Snowbound adventure: Ski touring the Kaçkar Mountains

Itinerary

• DAY 1

  Arrival Erzurum

  Meet at the Erzurum airport with Demavend Travels representative and drive to the hotel located in the city centre. Erzurum is known as city of history and because of its geographical location a strategically important town for generations. Once caravan crossroad of the Silk Road, Erzurum today is an economic and cultural centre of East Anatolia. Many ancient structures such as its fortress, mosques, madrasas, tombs and caravanserais are located within the city centre. Depending on arrival time we will have a short walk through the city centre, where we visit historical Rustem pasha caravanserai, also known as Tashan, serves today as Oltu (kind of Jet/lignite) stone bazaar. We visit Erzurum castle (citadel); originally constructed by the emperor Theodosius, stands guard on a hill in the centre of the old town and offers a beautiful view of the entire city. Close to the castle we also take time to visit Twin Minaret Madrasa (school), a famous architectural monument of the late Seljuk period with a colourful history and known as the largest madrasa in Anatolia. We spend the night in Erzurum at the hotel.

  Transfer time: 15 - 20 min.; transfer distance: 12 km (Erzurum airport – hotel in the city centre)

  ON: in Erzurum at the hotel

  Meals:   - / - / D

• DAY 2

  Erzurum to Yaylalar via Tortum waterfalls, Yusufeli & Barhal church

  We leave Erzurum in the morning and drive 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. 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: 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 3

  Kackar Mountains - Gungormez valley & Modut plateau 3.000m

  In the morning after having breakfast and depending on snow conditions it is possible to start directly from the pension with the ski. Today we follow a stabilized road towards east climb up to the Gungormez valley first and continue from there to the Modut Tepesi.  After having picnic we ski down to Yaylalar village on the same way.                 

  Ascent/descent: approximately 1.200m; (5 - 6 h)

  ON: in Yaylalar village at the pension

  Meals:   B / L / D

• DAY 4

  Kackar Mountains - Olgunlar village & Covan Tepesi 3.000m

  We leave our pension in the morning and ascent towards Olgunlar village and continue from there to Covan Tepesi, with beautiful views down to the Hastav valley, the Kackar mountains range and the Davut daglari. After having picnic next to the Covan Tepesi we ski down to Olgunlar village and from there to Yaylalar village to our pension on the same way.

  Ascent/descent: approximately 1.200m; (5 - 6 h)

  ON: in Yaylalar village at the pension

  Meals:   B / L / D

• DAY 5

  Kackar Mountains - Dupeduzu & Naletleme pass 3.100m

  After breakfast we leave our pension and climb up towards Olgunlar village and continue from there to Dupeduzu plateau, a campsite during the summer season, and further to Naletleme pass at an altitude 3.100m. After having picnic at the pass we ski down via Olgunlar village back to our pension in Yaylalar.                                         

  Ascent/descent: approximately 1.300m; (5 - 6 h)

  ON: in Yaylalar village at the pension

  Meals:   B / L / D

• DAY 6

  Kackar Mountains - via Korahmet & Tasyayla plateau to Bulut Mountains 3.562m

  In the morning we start from our pension with our ski and continue to the north; via Korahmet & Tasyayla plateaus we will reach Bulut mountain range. After a short break we start our ascent to the summit of the Bulutdagi (3.562m). We enjoy the wonderful view to the summits of the Kackar mountains range around before we ski down on the same way back to our pension in the Yaylalar village.                                                                                                 

  Ascent/descent: approximately 1.762m; (6 - 7 h)

  ON: in Yaylalar village at the pension

  Meals:   B / L / D

• DAY 7

  Kackar Mountains - via Olgunlar village to Dilberduzu, Hevek pass 3.275m or Denizgolu Lake 3.300m

  Today we follow the Buyukcay River to Dilberduzu, one of the most famous areas of the pasture Kackar mountains and base camp during the summer to climb the Mt Kackar summit. Via Dilberduzu it is possible to climb the Buyukdagduzu and from there up to the Hevek pass (3.275m), with beautiful views to the Dilberduzu plateau, or to ascent to Denizgolu Lake at 3.300m. After having picnic we ski down on the same way back to Yaylalar village.  

  Ascent/descent: approximately 1.475m; (6 - 7 h) (Hevek pass)

  Or ascent/descent: approximately 1.500m; (6 - 7 h) (Denizgolu lake)

  ON: in Yaylalar village at the pension

  Meals:   B / L / D

• DAY 8

  Via Yusufeli to Erzurum

  After breakfast we leave Yaylalar village and drive back to Erzurum. On the way it is possible to visit Georgian monastery church of Barhal, a substantial Georgian 11th century church of the four Apostles nestling on a slope on the village outskirts. After passing Yusufeli village we arrive in the late afternoon in Erzurum where we spend the night at the hotel.

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

  ON: in Erzurum at the hotel

  Meals:   B / L / D

• DAY 9

  Trip concludes at Erzurum airport

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

  Transfer time: 15 - 20 min.; transfer distance: 12 km (Hotel in the city centre - Erzurum airport)

  Meals:   B / - / -