Kackar Mountains & legendary Mt. Ararat trek

Itinerary

• DAY 1

  Arrival Istanbul

  Meet at the Istanbul Int. airport with Demavend Travels representative and drive to the historical peninsula, known as Sultanahmet, where you spend the night at the hotel.

  Transfer time: 1 h; transfer distance: 45 - 50 km (Istanbul Int. airport to hotel in Sultanahmet/Sirkeci)

  ON: in Istanbul at the hotel

  Meals:   - / - / -

• DAY 2

  Istanbul sightseeing historical peninsula

  After breakfast we head out for a fantastic tour through Istanbul, we start the day with a visit to famous Hagia Sophia, considered to be one of the world’s most important monuments, a masterpiece and example of great architectural beauty. The marvel complex anchors the old city of Istanbul and has served for centuries as an Orthodox patriarchal basilica, later as a mosque and as museum. On our way we also pass through Hippodrome square, once a circus that was the sporting and social centre of Constantinople, capital of the Byzantine Empire. The surviving monuments of the Spina (the middle barrier of the racecourse), the two obelisks (Obelisk of Thutmose III & Walled Obelisk) and the Serpentine Column, now sit in holes in a landscaped garden. Our next visit takes us to blue mosque (Sultan Ahmed mosque), built between 1609 and 1616. The design is the culmination of two centuries of both Ottoman mosque and Byzantine church development. It incorporates some Byzantine elements of the neighbouring Hagia Sophia with traditional Islamic architecture and is considered to be the last great mosque of the classical period. Our last stop takes us to famous covered bazaar (Kapali Carsi), one of the largest and oldest covered markets in the world, with 61 covered streets and over 3,000 shops which attract between 250,000 and 400,000 visitors daily. We conclude the day with a traditional cup of Turkish tee, known as cay and afterwards return to our hotel.

  ON: in Istanbul at the hotel

  Meals:   B / - / -

• DAY 3

  Istanbul to Erzurum and to Yaylalar via Tortum waterfalls, Yusufeli & Barhal church

  In the morning we drive to Istanbul Int. airport and fly to Erzurum and drive from there towards Kackar Mountains, on our way take a break at Tortum waterfall, falling from a height of 48 meters and to taste here cup of traditional Turkish tea, known as cay.

  In the afternoon after having lunch in Yusufeli village we continue to Barhal, a tiny small village where life style of people didn't change for many generations. The village consists of small clusters of stone and wooden houses located along a series of vegetable terraces connected by paths. Ancient conduits have been built to allow water diverted from the river to flow alongside each path and irrigate the terraces below which are edged with white mulberry, apple, pear, plum, persimmon, walnut and Cornus mas fruit trees.

  In Barhal we take time to visit Barhal church, a substantial Georgian 11th century church of the four Apostles nestling on a slope on the village outskirts.

  Afterwards we continue to Yaylalar village, where we spend the night at a family run pension. After arrival we take time to taste a cup of traditional Turkish tea, whilst enjoying the authentic atmosphere.

  Transfer time: 1 h; transfer distance: 45 - 50 km (Hotel in Sultanahmet/Sirkeci to Istanbul Int. airport)

  Transfer time: 3 h; transfer distance: 190 km (Erzurum to Yaylalar via Tortum, Yusufeli & Barhal)

  ON: in Yaylalar village at the pension

  Meals:   B / L / D

• DAY 4

  Via Olgunlar village to Dilberduzu camp (2.840m)

  Hike along Buyuk Cay Deresi to Dilberduzu, accompanied by horses carrying the luggage. We walk approximately 30min. until we reach the Olgunlar village. From there we follow the walking path and climb with an easy ascend until we Dilberduzu campsite. On the way it is sometimes also possible to meet local shepherds grazing their animals during summer season. We spend the night at the Dilberduzu camp.

  Walking time: 3 h; ascent: 640m; descent: 0m

  ON: in Dilberduzu at the campsite 2.840m

  Meals:   B / L / D

• DAY 5

  Kackar Summit (3.937m)

  Today we have an early morning departure (before sunrise) to the Kackar summit.  We climb up approximately 2 h until we reach Denizgolu Lake at 3.300m. From here we continue to get to the bottom of the Kackar massive for another hour. On our left hand we have the scene of a giant glacier; from here to get on the peak takes another hour, climbing up without any certain path, on sheer rocks. With a clear sky, we might see the whole Kackar range and even the Mt. Ararat from a distance. Afterwards we return to Dilberduzu camp where we stay for one more night. 

