The Kaçkar
Daywalks in the Hevek valley
The holiday is based in the pretty villages of Barhal ( 5 nights ) and Olgunlar ( 2 nights)
Barhal is at an attitude of 1200m in the valley of the Barhal river,close to the Kaçkar National Park. The guesthouse, near the Georgian ‘ Parhali church has 16 rooms with ensuite bathrooms. The Kaçkar pension in Olgunlar is at an attitude of 1.870 M. From Olgunlar a two days trek to the summit of Mt Kaçkar ( 3.932 M) is possible.
Accommodation is halfboard with packed lunch on walking days. Walks are on wellknown paths. There is a variety of views as some are above the treeline and others through villages, meadows or forest.
Tour highlights:
• The Kaçkar mountain range in NE Turkey
• Altıparmak (Barhal) village, a Pontic village with a Georgian church
• Mountains rise from the sea or Çoruh valley up to 4000 m.
• Tiny mountain lakes on the slopes of the mountain range
• Lush fir and pine forests clothe the hillsides
• Home to a wide range of wildlife; rare species of butterflies
• Wild flowers
Grade: moderate /hard
Distances: km per day/ Total
Elevation: 1200-3000 m.
Comfort: xx
Guesthouses with private rooms and bathrooms. Welcoming hosts and good service. Food is great.
Daily Program
Arrival in Barhal.( Altıparmak village)
There are several possibilities to come to Barhal. You can book a private transfer from Erzurum to Barhal. The distance is 185 km/ 3,5 hrs . Costs approx € 180 (extra)
Cheaper alternatives: Take a bus from Erzurum to Yusufeli ( every 2 hrs) and book a private transfer from Yusufeli to Altıparmak village ( 30 km/ 60 mins) approx € 50 (extra)
There is a bus service between Yusufeli and Altıparmak village . Busses dept in the afternoon.
Alternative: Private transfer from Rize or Trabzon airports to Altıparmak (Barhal) Village . This is a long transfer approx 5 hrs
Overnight:guesthouse in Barhal village.(HB)
Barhal to Kudret, Pançet, Sabangil and Barhal
To lunch with villagers
Start your walk from the pension, through the village and past the 10th C church. Continue along a water channel and then climb the hillside to a steeper area with pines and rocks. Climb mountain paths first upwards then horizontally to arrive at Pançat mezraa, a cattle-keeping village of only about 10 houses. Village lunch, with views over the Barhal valley and to the Altıparmak mountains. Take a zigzag path down the mountain to a group of abandoned houses amongst orchards. Continue on path among oak scrub and pines to reach Barhal and the pension
Overnight: Barhal (FB ) Breakfast, Dinner and packed lunch included.
Walk: . 6 – 7 hrs / + 650/ – 650 m:(Moderate)
Barhal to Şabangil to Börekli (Kilyon) to Barhal
Are there any bears in the woods today?
after breakfast txi transfer for 10 minues to a bridge over the Barhal river. Cross the river and follow steep paths above a gorge where crag martins circle. Reach a saddle with views over the valley and continue to Şabangil village, passing a look-out point from which you can see all the villages of the Kilyon area. Reach the dirt road and follow it horizontally to a viewpoint over the neighbouring valley – there are many bears in this area and you will see traces of them. Return to the spring and wooden benches at Şabangil, where you can enjoy your picnic and drink tea with the villagers. Take a footpath through orchards to another village; join the village road for the descent to Barhal.
Overnight Barhal (FB ) Breakfast, Dinner and packed lunch included.
Walk 5-6 hrs walk: + 600m/- 500m ( Moderate)
( Barhal) transfer to Amanesket.
Walk: Amanesket to Karagöl, a high icy lake to Satibe, to Sarıbulut to Barhal.
