In 2012 the Netherlands and Turkey are celebrating 400 years of diplomatic relations. In this context several events and activities will take place.
NIHA, the Netherlands Institute for Higher Education in Ankara (www.nihankara.org) will organize a number of activities.
One of these activities is a traintrip through Turkey with climbing on Kackar (3937m) and the legendary Ararat (5165m). This two mountains are located in the North-east of Turkey. This trip takes in total 17 days. It will start on 15 august in Istanbul.
We would like to provide opportunities to Universities and Higher Education Schools to send 1 or 2 students or employees to this trip. They will put the flag on the top of the both mountains as representatives of their education institute. We will take care for the media coverage and a photo exhibition of this trip in the Netherlands and Turkey.
During the trip there will also be given information about Turkey and information about further corporation between the Netherlands and Turkey will be discussed. NIHA can take care for the Turkish participants and if you want you can ask students and teachers from your own Turkish partner institutes to deliver participants for this trip.
Do you want to participate? Read more about the trip and its possibilities below.
Customize
İf you wish we can organize a similar trip special for you or your (potential) partner institution.
This train trip (to which a separate conference carriage can be added) can be used to set up or maintain contacts with (potential) partners. The train trip will offer the opportunity to learn, meet, plan and the same time get a good impression of the size and diversity of Turkey. In combination with the mountain trip this will be a unique opportunity to relax, team build, network and feel the buzz of climbing a mountain-top.
For more information about the possibilities and the costs, click here or contact us.
Video
Please view this video for a general impression of this trip
For a short impression of the train trip to Kars – Ankara in winter time:
http://www.facebook.com/photo.php?v=54741163039&set=vb.676038039&type=2&permPage=1
Programme
You will fly at your own initiative from the Netherlands to Istanbul, where you can spend time until the start of the trip.
15 and 16 August
On day 1 the programme starts early in the morning at the Karaköy quay next to the Galatabridge in the center of Istanbul.
We will jointly take the boat to the famous Haydarpaşa train station. After visiting this marvelous building, we will leave for Ankara by bus. Due to construction works for the high speed train the railway track between Istanbul and Ankara is closed. As we go by bus, this will give us the opportunity to make a stop along the way in beautiful environment of Bolu. Then we will continue to drive to Ankara. We will leave by train at the beginning of the evening to Erzurum. In the train we will have our own sleeping carriages ( 4 persons compartments) and our own dining carriage to Erzurum. Optionally another dining carriage will be added. The journey will pass (among others) along the Kızılırmak river, the upper course of the Eufrat and cities like Kayseri (Caesarea), Sivas (Sebaste) and Erzincan. We will spend the first night in the train. The next day in the evening we will arrive in Erzurum, where we will spend the night in the ‘teacher’s house’.
17 August
At 08.30 o’clock we will start with a short tour around Erzurum, visiting (among others) the famous 13th century Twin Minaret Madrasa (Çifte minareli medrese) and some tombs (üç kümbet) from the same period. Then we will go by minibus to the valley of the river the Çoruh. We will have lunch in the environment of Moryayla and pay a short visit to Yedigöller (‘7 lakes’). In the surroundings of İspir we will pitch our tents.
18 August
At 08.30 o’clock we will leave for the village of Hodeçur (ca. 1800 m.) and one of the northern valleys of the Çoruh river. From there we will leave in 2 groups (20 persons each) with guides to our camp site at the Davalı Yaylası (2500 m) (4-5 hours).
19 August
At 10 o’clock we will leave and climb further to our Kaçkar base camp at the Nameless Lake (Adsız Göl) or at the Onion lake (Soğanlı Göl). Given this name because of the amount of chives growing there. We will climb in 4 to 5 hours to an altitude of more than 3.300 m.
20 August
At 5 o’clock we will get up and we start the climbing of the Kaçkar (3967 m.) at 6 o’clock.
At the top we will put a Dutch – Turkish friendship flag and flags of the other institutes and sponsors involved. After about 10 hours of climbing and descending we will arrive back at the base camp.
21 August
Trans-Kaçkartrip to the Black Sea side. Today we leave from the relatively dry south side to the humid north side. Everything changes along the way: flora, fauna and culture. After the pass we will descend to ukarı Kavron, from where we will go to the center place Ayder, by mini buses. We will spend the night in a hostel.
22 August
Rest day in and around Ayder. Optional: tour to Konaklar and the castle Zilkale by bus, rafting along the Fırtına river, hiking, shopping, bathing in hot spring water.
