Kaçkar Kavrun Dağ Evleri is a high-altitude alpine retreat and restaurant situated at an elevation of 2,200 meters at a strategic pass within the Kaçkar Mountains of Rize. Built and operated by Hüseyin Şahin and Emel Şahin, local hosts who were born and raised among these alpine pastures, the property reflects a deeply rooted highland philosophy. As the family notes, their objective is to share their native plateau with guests who wish to experience the untouched rhythm of the Kaçkar range, inviting travelers to stay within their traditional homestead.
The settlement at Kavrun Yaylası is the largest plateau in Rize province and one of its three official tourism centers. Positioned on the lower slopes of Mount Kaçkar, it is the highest plateau accessible via road. The compound itself comprises five detached wooden mountain chalets, each designed to lodge up to four guests, alongside a dedicated 50-person restaurant equipped with an industrial kitchen.
Operating across both summer and winter seasons under the motto "Doğanın İçinde Huzurlu Günler" (peaceful days in nature), the outpost functions both as a peaceful sanctuary and as a gateway for mountaineering. Whether visiting during the lively late-summer highland festivities or navigating the snow-covered valleys aboard the facility's specialized "Tırtıl" tracked snow vehicle, visitors experience an authentic slice of Black Sea mountain life managed directly by the family who calls these peaks home.
Cuisine and Menu
Dining at Kaçkar Kavrun Dağ Evleri is centered around a communal dining hall served by a dedicated industrial kitchen with a 50-person capacity. Rather than presenting an extensive à la carte restaurant menu, the kitchen organizes meals around daily highland activities and comprehensive tour boarding. The core culinary offerings consist of substantial plateau breakfasts, packed trail lunches, and festive evening dinners that reflect regional hospitality.
The daily boarding rhythm begins with morning breakfast (sabah kahvaltısı), prepared to energize hikers before mountain departures. Midday nourishment is handled through lunch packs (öğlen kumanyası), which the venue notes are prepared upon custom order (özel sipariş) so trekkers can carry trail rations into the glacial valleys. In the evenings, guests gather in the dining room for a full dinner (akşam yemeği), an occasion highlighted by live performance of the tulum—the traditional regional bagpipe—transforming mealtime into a lively cultural gathering with local folk music and dancing.
Beverage service centers on continuous glasses of hot Turkish tea (çay), which is included throughout the tour program. The hosts also provide occasional surprise treats (sürpriz ikramlar) during the stay. Any beverages requested outside the established service schedule are not covered in standard board and incur extra charges.
Culinary services are integrated directly into the facility's three-day tour packages, priced per person based on group size:
- Small groups (4 to 6 people): 1,250 TL per person for the 3-day package.
- Medium groups (minimum 7 people): 1,100 TL per person for the 3-day package.
- Large groups (8 to 10 people): 1,000 TL per person for the 3-day package.
These tiered rates cover full board including two breakfasts, two custom trail lunches, two musical evening dinners, guide services, round-trip transport with the snow machine, and complimentary tea.
Atmosphere and Who It Suits
The atmosphere at Kaçkar Kavrun Dağ Evleri is defined by rustic simplicity, peace, and close-knit family hospitality. Built entirely from timber, the property blends naturally into the alpine slopes of the Kaçkar range. Without modern commercial frills, the environment maintains an authentic highland character where travelers share communal spaces, listen to family anecdotes, and experience traditional mountain living at 2,200 meters above sea level.
Accommodation is provided across five freestanding wooden chalets. Each cabin is designed to sleep up to four people, making them suitable for families, hiking parties, and groups of outdoor companions. While maintaining an alpine cabin feel, every unit is equipped with essential personal comforts, including a private bathroom with continuous hot water, an en-suite toilet (WC), and a television set. Complimentary Wi-Fi access is also available on the premises for guests needing connectivity.
This setting caters specifically to nature enthusiasts, hikers, photographers, and winter sports practitioners. In winter, skiers and backcountry tourers use the cabins as a protected basecamp, utilizing the venue's tracked snowcat for slope access and exploration. In summer, mountaineers use the houses as an acclimatization stop before attempting higher trails. The visual backdrop features direct panoramas over rugged alpine peaks, glacial valleys, and the traditional architecture of Kavrun Yaylası.