Following a transfer ( 30 mins) to the village of Amanesket, a lovely village at the foot of the climb to Karagöl lake. Follow the ridge upwards, turning off along a canal leading to the dramatic campsite at Satibe. From here a path climbs up the hillside between rhododendrons caucasicum bushes to the lake. Around the blue and often icy lake it is possible to see or hear two rare birds of the Kaçkar – the Black Grouse, which nests among the rhododendrons, and the Caspian Snowcock, which frequents snow patches above the lake. Leave by the lower path over scree, descending to a water channel. Your route now follows village paths and water channels on a long but descending walk back towards Barhal.
Overnight: Barhal (FB ) Breakfast, Dinner and packed lunch included.
Walk: 7 hrs walk; ascent 750m, descent 1500m ( moderate-hard)
Alternative: Camp at Satibe and return the next day.
( Barhal) Walk Mikelis to Modut to Olgunlar
The old village road, and chamois
Transfer to Mikelis.(1,5 hrs ) From this village, on the Barhal/Hevek river, an old paved path climbs to Modut, a summer village on a slope. From here, wide paths lead west, climbing over several headlands where you will see the prints of chamois; you may hear or see a flock of them. In later season, look out for apollo nordmannii, a rare butterfly, which lives on a pretty blue corydalis flower. Picnic on a viewpoint, then descend past the ruins of stone huts towards the valley floor. Here you follow the old road once more into the village of Olgunlar. Your baggage will be transferred and you will spend the night at the Kaçkar Pension in the village.
Overnight: Kaçkar pension in Olgunlar (FB) Breakfast, Dinner and packed lunch included.
Walk 7 hrs walk/ + 1050m/ – 800m.( moderate-hard)
Walk Olgunar to Yaylalar and Karamolla
A walk to a viewpoint over the Olgunlar Mh. and the Hevek valley, followed by a descent along an old path to Yaylalar . Then a walk from the bridge below Yaylalar to Karamolla Mah. There is a shorter and a longer option available.
The shorter option is ca 3 hrs.
The longer option is 10,8 km / 5,5 hrs / + 933 m/ – 954 m
After arrival at Karamolla, taxi transfer back to the Kaçkar pension.
Overnight: Kaçkar pension. (FB) Breakfast, Dinner and packed lunch included.
( Olgunlar ) Walk to Sulamenta, the burned village
Your host will transfer you to the start of the day’s walk (14 km/ 1,40 hrs) away at Demirdöven. From here you climb to Yukarı Veknal and the burned village of Sulamenta, where just the mosque survives. Following paths through forest and flowery streamside paths you climb to a row of summerhouses before descending to Karamolla where you are collected . Transfer to Barhal ( 2 hrs)
Note: The old village road and the burned village are only possible after about mid-July. Before that date we will substitute two other walks, one in the valley of Taşkıran, which is noted for early butterfies and flowers, and the other to waterfalls at Ciro.
Overnight: Barhal(HB)
Walk:8 hrs; + 1.117 m, -1.840 m.( hard)
Onward travel.
7 nights breakfast and dinner.
5 x packed lunch
(luggage) transfers mentioned in the program.
Kaçkar guide book ( Kate Clow & Chris Gardner),
Basic maps and descriptions. GPS points available. Faded remains of Yellow – red marked routes.
transfers from and to Erzurum, Trabzon, Yusufeli
What else.
Combine the guided summit trek with some self guided walks.
•The Butterflies of Artvin
With about 210 species (nearly 60 percent of all butterflies found in Turkey), Artvin is among the provinces with the greatest butterfly diversity in Turkey. During the summer months, one can see huge numbers of butterflies in virtually every village, pastureland, garden and orchard in all districts within the province, though the butterfly density is the greatest in open meadows on the south-facing slopes of the Kackar Mountains, along the Barhal River, and in the Choruh Valley between Yusufeli and Kılıçkaya. The Yaylalar Village in Yusufeli is one of the prime butterfly areas in Turkey, not only because of the diversity and density of its butterflies, but also because it is home to a number of rare species that are endangered in Europe
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