Colours & flowers of the Kackar Mountains

Itinerary

• DAY 1

  Arrival Trabzon

  Meet at the Trabzon airport with Demavend Travels representative and drive to the hotel located in the city centre. Trabzon, located on the historical Silk Road, is a melting pot of religions, languages and cultures. Being open towards other cultures and religions plays a significant role in the lifestyle of the Trabzonites, Muslims and Christians have lived together in the past as well as today, making the city a proud heir to a rich cultural heritage. We spend the night in Trabzon city centre at the hotel.

  Transfer time: 10 - 15 min.; transfer distance: 10 km (Trabzon airport - hotel in the city centre)

  ON: in Trabzon at the hotel

  Meals:   - / - / D

• DAY 2

  Trabzon to Ayder via Sumela monastery & Altindere valley

  After breakfast we leave Trabzon and drive to the south, to Macka area, where we take time to visit the monastery of Sumela, a Greek Orthodox monastery at the foot of a steep cliff facing the Altindere valley. Founded in the year 386 AD during the reign of the Emperor Theodosius I., legend has it that two priests undertook the founding of the monastery on the site after having discovered a miraculous icon of the Virgin Mary in a cave on the mountain. With its natural values, Altındere valley is a famous area and was declared a national park in 1987. The valley is coated in a rich variety of flora and it is also notable for the diversity of its fauna. The dominant species here are eastern spruce trees, fir trees, scotch pines, chestnut, oak, lime trees, willows, black pines, Caucasian honeysuckles and forest roses, all cover the area. In the late afternoon/early evening we arrive in Ayder village, a beautiful pasture with traditional stone and wooden houses, where we spend the night.  

  Transfer time: 4 h; transfer distance: 240 km (Trabzon to Ayder village via Sumela & Altindere)

  ON: in Ayder village at the hotel

  Meals:   B / L / D

• DAY 3

  Caymakcur yaylasi

  After breakfast we drive up to Caymakcur valley, a lovely summer pasture. During our exploration we will have some stops at green and rich meadows, studded with mauve, stunning black-eyed magenta Geranium psilostemon, as well as Geranium ibericum, creamy Cephalaria gigantea and golden Inula speciosa. From the settlement of Caymacur we start for a walk towards Buyuk Karadeniz Lake, a lovely place surrounded by rugged high peaks. Here we will enjoy the beautiful scenery before we return to our overnight accommodation in Ayder, where we conclude the day with a cup of traditional Turkish tea.

  ON: in Ayder village at the hotel

  Meals:   B / L / D

• DAY 4

  Avusor yaylasi

  Today we drive to Avusor yayala (plateau), a beautiful pasture with around fifty traditional stone and wooden houses. On the way we first stop to look for lovely flowers of Aster caucasicus, Tanacetum macrophyllum, golden-rayed Telekia speciosa and many others. From the settlement of Avusor we start our walk towards Avusor Lake, at an altitude of around 2.750m. On our way back there is an opportunity to conclude the day with a short walk from Huser Tepesi (hill) down to Ayder village on a lovely forest path.

  ON: in Ayder village at the hotel

  Meals:   B / L / D

• DAY 5

  Hemsin River & Cicekli yayla

  Our exploration today takes us via Hemsin River to Cicekli yayla at an altitude of around 2.400m, where pinks of Stachys macrantha and Primula auriculata mingle with billowing masses of Campanula lactiflora in damper spots, whilst Dianthus orientalis and Papaver lateritium colour the rocky banks. From Cicekli yayla we walk to a picturesque lake in the area and afterwards on the way back to Cat there will be the opportunity to visit Kale-i Bala, a ruined castle, once established for defence purposes. In the late afternoon we return to Ayder where we spend the night at the hotel.

  ON: in Ayder village at the hotel

  Meals:   B / L / D

• DAY 6

  Yukari Kavron & Denizgolü Lake

  In the morning we drive to Yukari Kavron, set in a valley on the northern flanks of the Kackar Mountains. The people here come from all over the region. The small mountain village is inhabited by nomadic herders who bring livestock here to graze high pastures in spring and summer months. Their ancestors were originally from Armenia, Greece, Georgia, Russia, even Uzbekistan. They make a living herding cows and sheep, producing delicious cheese, yogurt and one of the best honeys in the world. In Yukari Kavron we start for a walk uphill via lakes and small streams, until we reach the Okuzcayir yaylasi with its lush green grasses, covered with colourful orange, yellow and purple wildflowers. Here we take time for a break whilst enjoying the scenery around us, with beautiful views to the high summits of the Kackar Mountain range. In the late afternoon we return to Ayder village where we spend the night.                            

  ON: in Ayder village at the hotel

  Meals:   B / L / D

• DAY 7

  Via Firtina valley & Zil Kale castle to Trabzon

  Today we leave Ayder and drive back to Trabzon, on our way we take time to visit the green and wonderful Firtina valley with Zil Kale, a medieval castle and one of the most important historical structures in Camlihemsin, built at an altitude of 1.130m and sits at the edge of a cliff overlooking the Firtina creek. Afterwards we leave Kackar Mountain range behind us and drive via Rize, located along the black sea coast with its beautiful tea gardens and endless lush green plateaus, back to famous Trabzon, where we conclude the day with a cup of traditional Turkish coffee.

  Transfer time: 3 h; transfer distance: 190 km (Ayder village to Trabzon via Firtina valley & Zil Kale)       

  ON: in Trabzon at the hotel

  Meals:   B / L / D

• DAY 8

  Trip concludes at Trabzon airport

  After breakfast; transfer to Trabzon airport where the trip concludes.          

  Transfer time: 10 - 15 min.; transfer distance: 10 km (hotel in the city centre – Trabzon airport)

  Meals:   B / - / -