Seasonal dynamics shape the social tempo dramatically. Kavrun Yaylası features 340 rustic homes, and during August, the local population swells to between 2,500 and 5,000 people. From early August through the first week of September, the plateau hosts the traditional Vartevor festivities, filling the valley with highland dances and regional celebrations. During the colder months, the settlement empties of seasonal pastoralists, offering winter visitors absolute serenity against deep snowfields.
Location and Practical Details
The official address for this branch is Çenglovit Deresi, Rize, situated at an altitude of 2,200 to 2,240 meters at the entrance of Yukarı Kavrun Yaylası in the Çamlıhemşin district. Running parallel to Kavrun Deresi within the Kaçkar Mountains National Park zone, the property is located 29 kilometers from the district center of Çamlıhemşin and approximately 95 kilometers from the provincial center of Rize.
Reaching the high plateau follows an exact overland route: Ayder plateau lies 19 kilometers southeast of Çamlıhemşin district. From Ayder, travelers follow a 10-kilometer unpaved dirt road to reach Aşağı Kavron plateau; seasonal minibuses run along this segment from Ayder. From Aşağı Kavron, the road continues for an additional 3 kilometers to reach Yukarı Kavron plateau, making it the highest plateau in the Kaçkar foothills accessible by motorized vehicle.
The facility remains operational throughout summer and winter under the directive "Yaz Kış Demeyin." During heavy winter snow, overland transport is operated using their specialized tracked snow vehicle ("Tırtıl"). Dedicated charter rates for the snowcat (valid for groups up to 8 people) are set at:
- Yukarı Kavrun Yaylası: 1,500 TL
- Ayder Galer Düzü: 750 TL
- Ayder Aşağı Kavrun: 900 TL
- Ayder Çeymakçur: 900 TL
- Ayder Hacizeni: 900 TL
Reservations require a 25 percent advance deposit deposited into the bank account of Hüseyin Şahin (IBAN: TR51 0006 4000 0017 2100 5524 21). Booking inquiries can be directed to Hüseyin Şahin by telephone at 0535 273 51 00 or email at [email protected], while package tour information is also coordinated by Emel Şahin at 0536 821 95 15 or [email protected]. Guests arriving by car should note that there is no private parking garage; vehicles park free of charge along the roadside facing the cabins. Additionally, couples planning to stay must present a marriage certificate upon registration.
The Mio Angle: As a Meeting Spot
On Mio, where travelers exchange recommendations on memorable gathering points, Kaçkar Kavrun Dağ Evleri stands out not as a casual city café, but as an alpine rendezvous for wilderness enthusiasts. For community members planning mountain expeditions in northeastern Anatolia, it serves as the ultimate high-altitude staging ground. Situated right at the trailhead for the Kaçkar summit ascent and trails leading to the glacial lakes region, it provides an organized base where trekking partners regroup before heading into backcountry terrain.
The location is tailored specifically for activity-driven groups. Hikers rendezvous here for guided routes toward Derebaşı Lake, Kaçkar Öküz Yatağı, and Büyük Deniz Gölü, as well as locally organized ATV safaris. In the winter months, ski mountaineers and backcountry adventurers converge on the chalets to access off-piste terrain that would otherwise be completely inaccessible, relying on the owners' tracked snow machine to haul gear and access untracked descents across the valley.
From a budget and planning standpoint, the venue is exceptionally appealing for groups traveling together. The three-day package structure—ranging from 1,000 TL per person for groups of eight to ten, up to 1,250 TL per person for smaller groups of four to six—bundles lodging, two full days of mountain meals, guide services, and tracked snow transport into a single transparent price. For outdoor clubs and groups of friends pooling resources, this eliminates the logistical stress of organizing alpine guides, catering, and heavy snow transport separately.
For social sharing and photography, the setting offers remarkable visual material. Content shared on Mio from this location highlights dramatic visual contrasts: the tracked "Tırtıl" vehicle carving paths across pristine alpine snowdrifts, panoramic sunrises over glacial valleys at 2,200 meters, and vibrant evening gatherings inside the timber lodge where guests celebrate regional culture to the live drone of the tulum.
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