Day 27: An Iranian Evening, Karagol Sahara National Park  13 Comments

This entry was posted in Travel Turkey and tagged 2018 Asia Breathtaking Views Castles Dogs Motorhome Mountain Pass Mountains Photography Travel Walks Wild Camping on

We drive back on to the D010 and point the satnav towards Karagol Sahara national park. Departing Artvin we climb high above the dam project. The looming presence of the mountains around the Çoruh river remind us that we were getting closer and closer to Mount Ararat. The air is sticky and hot and it feels like we would benefit from a good down pour to clear the air.  The rocky slopes all round us are bare and deeply gullied.

Up and over the dam wall with Artvin in the background

Once over the dam wall our views are simply stunning.  A tapestry of rivers, canyons, mountains, forests and traditional villages. As we meander along we keep an eye out for more Georgian churches and castles. The odd brown sign posts suggests there might be something of interest but the dirt roads are all blocked with landslide. 

Stunning Lakes

As we move towards Şavşat we can see the dam project has bought some benefits. Hydroelectric dams provide employment and electricity for millions of residents.  This part of the country that normally suffers from high unemployment. Artificial lakes created behind several dams along the Çoruh river are used to farm fish, an additional source of income.

Admiring the view & loggers over take

In the lower section of Şavşat, an old Georgian town, a fairy-tale castle stands sentinel. However, the gates to the castle are closed and from the look of things they have been closed for sometime. Our time is soon occupied when an Iranian family or two or three pull up and say hello. Like the Turks they are so friendly and talkative.  However, they were genuinely interested in our motorhome and so poor Vin turned in to a show home for the next hour. Cupboards open, beds up, beds down, garage open and so on.  In return, we were showered with Iranian gifts. 

On the banks of the Tigret Creek in Şavşat, DOKA, a government development agency, is constructing a recreational park and cultural centre. The aim is to offer a new space for locals to socialise.

Just past the castle, a brown sign points left 27km to Karagöl Sahara National Park. We cross the bridge and follow the winding road. The views over the valley are stunning. About half way up the hill we spot a picnic park. An idyllic yaylalar with pagodas, toilets and fresh water.  All surrounded by spectacular mountain scenery and the pine fringed forests.

We pull over and settle Vin in to a perfect spot for the afternoon. Mac n Tosh play ball and run around like crazy, whilst we do very little other than mingle with the locals. We meet several Turkish and Iranian families, some on holiday and others just out for a family day. 

Our Bumble wild camping spot at Karagol Sahara GPS position N041.230151, E042.449895

By 7pm we are the only people left in the picnic area but it for long. Masoud and his family change their holiday plans and return to the park. It is totally unexpected but we are so pleased they return. We have a wonderful evening under the stars with a campfire, great food, excellent company and plenty loud Iranian music and dancing. 

Tell us what you think...

This site uses Akismet to reduce spam. Learn how your comment data is processed.

13 thoughts on “Day 27: An Iranian Evening, Karagol Sahara National Park ”

  • Reply ↓
    Patricia

    Thanks for another wonderful post. I have just watched the first Joanna Lumley’ s Silk Road programmes and she visited an area in Turkey nearish to where you are. It is up in the alpine highlands where herdsmen from the Black Sea take there sheep, goats and families in summer. She also visited a place that make a cheese that is like guyere. I can see why you love it in Turkey. It looks fascinating.

  • Reply ↓
    Katherine Jackson-Wynch

    Hi there. It’s Nick and Katy! we had the blog Rockin and a Rollin.. Great to see your adventures! We love Turkey very much and used to have a house there but you really are adventuring in the wilderness there!! It looks amazing. We finished our travels and had to come back to work but we upgraded the motorhome for something smaller and newer and travelled around France for a month this summer.. We are now weighing up the idea of moving to Portugal permanently but in a caravan so we can pitch up and have a transit van for travelling around in. It’s a strong possibility that we will do this but not for another year or so. Hope you are still loving the travelling! Are you staying on the road for much longer??

    • Reply ↓
      Bumble Crew

      Hey guys, so nice to hear from you both. Oh I do miss your blogs, Nick used to make me laugh so much. Sounds like you got the travel bug too and Portugal is a lovely place to call home.
      We are planning to be home for Christmas but will probably look to travel again around May time. Where we have no idea.
      Well we wish you well with all the planning and please keep in touch x x x

  • Reply ↓
    Enes

    Ey mavi goklerin beyaz ve kizil susu.kiz kardesimin gelinligi sehidimin son ortusu.isik isik dalga dalga bayragim.senin destanini okudum senin destanini yazacagim.sana benim gozumle bakmayanin mezarini kazacagim seni selamlamadan ucan kusun yuvasini bozacagim.dalgalandigin yerde ne korku ne keder golgende banada banada yer ver.sabah olmasin gunler dogmasin ne cikar yurda ay yildizin isigi yeter savas bizi karli daglara goturdugu gun kizilliginda isindik daglardan collere dustugumuz gun golgene sigindik ey simdi suzgun ruzgarlarda dalgali barisin guvercini savasin kartali yuksek yerlerde acan cicegim senin altinda dogdum senin altinda olecegim tarihim serefim siirim herseyim yer yuzunde yer begen nereye dikilmek istersen soyle seni oraya dikeyim.ARIF NIHAT ASYA.BAYRAK SIIRINDEN ALINTI.