Stage 1 of the Kaçkar Mountains Traverse covers 7.4 km from Olgunlar to Dilberdüzü, with 764 m of ascent and 23 m of descent. The highest point is 2,892 m. Allow about 4 hours of walking, plus breaks.
Distance, climb and elevation come from the Outest route data. Difficulty and time are estimates from distance and climb; your pace will vary with heat, pack weight and photo stops.
Dilber Düzü
Free, unstaffed camping meadow at about 2,900 m below Kaçkar Dağı, the usual base for the summit; plenty of cold spring water but no buildings, toilets or shop. Bring a tent, stove and food; in July and August it gets crowded.
Checked online in October 2026. Places marked "listed in a map or guide listing" appear on OpenStreetMap, in a guidebook or on a climbing forum, but could not be confirmed on their own website or an official tourism list. There are no huts on this trek: you sleep in village pensions at Yaylalar, Olgunlar, Yukarı Kavrun and Ayder, and camp at Dilberdüzü and the Kavrun lakes. The yayla pensions open only from about June to September; call ahead and pay in cash (Turkish lira).
Emergency: call 112 (ambulance, gendarmerie, rescue, fire). Emergency & health guide
Pharmacies, ATMs, shops and stops: © OpenStreetMap contributors. Hospitals and health centres checked online.
The full stage works offline in Outest, with the route, elevation, water and village points, and a trail guide you can ask about conditions and the next place to sleep.