MOUNT ARARAT TREKS
TREKKING & ADVENTURE TOURS
SKITOURING & SNOWSHOE
CULTURAL TOURS
TEAM BUILDING
REFERENCES
TAURUS MOUNTAINS SKITOURING & SNOWSHOEING (Mount Hasan, Aladaglar, Mount Erciyes)

ABOUT TAURUS MOUNTAINS

The Taurus (Toros) Mountains are the western branch of the Himalayan mountain belt, the great mountain chain that stretches across all of Asia. The Turkey section of this massive mountain range follows the southern border of Anatolia and it is made up of four major sections, the Western, Central, Southern and Southeastern Toros ranges. The highest peaks rises out of the Central and Southeastern branches, a stretch of mountains which are rugged, magnificent and arduous to climb.

Forming part of the Central Toros range, the Aladaglar range runs from the southwest to the northeast for approximately 50 kilometers. It is between 25 and 30 kilometers wide and boasts the region's highest peak, Demirkazik which stretches to 3756 meters. Other high summits include Kizilkaya in the center (3725 m), a peak that reaches 3688 meters in the south and Mount Vayvay in the East (3565m). The long range is situated in the provinces of Nigde and Adana and rises between Lake Ecemis and the Zamanti river.

The interesting rock formations and waterfalls are worth to see. The erosion of limestone has created a fascinating karstic topography and hydrography, especially in the Yedigoller valley, where karstic underground rivers and caverns collect the surface water. Both the Mediterranean and Anatolian weather systems influence the climate of the Aladaglar bringing warm summers and cold winters to the mountains.

The best season to climb the mountains is during June, July and August when the alpine meadows of higher elevations are rich in vegetation.

TAURUS MOUNTAINS QUICK FACT BOX
Elevation 12,323 feet, 3,756 meters
Location Turkey, Central Anatolia
Convenient Center(s) Nigde
Nearest Major Airport Kayseri Airport

A great winter destination for your skitouring experiences!

Itinerary

Day 1: Meeting in Ankara and transfer to the hotel in the city center for dinner and overnight.

Day 2: Early in the morning we will drive to Aksaray city / Helvadere village for dinner and overnight in the pension (2200m) for the next day’s ski ascent to Mount Hasan. 3258m / 10688 ft.

Day 3: Ski ascent with a gentle slope, straight forward to the summit of Mount Hasan. If the weather permits, you will be able to see the Taurus Mountains / Aladaglar range and Mount Erciyes from the top. After ski descend from the summit, we will drive to the Taurus mountains for dinner and overnight in a village house.

Day 4: We will drive to the Sokulupinar region to enter the valley and ski up from the forest to reach to Celikbuyduran pass at 3400m. We will descend from the great slopes towards Karayalak Valley. Dinner and overnight in Demirkazik village house.

Day 5: After breakfast we drive to the Narpuz valley to ski up to the pass before starting a great ski ascent from Cimbar canyon. Dinner and overnight in the same village house.

Day 6: After breakfast we head towards the Emli Valley-Kucuk Mangirci Valley- Alaca Plateau. Ski touring in Taurus Mountains will finish descending from the Buyuk Mangirci Valley. Late in the afternoon we will drive to the Mount Erciyes (3916m) 20 km south of Kayseri city. Dinner and overnight in the Mountain house at 2200m.

Day 7: Ski ascent to the summit of Mt.Erciyes 12850 ft. / 3916m. After viewing the Taurus Mountains and Mt Hasan from the summit, we will transfer to Cappadoccia, the land of beautiful horses for dinner and overnight in hotel.

Day 8: After breakfast full day cultural excursion in Cappadoccia covering, Devrent Valley to see the unigue fairy-chimneys. Drive to paşabağ (Monk"s Valley) to see the most interesting mushroom-shaped pinnacles. We then will visit the wonderul Göreme openair museum with rock churches before lunch. Transfer to Ankara for dinner and overnight in hotel.

