If you want to know about where to stay and how to get the all important permit to travel to Macahel here is some valuable information .
As with all little known areas there is a reason why they are not in the guidebook and Macahel is no different. Until recently Macahel was a no go area due to its proximity to the Georgian boarder. The military authorities have now lightened up and none Turkish travellers can enter the region but only with a permit. Permits must be arranged at least one month in advance but I recommend you try and arrange your permit two months in advance to be sure the authorities are happy. Your petition must be written in Turkish and include a photo copy of your passport plus details of your travelling program broken down into a day by day schedule. Generally arranging your permit can be handled by your pension owner on your behalf. Email is a wonderful thing and the Google translation tool has worked for me. If you are not Turkish the next step is to get friendly with your local Turkish restaurant and ask them to make a few calls or failing that find a Turkish friend. Turks are quite rightfully keen to introduce their country and help as much as they can . So what is stopping you if you have a sense of adventure.
Best of luck Chris
The following list of pensions in Macahel can be contacted by phone but remember you will need someone who speaks Turkish or Georgian to act as interpreter.
UNVAN (Name of the guesthouse) İSMAİL ERBAY
KÖYÜ (Village) DÜZENLİ (ZEDVAKE) KÖYÜ
YETKİLİ(Owner) İSMAİL ERBAY
TEL (phone) 0466 485 21 21 0536 632 31 64
UNVAN MUHTAR PANSİYON (This pension has a excellent scenery of the Camili valley
opening through to the Georgia and situated at the slope of a hill)
KÖYÜ CAMİLİ (HERTVİS) KÖYÜ
YETKİLİ RIZA BURSAL
TEL 0466 485 20 13
UNVAN TEMA VAKFI MİSAFİRHANESİ (This the biggest hotel in Macahel and
not considerd as a guest house)
KÖYÜ CAMİLİ (HERTVİS) KÖYÜ
YETKİLİ NURİ KÖSE
TEL 0466 485 24 04
UNVAN KATAMİZE PANSİYON (Retired teacher is the pension owner and I understand he
privides excellent meals)
KÖYÜ MARAL (MİNDİYET) KÖYÜ
YETKİLİ HAMDİ ÖZDEMİR
TEL 0466 485 22 47-0537 544 42 34
UNVAN ŞABAN İYEM (This pension is in a traditional building positioned the entrance of Maral village the rooms are decorated in the traditional style of Macahel )
KÖYÜ MARAL(MİNDİYET) KÖYÜ
YETKİLİ ŞABAN İYEM
TEL 0537 829 32 52-0538 857 66 83
UNVAN ALTUNKAYA PANSİYON (This pension is run by a well known lady in Efeler)
KÖYÜ EFELER (EPRAT ) KÖYÜ
YETKİLİ NEDİME ALTUN
TEL 0466 485 21 47
UNVAN BUMBULAY PANSİYON (This pension is run by the old village director, bee keeper and local van driver furthermore his wife prepares good quality of meals)
KÖYÜ EFELER (EPRAT) KÖYÜ
YETKİLİ NAZIM KAHYA
TEL 0466 485 21 37 - 0532 652 41 96
UNVAN DEDA ENA PANSİYON (This is the most developed pension within last 3 years
and generally used by Turkish tourists. )
KÖYÜ EFELER (EPRAT) KÖYÜ
YETKİLİ FEHMİ AVCI
TEL 0466 485 20 96-0536 737 37 97
REHBERLER (These two numbers are for local guides: Both are considered professional guides by the community and know most of the places in the area however they don't speak English)
ERSİN DALKIRAN TEL: 0536 840 16 43
OSMAN AVCI TEL: 0537 786 54 96
MACAHEL PANSİYON
CAMİLİ (HERTVİS) KÖYÜ
HASAN YAVUZ
0466 485 20 14-0532 760 22 09
(Hassan is featured in this blog and is well known in Macahel. His Pension is comfortable and clean and run by the whole family who are wonderful people, a good launching place to discover the area - Hassan arranged our papers on our behalf but he is not someone in would wish to do business with again. Hassan is not a man of his word and sees tourist as just fools with money - be warned)
