This 4-day Hakkari tour takes you into one of the wildest and least-visited corners of Turkey, where the Cilo Mountains rise above 4,000 metres along the country's south-eastern border. Over four days you hike to glacier lakes, walk through high summer pastures covered with wild flowers, explore the stone villages of Çukurca and finish in Van with a historic castle and the fairy chimneys of Kofiraz. It is a nature and culture trip for active travellers who want something far from the usual routes.
The heart of the trip is the Cilo massif, the second-highest mountain range in Turkey after Ararat. On day two you start walking at around 2,500 metres above Kırıkhan village and follow an easy, mostly gentle path through the Heaven and Hell Valley to the glacier lake at 2,770 metres, at the foot of Reşko Peak and the Uludoruk Glacier. The round trip is about 7.5 km, with a long stop for photographs and a picnic lunch facing the glacier waterfalls. On day three the route climbs to the Berçelan Plateau, a summer pasture at about 3,000 metres covered with flowers in early summer, and continues on foot to Seyithan Lake, a small glacier lake surrounded by snow patches even in early summer.
The tour is not only about mountains. In Çukurca you see stone houses that are considered among the oldest multi-storey buildings with separate ownership in the world, taste local food and visit a tahini mill still worked in the traditional way. On the last day, the road from Hakkari to Van passes Ağaçdibi Waterfall and the Kofiraz valley with its thousands of fairy chimneys, often called the Cappadocia of the east. Hoşap Castle, a 17th-century fortress built on a rock above the Hoşap stream, and Van Castle, the Urartian citadel above Lake Van, close the trip before your evening flight. As a private tour, the program can be arranged on your own dates for families and small groups; contact Inca Tour for a personal quote.
| Tour type | Private · multi-day tour |
|---|---|
| Duration | 4 Days 3 Nights |
| Price | On request |
| Departures | Every day |
| Guide | Licensed guide in your language |
| Stops | 5 |
| Entrance fees | Not included (paid on site) |
| Booking | Instant request online, confirmation within 24 hours · TÜRSAB-licensed operator (A-5751) |
Your full program, day by day — click a day to see every stop.
Your guide meets you at Hakkari Yüksekova Airport (arrival around 11:00 is recommended) and the tour starts straight away towards Çukurca. The road follows the Zap Valley with views of Mount Şine. In Çukurca you have time for lunch with traditional Hakkari dishes, then visit a tahini mill that still produces tahini in the old way and walk among the historic stone houses of Çukurca, known as some of the oldest multi-storey buildings with separate ownership in the world. On the way back you stop at Geçimli village, pass the tobacco fields and end the day at Kaval Waterfall before checking in to your hotel. Overnight in Hakkari.
After an early breakfast you drive about 45 km to the Heaven and Hell Valley (Cennet-Cehennem) in the Cilo Mountains. The walk starts at around 2,500 metres above Kırıkhan village and follows a mostly gentle path towards the Uludoruk Glacier, the largest valley glacier in Turkey, at the foot of Reşko Peak (4,135 m), the highest summit of the Cilo range. Depending on the season you may cross patches of snow. After about 1.5 hours you reach the glacier lake at 2,770 metres, with views of the glacier and its waterfalls. You stop here for about an hour for a packed lunch and photographs, then return on the same trail; the total walking distance is about 7.5 km. At the end of the hike you can rest your feet in the mountain stream before driving back to Hakkari. Sturdy hiking boots are recommended. Overnight in Hakkari.
After an early breakfast you drive up to the Berçelan Plateau, a high summer pasture at about 3,000 metres with views of Mount Cilo. After free time among the plateau flowers, you start the hike to Seyithan Glacier Lake: first on a dirt track, then on a mountain path, sometimes over snow early in the season. The round trip is about 7.5 km and takes 3.5–4 hours of walking. At the lake (3,315 m) you have at least an hour for a packed lunch, photographs and, for the brave, a quick swim in the cold water. You then walk back to the plateau, spend more time there and return to Hakkari in the afternoon. Hiking boots with firm soles are recommended. Overnight in Hakkari.
After breakfast you check out and drive about 20 minutes to Ağaçdibi Waterfall, around 30 metres high, where it is possible to walk behind the falling water. The journey then continues towards Van. After about two hours you stop at the Kofiraz valley, known locally as "Vanadokya", with thousands of fairy chimneys in a landscape that recalls Cappadocia, for a photo break of about an hour. One more hour on the road brings you to Hoşap Castle, a dramatic hilltop fortress guarding the old trade route. In Van you stop for lunch and, if time allows, visit Van Castle, the ancient Urartian citadel above Lake Van, and the Van Cat House. The tour ends with a transfer to Van Ferit Melen Airport around 18:00; flights from 19:45 onwards are suitable.
Yüksekova, Çukurca, Hakkari → Cilo Mountains, Hakkari → Berçelan Plateau, Seyithan Lake → Kofiraz, Hoşap Castle, Van
Modern, comfortable and fully-equipped vehicles — the same fleet we use on your tour.
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Extra day tours you can add along your route — Yüksekova, Çukurca, Hakkari, Cilo Mountains, Hakkari, Berçelan Plateau, Seyithan Lake, Kofiraz, Hoşap Castle, Van.
Tell us your dates and group size — our team sends you a tailored price within 24 hours.
Real, verified reviews from travellers who explored Turkey with us.
My husband and I chose Inca Tour for our honeymoon and we are so glad we did. The boutique hotel selection was beautiful and the Bosphorus dinner cruise was so romantic. Thank you for making our trip special!
It was important for us to have a guide who spoke Russian, and Ender was wonderful. He explained every detail at Dolmabahce Palace. The Princes Islands day trip was a beautiful break from the busy city.
Our guide Ender was incredibly knowledgeable about Turkish history. The hot-air balloon ride at sunrise in Cappadocia was the highlight of our trip. Everything was perfectly organized — from airport pick-up to the last d...
Ender was our Italian-speaking guide and we felt like family. He took us to local spots tourists never see. The hotel choice in Sultanahmet was perfect for walking everywhere.
10+ years later we still talk about our Cappadocia balloon ride and the Bosphorus sunset cruise. Some memories are timeless. Thank you Inca Tour!
