Pelin Kihtir Öztürk (TDEAP Project Assistant)

0090 0312 454 1183

pelin.kihtir@undp.org

“We will consider Erzurum and its environs as an important destination” said Mr. Sinan Haliç, Head of HTC Tour and Director of Nature, Environment and Sustainable Tourism Commitee of TURSAB.

The visit was organized by KUDAKA (Northestern Anatolia Development Agency) in October 2011. KUDAKA’s support in promoting tourism sector in the region in cooperation national actors like TURSAB is one of the main outputs of the increasing tourism awareness in the region.
http://www.kudakaturizm.org

Almost 120 birdwatchers and bird photographers coming from all over Turkey and from abroad had the chance to watch migrating raptors during the festival. The festival was organized under the scope of “Tourism Development in Eastern Anatolia Region Project” (TDEAP*) for the fourth time this year. Participation to the festival is growing among the relevant interest groups when compared to the previous years.

On the 24th of September the participants left Erzurum-Uzundere-Pehlivanlı Camping Site with the guidance of experts from “Nature Research Society”. The group reached Kılıçkaya (2500 meters high above sea level) and then climbed up to Karadağ. More than 20 bird species were identified by the bird watchers among the thousands of migrating raptors above the magnificient view of the Coruh Valley.

For the first time this year 15 hearing-impared students coming from Erzurum Vocational High School and 30 elementary school children coming from Uzundere were the participants of the festival. On the 25th of September the children had experienced bird watching activities and educational games to raise awareness about the biological diersity and nature with the guidance of experts of Nature Research Society at Uzundere Zugar Open air Facilities.

For more information on the subject of bird species and relevant brochures of Coruh Valley you may follow the links below:
http://www.choruh.com/en/doga/coruh-vadisi-faunasi/kuslar
http://www.choruh.com/galeri/brochures

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The main reason for implementing such a training program is the fact that Uzundere has a great potential in gastronomy with its inherited traditional cuisine based on local fruit and vegetables. To build that potential as a market niche in local tourism, a capacity enhancement training was needed to serve a better local cuisine with proper recipes.

The objective of the trainings were threefold; such as
1. Enhancing capacities of the owners and employees of the present bed and breakfast and daily tourist businesses in the field of gastronomy and local food preparation.
2. Building capacity among local women in the field of gastronomy and local food preparation and thus encouraging them to start their own businesses.
3. Improving local cuisine with proper recipes and establishing all necessary standards for their preparation.

With the completion of the trainings, deserts and vegetables unique to the region have begin to be served in all home pansions and daily tourism businesses thus created the chance for every tourist to enjoy the special taste of local cuisine.

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*TDEAP jointly executed by United Nations Development Programme (UNDP), Ministry of Culture and Tourism and EFES Company since April 2007, aims to contribute to the living standard of local people by improving tourism activities in the Coruh Valley.
www.datur.com / www.coruhvalley.com

Festival Program

Festival is organized by Eastern Anatolia Tourism Development Project (TDEAP-DATUR). The project implemented by United Nations Development Programme (UNDP) in cooperation with Ministry of Culture and Tourism and Efes Pilsen’s financial support. Festival also supported by Nature Research Society, The Bird Paradise of the Anatolian Peak Project and local NGOs (UZKADER-Uzundere Association for Adding Value to Women Labour and UDOSK-Uzundere Nature Youth and Sports Club Association and ERTÜEL-Erzurum Tourism Envoies Association).

HOW TO APPLY

You can either use Online Application Form or download Application Form as MS Word document and send it to coruhfestival@dogaarastirmalari.org.

Application Deadline: September 15, 2011

Contact number: +90 321 432 18 79 Doğa Araştırmaları Derneği (Nature Research Society)

ADDITIONAL INFORMATION

Transport:
All local transfers within the festival area will be provided by the organization committee and no additional fee is required. 2 shuttle services will depart at 12:00 and 18:30 from Erzurum to the camp site in Tortum-Pehlivanlı. The guests are recommended to arrive at Erzurum before 12:00. On September 25th, the last day of the festival, the participants should arrange their departures according to the program.

Accommodation:
Two accommodation types are available, hostel or camping, depending on your choice. The camping site is in the courtyard of the hostel.
The hostel price is TL 25,00-35,00 (due to room). This price is only for accommodation. Hot water is available only in some scheduled times. As the rooms are for 3-5 persons, the guests have no chance of staying alone in one room. The capacity of the hostel is limited to 20 persons and early bookings are recommended.
There is no fee for camping. The guests are expected to provide their own tents, sleeping bags, e.t.c.

Food:
The first dinner on September 23rd will be provided by the organization committee and is free. The two breakfasts which will be given on Sept. 24th and 25th are priced at TL 8,00. On Sept. 24th, the lunch will be provided by the visitors and there will be some shopping oportunities in the morning of the same day. The dinner on Sept. 24 costs TL 15,00. The lunch on Sept. 25th in Zuğar will be provided by the organization committee and it is free.

Dressing:
The variable weather conditions at these times of the year should be considered seriously. The watching points will be in considerably high elevations and on hilltops. Therefore all visitors are recommended to be well equipped against rain, cold weathers and strong winds, in order to enjoy their bird-watching trips.

Click here for detailed information about Bird Species in Çoruh Valley.

Click here for image gallery for bird species.

The most important flyway for bird migration on Eastern Black Sea Mountains is Coruh Valley. The incredible view of thousands of raptors flying over the valley everyday during fall migration is like a matchless invitation to the bird watchers.

You can have a chance to get trainings and experience this incredible migration of raptors in the company of prefessional guides during festival.

*TDEAP, jointly executed by United Nations Development Programme (UNDP), Ministry of Culture and Tourism and EFES Company since April 2007, aims to contribute to the living standard of local people by improving tourism activities in the Coruh Valley.
www.datur.com / www.coruhvalley.com

Since 2007, Tourism Development in Eastern Anatolia Project (TDEAP-DATUR)* has created capacities in the field of bed and breakfast and daily tourism businesses. Coruh Valley has doubled its number of accomodation facilities. The number reached to 50 where Uzundere became a new destination. In Uzundere there were none facility in 2007, now there are 6 B&Bs (home pansions) and 2 small-sized hotels reaching a total of 85 bed capacity.

After achievement of their certificates, the owners of the pansions and daily tourism businesses concentrated on the trainings of local cusine. The receipees unique to the region were collected and experimented by the local women and one of the gurmes of Turkey, under the scope of TDEAP. After completion of the trainings which will be held on August and September 2011 everyone will have the chance to enjoy the special taste of local food in all home pansions and daily tourism businesses.

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*TDEAP jointly executed by United Nations Development Programme (UNDP), Ministry of Culture and Tourism and EFES Company since April 2007, aims to contribute to the living standard of local people by improving tourism activities in the Coruh Valley.
www.datur.com / www.coruhvalley.com