The first stop of our tour is Sürmene Knife sales store where the world famous Sürmene knives are sold. After a break, we visit a production and sales store of Rize cloths, the second stop of the tour. After seeing how these cloths are produced, we head towards the Ayder highland. On the way there is a stop at a rafting centre for approximately one hour. (Rafting tour is optional and with extra charge.) Following this we continue our tour with a visit to some waterfalls located in Ayder and free time is given here for lunch and sightseeing. On the return journey, there is a a break at an old Ottoman stone bridge before arriving back at Trabzon.
Our first stop is Çal Cave, known as the second longest cave in the world and a popular attraction in the Trabzon area. After our visit to Çal Cave we move on to the Hidirnebi Plateau, which is 1600m above sea level and a beautiful green vista. After enjoying the clean air of Hidirnebi Plateau we have our lunch at a nearby restaurant followed by some free time to explore the area before beginning our journey back to Trabzon.
The tour begins with a visit to Tirebolu Castle followed by a short break so that we can taste the delicacies of dried fruit roll-up and 'churchkela' unique to the Black Sea region and enjoy a glass of local tea. Next, we will discover the centre of Giresun city, visiting Topal Osman Aga Monument Tomb and Giresun Castle where we will be able to enjoy a panoramic view of Giresun and Giresun Island.
We then continue to Kuzalan Waterfall and Mavi Göl (Blue Lake) before arriving at Kumbet Plateau where we can enjoy the unique natural beauty of the Black Sea region. After having lunch in the plateau area, we take a break for photographs in the Aymac locality and Kümbet village where there are several flat pastures covered with beautiful wild species of flowers and herbs.
After visiting Cifteoluk Women's Market on our way back and tasting rice pudding with gum mastic which is unique to this region, we visit Gorele Kemancha Museum (an exhibit of an ancient musical instrument) and complete our tour by returning back to Trabzon.
A fantastic journey through the eastern Black Sea region of Turkey, visiting the 4th Century Sumela Monastery and Altindere National Park, Borcka Karagol, ancient Georgian Churches and Erzurum Castle. We will also visit kiwi and tea plantations in this very agricultural region and pass by countless villages in the Pontic Mountains, staying in wooden bungalows high in the mountains in Uzungol.
Day 1: Trabzon (dinner included).
Arriving at Trabzon International Airport, transfer to hotel, dinner and brief information about the trip, and overnight.
Day 2: Trabzon, Sumela Monastery, Zigana, and Karaca Cave (breakfast and dinner included).
Depart for Sumela Monastery, visit the 4th century Sumela Monastery which clings to a sheer cliff face in a deep forest, and relax beside a fast-flowing stream at Altindere Valley National Park followed by a lunch stop. Travelling along the old Silk Road through the Zigana Mountains will then take us to Karaca Cave, considered the most beautiful in Turkey for its colours and formations. We then return to Trabzon and have dinner in the hotel & overnight.
Day 3: Trabzon, Uzungol (breakfast and dinner included).
Depart for a tour of Trabzon visiting St. Sophia (Ayasofya), a 13'th century church and see an extraordinary collection of Byzantine frescoes, Gulbahar Hatun Mosque and Atatürk's Mansion. We then drive to Boztepe for a panoramic view of the city before moving on to Uzungöl, one of the most photogenic locations in the region. A lunch stop is given at a fish restaurant. Continue sight-seeing before checking into the hotel at Uzungol. Dinner and overnight.
Day 4: Rize, Firtina Valley, Ayder (breakfast and dinner included).
Depart for Ayder, visit a botanical garden and have a panoramic view of Rize before driving to Camlihemsin through the beautiful Firtina Valley, passing spectacular scenery with many waterfalls, stone bridges and lush green forests on the foothills of the magnificent Kackar Mountains. Lunch stop in Ayder and sightseeing before checking in the hotel in Ayder. Dinner and overnight.
Day 5: Ayder, Borcka-Karagol, Artvin (breakfast and dinner included).
Drive to Artvin and visit Borcka Karagol and the ancient Georgian Churches Dolishane and Yeni Rabat (Shetberdi) Church in Ardanuc. We’ll drive beside the River Coruh, the fastest flowing and best rafting river of Turkey. Dinner and overnight in Artvin.
Day 6 - Yusufeli, Erzurum (breakfast and dinner included).
Driving through the River Coruh Valley will take us to other Georgian Churches, Ishan, Oshk-Vank and we also visit the Tortum Waterfalls on the way and stop for a lunch break before continuing to Erzurum. Dinner and overnight in Erzurum.
Day 7: Erzurum (breakfast included).
In the morning we visit Selchuk and Mongolian monuments in Erzurum, these include the Cifte Minareli Medrese, a theological school named after its’ towering twin minarets and Yakutiye Medrese, built by the Mongolian Prince Olcayto in 1308 and topped with a richly tiled minaret. We also see Ulu Mosque and Erzurum Castle before the transfer to Erzurum Airport and the client’s onward flight. The tour ends at Erzurum Airport.
A short but truly mesmerising trip though the Eastern Black Sea region of Turkey. Over the course of 4 days you will drive through the Pontic Mountains, stay in wooden bungalows in Uzungol and visit many local places of interest, including kiwi and tea plantations.
Day 1 - Sumela Monastery, Zigana, Karaca cave:
After arriving at Trabzon Int'l Airport, we begin our trip by visiting the 4th century Sumela Monastery and Altindere National Park. Later on we drive to Zigana and the Pontic Mountains enjoying spectacular views of villages on the way. We arrive at Gümüshane to visit Karaca Cave, considered the most beautiful in Turkey for its colours and formations before driving to our hotel located in the centre of Trabzon. Overnight in Trabzon.
Day 2 - Trabzon City Tour, Uzungol (Breakfast included):
Today we will explore the highlights of Trabzon city; study the extraordinary collection of Byzantine frescoes in the 13th century church of St. Sophia, visit Ataturk's Mansion on Soguksu, the Girls' Monastery on Boztepe Hill and Sera Lake on the way to Akçaabat. A lunchstop is given at a seaside restaurant serving famous Akcaabat meatballs. In the afternoon we drive to Uzungöl (Long Lake) and hike around the lake and village before checking in to our wooden hotel. Overnight in Uzungol.
Day 3 - Rize, Camlihemsin, Zilkale, Ayder (Breakfast included)
Today we leave Uzungöl making a short break at Rize for a panoramic view of the city from the Botany Garden. We then visit a kiwi and tea plantation for a short tour before driving to Firtina (Storm) Valley and the Ayder Plateau. Here there is some gentle trekking to Goksu Fall which is the highest and most beautiful in the region before arriving in Ayder late afternoon and check-in to our wooden hotel. Overnight in Ayder.
Day 4 - Ayder, Trabzon (Breakfast included)
Today we have time to explore the beautiful Alpine Ayder Plateau until noon seeing traditionally dressed village ladies, a thermal spring, waterfalls dropping down from hundreds of metres and plateau houses. In the afternoon we drive to the Turkish - Georgian border at Sarpi Gate, then along the Black Sea coast on our way back to Trabzon Airport and the end of the tour.