Day 1 : Transfer from Erzurum to Yaylalar, dinner and night in pension (double rooms, shared bathroom)

Day 2 : With mules, trek from Yaylalar (1900m) to Damla Golu (3000m), via the Hevek pass (3250m). Walk to the tiny village of Olgunlar, and continue alongside the Hevek stream, past Seytan Kayalar, climbing to the dramatic Hevek pass with views back to Erzurum. Descend to the campsite alongside the tiny lake of Damla Golu, surrounded by peaks. Chance to swim, camp. (7 hrs)

Day 3 : Trek from Damla Golu to Davali Yayla (2500m). Walk downhill from the lake to join the main stream at Tasbasi Yayla (2500 m), and turn upstream, following the Davali stream to the tiny stone houses and barns at the summer village of Davali. (6-7 hrs) Explore yayla and camp.

Day 4 : Trek from Davali Yayla to Derebasi lake (2800m) via the Kavron pass at 3250m. Continue up the Davali stream, then swing north-west towards the main peaks of the Kackar. Follow a steeply rising ridge then a steam which originates below the rocky pass. Descend steeply then contour on good mule track with amazing views before descending the ridge to Derebasi Lake (7 hrs). Camp at a tiny site in the rhododendron - clad valley.

Day 5 : Trek from Derebasi Lake to Buyuk Deniz lake (2800m), via the village of Yukari Kavron (2100m). Descend the Kavron valley, crossing and recrossing the stream to the often mistshrouded village of Yukari Kavron. Lunch on local specialities at village cafe while mules re-load supplies. Follow the steep Caymakcur valley upwards past a smaller lake to Buyuk Deniz lake, situated above waterfalls at the valley head. (5-6 hrs) Chance to swim, camp at lakeside between peaks.

Day 6 : Trek from Buyuk Deniz lake to Dupeduzu campsite (2700m) via Naletleme Pass (3100m). Descend in zigzags from the lake to reach rhododendron-bordered Karadeniz lake (2650m) and the main path ascending, with views back to the lake below, to the Naletleme pass. From here, the next day's route and the peaks are visible. Descend via a snow-filled valley to the large campsite at Dupeduzu, just above dupeduzu Yayla. (5 hrs) Camp.

Day 7 : Trek from Dupeduzu to Dilberduzu camp (2900m) via Pisovit ridge (3100m). Climb diagonally along the ridge above the campsite to gain a spur of the main Kackar ridge at Pisovit, with views back to the main range and down the Hevek valley. Contour along the ridge side, then descend on zigzags over mountain spurs to the valley bottom and the camp site.(4-5 hrs) Camp.

Day 8 : Optional ascent of Kackar Mountain (3932m, Grade D). Early start to scale the gulley and waterfalls above the camp to the lake of Deniz Gol (3200m), passing the strange formations of Seytan Kaya (Satan's rocks). Optional climb of Mt. Kackar past the permanent glacier and along the summit ridge. Return by same route to camp. (10 -12 hrs).

Day 9 : Trek from Dilberduzu to Yaylalar (1900m). A straight descent of the Hevek valley on clear paths alongside the stream, stopping at Olgunlar village for lunch. (3-4 hrs) Dinner and night in pension at Yaylalar (as before).

Day 10 : Trek from Yaylalar to Okuz Gol (3000m) via a pass at 2900m. A climb up an old mule path leads past the partly restored stone villages of Karamolla and Korahmet . Turning up a side ridge and following a stream through flower meadows, the path reaches the pass. We camp just beyond the pass near the high lake of Okuz Gol. (7 hrs) Camp.

Day 11 : Trek from Okuz Gol to Satibey ridge (2250m) via Pisenkaya (2000m) and Binektasi (1800m) villages. Descend from Okuz Gol down the gorge like Bulbul valley to enter forests above Pisenkaya Yayla. Contour the hillside on mule paths to Binektasi yayla and Borovan yayla, then climb a steep forest path which emerges on the grassy ridge of Satibey. (7-8 hrs) Camp on extensive site with spectacular views of Altiparmak ridge and the Barhal valley.

Day 12 : Optional excursion to Karagol (2550m) and non-technical climb of Altiparmak (about 3300m) above the lake. A walk along mule trails to the beautiful lake at Karagol is followed by an optional stiff climb to reach the jagged peak of Altiparmak. Those who wish can explore the lake and the snow clad valleys beyond. Return to camp.

Day 13 : Descend down the Cicek valley to Altiparmak (Barhal) (1250m). From our spectacular campsite, we contour along a watercourse before descending steeply down the valley below, through the yaylas of Nazrara and Yukari Catallar. After a river crossing we enter forest and follow the unsurfaced road leading into Altiparmak. (5 hrs). Before reaching the village centre, we turn uphill to the unique, substantial Georgian 11th C church of the four Apostles, now a mosque, nestling on a slope on the village outskirts. Dinner and night in pension overlooking the valley. (double rooms, shared bathrooms).

Day 14 : Transfer to Erzurum (4 hrs).