Day 9: Transfer to Airport and End of our service.

Combine this skitouring adventure with Mount Ararat or Mount Suphan & Ararat combined Ski touring.

9 Days
12850 ft / 3916 m
Jan - March
III

You can find all the important tour details you would like to know before and after booking tours with us hereunder. Please choose the topic and it will take you to the information:

Insurance
Ankara Hotels
Cooking Service
Mules / Horse Support
Equipment List
Leaders and Mountain Guides

Insurance:

All Anatolian Adventures guests are being insured with the TURSAB travel insurance package. Being the member of TURSAB (Turkish Travel Agencies Association), Anatolian Adventures guides or the main office may keep your insurance until the end of tours.

Ankara Hotels:

Anatolian Adventures is booking the rooms from the carefully selected 4 star hotels situated exactly in the city center of Ankara. All the hotels are licensed by the Ministry of Tourism of Turkey. Please note that 4 star certification requirements can differ in each country but we guarantee a clear and hospital service.

Cooking Service

Our cooks will provide you best available food on a mountain with at least 4 course menus and teatime after all meals.
We take care of the international tastes and vegetarians in all our cooking facilities. If you are vegeterian or have any other special desire to be much comfortable with food, please inform the office staff in advance or the climbing guide the day you arrive to Dogubeyazit.

Example menu
Soups: lentil, chicken, mushroom or tomato soup.
Main dishes: Chicken schnitzel, burgers & meat balls with rice or pasta.
Salads: Mediterranean salad or authentic shepherd salads.
Desserts: Puddings and authentic Turkish dessert “Kadayif”
Fruits: Water melon, melon, peach, apple, cherry
Drinks: Boiled water, Tea, Coffee, Chocolate, fruit juices

Mules / Horse Support

During the treks up to the camps and down, Anatolian Adventures guarantees you load support with horses, limited by 20kg per person. In winter ascents we use porters for the support. This is much more expensive than the horse support and Please NOTE that Anatolian Adventures may demand some part of the costs extra from the participants due to the unexpected weather and snow situation.

Equipment list

Expedition trek members will be sent a list detailing all necessary clothing and equipment to be individually provided.

Leaders and Mountain Guides

All Anatolian Adventures professional guides have at least university degree speaking English. All of the guides, young or experienced more than 25 years, have extensive knowledge about trekking, climbing, safety equipments, first aid and navigation.

Istanbul Hotels and Transfers

For those who would like to have Istanbul hotels & services from Anatolian Adventures we advise you to choose your hotel in city center Taksim area to reach many unexpected needs like mountain equipment, change offices, air ticketing services, etc. We generally use 4 star or boutique class quality hotels in Taksim district. If you would like to book one of the Istanbul hotels in below list, please state the hotel name, your Istanbul arrival and departure dates within your booking form.

Seminal Hotel (4*)
Midtown Hotel (4*)
Lares Park Hotel (4+*)

LARES PARK HOTEL

Hotel Information
With its executive deluxe concept, Lares Park provides a complete satisfaction to your personal and intimate needs and fulfills even your unexpressed demands. You notice its distinctive quality and warm inviting welcome with your first steps into the lobby.

Facilities & Services
Open buffet breakfast, International Cuisine, Italian Cuisine, Swimming Pool, Whirlpool, Sauna, Turkish Bath, Gym. 24 hrs Room Service, Babysitting, Hairdresser, Laundry & Dry-Cleaning, Foreign Currency Exchange, Souvenir Shop, Newspaper Stand, Secretarial Service, Wake-up Service, Courier Service, Mobile Telephone Rental

Rooms
Interactive TV, Pay TV, Cable TV, Voice mail system, Minibar, Electronic Safe Deposit Box, Smoke detectors and sprinklers, Air-conditioning, Computer and fax connection

SEMINAL HOTEL

Hotel Information
Seminal Hotel is located in Taksim, the business and entertainment district of Istanbul. The hotel, with its indoor swimming pool, Turkish bath and sauna, has a very comfortable feel. The restaurant offers international cuisine.

