Wildflowers, hikers and beautiful mountain scenery on the Kackar Mountains Trek
Wildflowers, hikers and beautiful mountain scenery on the Kackar Mountains Trek
Crossing a river on the Kackar Mountain Trek
Mountain river in the Kackar Mountains

Kackar Mountains Trek

Step into a hidden corner of Turkey, where remote trails, local village life and a mountain summit await.

8 Days from

$2360 USD

Trip Code: KMT
View dates to BookEssential Information

Extra trip options & supplements

*Prices listed are per person

Single Supplement
$550 USD

Duration

  • 8 Days

Activities

  • 4 day trek

Accommodation

  • 5 nights hotel
  • 2 nights camping

Meals

  • 7 Dinners
  • 6 Lunches
  • 7 Breakfasts

Difficulty Grading  

3 / 10

Introductory

Carbon Footprint  

51kg of CO2-e PP per day

(360kg of CO2-e PP entire trip)

Trip highlights

  • Summit Mount Kackar (3937m/12,197ft) on a week-long adventure through Turkey’s wild northeast
  • Trek through alpine pastures, crossing glacial streams, wildflower meadows and traditional villages
  • Visit Trabzon on the Black Sea coast, and the Sumela Monastery, a 4th century Greek Orthodox sanctuary built into the cliffside

Overview

Discover a different side of Turkey on this trekking adventure through the Kackar Mountains. Located in northeastern Anatolia, near the borders of Georgia and Armenia, the Kackar range is a world away from Turkey’s dry central plateau, this is a lush, alpine landscape dotted with traditional villages and semi-nomadic herders who graze their flocks in the summer months.

You’ll take on one of Turkey’s most rewarding multi-day treks, traversing glacial valleys, rushing rivers, rugged granite terrain and the summit of Mount Kackar at 3937m/12,197ft. In summer, the trails come alive with wild rhododendrons, crocuses, gentians and alpine poppies. Each night, you’ll stay in welcoming village pensions or remote mountain camps.

The journey begins in Erzurum, a key stop along the Silk Road, where camel caravans once crossed the Anatolian plateau en route to Persia and the Caucasus. Here you’ll explore historic fortifications and ancient stone bazaars, tasting traditional cuisine and absorbing its history.

The trip concludes at the port city of Trabzon on the Black Sea coast, where you’ll visit the extraordinary Sumela Monastery, a 4th century Greek Orthodox complex built into a sheer cliff above the Altindere Valley.

With the highlight of summiting Mount Kackar, this is a rewarding exploration of one of Turkey’s most untouched mountain regions.

Itinerary

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On arrival in Erzurum, you’ll be met at the airport and transferred to the group hotel. One of Anatolia’s oldest cities, Erzurum was a vital stop on the ancient Silk Road and still preserves its cultural significance today. Depending on your arrival time, there’s the opportunity to explore key sites in the city’s historic centre, including the 12th century Erzurum Castle and the covered bazaar. In the evening, enjoy a welcome dinner at a restaurant housed in a series of restored Ottoman homes, offering a warm introduction to eastern Turkish cuisine and hospitality. Overnight: Rafo Hotel, or similar

Meals: D

Today we drive into the heart of the Kackar Mountains, with stops along the way to explore the region’s natural and cultural highlights. We visit Tortum Waterfall, one of Turkey’s tallest, before continuing to the remote mountain village of Barhal. Nestled among orchards and stone houses, this peaceful village is home to the 11th century Georgian Barhal Church, quietly overlooking the valley. By late afternoon, we reach Yaylalar, a small highland village and settle into our family run pension and enjoy traditional Turkish tea on arrival. Driving time: 3 hours Overnight: Altunay pension, or similar

Meals: B,L,D

Today your trek begins. Setting out from Yaylalar village, you'll follow the Buyuk Cay River upstream, hiking with light packs while horses carry the group’s gear. After a short walk to Olgunlar, a small settlement nestled in the valley, the trail begins a steady ascent into the heart of the Kackar range. As you climb toward Dilberduzu Camp (2900m), the scenery opens into alpine pastures scattered with grazing flocks and traditional yayla huts. In June and July, the meadows are often alive with wild rhododendrons, primulas and alpine poppies, adding brilliant colour to the mountain landscape. It’s a relatively easy walking day, designed to help you acclimatise before tomorrow's summit. Walk: 3 hours Ascent: 640m Overnight: Camp at Dilberduzu

Meals: B,L,D

An early start before sunrise sets the pace for today’s summit push, the most challenging and rewarding day of the trek. The trail climbs steadily through high pastures to reach Denizgolu, a remote alpine lake tucked beneath towering peaks at 3300m. From here, the terrain steepens dramatically. You’ll traverse scree and granite slabs, crossing an exposed ridgeline with wide open views, before the final climb to the summit. On clear days, the panorama stretches across the entire Kaçkar range and, in the distance, Mount Ararat on the horizon. We return to Dilberduzu camp and sleep soundly beneath the stars. Walk: 9 - 10 hours Ascent/Descent: 1097m Overnight: Camp at Dilberduzu

Meals: B,L,D

After breakfast at camp, descend on foot to Olgunlar village, retracing the path through wide green pastures and mountain houses. This is still summer grazing country, and you may pass nomadic herders bringing their flocks to the highlands. With the high summits of the Kaçkar behind you, return to the peaceful village of Yaylalar and settle back into your pension. Walk: 2 -3 hours Descent: 640m Overnight: Altunay pension, or similar

Meals: B,L,D

Today begins with a final full day of trekking. The trail follows a landscape of alpine ridges and passing traditional yayla settlements like Dobe and Dupeduzu. The route climbs to the Naletleme Pass (3100m) - your final high crossing - before descending into the northern valleys of the Kackar. The walk finishes in Yukari Kavron, where your vehicle awaits for the short drive to Ayder, a scenic mountain village known for its thermal springs, wooden houses and forested hillsides. Walk: 7 - 8 hours Ascent: 900m/Descent: 850m Overnight: Yesilvadi Hotel in the Ayder village, or similar

Meals: B,L,D

Depart Ayder and travel along the scenic Black Sea coastline to Trabzon, a city with deep roots in Silk Road trade and a rich blend of cultures shaped by both Christian and Islamic influences. A highlight today is the visit to the Sumela Monastery, dramatically built into a sheer cliff face above the Altindere Valley. Founded in the 4th century, this remarkable Greek Orthodox site is known for its cliffside chapels and vivid frescoes. After exploring the monastery, return to Trabzon and a final group dinner. Drive: 3 hours plus to/from Sumela monastery Overnight: Horon hotel, or similar

Meals: B,L,D

Trip arrangements conclude this morning after breakfast. You will have a transfer (15 minutes) from the hotel to the airport, for your onward journey.

Meals: B

Map

Elevation

The map and elevation chart are for illustrative purposes only and meant to provide general guidelines.

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What’s included?

Included

  • 5 nights hotel/pension on a twinshare basis
  • 2 nights fully supported camping on a twinshare tent basis
  • 7 breakfasts, 6 lunches and 7 dinners
  • English speaking local guide
  • Airport transfers (days 1 & 8 only)
  • Private transport
  • Medical kit
  • Entrance fees to sites stated in the itinerary

Not included

  • Airfares
  • Travel insurance - compulsory
  • Visa if applicable
  • Sleeping bag
  • Bottled water, aerated and alcoholic drinks
  • Tips

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