Kacker and Ararat Trek
Almost unknown outside Turkey, the magnificent Kackar Mountains form a dramatic and beautiful barrier between the harsh Anatolian Plateau and the fertile Black Sea coast, a home to nomads who move with the seasons up and down the mountains and valleys. From the Kackar we head southeast to Mount Ararat, famous of course for being the resting place of Noah's Ark. An ascent of Ararat is a tough challenge requiring a good deal of stamina. The upper third of the 5610m mountain is covered in snow and the last hundred meters to the summit is icy; a trek here reveals new and unexpected pleasures for keen walkers who enjoy a challenge.
BEYOND ERZURUM
From Istanbul we fly to Erzurum then head north to Yaylalar, a village seemingly trapped in a time warp, where the seasons dictate the rhythm of life. We trek through the main Kackar range - impressive, green valleys lush with vegetation and rich with wild flowers - past the yaylas inhabited only during the summer and on our way we visit nomad's camps. Pacing ourselves we ascend Mount Kackar (3937m). The view at the top is ample reward for the climb, with a vista to the Caucasus and across to our next destination, Mount Ararat.
ARARAT'S SNOWY DOME
After pausing in Erzurum, we head to Dogubeyazit and on to Cevirme at 2350m, finishing with a trek to our Base Camp at 3200m. Pace is all-important when ascending to high altitudes and next a day walk enables us to “climb high, sleep low” - an important step in acclimatisation. Next we trek to Camp 2 at 4100m, using pack animals to carry our luggage leaving us free to walk as before, unencumbered by heavy packs, using ice-axe and crampons (lesson given). The next day we set off for the summit, 5165m past glaciers and through perennial snows.
ISHAK PASHA PALACE, NOAH'S ARK & LAKE VAN
Elated by our achievement we return to Dogubeyazit, taking the opportunity to visit the magnificent Ishak Pasha Palace, a 17th century Ottoman gem. Continuing to Van we make a trip to the 10th century Holy Cross Church on Akdamar Island. Lastly, we visit the site of the petrified remains of Noah's Ark which have been scientifically tested to be consistent with the Biblical description. After, we return to Istanbul, the old capital of the Byzantine and Ottoman Empires. Nearly all the city's main sites of historic interest are in old Stamboul. We include a half-day walking tour of the city, taking in the Blue Mosque and Topkapi Palace whilst there is also a free day for a last day of relaxation.
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Details |
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Price Includes |
(HK-6206-P) |
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Flights ( London - Istanbul - London ) |
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Accomodation ( Hotels/ Camping ) |
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14 breakfasts |
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11 Lunches |
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11 Dinners |
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Price Excludes |
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Local Tour Payment 200 GBP |
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Suitability / Level |
Strenous |
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Itinerary
& Highlights |
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Among the many highlights featured on this tour, we particularly mention:
KACKAR DAG
Trek to the summit of Mount Kackar: breathtaking views of the Caucasus and Mount Ararat.
ERZURUM
Visit Cifte Minareli & Ulu Mosque.
MOUNT ARARAT
Trek to the summit of Turkey’s highest peak.
ISAK PASHA PALACE
Spectacular hilltop palace.
ISTANBUL
Sightseeing in the magnificent city of old Stamboul.
DAY 1. SUNDAY. JOIN TOUR ISTANBUL
Arriving in Istanbul this evening we will transfer to our hotel for an overnight stop before continuing our journey tomorrow.
DAY 2. AM FLY TO ERZURUM AND TRANSFER TO YAYLALAR VILLAGE (2100m)
This morning we transfer back to the airport and fly to Erzurum, the thriving hub of eastern Anatolia and one of the largest settlements in northeastern Turkey. For centuries the town’s position in a windswept bowl at the foot of the eastern Anatolian mountains has made it an important centre for traders and armies heading into central Asia and the panoramic views from its citadel gives way to harsh barren plains below.
From here we transfer to the village of Yusufeli, lying close to the Coruh River some three hours to the north of Erzurum. A picturesque mountain village and an administrative centre for the southern Kaçkar valleys, we may have an opportunity to take a short tour of the village before continuing our journey, towards the small village of Yaylalar. Perfectly located for exploring the Kackar Dag, Yaylalar still retains some of the traditions and character of an isolated mountain community, where life has gone on pretty much as it has for generations.
DAY 3. TREK TO DILBERDÜZÜ (2600m)
We begin our journey today by trekking through the main Kackar range. Heading up into a side valley we traverse a landscape of lush green valleys, blanketed with wild flowers and vegetation, where traditional wooden houses offer us a setting of tranquil idyll against the verdant backdrop of the valley. Passing through the small hamlet of Olgunlar we continue along a broad valley, in season ablaze with a profusion of colour from yellow azaleas, lilies and rhododendrons.
As we follow the banks of the Büyük çay we come across dippers and redfronted serin and the Yaylas used by the local villagers during the summer months to graze their livestock. Visiting one of these nomadic camps we then take lunch in a local village, before continuing our journey, through dramatic gorges where the towering cliffs of Kackar Dag rise above us.
