7 Days Beyond the Pontic Alps to Kars - YK697

7 Days Beyond the Pontic Alps to Kars - YK697

Sightseeing at Ayder, enjoy the panorama with many of waterfalls, traditionally dressed village ladies, thermal baths and lush green forests on the foothills of the magnificient Kachkar Mountains. We drive to Ortan villiage and have great view of Hemsins’ mountain villiages on the side of Firtina river and leaving for Caglayan Valley in Findikli town to see typical laz houses and panoramic tea plantations then we drive to Borçka sightseeing around Karagol (Black Lake) and pass Mt. Karchal to get to Macahel, famous for its untouched nature, local life and Caucasus bee honey,

Itinerary

Day 1: DAY 1 TRABZON & SUMELA MONASTERY

Stop At: Sumela Monastery, Trabzon Turkey
Meet at Trabzon Int’l Airport, depart for Sumela Monastery visit the 4 th century Sumela Monastery, clings to a sheer cliff face in a deep forest, relax beside a fast flowing stream at Altındere Valley National Park, return to city centre and visit Ayasofya, a 13 th century church and study extraordinary collection of byzantine frescoes, depart for Gulbahar Hatun Mosque, Ataturk’s Mansion(a picturesque hilside retreat) visit Ortahisar Mosque (a Comneni cathedral in the old town) drive to Boztepe, enjoy your tea with the panoramic view of the city. Check-in to hotel, dinner and overnight at Hotel Usta Park 4 Star
Duration: 8 hours

Meals included:
• Dinner
Accommodation included: Overnight Hotel Usta park 4 Star

Day 2: DAY 2 TRABZON, UZUNGOL, DEMIRKAPI

Stop At: Trabzon, Trabzon, Turkish Black Sea Coast
Depart for Uzungol (long lake), one of the most photogenic locations in the region, lunch at a fish restaurant, a full day excursion to Demirkapi on the foothills of Soganli Mountains, sightseeing around Balikli & Aygır glacier lakes, enjoy the panorama with beautifull landscapes, return to Uzungol, it’s a hidden paradise in the Pontic Alps. We hike around the lake and village surrounded by emerald green forests and check-in to our boutique hotel, dinner and overnight at Inan Kardesler Hotel (S)
Duration: 8 hours

Meals included:
• Breakfast
• Dinner
Accommodation included: Overnight Kardesler Hotel

Day 3: DAY 3 UZUNGOL, RIZE, AYDER

Stop At: Uzungol, Uzungol, Turkish Black Sea Coast
Sightseeing at Uzungol. And depart for Ayder, visit to a tea factory, short break at Rize for panoramic view of the city from the Botany Garden we visit kiwi and tea plantations here, then we arrive to Firtina Valley which takes us to Ayder Plateau, gentle trekking to Goksu Fall which is the highest and most beautiful in the region. We arrive in Ayder before sundown, check-in our wooden hotel, dinner and overnight at Kuşpuni Mountain House (S)
Duration: 8 hours

Meals included:
• Breakfast
• Dinner
Accommodation included: overnight at Kuşpuni Mountain House (S)

Day 4: DAY 4 AYDER, CAGLAYAN VALLEY, BORCKA-KARAGOL, MACAHEL

Stop At: Ayder Yaylasi, Camlihemsin 53890 Turkey
Sightseeing at Ayder, enjoy the panorama with many of waterfalls, traditionally dressed village ladies, thermal baths and lush green forests on the foothills of the magnificient Kachkar Mountains. We drive to Ortan villiage and have great view of Hemsins’ mountain villiages on the side of Firtina river and leaving for Caglayan Valley in Findikli town to see typical laz houses and panoramic tea plantations then we drive to Borçka sightseeing around Karagol (Black Lake) and pass Mt. Karchal to get to Macahel, famous for its untouched nature, local life and Caucasus bee honey, dinner and overnight at Tema Guest House (S
Duration: 8 hours

Meals included:
• Breakfast
• Dinner
Accommodation included: dinner and overnight at Tema Guest House (S)

Day 5: DAY 5 MACAHEL ( CAMILI )

Stop At: Macahel Gecidi, 08490 Atanoğlu/Borçka/Artvin, Turkey
Discover Macahel, the area is renowned throughout Turkey for its intensive practices of beekeeping and the high quality of honey it produces, a short brief about beekeeping and visit nicely decorated wooden mosques of Macahel and Maral villiages, hiking to Maral fall and sightseeings in Efeler Valley and Kayalar villiage, dinner and overnight at Tema Guest House (S)
Duration: 8 hours

Meals included:
• Breakfast
• Dinner
Accommodation included: dinner and overnight at Tema Guest House (S)

Day 6: DAY 6 MACAHEL & ARTVIN & KARS

Stop At: Kars, Kars
Drive to Kars, following the fastest flowing River Coruh valley reach Artvin, visit Hell’s Gorge at Ardanuc and have a scenic drive to Kars via Savsat Sahara National Park, arrival in Kars, dinner & overnight at Grand Ani Otel 4 Star
Duration: 8 hours

Meals included:
• Breakfast
• Dinner
Accommodation included: dinner & overnight at Grand Ani Otel 4 Star

Day 7: DAY 7 KARS

Stop At: Ani Antik Kenti, Kars Turkey
Drive to Ani, visit medievel armenian capital from 10’th C, Ani Ruins at the Turkish-Armenian border and return Kars, the city is very well planned especially during Russian invasion before World War I. And have a great castle with many chuches before 12.th centry, visit Kars Castle and The Holly Apostles Church, transfer to Kars or Erzurum airport and say farewell….
Duration: 8 hours

Meals included:
• Breakfast
No accommodation included on this day.