Mt Kackar Massif

The Kaçkars’ central massif contains its highest mountains, and arguably its finest scenery, and a huge variety of walks, from day explorations to classic (Top 100) multi-day circuit and traverses.

The “standard” circuit of Mt Kaçkar and its Massif can be done in 6 days, or extended as desire and circumstances dictate.

Day 1. Start from Olgunlar. Take the first walk noted above past Dibe Yayla to Buyuk Deniz Lake.  Over the top. Moderately hard.  5-6 hours.  Camp.

Day 2.  Along river valleys to Derebasi Lake.  Moderate walk. This is west of the peak.   Camp there.  Mules will have taken a different route. 5-6 hours. 

Day 3.  South and then east to Atsiz Lake which is south of the peak.  Moderate. About 7 hours. 

Day 4.  Hard climb northwards 3 hours to the peak. Before mid-July crampons are needed owing to ice.  Descent south-eastward to Dilberduzu camp (4 hours) where the mules will have arrived. 

Day 5.  Return to Olgunlar easwards along the valley – 4 hours max. 

There is an eight-day version, as well as other options in this vast mountain range.

Continued with an Altiparmak traverse, it can make an unforgettable fortnight.

Various crossings can be devised, the best known being the two day route from Yukan Karron to Olgunlar (or vice versa).

Yusufeli, the main southern approach town, has a certain small-town charm.

Around Olgunlar. Above Yusufeli is the hamlet of Olgunlar, said to be as close as humans live to the south-west side of Mt Kackar itself. It is accessed on rough mountain roads. The Pansyon Kackar is said to be a good base.  Ismail and his family can provide guides, mules for carrying kit, and camping equipment. Bring your own sleeping bags, and alcohol if required.

There are two valleys leading upwards from the hamlet, offering gentle walks for the less ambitious.

The shorter one starts heading north and then swings west towards Mt Kackar itself.  Mountains rise to 3,000m plus around it, bare of trees but with abundant grasses and wild flowers.  There are many old field-surrounds built of thick walls of heaped stones, clearly from a time when human labour was abundant, cheap or biddable (or all three). Summer flowers are said to be wonderful. Reach Dibe Yayla (a nearly-abandoned herding station), and then carry on up towards the head of the valley where there is a campsite, with Jagged peaks ahead.  The path swings to the right and apparently finds a way into the northern valleys of the Kackar range, allowing long-distance walkers to go down to the Black Sea.

The second valley heads west, with a similar landscape of impressive mostly treeless peaks. The less ambitious may turn back to Olgunlar, making it a marvellous day’s walk.  Some five hours walk from Olgunlar gets you to Atsiz Lake, from which the following day you can climb Mt Kackar (a moderately hard climb), camping after descending and returning to Olgunlar on the third day, though the more energetic do the whole expedition in two days.

Thank you to Alex Duncan for providing the above information.

These are tough walks in high, remote mountains: be prepared.

See our Kackar Mountains page for detailed practical information.

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