DAY - 1
Meet in Trabzon Airport and stay in 3 star hotel.
DAY - 2
Trip to Sumela Monestry, Karaca Cave, Zigana, Uzungöl and Ayder with a minibus. Stay in pension (wooden pension, toilet and bath in all room.) Total 8 hour drive.
DAY - 3
Departure to Yusufeli. Rafting possibility in Çoruh River. And stay one night in a pension (common toilets and baths) Total 4 hour drive.
DAY - 4
Departure to Hevek (1800m) and stay in wooden pension (common toilet and bath) Total 4 hour drive.
DAY - 5
Trek to Dilberduzu Camp site (2900m). Total 4 hour trek. Stay one night in a tent.
DAY - 6
Trek to Kaçkar Summit (3937m) Total 11 hour trek. People not have to climb to the summit. Stay one night in a tent.
DAY - 7
Return to Hevek. Stay one night in a pension. Total 4 hour trek.
DAY - 8
Transfer to Doğubeyazit. Ani Antic city. Total 5 hour drive. Stay in 2 star hotel.
DAY - 9
Transfer to 2500m and trek to 3200m with a truck. Excursions of Noah's Ark, Glacier Caves, Meteor Hole. Total 5 hour trek. ( 0 C in nights at 3200m)
DAY - 10
Trek to 4200m base camp. Total 4 hour trek. (-15 C in nights at 4800m)
DAY - 11
Trek to Ararat Summit before sun rises. (5137m) Total 9 hour trek. Last 300m to summit is glacier climb. We need crampons.
DAY - 12
Return to Doğubeyazit. Stay in hotel.
DAY - 13
Transfer to Erzurum and İstanbul. Total 5 hour drive.
DAY - 14
City excursion and Departure to home.
We cannot accept bookings from unaccompained minors, although we can sometimes take accompained teenagers depending on their experiences and the suitability of the trip. We do not have a strict upper age limit, but as this is by nature adventurous active holidays and all contain elements that require a certain level of fitness and mobility, you must be certain that you are capable of fully participating in the activities indicated in the Fact Sheet. In certain circumstances we may require reasonable proof of medical fitness and general suitability before accepting a booking for particular trip.
Medical Fitness
For your own safety, if you are over 55, if you are travelling on a high altitude trek (over 3000), or have a medical condition that might interfere with your enjoyment, we ask you to complete a medical form and seek your doctors's consent to your participation. In the event that your doctor do not agree, we will allow you to transfer your money without penalty If you are booking less than 56 days before departure, we recommend that you obtain your doctors' consent prior to booking.
Experience
For certain this trip we require further information to ensure that your experience and fitness matches that required to safety undertake the holiday. We ask you to complete the experience section on the Booking Form, whereas for grade D trekking trips, where ice axe and crampons are required.
Groups and Discounts
We are normally able to give discounts to groups of 10 or more people booking together on one of our regular departures, and in many areas we can put together a special itinary if you have a group of friends interested. Minimum 8 pople needed for operation and maximum 20.
Fact Sheets
For this trip we attach a Fact Sheet containing a detailed itinary and essential tour information.
Before You Go
Travel Insurance
It is a condition of joining this trip you must be insured against medical and personal accident risks (to include repatriation costs, air ambulance and helicopter rescue services). We also strongly recommend that you take out cancellation insurance. You must also ensure that the policy you take provides an adequate level of protection and covers you for the activities involved in your holiday. You must carry proof of insurance (eg your insurance certificate) with you on your trip, you will be required to take out a suitable policy at that time.
Health, Visas and Passports
It is a good idea to have a medical and dental check-up before you travel. On this trip a first aid kit is carried to deal vith minor accidents, but this is necessarily limited. You will need a fully Passport valid for at least six months. If there is a need you obtain a visa prior to arrival, and it is your responsibility to obtain those that are necessary.
On Your Trip
Spending Money
It is difficult to give an average amount as so much depends on the individual and the destination, but it would be wise to allow a minimum of 10 € per day for incidentals and trips, though on this trip it would be hard to spend as much as this. Remember there are often souvenirs to buy and you should allow some extra spending money for this.
