Located in the southeast of Black Sea, Small Caucasus and Pontus Alps or with a better-known name Mountain Kaçkar is worth seeing with its amazingly rich nature, different species of animals and the appealing culture, daily life and native people.  During your trip, which starts at Kaçkar’s south slopes and proceeds to the north slopes, you will have the chance of following the native people’s way to the plateaus, reaching the exhibition of nature’s beauty and then ending high up in Mountain Kaçkar, which is the highest peak of those mountains

You will experience an unforgettable trip with the unique culture and the tempting daily life colored with every single tone of green.

Location:  Artvin - Rize
Transportation:   Intercity transportation may be provided by plane or buses.  The transfers in the tour are provided by minibuses.
Accommodation:   We accommodate for six nights in tents.   We also have the chance of staying in a pension at first and last nights.
Activity: Trekking and camp.  The ones who have used air transportation may also go rafting. Activity time: Starts on Sunday, ends on Saturday.  The walks are 2^nd day for 4 hours, 3^rd day for 7 hours( peak climb is not obligatory), 4^th day for 6 hours, 5^th day for 2 hours and 6^th day for 2 hours.   The breaks are not included in these periods of time.
Degree: Peak climb is pretty challenging but not obligatory.  It’s necessary to be healthy and conditioned. 
Equipment: Costless tents, sleeping bags, sleeping pads and rucksacks are provided by DEEPNATURE.  Please provide the personal equipment like a smaller rucksack, a pair of jogging shoes, an extra pair of shoes, raincoat, water bottle, lantern, sunglasses and lotion, hat, beret.  Number of climbers: Minimum of 4, maximum of 15 climbers.
Tour Dates: Every week from the beginning of July until mid- September.  
Fee: Transfers, camping equipment, meals and guidance are all included.

The intercity transportation, alcoholic drinks, the meals during transportation and VAT are not included in the fee. 

TOUR

1^st day- Sunday: Meeting at Trabzon Airport and departure to Hevek Plateau, Artvin(1850 m).   We stop over for lunch and swim at a trout farm.  Moreover, we visit the Barhal Gürcü Church which is on our way.  After setting up the camp, you can go for a walk in the neighborhood.  

2^nd day- Monday:  After breakfast, we pack up the camp and load our rucksacks on the mules.  Our walk lasts in about 4 hours.  Our first break is at the Olgunlar Plateau (2200 m).  As we go up to the Nastaf Plateau (2400 m), you will notice the changes in terms of the architecture and the material used in construction.  About an hour later, we’ll stop over for lunch.  After lunch, we will arrive at Dilberdüzü (2900 m), where we will accommodate for two nights.  After setting up the camp, we rest for acclimation.  Please listen to your guide carefully when the information about the peak climb is being given.  You will then profit from this information.

3^rd day - Tuesday:  Early in the morning, we have our breakfast and at 6 am we depart for the peak climb.  With a tempo, which is neither fast nor slow, and with frequent but short breaks we will proceed for the peak climb.  The peak climb isn’t obligatory.  You may stay at the camp or at Deniz Lake (3335 m) after our first long break, you may return to the camp with the second guide.  The Deniz Lake is the world’s second highest lake.  The passageway, at which we will arrive an hour later, is the last point to return to the camp.  Here the second guide returns to the camp with the ones who will not be able to join the peak climb.  Between 11-11.30 am, we arrive at the Kaçkar peak at 3937 m.   Below, you will see the unforgettable view with the sea, hills, valleys, plateaus, lakes observed between the clouds.  We will be able to watch this alluring view only for one hour.  After signing the peak notebook and having lunch, we depart for the camp.  At about 5 pm, we will be at the camp.

4^th day - Wednesday: Today we carry on with the aim of the whole tour, the trans.  After the camp is packed up and the bags are loaded on the mules, we depart to cross Mountain Kaçkar from south to north.  After coming back to the Olgunlar Plateau, we depart for the transition point Naletleme Trans (3200 m).  Before the transition, we first stop over at the Dope Plateau (2550 m) and an hour later we have our lunch at the side of the Naletleme Trans.  The Karadeniz Lake (2850 m) is located at the point, where we end up with the transition, and this point is our 3^rd camp.  After setting up the camp, we may swim in the freezing lake with the ones who are courageous enough.  We assure you that it will take away all your tiredness.  Since the tough part of the tour is over, now it’s time to have fun with the jogs and songs around the campfire. 

