Kaçkar Mountains
From Turkey Travel Guide
Kackar Mountains are most likely the wildest part of Turkey. Unlike other mountains in Turkey, it is very green and it has lots of river streams in it.
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[edit]
Main mountain range lies between Rize and Erzurum. Ayder, a small summer mountain village, is the last town for the Northern part of Kackar Mountains. Usually, people stay here for a night before they take of to different peaks and valleys. Yusufeli, is the last town for the Southern Part of the mountain. There are lots of small villages above Yusufeli. There are daily minibus services to each of these mountain villages. For the main Kackar summit, the most suitable villages are Yaylalar and Olgunlar which 2 are almost next to each other.
[edit] Getting there
[edit] By plane
Closest airports are Trabzon and Erzurum. Trabzon airport is the best alternative if you planning a visit to Ayder and a climb from the north. Erzurum airport is the best alternative for the south side climbs and treks. Usually people fly to Erzurum, hike the mountain from the South to the North and fly back from Trabzon. Or vice versa.
[edit] By train
There is a train from Istanbul via the Doga Express Sleeper Train, which crosses to the Northeast city of Erzurum. However, you will have to find another mode of transportation form Erzurum to the mountains.
[edit] By car
Rental cars are possible to take. However, if flying into the Western part of Turkey, this is not a smart option in terms of saving money. Gas is very expensive, and you will be paying a lot of miles for your trek.
[edit] By bus
Buses are available to from Istanbul to Pazar, and takes about 16-18 hours. Once you reach Pazar, you can take a minibus(dolmuş) to Ayder, which run on an hourly schedule. There are very nice hotels in Ayder, where you can lodge. Afterwards, you go to Kavran, where you will hop on another dolmuş (or rent a car) in the morning from Ayder.
[edit] By boat
The closest body of water to the Kaçkar Mountains is the Black Sea. However, unless you are coming from the northern part of the Black Sea, which you can dock at Trabzon.
[edit] Weather
Below weather information table belongs to Rize. The weather in the mountain is always harsh. Winters are cold and snowy. Summers are always rainy. Northern side is rainier than the south.
(°F)
(51)
(51)
(53)
(60)
(67)
(74)
(79)
(80)
(75)
(68)
(61)
(54)
(°F)
(38)
(38)
(40)
(47)
(54)
(62)
(67)
(68)
(62)
(55)
(47)
(41)
(inches)
(8.4)
(7.1)
(5.6)
(3.6)
(3.9)
(5.4)
(5.6)
(7.1)
(9.6)
(12.2)
(10.1)
(9.9)
[edit] Climbing
[edit] Climbing Seasons
Winters are very tough. Only experienced climbers should attempt the climbs. During the winter season heli-ski tours are arranged from Yusufeli and Hemsin sides.
The best season for trekking and climb is July 1st - September 15th. August is usually the most crowded time of the mountain. There are lots of festivals during the month of August which makes the mountain villages full of people.
[edit] Permits
There is no permit required to climb or trek in the mountain.
[edit] Accommodation
There are several pensions (panysiyon) in Kaçkar Mountains, as well as you are allowed to camp out during your trek. In the high alpine pastures (yaylalar) reside in the upper levels of the high mountain valleys in the Kaçkar Mountains. Tradition has it that the locals leave their lowland villages in late spring to take their livestock up to the alpine meadows for grazing. There, stone and wood-built huts serve as summer residences, where pensions are available. Many pensions offer fresh food products from the village, including cheese and yogurt.
[edit] Camp Areas
There are several camp areas through the Kaçkar Mountains. They include: Yusufeli, Yaylalar, Dilberduzu, Dupeduzu, Yukari Kavron, Ayder, and Trabzon.
[edit] Books
[edit] External links
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