Eastern-Most Black Sea

7 days

trekking & culture

mın 4-max 12

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TOUR HIGHLIGTHS

Ani: Ephesus of the East
Cıldır: One of the largest freshwater lakes
Macahel Valley: Lowlands in the highlands
Maral: Turkey’s tallest waterfall
Hiking in mild rain forests
Şavşat: Eastern-most Blacksea
The black forests

TOUR DATES

TOUR itinerary

Meet at Kars Harakani Airport
Drive to the ancient city of Ani
Drive to Çıldır Lake
Drive and hike to Şeytan Kalesi (Devil’s Castle) overlooking Kura River, protecting the Silk Road. Drive to Kars for overnight

Overnight: Hotel in Kars (L/D)

Trekking time: 1 hour

Driving time: 4 hours

Meet at Kars Harakani Airport
Drive to the ancient city of Ani
Drive to Çıldır Lake
Drive and hike to Şeytan Kalesi (Devil’s Castle) overlooking Kura River, protecting the Silk Road. Drive to Kars for overnight

Overnight: Hotel in Kars (L/D)

Trekking time: 1 hour

Driving time: 4 hours

Drive to Sarıkamış

Hike through a forest beside the Sarıkamış Ski Resort. Return to Kars after lunch for city tour.
Evening meal accompanied by local bards.

Visit Katerina (Alexi) Mansion built in 1896 by Zsar Nicholas II of Russia.

Overnight: Hotel in Kars (B/L/D)

Trekking time: 3,5 hours + 2 hours city tour

Driving time: 3 hours

Drive to Kaleönü Highland
Hike to Arsiyan Highland.
Packed lunch at 2600 m above sea level while watching the breath taking views of the Eastern Anatolian steppes and the infinite forests and high mountains of Şavşat.

Drive to Şavşat

Overnight: Yeşilvadi Hotel (B/L/D)

Trekking time: 5 hours

Driving time: 4,5 hours

 

Drive to Balıklıgöl Lake passing through Şavşat’s largest village Pınarlı.

Hike on the skirts of Arsiyan Mountain to the two Sirata Lakes where we might see Ruddy Shelducks that make the most of this quiet environment.

Lunch and a siesta break on the lakeside. Drive and hike to Şavşat Karagöl Lake Visit the Cevizli Church en route to our hotel.

Overnight: Yeşilvadi Hotel (B/L/D)

Trekking time: 3 hours

Driving time: 3

 

Drive through Alabalık Valley
Lunch break at family home on Lekoban Plateau Drive to Maçahel Pass and continue to Fındık Plateau Hike from Plateau halfway to guesthouse

Overnight: Bumbulay Guesthouse (B/L/D)

Trekking time: 4,5 hours

Driving time: 3 hours

Drive and hike to Maral Waterfall – Turkey’s highest waterfall (63 meters) falling from a single knick point. Optional dip in the waterfall pool.

Visit a beautifully painted colourful mosque. Drive back to guesthouse

Overnight: Bumbulay Pension (B/L/D)

Trekking time: 2,5 hours

Driving time: 3 hours

 

Drive to Borçka Karagöl and take a walk around this beautiful landslide lake surrounded by a dark forest.

Drive to Hopa for lunch

Drive through Arhavi and short hike up to Mençuna Waterfall located in the Kamilet Valley. Optional dip in the waterfall pool.

Drive to Rize Airport, arriving at ca 6 pm.

accommodation
2 Nights Kars: Hotel
2 Nights Şavşat: Bungalows/Hotel
2 Nights Maçahel Valley: Bungalows
cost includes
  • All accommodation transfers as indicated in the itinerary
  • Tour guide, driver and their expenses
  • Parks and toll roads
    All meals as indicated (B/L/D)
  • Hotel tips
  • Entrance fees
  • Compulsory TURSAB travel insurance
  • Professional and high quality service
    by Turkeyarchaeotrek
  • VAT
cost excludes
  • Journey to Kars and back from Rize
  • Visas to Turkey
  • Travel and health insurance
  • Drinks and extras at accommodation
  • Any extra activities and excursions
  • Personal expenses
  • Any expense not listed under the “included” title above
  • Tips expressing your personal gratitude
KEEP IN MY MIND AND HAVE IN YOUR BACKPACK

Backpack: You should have a minimum 25 liter backpack for essential items such as a jacket, fleece, flask or bottle, sunscreen, cream, shorts etc. City type packs with no back support might cause you to experience back pains.

Walking Pole: Using a walking pole requires some experience. If you are an experienced user it will help with conveying the weight of a heavy backpack down towards the arms and thus will lighten the pack. However, if you do not have much experience it will cause more harm than good, especially on uneven surfaces while trying to place the tip properly on the ground. The best thing is either to use just one pole or to ask us to find a suitable tree branch from the nature.

Trekking boots: As our trail will generally be on paths and uneven surfaces, the trekkers should wear hard soled trekking boots with high enough necks that will protect the ankles against sprains. Actually these are essential items, so they are a “must” rather than a “should”. Your feet carry the whole weight of your body and walking on uneven trails without proper footwear is like diving without a scuba tank.

Gaiter: It will keep snow, mud, sand and dust out of your boots. You do not need to buy expensive ones at the beginning.

Raincoat (poncho): The best thing to do is to acquire a rainproof and breathable jacket (Gore-Tex or similar brand). It is an expensive item but you will use it for many years. Poncho-style raincoats are impermeable but they will make you sweat on long walks and thus cause you to get wet from the inside. You should prefer to get %50 of yourselves wet instead of 100%.

Headgear: Sunglasses and a sunhat are essential for sunny days.

Trousers: You should prefer quick-drying trousers that are especially made for trekking. Even better if they have zip-off legs that turn into shorts. We definitely do not recommend denim jeans.

Bottle or Flask: We do not recommend plastic bottles for health reasons but for beginner trekkers they are probably the best thing. You could also acquire a 50 cc metal bottle or thermos flask.

First aid kit: Your guide will have a general first aid kit but if you need special medication or any sort of special first aid that you might need for certain circumstances such as allergic reactions, do not forget to have them with you.

Swimwear: You will have many chances to swim in the sea if weather permits. So don’t forget to bring a swimsuit and towel.

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