  Walking time: 9 - 10 h; ascent/descent: 1.097m                                                                                                 

  ON: in Dilberduzu at the campsite 2.840m

  Meals:   B / L / D

• DAY 6

  Dilberduzu to Olgunlar & Yaylalar village – drive via Yusufeli to Kars

  In the morning we walk down to Olgunlar village, on our route pass green pastures and unique small clusters of stone and wooden houses. The people in Olgunlar village come from all over the region; the small mountain settlements around are inhabited by nomadic herders who bring livestock here to graze high pastures in spring & summer months. After taking time for a break and enjoying the scenery around us, with beautiful views to the high summits of the Kackar Mountain range, we arrive back in Yaylalar village.

  After some resting and a cup of Turkish tea, we drive via Yusufeli village towards Kars, appears in Roman historiography (Strabo) as part of ancient Armenia and was once the capital of a region known as Vanand, a cradle of civilizations for centuries and now a popular destination because of its historical sites and natural beauty.

  Depending on arrival time it is possible to visit the castle of Kars, also known as citadel, sits at the top of a rocky hill overlooking the city. It is said in Ottoman sources that the castle, after it was destroyed by Timur in 1386, was rebuilt with the help of one hundred thousand soldiers and workers. Below the castle it is possible to visit the Armenian church of holy apostles and to see some neo-classical (Baltic) architecture style buildings known as Russian houses, which cannot be seen anywhere else in Turkey. In the decades after Kars was ceded to the Russian empire, an entirely new district of European-style buildings was built, these buildings are mostly one or two stories high and built of basalt stone.   

  Walking time: 2 - 3 h; ascent: 0 m; descent: 640m      

  Transfer time: 4 h; transfer distance: 250 km (Yaylalar village to Kars)

  ON: in Kars at the hotel

  Meals:   B / L / D

• DAY 7

  Kars to Dogubeyazit via Ani; capital of the Armenian kingdom

  We leave Kars today and drive to Dogubeyazit, on our way visit ancient Ani; the capital of Armenian province in the 9^th century and an important stop on the Silk Road. A thousand years ago the Armenian kingdom covered much of present day Armenia and eastern Turkey and Ani, built on a spectacular site on the eastern border, on a plateau encircled by deep ravines, was its capital. Ani's many churches, palaces and fortifications were amongst the most technically and artistically advanced structures in the world at that period. Once with a population of at least 100,000, its wealth and renown was such that it was known as "the city of 1001 churches".

  In the late afternoon we arrive in Dogubeyazit, a settlement with a long history southwest of Mount Ararat, the highest summit of Turkey and resting place of Noah’s Ark. The area has had a rich history since it was settled during the times of the first Armenian kingdom of Urartu; later was subsequently conquered by Persians, Romans, Arabs and Byzantines all of whom would have used the plain to rest and recoup during their passages across the mountains.

  Here once the most important route of the Silk Road came from Tabriz/Iran to Turkey, then ran either south of the Ararat chain along the upper Euphrates valley or north of the Ararat along the Aras valley towards Erzurum and from there to Kayseri in Central Anatolia and to Constantinople (via Trabzon/Black sea coast), which was the final destination for most of the trade. We spend the night in Dogubeyazit at the hotel.

  Transfer time: 3 - 4 h; transfer distance: 245 km (Kars to Dogubeyazit via Ani)

  ON: in Dogubeyazit at the hotel

  Meals:   B / L / D

• DAY 8

  Dogubeyazit to camp I (base camp 3.200m)

  After breakfast we load our luggage and camping equipment on our vehicle and drive via Topcatan village to Eli village (2.000m). Between an altitude of 2.000 and 2.400m (according to road conditions) we will start our trek. Our luggage will be carried by mules and horses, we only have to carry our own daily-backpack. On the way it’s possible to meet some semi nomadic families, who use the fresh green plateaus of the Ararat for their sheep’s and flocks. We hike up to our first campsite (base camp) which is established at a height of 3.200m.

