents and day 10 and 12 on pensions. Tents for 2 people and there is no single supplement for hiking part . Trekkers are expected to help pitch/strike their own tents. All tents are good quality dome tents with two doors; about 5 feet by 7 feet.
- Meals: Lunches will be picnics. Lunches will be supplied to trekkers after breakfast for them to carry. Evening meals in camp will be hot soup or salads, a main course with pasta or rice and fruit. Water is available at springs en route.
- Luggage : trekkers are allowed max 20 pounds per person to be carried by mules. The rest of luggage will be sent to Yusufeli and stored until end of Kascar hiking.
- To see: the most beautiful and wildest mountains of Turkey, wildflowers, amazing views of Kackar range, and beyond the Caucasus. Impressive wooden houses on slopes.
-
IMPORTANT: A sense of
adventure is required and we
may adjust the itinerary due to local conditions, weather or other
opportunities
![[MAP]](maps/trabzon-artvin.jpg){kind=link}
![[MAP]](maps/urfa.jpg){kind=link}