23 August
At 06.00 o ‘clock we will leave Ayder for a long bus trip to Doğubayazit. We will have breakfast along the way in Hopa, at the Black Sea coast close to the border of Georgia, after a trip along the Black Sea coast, in the tea region of Turkey. After Hopa we will cross the mountains. Via Artvin, Kars and Iğdır we will drive to Doğubayazıt at the Turkish-Iranian border. At the end of the day or the next morning we will visit the famous palace of the İshak Paşa, south from Doğubayazıt. We spend the night in a hotel in Doğubayazıt.
24 August
Today, we will drive to the village of Çevirme and climb, by foot, from ca. 1800 m. to the Ararat base camp at 3200 m. (4 to 5 hours walk)
25 August
Day trip to 4200 meters and back to acclimatize (6 to 7 hours).
26 August
Back to the camp at the top 4200 m. (4 to 5 hours).
27 August
At 3 o’clock in the night we will start to climb to the top of the Ararat (5165 m.) (where we will put the Dutch – Turkish friendship flag) ; back to 3200 m. (10 – 12 hours).
28 August
Descent and transfer by bus to Kars, where we will spend the night.
For an impression of Kars: http://www.facebook.com/video/video.php?v=415615603039
29 August
Visit to the old Armenian capital Ani.
The train to – Ankara leaves this day around 15 o’clock.
30 August
Arrival in Ankara. İn the evening or the next morning leaving per bus to Istanbul.
31 August
Arrival in Istanbul. Flight by own.
Travel conditions
Cost for the default trip of 17 days from Istanbul to Istanbul per person: €. 1.730,-
Included: All meals, all transport ( train, bus, mules), guidance (travel guide/ mountain guides/ cooks), all stays ( 4-persons carriage in the train, hostels with rooms for several persons, tents for two persons), tents, sleeping bags and mats.
All participants are insured from Istanbul to Istanbul.
Excluded: Personal expenses, other drinks/beverages besides water. Plane ticket to and from Istanbul. Visa for Turkey (€15,- for sale at the airport upon arrival).
During the trekking in the mountain areas the luggage carriage will take place by horses and mules. Each group of 18 people will have a guide. At the camping places are for each group a chef cook and a one or more big eat tents available. We will stay in 4-person carriage in the train. İn the mountains we stay in 2-persons tents and in the cities in multiple rooms in simple hotels of hostels.
Insurance
Participants are insured for accidents during the trip and cancellation by fault of the travel agency. The insurance starts at departure from Istanbul and ends at arrival back in Istanbul.
Insurer is the Ministry of Tourism and/or the Turkish association of travel agencies TÜRSAB and/or of its members.
Insured situations are (among others):
- Accidents during the trip. Compensation at decease and permanent disability.
- Restitution or replacing trip at bankruptcy of the travel agency.
- Restitution of the cost of the journey if minimum quality conditions are not met.
We advise participants also to take care of their own medical insurance abroad, a travel insurance against damage and loss of goods and cancellation insurance.
Your personal gear
It should contain at least the following items:
- Firm mountain shoes and minimum 2 pairs of mountain socks
- Sports shoes (for the evening) and extra socks
- Thermal underwear
- Poncho or a raincoat and waterproof trousers
- Fast drying hiking pant(s) and fast drying T-shirts (or something similar)
- Head and neck cover against the sun
- Warm cap, warm gloves, scarf
- Warm, breathing jacket
- Fleece jacket or fleece sweater
- Comfortable daypack of appr. 25 liter
- Flashlight/headlight
- Water bottle (minimum 1 lt.)
- Fast drying towel and toiletries
- Sunscreen and lip balm
Also consider the following items:
- Swimming trunks
- Sleeping bag liner
- Trekking (walking) palls with sharp pointed tips
- Gaiters (protective covers over the shoes and lower pants leg)
- Thermos flask
- Sun glasses
- Photo camera, batteries and charger
- Slippers
- Personal medication
- Insect repellent
- Toilet paper
- Comfortable warm clothes for the evening
Participants will need to be in good health and in good condition.
Furthermore, some experience with hiking in high altitude areas is highly desirable.
To be able to communicate with Turkish partners knowledge of English is desirable.
Contact
If you would like more information, please do not hesitate to mail us at: info@nihankara.org or call us on +90 (0) 312 437 33 47.
Subscription
If you are interested, you can subscribe by filling out this form. – If you are interested in – customized trip, please feel free to contact us.
This event is made possible by the Embassy of the Kingdom of the Netherlands in Ankara in the event of the celebration 400 years diplomatic relation between Turkey and the Netherlands.