  Walking time: 4 h; ascent: approximately 1.200m (depending on road conditions & starting point)

  ON: at the Ararat camp 1 (base camp 3.200m)

  Meals:   B / L / D

• DAY 9

  Acclimatization day to camp II (high camp 4.200m) and return to camp I (base camp 3.200m)

  Today we will climb up to 4.200m for acclimatisation. High altitude is defined as altitudes greater than 3.000m and AMS (acute mountain sickness) may appear above this level. After an easy ascent we will arrive at the Kum-Kampi at a height of 3.700m where we will have time to take a break. Later we continue our ascent to camp II (high camp) at 4.200m where we will have our second camp on next day. Here we take time to have a picnic and to use the time to acclimatise to the conditions at this height. Afterwards we descent down to our base camp at 3.200m on the same way and prepare ourselves for the next day to move up to second camp.                                                               

  Walking time: 5 - 6 h; ascent/descent: 1.000m

  ON: at the Ararat camp 1 (base camp 3.200m)

  Meals:   B / L / D

• DAY 10

  Ascent to camp II (high camp 4.200m)

  In the morning we leave our base camp and climb up to the second campsite at a height of 4.200m. After arrival and a cup of warm tea, we set up our tents and take a little rest. In the afternoon it is possible (optionally) to go a little bit higher to get acclimatized for conditions of this height. In the evening we will have dinner a little bit earlier today as we will go sleeping early in the evening to wake up very early in the morning to be rested and ready to climb Ararat summit.                                                                                                   

  Walking time: 3 - 4 h; ascent: 1.000m; descent: 0m

  ON: at the Ararat camp 2 (high camp 4.200m)

  Meals:   B / L / D

• DAY 11

  Mount Ararat summit ascent 5.137m and return to camp I (base camp 3.200m)

  Very early in the morning, at around 02:00 and 02:30 am we will have breakfast and afterwards start our ascent to the summit at around 03:00 or 03:30 am to get a good view at the sunrise on the top.

  After a long ascent through a rocky terrain we reach the glacier at 4.750m, where we fix our crampons. Afterwards we continue our ascent to the summit, where we can see, if the weather is clear, Mt. Damavand in Iran, the Elbrus in the Caucasus and the Kackar Mountains near the Black Sea. We enjoy the great panoramic view from the summit and afterwards start descending back again via high camp down to our base camp at 3.200m where we spend the night.

  Walking time: 9 - 10 h; ascent: 937m; descent: 1.937m

  ON: at the Ararat camp 1 (base camp 3.200m)

  Meals:   B / L / D

• DAY 12

  Camp I (base camp 3.200m) to Dogubeyazit & Ishak pasha palace – drive to Van

  In the morning we hike down to the village of Eli where our vehicle is waiting to drive us down to Dogubeyazit. Here we take time to visit Ishak pasha palace, built on a hill at the side of a mountain. It was the last large monumental structure in the Ottoman Empire from the "Lale Devri" period. It is one of the most distinguished and magnificent examples of the 18th century Ottoman architecture and is very valuable in terms of art history. The palace was also an administrative complex from which Ishak pasha dominated the trade along the Silk Road, it was a major stop for caravans crossing the legendary roadway to bring goods all the way from China to Turkey and back again.

  After having lunch at a local restaurant we drive to Van, known as "the pearl of the east" because of the beauty of its surrounding landscapes, situated in a green, fertile oasis in the midst of a mountain area. The city has a long history, under the ancient name of Tushpa it was the capital of the Urartian kingdom in the 9^th century BC and once especially famous for its jewellers' bazaar on the Silk Road and for its fine silverwork. We spend the night in Van at the hotel.

  Walking time: 3 h; ascent: 0m; descent: between 800 and 1.200m

  Transfer time: 2 - 3 h; transfer distance: 180 km (Dogubeyazit to Van)

  ON: in Van at the hotel

  Meals:   B / L / D

• DAY 13

  Visit Akdamar Island & Van castle (citadel)

  Today we visit Gevas town where we take the ferry to visit small island of Akdamar in Lake Van, home to the famous 10^th century Armenian holy cross cathedral. The unique importance of the church comes from the extensive array of bas-relief carving of mostly biblical scenes that adorn its external walls. Later we continue to Van castle, constructed by Urartian king Sardur, a massive stone fortification and the largest example of its kind. It overlooks the ruins of Tushpa, the ancient Urartian capital during the 9^th C, which was centred upon the steep sided bluff where the fortress now sits. The most remarkable structures around are the rock tomb of Argisti the first, outside which is a long inscription relating the events of his reign and the inscription of Xerxes the great upon a smoothed section of the rock face.

  The late afternoon is at leisure to explore the city centre of Van on your own way.

  Transfer time: 30 min.; transfer distance: 45 km (Van to Gevas / one way)

  Ferry to Akdamar Island: 15 - 20 min. (one way)

  ON: in Van at the hotel

  Meals:   B / L / D

• DAY 14

  Trip concludes at Van airport

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

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

  Meals:   B / - / -