Artvin, Macahel

Artvin Macahel: Five Days in Nature at the Foot of the Karçal Mountains

Some landscapes make you want to do more than visit: you want to lose yourself in them.

For me, Macahel is exactly such a place.

Among Artvin’s Karçal Mountains, with lush forests, highland pastures hidden in mist, streams, waterfalls and distinctive villages, Macahel is an extraordinary landscape for anyone who wants to spend time close to nature.

On our five-day Safaritrek nature and trekking trip, we set out not simply to walk, but to live within this unique landscape.

Day One: Karagöl and the Journey to Macahel

Our journey began in Istanbul and continued with our arrival at Rize–Artvin Airport.

Our first stop was Macuna Waterfalls. We then headed towards Karagöl, one of Artvin’s best-known landmarks.

After enjoying the beautiful view of Karagöl, tucked away in the forest, we turned towards Macahel.

Heavy rain greeted us there and changed our plans a little. Once again, we were reminded to respect nature’s own conditions.

Unable to reach our planned accommodation that night, we were welcomed by Nesli Guest House, where we spent an unforgettable evening.

Sometimes a journey’s loveliest moments arrive when we least expect them.

Day Two: Maral Waterfall

We began the new day surrounded by Macahel’s remarkable nature.

Our destination was Maral Waterfall.

We followed forest paths to the sound of streams and constantly changing views. With every step, we understood a little more clearly why Macahel is so special.

At the end of the day, we reached our accommodation in Bumbulay.

We were tired, but the smiles on everyone’s faces said it all.

Day Three: Naçadirev Glacial Pool and Fındık Highland Pasture

On the third day, our route took us higher.

The trail from Naçadirev Glacial Pool to Fındık Highland Pasture revealed a wilder, more dramatic side of the Karçal Mountains.

At times, mist surrounded us completely. Rain and damp air became part of our walk.

In Macahel, even the weather can become part of a journey’s beauty.

Nature presents a different view at every moment here.

Day Four: Gorgit Highland Pasture in the Shadow of the Karçal Mountains

Our fourth day’s route led to Gorgit Highland Pasture.

Walking at the foot of the Karçal Mountains, we found ourselves at times within an endless forest, at others among the mists.

Gorgit is one of the places where you feel Macahel’s character most strongly.

Walking here is more than completing a trail.

Among the mountains, forests and highland pastures, you feel time slow down a little.

Day Five: Habe Highland Pasture and Karagöl

By the fifth day, we had settled into Macahel’s rhythm.

Our final route stretched from Habe Highland Pasture to Karagöl.

For five days we had walked through rain, mist, mud, forests, pastures and mountains.

Sometimes we got wet, sometimes we grew tired, and sometimes we searched for our way through the fog.

Every day, however, brought a new view, a new trail and a new story.

What Did Five Days in Macahel Leave Us With?

Macahel is more than a destination.

It is a landscape where nature still makes the rules and people adapt to them.

There was rain that changed our plans, and there were moments when we lost ourselves in the mist…

Most importantly, we spent five days in nature with a wonderful group sharing the same trail.

Each walk ended with another view, each evening brought another conversation, and each morning brought fresh excitement.

For us at Safaritrek, Macahel was more than a trekking event. It was a beautiful five-day story we experienced together.

The mists of the Karçal Mountains, Macahel’s lush forests, the quiet of its pastures and the impressions left by its trails will stay with us for a long time.

Perhaps the purpose of some paths is not to reach a destination.

Some paths bring us a little closer to ourselves and to nature.

That is what Macahel was for us.

Until we meet again on the next trail…

The Safaritrek Family