With Middle Earth Travel we hiked for 3 days in the mountainous region around Kaçkar. We went from Instagram favorite Pokut yayla in a beautiful day-walk to another yayla. There we were welcomed by Ufuk and her family as if we were old friends. In the evening we sang songs, thought some card games to the others (and were severly beaten while doing it..). We ate amazing vegetarian food (being vegetarian is no problem, enough cheese and veggies around).

Day 2 was a great hike to a crater lake where we swam. We foraged raspberries, blackberries and blueberries. We saw million different flowers.

Day 3 took us from Kavrun (appr 2000m) to the top where we saw 4 different lakes, a cute little mouse, some playful bulls and an enormous snail. On the way to our starting point a beautiful big bird (buizerd in Dutch). When we descended we were happy to see Mustafa and his indestructible bus! We ride back to Çamlıhemşin brought us through thick forests and a very touristic Ayder. Nice to see the contrast between what we did and what we happily missed.

Loved: pristine nature, flowers, foraging, nice pace, breaks with Turkish coffee from our hazelnut coffee mugs, singing along with Kerem guitar, getting to know the Laz culture, eating incredible cheese, sleeping like a baby, being beaten by Ufuk at my own game!

Would have loved more: had we only had more time!! 3 days was great to get acquainted with the area and to be sure you have to come back!!