Mount Ararat Expedition
Trekking Tour 6 Nights & 7 Days
The Kaçkar Highlands
Trekking Tour
About The Tour
The Kaçkar Mountains are the extension of the Caucasus Mountains and separate the Black Sea from Anatolia. The Kaçkar Mountains, or simply Kaçkars, are glaciated as in the alpine character, with steep rocky peaks and numerous mountain lakes. Its highest peak is 3,937 meters, and the mountain's plateau is about 3,000 m in elevation. On the south and east, the Kaçkar Mountains are bordered by the Çoruh river valley, and on the north, the Black Sea coast. The area was declared a national park in 1994. Recreational activities in the park include trekking, hiking, camping, and alpinism.
Kaçkar Mountains are one of the best trekking sites in Turkey. Kaçkars have two ideal trekking routes. The first is from the Black Seaside; the trekking path is in a thin forest and easy to hike; the second route from the Çoruh side is more complex and hazardous.
In Kaçkars, green tones, green mountains, magnificent forests, flora that will dazzle your eyes with the visual, crystal clear streams that always flow with enthusiasm, the most beautiful plateaus of our country, different cultures coming from the dominance of nature will be waiting for you. The Kackar Mountains are interspersed with "yaylas," or rural mountain villages inhabited by nomadic herders who bring livestock to graze in the high pastures during the summer months. Kackar Mountain Trails has 32 linked trekking routes totaling about 500 km, three glaciers, and many glacial lakes. Armenians and Georgians settled in the region and built wonderful stone monastery churches hidden in the mountains.
With this program, you will have the chance to visit the Sumela Monastery and trekking in the fantastic nature of the Kaçkar Mountains.
Kaçkar Mountains are one of the best trekking sites in Turkey. Kaçkars have two ideal trekking routes. The first is from the Black Seaside; the trekking path is in a thin forest and easy to hike; the second route from the Çoruh side is more complex and hazardous.
In Kaçkars, green tones, green mountains, magnificent forests, flora that will dazzle your eyes with the visual, crystal clear streams that always flow with enthusiasm, the most beautiful plateaus of our country, different cultures coming from the dominance of nature will be waiting for you. The Kackar Mountains are interspersed with "yaylas," or rural mountain villages inhabited by nomadic herders who bring livestock to graze in the high pastures during the summer months. Kackar Mountain Trails has 32 linked trekking routes totaling about 500 km, three glaciers, and many glacial lakes. Armenians and Georgians settled in the region and built wonderful stone monastery churches hidden in the mountains.
With this program, you will have the chance to visit the Sumela Monastery and trekking in the fantastic nature of the Kaçkar Mountains.
Day 1 Trabzon → Sümela Monastery → Fırtına Valley (Çamlıhemşin) – Tar Waterfall
Meet your guide at Trabzon Airport at 10 am, and have breakfast. set off to Sümela Monastery (50 km, 1-hour drive). It is a Greek Orthodox monastery dedicated to the Virgin Mary located at Karadağ within the Pontic Mountains in the Maçka district of Trabzon. The Monastery is dated around AD 386, during the reign of the emperor Theodosius I. During its long history, the Monastery fell into ruin several times and was restored by various emperors. Unfortunately, its wooden parts were destroyed, and treasure hunters damaged the other parts. Today Sümela Monastery is a museum open to visitors from all over the world. The principal elements of the Monastery complex are the Rock Church, several chapels, kitchens, student rooms, a guesthouse, a library, and a sacred spring revered by Eastern Orthodox Christians. set off to Çamlıhemşin, along Fırtına Valley (240 km – 4-hour drive). Çamlıhemşin is a hilly area surrounded by very high mountains and is a critical access point to the Kaçkar mountains. There are more than 20 well-preserved Ottoman-era bridges over the Fırtına River. set off to Tar Waterfall. Dinner at the village house. Overnight Çamlıhemşin.
Day 2 Ayder → Huser Plateau → Avusor Plateau
Have the local breakfast and daily hiking in Huser Plateau towards Avusor Plateau and Avusor Lake. Dinner at the village house. Overnight Çamlıhemşin.
Walking for the day: 12 km, 6 hours
Walking for the day: 12 km, 6 hours
Day 3 Yukarı Kavrun → 7 Lakes
Have the local breakfast and daily hiking starting at Yukarı Kavrun and ending at 7 Lakes. Dinner at the village house. Overnight Kavrun Plateau.
Walking for the day: 14 km, 7 hours
Walking for the day: 14 km, 7 hours
Day 4 Yukarı Kavrun → Öküz yatağı (Mezovit) - Glacier
Have the local breakfast and daily hiking starting Yukarı Kavrun, passing Öküz Yatağı (Mezovit) and Glacier. Back to Yukarı Kavrun and transfer to the mountain house. Overnight Kavrun Plateau.
Walking for the day: 17 km, 7 hours
Walking for the day: 17 km, 7 hours
Day 5 Yukarı Kavrun → Palovit → Amlakit
Have the local breakfast and daily hiking in Yukarı Kavrun towards Palovit and Amlakit. Transfer to the village house. Overnight Çamlıhemşin.
Walking for the day: 15 km, 7 hours
Walking for the day: 15 km, 7 hours
Day 6 Zil Castle → Gito
Have the local breakfast. set off to Zil Castle, located on the slopes of the Fırtına river. The medieval castle was built for defensive purposes and had a chapel inside. Trekking in Gito along lakes. Transfer to the village house. Overnight Gito.
Walking for the day: 12 km, 6 hours
Walking for the day: 12 km, 6 hours
Day 7 Pokut → Sal
Have the local breakfast and daily hiking start at Pokut to Sal. Enjoy the nice valley view. Return to Pokut. Overnight Pokut.
Walking for the day: 4 km, 2 hours
Walking for the day: 4 km, 2 hours
Day 8 Hazindak → Samistal
Have the local breakfast and daily hiking starting at Hazindak and ending at Samistal. Transfer to the village house. Overnight Çamlıhemşin.
Walking for the day: 14 km, 7 hours
Walking for the day: 14 km, 7 hours
Day 9 Fırtına Valley → Trabzon
Have the local breakfast—optional Zipline and rafting activities on the Fırtına river. Transfer to Trabzon Airport (150 km – 2-hour drive).
The Kaçkar Highlands
Services Included in the Price
Services Not Included in the Price
Departure Hours
- İstanbul Airport