5^th day - Thursday: Today is the free day on the mountain.  You can stay at the side of the lake and have a sunbath, swim in the lake or walk towards the Küçük and Büyük Deniz Lakes with your guide.  Don’t forget to take your bathing suits and towels with you for this walk which lasts in about 2 hours.  We are going to have a mud bath.  

6^th day - Friday:  As soon as we’re finished with the breakfast, we pack up our stuff and depart.  It will take us two hours to go from the upper Çeymakçur Plateau (2220 m) to the lower Çeymakçur Plateau (2010 m), where our vehicle is waiting.  Since the footway is always downwards, you won’t have any difficulty.  At night, the ones who wish may stay in tents or accommodate in a pension.   The cost for pension is under your responsibility.  After dinner in a restaurant, we’re going to enjoy ourselves with the traditional dances named horon, tulum and fasil. 

7^th day - Saturday: Before departure, we have our breakfast.  We will transfer to the Trabzon Airport after viewing the bracelets of Firtina River and visiting the suspension bridges and historical mansions.

DEEPNATURE note:   Mountain Kaçkar is the first reason that encouraged us to this work.  We wanted to share Kaçkars with you.  The one that is written above is only the tour program; we can’t define the feelings they will arouse in you.  Because everyone feels in a different way.  Some experience the excitement of concluding the peak climb successfully, some the happiness of getting to know so many people and some the feeling of proud as they see what they are capable of doing.  We have observed the love towards the Black Sea Region which aroused in our former tour members, that’s what tells us that we’re on the right track.  This tour is not only a mountain transition, but also a transition in your view of life.  What’s more, we are intending to help you enjoy yourselves with conversations, jokes and songs and to inform you about mountaineering and the mountains in the region.  There are also some former tour members who started occupying themselves professionally with mountaineering after attending the Kaçkar tour.  We would love to see you among those people.

ABOUT THE TENT-ACCOMODATED TOURS

1-     Can you inform us about the guides? How many guides are there in a tour?
Your guides are the people from the tour region.  They are professional, young, dynamic local guides who know about the culture and the region itself very well.   They are the most requested guides in the region.  Since they know about the culture of the region very well, they are well known and loved by the local people.  Our guides are also experienced in camping, mountaineering, walking and first aid skills.  This means that you are safe.  Normally the qualities of a guide are always underestimated.  However, a guide is the most important factor that helps the tour end successfully.  A guide is supposed to know all the short cuts that may be used incase of emergency or alternative programs according to the weather conditions.  There are usually two guides in a tour; one major guide and an assistant guide.

2-     Which tour would you recommend?
A tough question…To tell to truth, we have prepared really pleasant programs for you.  You can decide on a tour only by reading the tour descriptions and details or calling us.  We have many tours, all of which contains a wide range of excitement and delight. 

3-     I don’t have any camping equipment, shall I buy?
Camping equipments are provided free by DEEPNATURE.  The details about those equipment are below. 

4-     What’s the quality of the equipment that is used during the tour?
We should never underestimate the fact that the weather conditions may quickly change since we are organizing such tours on the mountains.  Therefore the equipment used should definitely be of good quality.  Equipment that is cheap and of poor quality may ruin the whole trip.   That’s why, the highly qualified equipment to keep you comfortable, warm and dry under mountain conditions will be provided.  Our tents carry the German brand Vaude, shelter 3 people for 4 seasons (although, for comfort, only 2 people stay in one tent) and can be easily set and packed.  The sleeping bags protect you against a temperature of –15 degrees and in summer months it never gets so cold.  The rucksacks are of good quality, waterproof and ergonomik designed.  You may also join the tour with your own equipment, if it’s qualified enough. 

5-     What are the weather conditions like?
It is known that the Black Sea Region is rainy most of the time.  But this has started to change as the weather conditions on earth are also altering.  Especially in the last two years, the amount of the rain received has considerably decreased.  Last year, during the 8-week-tour, we had only 10 rainy days.   You will be comfortable enough, since your tents are waterproof.  You should bring a sun lotion to protect yourself from the sun when you’re on the mountain. 

