MOUNT KACKAR & MOUNT ARARAT

A great trekking holiday from the Blacksea to the East...

ITINERARY

Day 1: Meeting in Erzurum. Transfer to Yusufeli, Hevek, Yaylalar village. Overnight in a pension at Hevek plateau. 1850m / 6070ft.

Day 2: After breakfast early in the morning, we hike up to Dilberduzu campsite at 2900 m / 9515ft. Before dinner, we will spend our time with rest and acclimatization treks.

Day 3: Early start for 2 hours trek up to Deniz Lake at 3435 m/11270ft for some rest, before we hike up the summit with additional 4-5 hours. Incredible panoramic view of the 3937m /12916 ft summit is a rewarding experience. At around 17:00, we arrive back to our campsite.

Day 4: After breakfast, we descend back to Hevek plateau and spend the rest of the day in Yaylalar region free. Overnight in pension.

Day 5: After breakfast we drive to south east to Dogubeyazit, the frontier town of Ararat region. Approximately 6-8 hours. Permits and gear check. Dinner and overnight in hotel.

Day 6: Transfer to Mount Ararat, former Eli village region at 2200m / 7250 ft. We then load the duffle bags on our horses and the start trekking for 4 hrs before arriving "Green Camp" at 3300m / 10850 ft.

Day 7: Rest at camp. Acclimatization hikes up to 4000m / 13150ft for 4-5 hours. Dinner and overnight at Green Camp.

Day 8: Hike up from Green camp to 2nd camp at 4150m / 13615 ft. (2-3 hours)

Day 9: Summit day. Early wake up call at 3:30 and start for the summit bid at 4:30 after a fine breakfast. We reach the summit at 5137 m / 16854 ft after 5-6 hrs hiking performance. It will take 2-3 hours to descend back to the camp site at 4150m / 13615 ft. Dinner and overnight in the 2nd camp.

Day 10: Descend all the way down to the village road to reach the minibus for the transfer to the hotel in Dogubeyazit before lunch time. After lunch, we will see the art demonstration's of the very best examples of local handcrafts and carpets. We will visit ancient Ishak Pasha Palace during the beautiful sunset. / Spare day in case of bad weather / Dinner and overnight in hotel.

Day 11: Transfer to Van airport early in the morning for the flights or continue with extension tours.

DETAILS

The Kackar (or Little Caucasus) mountains rising from the Black Sea, are hardly known outside Turkey. Here, the inhabitants still lead a nomadic life, traveling with their livestock from one valley to the next in search of fresh grazing. We trek through this beautiful area to climb Mt Kackar (3937m) with spectacular views of the whole range, and this prepares us for our next challenge, Mt Ararat (5137m). The ascent of Mt Ararat is non-technical but requires a good level of fitness, and the final optional summit ascent crosses both snow and ice. Both ascents involve crossing some very rough terrain and you need a head for heights.

After meeting at Erzurum Airport, we will drive towards the North to the Kackar Mountains. Our Kaçkar trek takes 4 days, and our schedule will include sufficient time for acclimatization and meeting new cultures in local villages. Kaçkars offers easy-moderate hiking, so doesn't require much experience. Daily hiking takes a maximum of 6 Hours and luggage is carried by along the way by pack animals. After spending 1 night in Hevek Plateau, we head to Dogubeyazit and we check-in to our hotel. Next day we move towards Ararat Base Camp at 3200m. The next day's hike, up to 4000m. and the return back to base camp, will enable us to climb high and sleep low” - an important step in acclimatisation. The day before the summit attempt is spent at Camp 2 at 4100m. Then we set off for the summit at 5137m, past glaciers and through perennial snows.

We will return back to Dogubeyazit town for lunch, after hiking for 2,5-3 hrs to descend down the mountain, After lunch we will have the opportunity to visit the magnificent Ishak Pasha Palace; a 17th century Ottoman gem. Afterwards we'll see art demonstrations of the very best examples of Turkish handcrafts. Next morning we will transfer to Van city airport. We can continue with other extension Turkey tours or fly to Istanbul depending on your program.

PERMITS & VISAS

It is well known that the Ararat Mountain, which had been a favorite for climbers until 1980 was closed to the public during the Kurdish insurgence. It was reopened to visitors in 2001 when security in the area was reestablished. Nevertheless, to ensure continuance of security, visits to Mount Ararat are now under strict government control.

Individual climbers are subject to security investigations and only those who are approved are allowed to visit.

The permit procedures generally take up to two months for individual applicants, but if you join in our Ararat tours, we carry out the proper procedures on behalf of you which is the fastest and easiest way to obtain the necessary permissions.

CAREFULLY FOLLOW THESE STEPS:

1) In the booking form, please fill all personal and passport details completely.

2) Send your booking form together with a scanned photocopy of your passport either by fax to number: +902164184522 or by email to address: info@anatolianadventures.com

DESTINATION GUIDE

About Black Sea Region The Black Sea region's population is 8,439,213 based on the 2000 census. 4,137,166 people live in cities and 4,301,747 people in villages. This makes it the only one of the seven regions of Turkey in which more people live in rural rather than urban areas. Read More >

About Eastern Anatolia The Eastern Anatolia Region is one of seven non-administrative subdivisions of Turkey and encompasses its eastern provinces. It has the highest average altitude, largest area, and lowest population density of all regions of Turkey. Read More >

About Kackar Mountains Kackar mountains, Kackar Daglari or simply Kackar(s) are a mountain range rising above along the Black Sea coast in Eastern Turkey. Read More >

About Mount Ararat The name 'Ararat' itself is not only the name of the sacred mountain we are specialized in guiding on, but also the name of Noah's Ark, legendary residence of the sacred story of The Bible and Koran. Read More >