Departures
2008
TAR26 Sat 26 July -
Sat 9 August
TAR11 Sat 9 August - Sat 23 August
Grade
Moderate
– Challenging. Whilst anyone in a good physically fit
condition can take part in this trek, to really get the most out
of it you should be an experienced hillwalker and an adventurous
traveller, ideally with some winter walking experience; although
formal training with ice axe and crampons is not necessary. The
walking itself will vary from moderate to very strenuous at times.
You should note that the ascent / descent of Mounts Kackar and
Ararat are a lot more strenuous than the average walks, but both
of these are optional. Both peaks may present some people with
acclimatization issues. Day stages generally involve about 5 hours
walking, but some days can be 8 hours. On all aspects of safety of
the group, the trek leader's decision is final. There are also
sections of quite long overland travel, in between
Erzurum, the two
mountain areas and the city of Van. The landscape changes
incredibly between deep gorges and expansive nomadic pasturelands
that seem to fill near and far horizons.
Climate
Between
June and September, weather conditions should generally be
settled. Below 2500m, expect day temperatures to be over 70F
(20C). Above this elevation, while warm on sunny days, it will be
cool at nights. Rain and low mists are sometimes experienced in
the Kackar even in summer. The lake Van region is a lot drier and of course, on the
higher slopes of Ararat, temperatures may drop way below freezing.
Note that the highest temperature recorded on the August 2006 trek
was 38C !
Included
International
flights London/Istanbul (if you are a full package customer),
domestic flights from Istanbul to Erzurum and Van to Istanbul, all
ground and air transport as specified in the itinerary, bed and
breakfast only in 3*accommodation in Istanbul, all meals on trek
and at Erzurum, Van and Dogubeyazit.
Your
permit for Ararat is arranged with the Ministry of Internal
Affairs. This normally takes 60 days and therefore, unfortunately,
it is normally impossible to consider short notice bookings.
Entrance fees into historical sites are included except when in
Istanbul. Sightseeing
as per itinerary, services of a bilingual trekking guide.
All camping equipment and food whilst out on trek (tents,
mattresses, chairs, tables and utensils). Ponies to carry luggage
on the tour. Crampons and the necessary climbing equipment is
provided in Turkey; but we would advise you to have your own
crampons which are compatible with your own walking boots, so that
you know that they are going to fit before you leave. Again, if
you have your own walker’s ice axe and ski poles then feel free
to bring them to use, but in normal conditions poles can be used
rather than an ice axe.
Not included
Passport,
visa (approx £70 and is subject to change), insurance, immunization fees, entrance fees into
museums (in Istanbul), meals other than breakfast in Istanbul.
Water is available in camp but other drinks need to be paid for by
yourself. It is useful therefore to have plenty of small change to
purchase drinks. Prices are approximately as follows: Beer £1.30
(beer in camp up to £3), Cola 75p, Wine £5, bottle of Raki £5.
It is also customary for the group to give tips to the guide and
to the crew (cook and driver) when you leave each campsite, the
amount given is at the clients own discretion, and the
guide-leader will proffer advice on this. However as a guideline
£30 per person should cover tipping for the whole trip. We
recommend that one person from the group collects the money and
gives it to the crew.
Please Note
For
land Only customers, Internal flights are now included.
How the trek is organized
Trek
personnel comprise an English-speaking guide, (additional ministry
guide on Ararat) Cook and muleteers. They are responsible for
running the trek and organizing visits, walks, campsites and food.
A vehicle and a string of pack animals carry all baggage, all you
need carry is a daypack containing your daily needs.
Equipment and Clothing
All
general camping, climbing and cooking equipment is provided. If
you are already a hiker you may already have most of the clothing
and equipment you will need. Major essential items are: sleeping
bag (3-4 seasons), boots strong enough to take crampons (but not
hardshell plastic boots) and a thick fleece – waterproof
combination or a duvet jacket. A detailed list of clothing and
equipment will be sent with confirmation of reservation.
Food
On
trek food is included, except in Istanbul.
Accommodation
Accommodation
in towns will be in moderate standard hotels, which are classed as
three star (Istanbul rating!) Note that in Yusufeli, the pension
used is quite basic and some accommodations do not have air
conditioning or fans. On trek all camping accommodation is fully
inclusive. On camp there are basic toilet arrangements i.e. toilet
tent etc.
Health matters and Documents
No vaccinations are required by
Turkish authorities, but you are advised to be protected from
Tetanus, Hepatitus A and Typhoid.
We recommend each person equip themselves with a small
first aid kit, including water purifiers and Immodium / Lomotil.
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Outline Itinerary
The
following itinerary is intended as a working guide. It is subject
to variation as a result of weather, local road and flight
conditions, group dynamics and government restrictions. Note:
Sherpa cannot be made responsible for any sudden local
restrictions placed upon travel within the area by the Turkish
government or military.
We
reserve the right to alter (lengthen or shorten) any trek at any
time if necessary.
q
Day 1:
Fly London Heathrow/Istanbul. Meet the group at the airport &
transfer to the hotel. Evening free, Try a traditional Turkish
restaurant in the old city centre, dinner not included. Overnight
at the hotel.
q
Day 2:
Istanbul-Erzurum- Yusufeli Village Transfer to airport,
internal flight to Erzurum, the main hub of eastern Anatolia.