6-     Shall we bring medicines?
The tour guides have all the first aid materials and medicines that are needed on the mountain.   But if you have some other medicines that you should continuously take, then you should bring them yourself.

7-     I have never accommodated in a tent before. Will it cause a problem?
Most of the people who are participating have no experience of tent accommodation.  Maybe you will have some little problems the first day, but afterwards you are going to enjoy the camp life. 

8-     Are we carrying the rucksacks?
Except for the investigation and backpacking tours, the mules carry the rucksacks.  On the last day of Kaçkar Trans and Trans Plateau tours, there is no mule; therefore you carry the bags yourself.  But the way is downwards and it lasts in about 2 hours. 

9-     Are there any insects, snakes or wild animals around in the neighborhood?
Of course there is.  If you keep your tents closed, it is impossible for the insects to enter.  We wish that we can see the wild animals… You may see some goats and deers.   What’s more, you may also observe the wild birds.  Don’t forget that they are afraid of you as much as you’re afraid of them.  Besides, no animal is stupid enough to approach the humans 15-20 m.   In the camping areas, there are no insects and snakes.

10- What is the food like?
In our tours, a special mountain menu, which contains enough calories, is served.  Ready-made foods are not used in our tours.  For breakfast; honey, chokella, cheese, olives, jam, for lunch; halva, tuna fish, cheese, cucumber, tomatoes, fruits and for dinner; vegetables, rice, pasta, soup, cucumber, tomatoes and fruits are served.  We are famous for our cooking and plentiful ladle.  You may also gain weight.  We also provide the drinks like Tang and Oralet.  All you need to bring are the foods which you like eating or will supply potassium, like appetizers, dry apricot or fig.  You may also bring your alcoholic drinks

11-  I have heard that the walks are very difficult, do we need experience?
Our tours don’t require experience.  The peak climb on Tuesday and the transition on the next day may tire you a bit.  It’s not obligatory to join the peak climb.  If you feel yourself tired on the transition day, you may rent a mule in the Olgunlar Plateau.  The walks are always done on the footpath.

12- Has there been any case of injury or disability in the previous tours?
People may easily fall even when they are walking on a straight path.  Such small injuries can always happen but there has never been a more serious case.  If you obey the instructions of your guide and be a little more careful than you usually are in the city, you will end the tour safe. 

13- Do we have the chance of taking pictures?
Of course you do.  You can take pictures during the walk but you shouldn’t stay behind photographing.  Your guides are going to stop over at the places that are worth taking pictures.  We recommend you to bring extra films with you because you’re going to see such exquisite views. 

14- Who is doing the work at the camp?
The work at the camp is done altogether.  The work is like setting and packing the tents(everybody is responsible for their own tents), preparation of the food and collecting some wood for the fire.  There is no specific obligation.

15- What about the toilet problem?
Actually this is not a problem.  You’re using the best scenic toilets in the world.  We’re not using a common toilet since it’s both unhealthy and troublesome.  What’s more, we don’t have any time to construct one.

16- Are we going to be able to take a shower?
If the weather is good, we take our showers in the lakes or rivers.  This is more enjoyable than you imagine.  If you are worried about sweating and than spreading an awful smell, there is no need because there are no bacteria which cause that smell in high altitude, this means that if you start the tour clean you will not have such a problem.  In our Kaçkar tour, you may take a shower the first day at the pension and the last day at the hot spring. 

17- What shall I bring in terms of clothing?
Please read this very carefully.  Because there are some tour members who bring too         many clothes for a 10-day-tour, even if they are warned.  We’re going to give you a 60-lt-rucksack.  The sleeping bag and the tent should definitely fit into that rucksack.  Since you’re going to carry it yourself on the last day for two hours, it shouldn’t be very heavy.   1 woolen undershirt, 3 t-shirts, 2 pairs of trousers, 1 thin tracksuit to be worn in bed, a sweater or pullover, a polar jacket (or something similar), a jacket, a pair of shorts, bathing suit, beret, 4 pairs of socks, hat, towel and personal equipment (toothbrush, toothpaste, sun lotion, soap, etc…) will be enough for the tour.  Please choose the clothes you feel comfortable wearing.  Extra clothes are sent back with the vehicle to Ayder, the meeting point.  You should also bring a set for the way home.