Baggage on Flights
You are restricted to 20kg of baggage on most flights. We recommend you to take rather less than this to allow for souvenirs that you may want to bring back.
Baggage on Trip
On this trip there is restrictions as to the type and weight of baggage that you can bring; on trips where it is not possible to take a suitcase you will need a back pack. Generally you can take whatever type of bag will protect your belongings and stand up to rough treatment.
On-Trip Services
Our staff are there to help if you need any special assistance. This trip is more participatory: on some we have cooks and camp helpers to do the work, and you will not be expected to do any helping, but you will need to help by putting up your own tent, and sometimes also by joining a cooking.
Food
Meal plans prepared according to mountain menu. All you need to do is to take enough money to cover the cost of meals not included in the trip cost, and any of drinks and incidentals.
Hotels and Pensions
In the main centres we normally use at least tourist class hotels, wherever possible with twin rooms and private facilities. Accomodation based on twin-share, though single rooms are somatimes available for an extra cost. By nature, accomodation in remote areas is often of a simpler type; there may be only be low standart hotels, and lodges and pensions. In such places, services such as plumbing and hot water can be erratic and below the standarts found in your home country.
Camping Equipments
Where camping equipments is needed, all the communal items are supplied by Buklamania, including tents, sleeping bags, sleeping pads, packs, cooking and eating utensils.
Clothing and Equipment
On this trip light, comfortable casual clothes are all that is needed, plus cold and wet weather protection. Gore-tex equipments strongly recommended.
All camp equipments carried by mules and transportation vehicles. (exept summit day) Program can be changed according to group size, weather and people's conditions. This schedule can be changed according to the group size.
Place:
Northerneast
and East of Turkey. Rize and Ağrı
Transportation: Domestic flights: Istanbul-Trabzon. Erzurum-Istanbul.
Minibus transportation between cities.
Accommodation: Tourist class hotels in city centers. Pensions in
villages and tent in mountains.
Activity: Mountaineering & trekking & sightseeing
Aktivity Period: 14 Days
Grade: Difficult. You must be healty and conditioned.
Necessary personal equipment: Gore-tex clothes. Crampons, Carabins,
Helmet, Head lamp, İce Axe. (Sleeping bags, backpacks and tents are given
by Bukla)
Person: Minumum 5 maksimum 20 person.
Tour dates: July- Agust
Guides: Professional mountainers who are member of Mountaineering
Federation of Turkey. English speaking guides. Getting permission for
Turkish and Foraign mixed groups is difficult. If only foreign it is more
easy to get permits.
All camp equipments carried by mules and transportation vehicles. (except summit day). Program can be changed according to group size, weather and people's conditions.
Airports:
Trabzon airport for arrivvals, Erzurum Airport for departures
Hotels: Trabzon and Doğubeyazit tourist class hotels.
Pensions: Ayder, Yusufeli and Hevek local persions.
Transportations: Plane, minibus, truck, mule.
Accommodation: Whether in hotels, lodges, pensions or camping this is always included during the tour.
Single Rooms or Tents: Our prices are based on twin share accomodation. If you book on your own, we arrange for you to share with a person of the same sex. We do not charge a single supplement. If you would like a single room or a tent on a particular holiday you should contract us. You can book and pay for this before, it may be necessary to make the request locally and pay the supplement if the room or tent if sharing. Please note on this trip single accomodation is may not available dou to local conditions.
Food: Meal plans vary according to area and circumstances; for every trip, details of what is included are shown in the food section of this trip, in the Fact Sheet.
Transport: All necessary transport during the trip is included, whether private or public, include airport transfers on arrival and departure.
Sightseeing: Included wherever it is part of the itenary ( as stated in the Fact Sheet) There are usually optional trips too.
Staff: On all trips we provide a leader, assisted by local guides, drivers and any other staff as appropriate. Leaders usually meet the group locally.
Permits, Taxes and Entrance Fees: We include all necessary local permits, taxes and entrancefees to National Parks or sites which are part of the itenary.
Not Included: Visas, vaccinations, travel insurance, airport taxes, where not included in the price of the ticket, other personal equipments, entrance to historical sites if not specified in the fact sheet, extra optional excursions and any personal expenditure such as laundry, drinks and tips.
