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| This horseriding expedition through Mount Ala (Ala Daglar), in the chain of the Taurus Mountains of Southern Turkey, is for very fit riders looking for adventure. The trail will take you through inaccessible lands of garrigues, large pine forests, water falls, bare plateaux, remote mountain villages where traditions are still alive. Highlights include the ascension of a 3200 m high pass up to the Plateau of the Seven Lakes' moonlike landscape, and meeting semi-nomadic families and their cattle up the mountains. Prior to setting off for the mountains, you will also ride for a few hours through the magical landscape of the Cappadocia region, where the ranch is located.
For this trail, prices are available on request or from our retailers Equine Adventures (UK), Trailfinders (Netherlands), Cheval d'Aventure and Cavaliers du Monde (France).
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Details:
> Only one date in 2008: 27 June - 06 July;
> 9 nights inc. 4 nights in guesthouses and 5 under the tent;
> 8 riding days; 4 - 5 hours on horseback each day;
> 2 English-speaking guides for 6 riders;
> Riding level: intermediate and above. On this trail, however, your riding technique will matter less than your excellent physical condition, your outdoor living skills and your interest in nature trailing;
> Pace: mostly walk;
> You must be in excellent physical condition. This mountain trail involves several hours of walking up very steep paths; |
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Performed independently with pack horses, this trail is also designed as an introduction to horse-trailing techniques. Whether you are planning your first long-distance trail and need to put theory into practice, or are already an experienced horseback traveller, this is an opportunity to trek with like-minded riders and share ideas, tips and information on trail-riding techniques and equipment.
Caring for horses, participants will have the opportunity to learn how to load/unload a pack horse, tie a variety of knots, learn about vetenary basics, horse nutrition, horse-shoe and tack fitting, etc, throughout the week.
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> You must be able to care for and tack up your horse yourself. Your help with the pack horses will be appreciated; > Max. weight: 80 kg; > 1 pack-horse for every 2 riders; > Lunch pic-nic, diner on the woordfire;
> Very basic comfort at the bivouac (you must bring your own tent. No shower tent provided). |
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Your guides know the area well but, in true horseback travelling fashion, the route is not strictly set, to allow for exploration, chance and adventure ! We may ride only 3 hours one day on rough terrain, and spend 6 hours in the saddle the next day until we find a suitable camp place with enough food and water for the horses. The itinerary provided is only indicative and subject to change. |
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Day 1 - Depart for Kayseri via Istanbul. Our chauffeur meets you at the airport with your name written on a board. You are transferred within 50 mn to the village of Ortahisar in central Cappadocia. Dinner with your guides and overnight at your guesthouse in the village.
Day 2 - In the morning, the minibus drives you within 10 mn to our ranch where you meet the horses and get acquainted with the tack before setting off on a 2-hour ride through Cappadocia's magical landscape. Lunch at the ranch.
In the afternoon, the guides show you how to load a pack horse before setting off on another tour around the ranch to test the equipment and your ability to lead a pack-horse.
Dinner and overnight at your pension in Ortahisar.
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Day 3 - In the morning, horses and riders are transferred within 2 hours to Mount Pozanti near Nigde, at the foot of the Taurus chain. Pic-nic lunch. In the afternoon, we set off through the hills in the direction of Mount Ala to our first camp spot.
Day 4 - We progress through the large expanse of green and ocre land of Mount Pozanti towards the majestic Mount Ala. Spring comes late to this part of Turkey and fields are still covered in wild flowers. We bivouac in the valley of Demirkazik by a clear water stream, at the foot of Mount Ala.
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Day 5 - We pass the tiny village of Demirkazik and ascend the first part of Mount Ala on horseback. We find the first 'door' of the mountain and, leading the horses, we start our 3-4 hours walk up the steep path leading to the Plateau of the Seven Lakes. We take several breaks en route and we stop for pic-nic with great views over Demirkazik valley. We reach the bare plateau and its surreal, moonlike landscape in the late afternoon. The altitude is 3200 m and the temperature is much colder. We bivouac near the camp of semi-nomadic families who have come to spend the summer here with their sheep and mules.
Day 6 - Leaving the Seven Lakes behind us, we start our slow descent down the south-east face of Mount Ala. Getting off the horses when necessary, we ride down yet another muleteer path, then through large pine forests, until we reach the small wooden village of Ulupinar and our camp place by a small water fall.
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Day 7 - In the morning, we ride in the valley along the stream to Karpuzbasi. We buy supplies and horse food from the locals, surrounded by the village kids. We continue towards the impressive water falls of Selale, and we stop to rest for the afternoon in a wooden guesthouse overlooking the stream. Dinner and overnight at the guesthouse. |
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Day 8 - We leave the valley of Selale and we progress up the mountains towards summer pastures. A shepherd family invites us to drink the traditional Turkish tea and try their home-made bread and goat yogourt. On the way, we come across cattle grazing freely and peasants harvesting fields by hand. We progress further along the crests of the mountains through more pine forests, garrigues and narrow paths to our bivouac spot on a strecht of bare land next to the camp of another nomadic family. |
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Day 9 - We ride through green hills and natural circusses scattered with volcanic rocks, where we can observe herds of maroon horses and mules. Leaving the high mountains behind us, we descend through hills and fields of high grass towards the village of Camliça, which we reach in the late afternoon.
We are met by our chauffeur who drives you back to your guesthouse in Cappadocia for dinner and overnight, while the horses are transferred back to the ranch.
Day 10 - After breakfast, transfer back to Kayseri airport for your flight to Istanbul.
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Up from Day 3, riders will not be able to find films, batteries, cigarettes, wet wipes or shampoo, etc. There will be no mobile phone coverage.
Maximum 25 kg of personal equipment packed in a soft luggage comprising:
- A tent (max. 4 kg and compact); - A good sleeping bag as nights in altitude are cold; - An individual matress (foldable/inflatable); - 4 x 1 litre water flasks; - Good walking shoes or hiking boots (no riding boots !!!); - A torch; - A knife; - For the high altitude: a good windproof jacket + warm jumper or fleece; - Sun lotion; - Hard hat or sun hat. Riding without a hard hat is at your own risk; - Sunglasses; - Your own pharmacy: - Wet wipes. |
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- The loan of a horse and riding equipment;
- 1 pack-horse for every 2 riders;
- 2 English speaking guides;
- 4 overnights in pension, 5 nights in bivouac, full board except drinks;
- Regular transfers from/to Kayseri airport;
- Transfer by minibus from/to Cappadocia. |
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Summer comes late to this part of Turkey and the weather should be sunny but not too hot, with low risk of storm. The Plateau of the Seven Lake (day 5) may be windy and cold, especially at night. |
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