Facilities & Services
Internet, Pets are allowed, Dry Cleaning, Laundry Service, Safety box at reception, Power generator, Parking lot, Children section, Indoor Swimming Pool, Turkish Bath, Sauna, Massage, Health Center.

Rooms
All 88 rooms have private bathroom with bathtub and shower, telephone, cable TV, music, Split A/C, heating, mini-bar, Safe Deposit Box, Internet Access, Hair Dryer, Non Smoking facility, Direct Dial Phone

MIDTOWN HOTEL

Hotel Information
Midtown Hotel, designed as a exceptional business hotel with a modern and innovative understanding of service, is located on the Lamartin Street, in the Talimhane area of Taksim, which hosts the first urban transformation project of Istanbul.

Facilities & Services
Internet, Dry Cleaning, Laundry Service, Safety box, Power generator, Parking lot, Meeting Rooms.

Rooms
Midtown hotel has 73 deluxe room, 9 with a view of Bosphorus. All rooms are equipped with a minibar, a kettle, a tea and coffee set, a 23'' LCD screen TV, cable and wireless internet access, a safety deposit box large enough to store laptops, a relaxing rain shower, a hair dryer, daily newspaper and around-the-clock room service, optionally a DVD player, a special design coffee table, chairs and working desk and custom designed comfortable furniture, beds, natural sanitary and personal care products.

For the transfer services, it doesn't matter what time you arrive Istanbul, you can book your airport transfers round trip or one way with Anatolian Adventures. Please see the rates below, and give your transfer information in your booking form if needed.

Istanbul Ataturk Airport - Istanbul Hotel transfer rates
1-2 pax
25 euro
3-8 pax
50 euro
9+
please ask for prices

Ticketing

For any international and domestic flight ticket services you can safely make your booking with our ticketing department within our A group travel agency. Generally, international tickets bought from the flight destinaton city are more expensive than tickets bought from flight departing city. So we advise you to check for prices with your local agecy first. For domestic flights needed for your extension tours within Turkey and for international flights departing from Turkey, ticket prices surely will be cheaper if you book with us.

Extension Tours and Customized Itineraries

With branch offices and strategic partnership all over Turkey, Anatolian Adventures will provide you best services within the standards you ask for. From cultural tours to blue voyage, from spa tours to religious tours you can get the best information and booking assistance from our company. Please refer to the link Cultural Tours to look at the details of our cultural tours.

2009 TRIP DATES

TAURUS MOUNTAINS SKITOURING TRIP
DATES
AVAILABILITY
-
Available
-
Available
*** This trip can be combined with Mount Ararat Skitouring Package

2009 TRIP PRICES

TAURUS MOUNTAINS SKITOURING TRIP
700 EUR
50 EUR

BOOKING FORM

To book this adventure, please fill the booking form provided below with payment details and fax to +90 216 418 45 22.

http://www.anatolianadventures.com/eng/about/bookingform.pdf

BOOKING CONDITIONS

Anatolian Adventures is the trademark of HTC Turizm Travel Agency which is established with the Act No: 1618 of Turkish Republic Laws and guarantees your reservations under the following terms and conditions.

1. To book a trip from Anatolian Adventures, you must complete the booking form provided in our website. That form must be completed by a person who is at least 18 years of age. He/she must sign the reservation form, therefore agreeing to the terms set out below.

2. Your booking will be confirmed on receipt of your deposit of the holiday/tour/trek stated within the website or by the contact person of Anatolian Adventures. If you have made your booking paying the deposit with bank transfer, Anatolian Adventures keeps the right to ask for the remainder of the price 3 weeks prior to the departure.