Following a trail that meanders besides a mountain stream we arrive at our first night’s campsite, lying in the shadow of magnificent snow-capped mountains. Total walking approx 5/6 hours (500m ascent).
DAY 4. TREK TO KACKAR SUMMIT (3937m)
Today we have the opportunity to ascend to the summit of Mount Kackar for some breathtaking views of the Caucasus and Mount Ararat. From our camp we follow the stream southwest, towards the head of the valley and the icy waters of Lake Deniz. Skirting the lake we head up into snowline, towards the craggy scree slopes of the mountain.
Some five hours after leaving the floral meadows of our camp we crest the summit’s crenellated ridge, to be presented with the magnificent vista of the entire range of the Kackar peaks below us. Descending back the way we came we then return to our camp at Dilberdüzü. Total walking approx 8 hours (1337m ascent & descent).
DAY 5. WALK TO HEVEK; DRIVE TO YUSUFELI
Breaking camp this morning we head for the village of Hevek, through a landscape of verdant fields and magnificent flora. In Hevek we enjoy a picnic and the chance to meet with the local villagers, to see for ourselves what life is like in this beautiful rural setting, before we transfer back to Yusufeli. Travelling by bus from Hevek we pass by tea plantations nestling amongst the mountain peaks, as we make our way back down towards the confluence of the Coruh and Büyük Cay to enjoy an evening in this most scenic of mountain settings. Total walking approx 2 hours (500m descent).
DAY 6. DRIVE TO ERZURUM, VISIT CIFTE MINARELI & ULU MOSQUE; DRIVE TO DOGUBEYAZIT
Continuing back along the Tortum Valley this morning we retrace our steps back to Erzurum, a city that has passed through the hands of Byzantines, Persians, Arabs, Armenians, Seljuk Turks and Mongols. In 1514 it became the northern outpost of the Ottomans and during the late 18th and early 19th centuries was captured twice by the Russians.
Earthquakes and war have taken a heavy toll of Erzurum’s historic buildings, but this afternoon we will visit two of its remaining archaeological delights, the Cifte Minareli Medrese and the Ulu Cami Mosque. Built by the Seljuk Sultan Aladdin Keykubad II in 1253, the Medrese was built in honour of the sultan’s daughter. Once one of the largest seminaries in Anatolia, it is Erzurum’s most renowned building, with towering minarets and intricately carved stonework.
Standing besides the seminary is the 12th century Ulu Cami (the Great Mosque), a large foreboding building of columns and arches, with a simple domed centrepiece. After our visit we bid farewell to Erzurum and continue towards Dogubeyazit in the far east of the country, close to the Iranian border and once an important outpost on the old Silk Route.
DAY 7. DRIVE TO CEVIRME THEN TREK TO ARARAT BASE CAMP (3200m)
After breakfast this morning we transfer from Dogubeyazit to the village of Cevirme (2350m, the imposing sight of Mt Ararat dominating the surrounding plains as we drive towards Turkey’s highest peak. On arrival in Cevirme we begin our trek up to the base camp, heading north along a reasonable track as we begin climbing up the lower slopes of the volcano. Ararat has
long been steeped in biblical lore and ancient myth.
Believed to be the final resting place of Noah’s Ark it is also important in both Armenian and Arab folklore. To the Armenians it is the centre of their universe, from where their people descended to earth from its craggy slopes, whilst the Arabs believe it to be the roof of the world and the source of the life giving Tigris and Euphrates Rivers.
Its mythical history has attracted adherents and opportunists for years, hopeful of finding evidence of the Ark’s final resting place, but this stark mountain, shrouded in mist and snow is loathe to give up its secrets easily. Total walking approx 4 hours (850m ascent).
DAY 8. ACCLIMATISATION DAY; TREK TO CAMP II (4200m)
Today is a chance for us to get used to the increasing altitude by climbing up to Camp II and then returning back down to the base camp for the evening. High Altitude Sickness can affect anyone, so it is important that we acclimatize properly before making our final trek up to the summit. For this reason we will spend our day gently traversing the craggy slopes up to the second camp, some 1000m above us.
As we ascend the already sparse vegetation becomes even more rare, to be replaced by the ever present obsidian boulders. Reaching the camp we then descend back down the mountain to spend our second night at Camp I. Total walking approx 6.5 hours (1000m ascent & descent).
DAY 9. TREK TO CAMP II
This morning we again ascend to Camp II in preparation for tomorrow’s ascent to the summit. This afternoon there will be an introduction to the correct use of ice axes and crampons, after which, the rest of the day is then free to relax and enjoy the views down across the plains below.
In 1876 the British climber and scholar James Bryce wrote, “Below and around, included in this single view, seemed to lie the whole cradle of the human race, from Mesopotamia in the south to the great wall of the Caucasus that covered the northern horizon”. Eloquent words to describe a truly unique view. Total walking approx 4.5 hours (1000m ascent).
DAY 10. EARLY ASCENT TO ARARAT SUMMIT (5160m), RETURN TO BASE CAMP
It is important that we make as early as start as possible for the summit, to improve our chances of a clear view from the top. Whilst the climb to the summit is not technical, as we venture farther up the mountain we reach the glaciers and perennial snows that make our ice axes and crampons a necessary addition. As we continue over the crisp snow we can see the western peak of Inonu ahead of us, whilst to the right the main summit rises above us.
