Ayder
Ayder is a resort town in Eastern Karadeniz region of Turkey, up in the lush Kaçkar Mountains, surrounded by waterfalls.
Get in
Getting in is easy(ish): Take a bus from either Trabzon, Rize or Hopa to Pazar and take a dolmush from there (though the last departure is at about 6PM during summertime)
Get around
Walk till your heart's content or take a Dolmush back to Chamlihemshin (to get cash or get into another valley) or Pazar.
It's a nice trek up to Yukarı Kavron, mountain pastures higher in the valley, towards the Kackar peak. However, there are far too many vehicles during the summer. It'a better idea to take the Dolmush, from the center of Ayder, and start your trek from Kavron.
See
Beautiful mountain scenery and maybe Hemshin people dancing and playing a peculiar sounding bagpipe.
Do
- Walk through the beautiful mountain scenery; it the Kackars... Head up mount Kackar or to the three lakes or... well enough to see and do. It is advisable to hire a guide though.
- Take a dip in the hot spring pool at the local hamam—hot and wonderful after a day's hike.
Buy
Eat
- Yilmaz Cafeterya, ☏ +90 464 657 21 43. A really sweet family-run restaurant with fantastic soups and Turkish fondue. It's a little more than halfway up the hill on the main street in Ayder (on the left side if you are going up the hill). They speak a little bit of English, and they're friendly as can be. 5-8 TL mains.
Drink
Sleep
- Zirve Ahsap pansiyon, ☏ +90 464 6572177. A Chalet-type pension catering largely for families but also quite suitable for others. It's behind the buildings north of the Dolmush stop in Ayder; Head up the mountainside left from the baker's, Take the path parallel to the main road. It's behind a gaudy concrete building and a water trough.
- Çağlayan Aile Pansiyon (just up the hill from where the minibuses drop you off). There's a dangerous looking DIY ferris wheel right next to it. It doesn't look like much and the rooms are basic and small, with shared bathrooms, mostly squatters. But the staff are really friendly and you're very likely to get the chance to hear them singing and dancing loudly along to the Turkish bagpipe (Tulum) in the evenings. A room with two small beds was 40 TL but you may be able to bargain a bit..
Connect
Go next
Take the dolmush to Pazar and from there a bus to Trabzon or Rize