MOUNT KACKAR AND CULTURE 11 DAY

MOUNT KACKAR AND CULTURE 11 DAY

SHORT INFORMATION:

• Travel time: 11 days + (1 Day can be used extra depending on weather conditions )

• Overnight stay in tents: 2-4 nights

• Hotel accommodation: 6-8 nights

Highlights of the trip

• Climbing the highest point in the Kaçkar massif (Mt.Kaçkar 3,937m)

• Hikes in a mountain range that has hardly been developed for tourism

• Alpine meadows, alpine villages and contacts with locals

• Stunning variety of flowering plants

• Hot springs, deep gorges and waterfalls

• World-famous mountain monastery from Byzantine times

• Visits to the historic cities of Erzurum and Trabzon

Day 1: Flight via Istanbul to Erzurum. Hotel

Day 2: Drive north from Erzurum by minibus to the narrow gorge of Tortum. Through a wild landscape you reach after about 2 hours drive the lake of the same name Tortum. Through the narrow Tschoroch gorge you drive on narrow Mountain roads to the mountain village of Yaylalar, which lies on the southern slope of the Kackar massif. this is the Starting point for some of our tours. Overnight stay in tents or a guesthouse

Day 3: Hike Yaylalar You go on an acclimatization hike over wonderfully colorful Flower meadows, hills and the Bodotpass (approx. 2700m) around the village of Yaylalar. Hiking time 7 - 8 hours. Overnight in tents.

Day 4:Today's hike leads through a beautiful valley part of the Bulut Dagi (Cloudy Berg) up to about 2900 meters above sea level, then it goes down into the Dibe valley, past alpine villages and numerous flowers. Sometimes there is a conversation with the locals - maybe even over tea. Overnight in camp in Olgunlar. Walking time approx. 8-9 hours, with approx. 900 meters in altitude to be overcome.

Day 5: We walk across colorful alpine meadows past small nomadic villages to Camp Dilberdüzü at 2700m. The main luggage is carried by beasts of burden.

Day 6: Mt. Kackar Summit Day: The ascent to Mt. Kackar begins early Summit at 3937m. The trail passes by the glacial lake Deniz Golü and over numerous snow and boulder fields. Descent back to Camp Dilberdüzü. Walking time approx. 8 hours, with approx. 1200 meters in altitude to be overcome.

Day 7: Descent over colorful alpine meadows back to Yaylalar approx. 3-4 hours, Afternoon free time for light relaxation or small Walks around the village or to the tea house. The main luggage will be at the Descent carried by beasts of burden.

Over the Naletleme Pass at 3185m we head over into the valley from Yukari Kavron and finally on the north side of the Kackar Mountains through green deciduous and coniferous forests, down to Aydar at 1370m altitude. The landscape is shaped of different colored rhododendron bushes, flowers and lakes. Overnight stay in guesthouse.

Day 9: Relax in the morning in the hot springs of Ayder. In the afternoon continue to the Black Sea coast, overnight in Trabzon

Day 10: Visit to Sumela Monastery, Hagia Sophia Museum and stroll through the bazaar of Trabzon

Day 11: Airport Departure from Trabzon.

INCLUDED SERVICES:

• all transfer according to the program

• all overnight stays in middle-class hotels and Breakfast (according to the program) and during the mountain tours

• in simple local guest houses (shared rooms)

• Accompanying team: when trekking with a cook,

• Provision of tents and cookware

• Entrance fee Kaçkar National Park 50 Euros

• Luggage transport by mules

• Language and trekking guide