Following a gentle slope that runs beneath Inonu we finally reach the cone of the summit. From here, if the weather conditions are favourable, we should have a magnificent view across to the Caucasus Mountains to the north, the Kackar range and the line of volcanic peaks that run down to Lake Van and the Iranian border. Then we retrace our steps back down the mountain, passing beyond Camp II and returning to the Base Camp for the evening. Total walking approx 9 hours (965m ascent, 1965m descent).
DAY 11. DESCEND TO CEVIRME AND DRIVE TO DOUGUBEYAZIT; VISIT ISAK PASHA PALACE AND NOAH'S ARK
From Base Camp we descend to Cevirme village again and transfer by bus back to Dogubeyazit. Whilst the ascent of Ararat is of course the major highlight of the trip, few structures we’ll see will compare with the dramatically situated Isak Pasha Palace; a fusion of architectural styles that is an eclectic mix of Armenian, Georgian, Ottoman, Persian and Selçuk.
Built in the 18th century by Lord Isak Pasha, this vast and dramatic fortress guarded the ancient trade routes and its occupants grew rich on the spoils. No comfort was spared the caravans who passed through and though now in ruins, the opulence of the decoration and the facilities are still resplendent to this day. It is said that the Pasha, on completion of the project, chopped off the hands of the Armenian architect who designed it, to prevent him building anything similar for another chieftain.
We pay a visit to this most remarkable of structures, along with the nearby bas-reliefs of what was once believed to have been an Urartian Citadel, dating from the 9th century BC. By contrast to the splendour of the palace, we also visit petrified remains of what is believed to be Noah’s Ark. Located close to the mountain, the vessel has been scientifically assessed and it would appear that dates, proportions and structure all concur with biblical references. Total walking approx 2 hours (500m descent).
DAY 12. DRIVE TO VAN, SIGHTSEEING TRIP TO AKDAMAR ISLAND
Departing Dogubeyazit this morning we head south, towards the vast inland sea of Van Gölü. Our destination today is the city of Van, lying on the sloping plain besides the expansive waters of the lake. Seven times the size of Lake Geneva this is the largest lake in Turkey and the largest saline lake in the world and, although its alkaline waters are denser than seawater, it still supports several species of fish.
On arrival we visit Akdamar Island, with its 10th century Armenian Church of the Holy Cross and also find time for some swimming before returning to Van. The city itself has a rich and turbulent history. Once the capital of the Hurrian kingdom and later the centre of the Urartian Empire, it prospered during a 300 year period that saw its people’s skills as craftsmen, artisans and engineers reach a pinnacle.
Colonisation by Armenians, Byzantines, Selcuk and Ottoman Turks saw its influence fluctuate, until the Russian occupation of WWI and the bloody reprisals that followed, which saw the old city razed to the ground and its Armenian citizens massacred and dispersed.
DAY 13. FLY TO ISTANBUL: PM WALKING TOUR OF ISTANBUL
Transferring to the airport, we take a morning flight back to Istanbul, where, this afternoon we include a walking tour of the city. Formerly known as Constantinople, the vibrant centre of the old Byzantine and Ottoman Empires, Istanbul is a chaotic entrepot of cultures, history and architecture that sits resplendently overlooking the green waters of the Bosphorous.
One of the most enigmatic cities in the world, Istanbul’s streets are filled to overflowing with markets and palaces, churches and mosques and our tour this afternoon will give us something of a feel for this dynamic and unique city. Much of the city’s main architectural sites lie within the area of Old Stamboul, where we can find Sultanhammet Square, the old heart of the Byzantine city.
Walking through the square we can enjoy its gardens, or sit and reflect upon the magnificent architectural gems of its Byzantine church and Ottoman mosques, testaments to the two great empires that once ruled this city. We also visit the remarkable Blue Mosque, believed by many to represent the zenith of Ottoman architecture and the Topkapi Palace, built by Mehmet II and the cultural centre of the Ottoman Empire for centuries.
DAY 14. FREE DAY IN ISTANBUL
Today has been left free for you to explore some more of this remarkable city at your leisure. An obvious choice for further exploration would be the stunning Aya Sophia, the magnificent 6th century church commissioned by the Emperor Justinian in 532AD, which took some 10,000 workers nearly 6 years to complete. The building evokes a breathtaking wealth of superlatives and at its time represented a grandeur and opulence previously unseen, with stone imported from North Africa and ancient marble from Athens and Ephesus.
Another option for today would be a visit to the famous Sunken Palace cisterns, one of the largest water systems in Turkey that once held some 10,000 tons of water and supplied the Topkapi Palace. A cruise along the Bosphorous is an ideal way to take a waterborne view of the city, where the majestic city skyline is presented in all its glory.
DAY 15. SUNDAY. TOUR ENDS ISTANBUL |
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Accommodation
& Centre Details |
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7 Nights Camping
6 Nights Hotel
1 Night Pension |
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Holidays
Extras |
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Included
