Northeastern Anatolia

©Lonely Planet Publications Pty Ltd
Northeastern Anatolia
Why Go?
Erzurum. . . . . . . . . . . 535
Georgian Valleys . . . 539
Yusufeli . . . . . . . . . . . 542
Artvin . . . . . . . . . . . . . 546
Kars . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 546
Ani . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 552
North of Kars . . . . . . 555
South of Kars . . . . . . 555
Sarıkamış . . . . . . . . . 556
Doğubayazıt . . . . . . . .557
Mt Ararat (Ağrı
Dağı) . . . . . . . . . . . . . 560
Best Places to
Stay
If you’ve got a soft spot for far-flung outposts, why not push
at Turkey’s back
k door? Despite its wealth of attractions,
northeastern Anatolia remains a secretive world (even for
the Turks) and is refreshingly crowd and coach-party free.
Your biggest surprise: the startling variety of landscapes,
from precipitous gorges and unending steppes to muscular
mountains and highland pastures. No wonder it’s prime
territory for trekking (make a beeline for Mt Ararat and
the Kaçkars), white-water rafting and skiing.
Other key experiences here lie in the culture. On top
of the standout highlights, the ruins of Ani and the Işhak
Paşa Palace, there are numerous hidden treasures, including a bonanza of palaces, castles, Georgian churches and
Armenian monuments in splendid isolation, all testifying
to Turkey’s once-flourishing ancient civilisations. If you
need to catch urban vibes, Erzurum and Kars will deliver.
Turkey at its best? You be the judge.
» Karahan Pension (p544)
When to Go
» Ski Lodge Dedeman
(p539)
Erzurum
» Grand Ani Hotel (p550)
40/104
5/125
» Greenpeace Camping
(p542)
30/86
4/100
» İhtiyaroğlu (p543)
10/50
°C/°F Temp
Rainfall Inches/mm
20/68
3/75
2/50
0/32
Best Places to Eat
» Ocakbaşı Restoran (p550)
» Erzurum Evleri (p537 )
» Ani Ocakbaşı (p550)
» Güzelyurt Restorant
(p537 )
» Yöresel Yemek Evi (p559)
1/25
-10/14
0
-20/-4
J
F
M
May The steppe
is in full blossom,
the scents are
memorable and
the vivid hues
unforgettable.
A
M
J
J
A
July to September Don your
walking shoes and
explore the Kaçkar mountains or
scale Mt Ararat.
S
O
N
D
December to
April Cut the fresh
powdery snow at
the Palandöken
or Sarıkamış ski
resorts.
Posof
Meydancîk
Sarp
Hopa
534
Borçka
Karagöl Sahara
National Park
D010
D010
Fîndîklî
Artvin
0
0
Çîldîr
Lake
Ardanuç
D060
Barhal and Çoruh
Olgunlar Gorge
Yusufeli
GEORGIA
Šeytan Kalesi
Çîldîr
Ardahan
50 km
30 miles
Doÿruyol
D010
Arpaçay
Olur
Κhan
Susuz
Göle
Mt Kaçkar
(3937m) Tekkale
Tortum Gölü
(Lake Tortum)
Öškvank
Penek
Akšar
ARMENIA
(ERMENÎSTAN)
Ani
D070
Bagnair Monastery
& Magazbert Fortress
Digor
D965
Beškilise
Keçivan
Kaÿîzman
Oltu
Uzundere
Gyumri
D060
Oÿuzlu &
Kars Kîzîl Kilise
D060
Sarîkamîš
Šenyurt
(Uncular)
Çengilli
Ilîca
Horasan
D955
D950
Tuzluca
iver
sR
Ara
D080
Iÿdîr
Aralîk
D975
D100
ERZURUM
Mt Ararat
(Aÿrî Daÿî)
(5137m)
Aÿrî
Palandöken
Mt Küçük
Aÿrî
(3895m)
D100
D100
Doÿubayazît
Diyadin
Îshak Paša
Palace
Tutak
Gürbulak
Bazargan
D965
Patnos
IRAN
Muradiye
Malazgirt
Sarîsu
(Aktepe)
Erentepe
Timar
D300
D965
Nemrut Daÿî
(Mt Nemrut)
(3050m)
Muš
Göldüzü
Adilcevaz
Ahlat
Hasköy
Özalp
Erçek
D300
Gölü Erçek
Lake Van
(Van Gölü)
VAN
Rešadiye
Bitlis
Edremit
Güzelsu
D300
Gürpînar
D975
Bi
tl
is
Ça
yî
Tatvan
Silvan
D360
Baškale
Baykan
Northeastern Anatolia Highlights
1 Lose yourself in the former
6 Let time pass you by in
the oh-so-serene hamlets of
Barhal (p544) and Olgunlar
(p545)
Palandöken (p539) ski resort
4 Leap off the map into the
Karagöl Sahara National
Park (p547) and wander
around its quaint villages and
gorgeous alpine forests
3 Test your mettle on a
5 Measure how far your
Mt Ararat (p560), Turkey’s
highest mountain.
glories of Ani (p552), once a
thriving Armenian capital
2 Rip up some powder at the
white-water run through the
Çoruh Gorge (p542)
jaw drops in front of the
İshak Paşa Palace (p557) in
Doğubayazıt
7 Hit the summit of iconic