There are a lot of remains of past civilizations here. We visit
the Cifte Minareli Medrese, an architectural masterpiece with its
twin minarets and layout plan and decorations. Next we drive to Yusufeli village passing by the Coruh River
and gorge terrain This small town is likely to disappear under a
proposed damming scheme in six years time.
We stay in a basic pension overnight with dinner included.
q
Day 3: Yaylalar
and Korahmet. A
bus takes us to Yaylalar village at 2100m / 6888 feet, where the
villagers have hardly changed their lifestyles for centuries. Then
there is a warm up walk to Korahmet village at the foot of the
Bulut mountain chain. Here people have the ideal gender solution
(from the male point of view) – the women work in the fields,
while the men spend their time in teahouses.
Return to Yaylalar, dinner and overnight at campsite.
Ascent / descent: 480m. About 5 hours walking today.
q
Day 4:
Yaylalar – Dilberduzu. We
meet the horse driver who carries our gear up into the Dilberduzu
highlands. We then walk, passing the “Yaylas” that the
villagers inhabit during the summer to graze their flocks.
On the way we pass a Nomad’s village. Pastures of alpine
flowers and grasses line the stream that the trail follows to the
campsite. This is by a stream and has a magnificent view of the
steep, sometimes snow capped mountains around it. 5 hours walking
approx. Camp 2700m / 8856 feet.
Accumulated ascent: around 1000m.
q
Day
5:
Mount Kackar Summit (3937 m / 12913 feet). Today is
a free day, but you can climb Mt. Kackar if you wish. The first
section of the climb takes you up through the Alpine meadows to
Lake Deniz: a very picturesque location, said to be one of the
deepest mountain tarns in the World. From here you can either mull
around or continue the ascent which becomes more strenuous and the
terrain is quite rocky, but the rewards from the top on a clear
day are superb with views over the Pontic Alps and over the Black
Sea (which may be shrouded in low clouds).
From the top you may see the Caucasus if it is very clear,
but this is unlikely. Possible dip in Lake Deniz to cool off if
appropriate on the way down, but you will probably turn blue!
Return to camp with dinner. 8 hours walking. Ascent 1700 m,
descent 1700m. Some people consider this harder than Mount Ararat.
q
Day 6:
Hevek and Ysufeli Village
We visit Hevek village, see the local people and how they live,
have a picnic. From here we transfer back to Ysufeli Village along
the tortuous Coruh river, passing by tea plantations as we head
back from the mountains. Walking descent around 1000m. Overnight
at a basic pension.
q
Day 7: Drive
day to Dogubeyazit (450km). A
long but scenically
diverse overland journey today (4 hours). Hopefully you will have
time for lunch in Kars with its 9th Century Georgian
church (now a mosque) with grass growing out its roof! Continue
onwards, looking at times, over Armenia, to Dogubeyazit,
easily memorable as
‘Dog biscuit.’ Then
transfer by bus to
the strangely romantic Ishakpasa Palace, in a dramatic mountain
setting. This was
constructed by the governor Ishakpasa in the 17th
century in different styles, using red clay stone. Dogubeyazit is
a ‘Wild East’ town, close to the Iranian and Armenian Border
and our hotel. Breakfast, lunch and dinner included.
q
Day 8:
Dogubeyazit to Mount Ararat (Camp 1) In
the morning transfer to Eli village. Trek to base camp at 3200m /
10500feet. 5 hours walking. Bags are carried by horses or mules.
Dinner at overnight camp. Ascent 1027 metres.
q
Day 9:
Acclimatization day. Trek
to Camp 2 (4200m/
13776 feet) About 4 hours trekking time.
Return to Green Camp at 3200m. Free time for preparation.
Dinner and overnight. Accumulative
Ascent and descent: 1000m.
q
Day 10: Mt
Ararat (To camp 2)
(4200m) about 4 hours trekking time. All luggage will be carried
by the animals. A short course will be given on how to use
crampons. Overnight camp with all meals. Ascent: 1000m
q
Day 11:
Summit day! 5165 m / 16941 feet. Climb
to the top. It is not technically difficult, but does require a
bit of stamina. We start with an Alpine start (early in the
morning) and get onto the perennial snows at about 4500m (note
these aren’t so perennial any more). The last section is across
the glacier. Look out for Noah’s Ark memorabilia such as shards
of wood, and small frozen animals (two by two) that didn’t quite
make it! Return to Base Camp 1. Overnight at camp with all meals.
Ascent 1087m, descent 1962m.
q
Day 12: Mt.
Ararat – Dogubeyazit – Van: 190 km Descend
to Cevirme Village (2 hours) and return to Dogubeyazit. After
lunch drive to Van, one of the most important cities of the old
Vaspurakan region. The city is on the east coast of Lake Van,
which is the largest lake in Turkey. There is a spectacular castle
ruin, parts of which date
back to the 5th Century.
Van is also famed for a type of white cat normally with one golden
eye and one green or blue. Overnight
and dinner at a pension. Descent: 1079m.
q
Day 13:
Van to Istanbul. Normally a morning transfer to Van
airport and flight to Istanbul. On arrival transfer and
installation into our hotel prior to an opportunity to visit the
old part of the city.
q
Day 14: A
full free day to take in all the sights of what was the Byzantine
capital of the civilized world. You could visit the Topkapi
Palace, the Blue Mosque and St. Sophia. Stroll in the world's
biggest covered market. Then spend the afternoon shopping or
visiting sites of interest at your leisure. Overnight at the hotel
(dinner not included).
q
Day
15: Transfer
to airport, fly Istanbul/London Heathrow.
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