18- What kind of shoes should I wear?
It will be very useful if you can wear a pair of boots that cover up your ankles.  Hard-soled boots are appropriate for our tours.  If you have the intention of buying a new pair of boots before the tour, please call us.  It is also necessary that you have worn the shoes, which you will also wear during the tour, beforehand.  

19- What do the words “trekking, hiking, day hiking, backpacking” mean?
We use these words because there are no specific and short definitions for these words in Turkish.   We usually use the word trekking for the walks in nature.  But this name changes according to the qualities of this walk.  Trekking is the long,

tent-accommodated mountain walks with the pack animals at a high altitude.  Hiking means the long walks which take place in meadows and rural areas.  Day hiking is a walk in nature which lasts the same day.  Backpacking means the long, mountain walks at a high altitude in which the mountaineers carry their own stuff. 

FREQUENTLY ASKED QUESTIONS on KAÇKAR TRANS

1-      Can you give some information about the transportation by bus and plane?
For the transportation by bus, there are some transfers between Istanbul- Rize/ Ardesen and Rize/ Ardesen – Istanbul.  For the transportation by plane, there are some transfers between Istanbul- Erzurum (on the way to Kaçkar) and Trabzon-Istanbul (on the way home).  The ones who use air transportation arrive at Yusufeli on Saturday.  After the guide meets the mountaineers who arrive by bus, s/he picks up the ones in Yusufeli.  Yusufeli is located on the Hevek Plateau, where we will accommodate the first night. 

2-      Where can we stay at Yusufeli?
We can stay in a hotel or a pension in Yusufeli.  We are making the necessary reservations. 

3-      Can I go rafting in Çoruh River?
By air transportation, you arrive at Artvin- Yusufeli on Saturday.  If you come early in the morning, you may go rafting in the afternoon.   Unfortunately, the ones who are coming with a bus have no time to go rafting.

4-      How much money should we bring?
If you’re not going to buy souvenirs or alcoholic drinks, 50-60 Million would be more than enough.  

5-      What will the communication be like during the tour?
Only Tuesday and Thursday you will not be able to use the telephone.  In Hevek, Olgunlar and Ayder, there are telephones and markets.  The ones who join the peak climb on Tuesday will probably be able to talk on the cellular phones. 

6-      Are we going to be passing by some shops where we can do some shopping?
In Hevek, Olgunlar and Ayder, there are some markets where we can do some shopping and get what’s necessary.,

7-      Are the walks difficult? Do they require experience?
Our tours don’t require experience.  The peak climb on Tuesday and the transition on the next day may tire you a bit.       It’s not obligatory to join the peak climb.  If you feel yourself tired on the transition day, you may rent a mule in the        Olgunlar Plateau.  The walks are always done on the footpath.

8-      Is it peak climb and the way followed dangerous?
While we are climbing, we follow a footpath until a specific point.  Then we start walking on the rocks.  Since always the same route is followed, these rocks have been formed.   If you follow and walk on where your guide is walking, the possibility of sliding is really low.  Even if the rocks slide, there is no cliff to fall into, therefore you will fall on where you are.  But you should always be listening to your guide’s instructions and proceeding carefully.  There is only one transition during the peak climb.  You can easily pass this transition which is only a few meters.  

9-      Will it be a problem if I don’t join the peak climb?  What can I do that day?
The peak climb is not obligatory.  But we recommend you to climb up to the Deniz Lake on the way to the peak.  It has an exquisite beauty.  You may return to the camp with the assistant guide.  You also have the chance of staying and resting at the camp.

IN BLACK SEA REGION TOURS

Culture:   The Eastern Black Sea Region is the meeting point of various ethnic cultures.  It has a variety of Laz's ,Armenians and Greeks of Turkish nationality.  This region gives you the chance of having a tranquil and quiet vacation besides experiencing its different culture and feeling the serenity with every tone of green.  The trio of sea-sand-sun changes into the trio of mountain-forest-plateau.  This vacation, which goes right into the heart of the spirited people and lively cultures, may be a turning point in your lives. 

