Aladaglar & Erciyes

Group gathering in Turkey in the city of Kayseri (there is an airport). Meet at Kayseri bus station around 3 am! The instructor and some participants will arrive there by bus directly from Ararat. We take a taxi to the beginning of the route (20 minutes). We put up tents in a campsite at the foot of the Erciyes volcano (3864 m). At dawn we set out lightly for the ascent. We start from a height of 2180 meters. The climb to the top will take about 9 hours. Another 4 hours to descend. The area is deserted and rocky. The trail follows the scree and the eastern ridge of the volcano. In the evening we return to the campsite at the foot and stay overnight.

From Kayseri we take a bus to Yahvali (2 hours), where we take a taxi (one and a half hours) to Kapuzbashi waterfalls. The waterfalls are simply stunning - a powerful stream shoots out in several jets directly from the rock (there is an underground river there) and falls in cascades. After the waterfall, we take a taxi to the neighboring village of Ulupinar (height 1080 m), where the hiking route begins. In the evening, a long climb to the Soguk Pinar clearing (1700 m)

We spend most of the day climbing the Hacer gorge. We leave the forest area. As a result, we find ourselves on the Yedigöller plateau (height 3060 m) and camp at Lake Direk Golu. First cold night.

We cross the plateau, climb to the Celikboyduran pass 3466 m, leave our backpacks there and make a short radial hike to the top of Mount Emler 3723 m. We descend from the pass along the Yalak Dere valley and go north to the Karayalak camp (2030 m), where we have lunch. We climb the Narpiz valley, storm the Red Scree (Kızıl Çarşak), take the Kizil pass (3350 m) and descend for the night to the Oba Yeri valley (2880 m). We set up tents near Lake Dipsiz Golu. This is a very difficult day, it is not a fact that we will implement its program in full. Demirkazik

We climb to the right, northern side of the Çimbar valley and cross over the nameless peak 3360 m. We descend to Lake Karagol (2870 m) and have lunch. We climb along the Yaila valley past Lake Yildiz. We go around Mount Tekekalesi and cross the Mta Tepe hill (3517 m). We descend into the Hastahoca valley and camp for the night near Lake Buyuk Gol (altitude 3070 m).

We cross the already familiar Yedigöller plateau again - this time from north to south. We pass over the nameless peak 3580 and descend for the night to the Emli valley (height 2120 m).

There are several route options for today: 1) We storm the nameless pass east of the Kaldi peak (3734 m) and descend to the old shepherd’s kosh (height 2240 m). 2) We go through the Lorut Western pass (3290 m) with a possible radial exit to the peak of Lorut 3588 (aka Lidut or Alaca). Overnight in the Chilyolugu tract.

We go down along the river along the beautiful deep gorge Ekimanel. We enter the forest area. Overnight at an altitude of 1600 m.

We continue to move along the valley, skirting Mount Karanfil 3030 m. We pass the Kyzylboyun (1990 m) and Dorozhny (1853 m) passes. Overnight near the Tilkitashi pass (1975 m).

A short descent to the village of Hamidiye (altitude 1300 m). We catch a car, get to the highway, and go by bus to Adana. The Aladaglar trek is completed. You can fly home on late flights (not earlier than 23:00).