Ayder & Kaçkar Mountains★★
The Kaçkar Mountains in the hinterland of the eastern Black Sea coast are Turkey's trekking paradise — rugged, wild, and scarcely developed. The peaks reach 3,937 m (Kaçkar Dağı), with glacial lakes, alpine meadows (Yaylalar), and dense forests in between. The high pasture Ayder (1,350 m) is the most famous starting point.
Ayder
The mountain village of Ayder is surrounded by steep, green slopes, waterfalls, and tea plantations. The atmosphere is alpine — wooden houses, mist, cooler temperatures. Ayder is famous for its thermal springs (46°C, sulfur water) and the alpine culture: In summer, shepherds drive their herds to the high pastures (Yaylalar), where cheese and butter are made in simple wooden huts.
Activities
- Hiking: Day hikes to the Yaylalar (high pastures) like Pokut, Hazindak, and Sal. Multi-day treks to the Kaçkar summit (2–3 days, guide recommended) or crossing the mountains from the Black Sea side to the Çoruh Gorge.
- Thermal springs: The modernized thermal bath in Ayder — perfect after a day of hiking. Admission approx. 80 ₺.
- Rafting: The Fırtına Deresi (Storm Stream) offers class III–IV white-water rafting — one of the best rafting spots in Turkey.
- Zipline over the Fırtına Valley: One of the longest ziplines in Turkey (2 km) over the green valley — adrenaline rush guaranteed.
💡 Tipp
The alpine hike from Ayder to Pokut Yaylası (2,000 m, 2–3 hours) is a highlight: wooden huts on lush green meadows, views of snow-capped peaks, wildflowers, and silence. In the season (June–September), Pokut offers simple guesthouses with breakfast from local products — honey, butter, fresh bread. Divine.