If you have made your booking paying the deposit with credit card via booking form, Anatolian Adventures keeps the right to charge the remaining balance from the same credit card, which is payable no later than 3 weeks prior to the departure without any further notice. If bookings are made within 4 weeks of departure, payment in full is required on confirmation of the booking.

3. If your balance is not paid at the specified time (unless previously arranged with us in writing) we reserve the right to cancel your booking.

4. If you cancel your booking, your deposit will not be refunded. However, provided you notify us of your cancellation maximum 4 weeks before departure, your deposit may be transferred to another tour listed in our website for the next year. The written notification should be done no later than 4 weeks prior to the departure date. Otherwise any direction of deposits for any other services will not be accepted. Any permit fees or advance costs like "no show" for the hotel reservations and air ticket penalties, will be deducted from the refunds.

5. Should you cancel your booking after you have paid for the holiday in full and less than 4 weeks before departure the following charges are applicable (calculated on the day written notification is received by us and expressed as a percentage of the total tour price):

More than 4 weeks prior to departure: Deposit only
Between 4 to 2 weeks before departure: 50%
Less than 2 weeks before departure: 100%

6. Anatolian Adventures keeps the right to cancel your holiday / tour service for any reason with written notification no later than 6 weeks prior to the departure date. Should we cancel your holiday, your deposit and any other payments made will be refunded in full. However, if our cancellation is due to 'force majeure' any reasonable expenses we have incurred will be deducted from your refund. (War, civil or political unrest is usually known as force majeure). All refunds and compensation are strictly limited to monies paid to us and we are not liable for any expenses you have incurred as a result of this booking. Anatolian Adventures keeps the right to make the refunds due to force majeure within 8 weeks after the cancellation with written notification.

7. We reserve the right to alter prices quoted in this web site in the event of external factors beyond our control, e.g. changes in exchange rate or government action etc. Should any price increase exceed 10% of the total cost, you are free to cancel your booking and will obtain a full refund of all monies paid, excluding the permit fees and/or advance costs. Every effort will be made to avoid any increases to the prices shown in this web site.

8. Although we are trying to arrange your hotel rooms according to your requests, bed type and smoking preferences are not guaranteed.

9. The tour leader or local ground operator who represents Anatolian Adventures has overriding authority on our tours. By signing our booking form, you agree to do this. If you commit any illegal act on a tour with us or if in the opinion of the tour leader or ground operator your behavior is detrimental to the safety and welfare of the group as a whole, you may be asked to leave the tour without any right to refund.

10. Any complaints with regard to our tours must be immediately brought to the attention of the tour leader, ground operators or hotelier so that the necessary action to rectify the matter can be taken. However, if by the end of the tour you still feel you have a valid complaint you must notify the company in writing, within 7 days of the end of your tour with Anatolian Adventures.

11. Most of the services we provide are adventure holidays organized mostly in developing countries or regions where lower standards of infrastructure and efficiency often prevail. We can accept your booking, understanding that you are aware of the risks involved in this kind of travel. Anatolian Adventures cannot be held responsible, unless as a direct result of negligence, of any mishap to you or your property. Route and hotel changes may be necessary and will always be at the discretion of the trek leaders and Anatolian Adventures. They do not constitute an alteration of your holiday and will not be compensated.

12. It is essential that you obtain suitable holiday insurance before joining one of our tours. This must cover you fully against repatriation costs should you become too ill to continue with the tour and must, above all, cover the evacuation of yourself from remote regions, should the need arise. Therefore, we recommend you to use an insurance package with a good coverage.

13. You are responsible for ensuring all necessary travel documents are in order. Many countries require passports to be valid for at least six months after entry and some do demand special documents for the visa procedures.

14. The responsibility of any airlines used is limited to the carriage of passengers and baggage in accordance with the conditions of their carriage.

15. On signing the booking form you show your willingness to accept our terms and conditions. On accepting your booking, we agree to carry out our obligations to you as defined in our web site.

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