After meeting in Erzurum you will be met and transferred to our accommodation near Yusufeli in Yaylalar village, located on the high Hevek Plateau, at 1850m. The Kaçkar range is made up mostly of granite, cyanite, andesite and diorite; swift running water and glaciers have caused significant erosion, which has given the mountains a rough, broken and very beautiful appearance.

After breakfast we commence our hike to Dilberdüzü campsite at 2900m. This walk and those that follow after lunch allow our bodies to acclimatize gently to the increased altitude. The northern slopes of the range are covered with lush vegetation and rise straight out of the sea and are the most important stretch of the Alp-Himalayan formation in Anatolia.

We have an early start this morning for the 2 hour trek up to Deniz Lake, at 3435m. Here we take a break before we push on for the summit at 3937m, an additional 4 to 5 hour walk. From the summit we enjoy an incredible panoramic view. Here we can see that the mountains stand 40 kms inland. The old forests below us are the only mild-climate rain and boreal forests in Turkey, the source of their unique biological diversity. We return to our camp later this afternoon after a long day’s walk.

After a hearty breakfast we set off on the last leg of our journey making the descent to Yayalar again for dinner and overnight in our local pension.

After breakfast we drive southeast to Doğubeyazit, a journey of around 6 hours. Doğubeyazit is a typical frontier town sitting beneath Ararat and just a few miles from the border with Iran. On arrival we get down to the task of checking permits and gear.

After breakfast we set off for the drive to the trek start point 1hr 30 minutes away. We start our walk from Eli village located at 2200m and set out for Green Camp located some 4 hours away at 3300m. As we trek we should be able to sea some of the local nomads who make a living on the harsh mountain.

As with any ascent over around 3000m it is vital to spend time acclimatising. Altitude sickness is no respecter of age or fitness and the best way to avoid it is to ascend slowly and take the opportunity to acclimatise. Today we set off on the first of two acclimatisation days hiking up to the 4000m point to return to our lower camp. The views are as ever superb and a hint of things to come.

Our next day is spent ascending up to Camp II at 4150m, a hike of around 4 to 5 hours. It’s not easy walking but our slow and steady approach means we aren’t rushing. This allows the body to adjust as well as allowing us to appreciate the mountain views. On arrival at Camp II we get an early night and look forward to summit day tomorrow.

This morning we wake early at around 03:30hrs. We have a breakfast and start out for the summit at around 04:30hrs. Before long we are crossing the upper snow-covered slopes; at 4950m where we put our crampons on in order to cross the summit glacier safely.

Finally reaching the summit we are rewarded by superb panoramic views of the surrounding plains and valleys on the frontiers of Turkey, Iran and Armenia – an unforgettable sight. It takes between 2 and 3 hours to descend back to Camp II.

Today sees us return to Doğubeyazit. The descent is naturally quicker than the ascent but still takes us several hours. On arrival we rest and then visit Işakpaşa Palace the region’s biggest cultural draw. This fortified Ottoman palace sits just outside Doğubeyazit on a rock overlooking the plain. It is one of the most striking sights in eastern Turkey and one not to be missed whilst here in the area.

Today we make the journey to Van airport where the tour ends.