Airport: All arrivals and departures are arranged for the Trabzon Airport.  Only for the Kaçkar Trans tour, the arrival is to the Erzurum Airport. 

Age:   The appropriate ages for the joiners are 06-80.  This age interval narrows a little in the tent-accommodated tours.  It’s obligatory to be 100 % healthy and conditioned in some of the tours.  

Health:  If you’re planning to climb up to an altitude of 3000 m or more, you should definitely be conditioned and have no health problems.  We recommend you to have a check-up before joining the tour. 

Experience:  We don’t look for experience except for the tour to Mountain Agri.  Our aim is to serve the people who join the tours for the first time. 

Number of Groups:  To become a closed tour, there should be a group of at least 5 people.  If you’re attending the tour with other Turkish customers, you may as well come alone.  For adaptation and comfort, the maximum number of joiners in a tour is 15.  In our Black Sea Region tours, we are capable of giving a certain date when it is decided upon. 

Health and accident insurance:  Because of the dynamics of the tours in nature, our tours always carry some risks.  We haven’t come across to an unlucky incident up to now, but this doesn’t mean that we won’t ever experience an accident.  Therefore all the joiners should have their personal accident and health insurance.  We’re not responsible for the extra fees that come out in such cases.

Expenses:  Our tours are TP, which means that you’ll not have to pay extra money.  However, if you’re going to do some shopping or have some extra expenses like alcohol, you’ll need about $ 20 per day.

Your Baggage:  In our tent-accommodated tours, everybody has the right of bringing one rucksack.  The belongings that are more than one bag are going to be taken on condition to be given back by the end of the tour.  Please consider the fact that you might as well carry the bags yourself in some special occasions, so please try not to fill them excessively. 

Guides:  Our guides are very professional in their areas.  They can speak English well.  They are chefs at the same time in the camping tours.  They have the right of being the tour leader without any democratic voting and are responsible of changing the schedule and rules when necessary and determining about the peak climb.   They are local guides who are grown up in the tour region so that they know about the culture, people and traditions of the region very well. 

Food:   All the food on the mountains and in the camp is given according to the conditions of the mountain and your calorie need.  The food on the mountains is

mess-tin and heated.  They are quite filling and satisfactory.  Lunches are more like portable rations.  In the pension-accommodated tours, the breakfast and dinner are provided by the hotel. 

The Hotels and pensions:  3-starred touristic hotels in the center of the city and pensions that are wooden and have a shared bathroom.  Mostly 2 people share a room but in many pensions, 3-4 people may have to stay in the same room.  It’s also possible to find more luxurious pensions in Aydar Plateau, in which the rooms have separate bathrooms.  There is no European standard in the hotels or pensions.  You may get disappointed if you’re imaging of luxury.  We’re trying to organize our tours with the best institutions of the region. 

Camping equipments:  Waterproof tents that aren’t affected by wind are used in our camps.  They can shelter 3 people easily and when there is enough space, only 2 people may share a tent.  The sleeping bags are very comfortable and resistant against –20 degrees.  All the camping equipments are of the best brands and highly secure. 

Clothing and personal equipment:  We recommend waterproof and wind resistant gore-tex or muadili clothes in our tours.  Please provide the personal equipment like a raincoat, small rucksack, water bottle, lantern, jackknife, stroll boots, beret and a pair of gloves.   You’ll also need an ice pickaxe, crampon, security belt and headlamp for the Mountain Agri tour. 

What is included in the fee:  Accommodation, meals (in some tours, there may be days in which the lunches are not included in the fee), guidance and all transfers within the tour. 

What is not included in the fee:  Personal expenses, expenses of a room or a tent in which you stay alone, in some tours the lunches, airport transfers, intercity transportation, extra expenses that develop because of the reasons we aren’t responsible of, alcoholic drinks, private tours, health and accident insurance. 

Since our tours are always in nature and dependent on walking, we can’t present you a detailed schedule.  The time is completely dependent on the size and structure of the group, weather and road conditions.  

We are capable of creating a new schedule for you incase of a problem.  For instance, if the road is closed on the day in which we have planned to visit The Elevit Plateau, we can quickly change the program and present an alternative solution. 

In the Black Sea Region, we may arrange some special botanic, photographical, cultural, historical and natural tours for the groups on the required dates and times.