Eastern Black Sea Tour, 6 Days Starts from Trabzon

Day 1 · Arriving in Trabzon and Check-in to Hotel

1. 1

   Trabzon

   30 min

   Welcome to Trabzon. Upon arrival at Trabzon Airport, you are greeted by our team and transferred to your hotel in the city center. Hotel check-in is available from 14:00. After settling in, the remainder of the day is free to relax or explore at your own pace. You may take a walk around Trabzon’s lively city center (Meydan), where cafés, restaurants, and shops reflect the local atmosphere. This free time allows you to recover from your journey and enjoy your first impressions of the Black Sea region.

3-4 stars hotel / city center

Day 2 · Trabzon City Tour and Sera Lake

1. 1

   Trabzon Botanik Park

   45 min

   Visit Trabzon Botanical Park, the first and only botanical garden in the Black Sea region, known for its diverse plant life, walking paths, and panoramic views. After spending time in the park’s peaceful setting, continue to Trabzon Aquarium to explore its marine life displays and themed tunnels.

2. 2

   Trabzon Akvaryum

   45 min Admission not included

   Discover one of the world’s first tunnel aquariums, designed to connect Zağnos and Tabakhane Valleys. As you walk through the tunnel, enjoy views of Trabzon Castle, Gülbahar Hatun Mosque and Tomb, the historic Zağnos Pasha Bridge, and the Ortahisar (Kaleiçi) district.

3. 3

   Trabzon Sehir Muzesi

   one hour Admission not included

   Visit the Trabzon City Museum, where the city’s history, folklore, and commercial life are presented in chronological order from ancient times to the present. Through its exhibits, gain a clearer understanding of Trabzon’s cultural identity. The tour then continues to the Hagia Sophia Mosque, a remarkable example of Byzantine architecture and one of the city’s most significant historical landmarks.

4. 4

   Trabzon Hagia Sophia Museum

   one hour

   Originally built as a Byzantine church in the 13th century, Hagia Sophia now serves as a mosque and is distinguished by its early Renaissance frescoes. After exploring the interior, historic frescoes, and the surrounding garden with its archaeological remains, continue to Sera Lake Nature Park, where lunch is enjoyed in a peaceful lakeside setting.

5. 5

   Sera Golu

   one hour

   After lunch at a local restaurant by Sera Lake, continue to Boztepe Observation Terrace to enjoy panoramic, bird’s-eye views over Trabzon and the Black Sea coastline.

6. 6

   Boztepe Observation Deck

   45 hours

   At Boztepe Observation Terrace, enjoy time along the 1,200-meter walking path and visit its glass viewing platforms, offering impressive panoramic views and a beautiful sunset over the city.

Open buffet breakfast at hotel

Overnight at 4 stars hotel / Trabzon city center

Day 3 · Uzungol and Haldizen Valley

1. 1

   Stop 1

   30 min

   After breakfast, depart from the hotel for the Uzungöl tour. Along the way, stop at a traditional Sürmene knife workshop, where you can learn about local craftsmanship and browse handmade knives and regional products.

2. 2

   Stop 2

   45 min

   Continue with a visit to a local tea factory along the route, where you learn about the tea production process and the art of brewing quality Black Sea tea. Free time is provided for shopping at the factory outlet.

3. 3

   Caykara

   Passing by

   Continue through the scenic Solaklı Valley toward Uzungöl, passing traditional village houses, tea plantations, and hazelnut groves before arriving at the lakeside town.

4. 4

   Uzungol

   3 hours

   Begin the visit in Uzungöl at the observation terrace for panoramic views, followed by a stop at the artificial waterfalls built to protect the lake from flooding. Enjoy free time to explore the area, join optional activities, or relax at lakeside cafés and restaurants. Depart Uzungöl in the afternoon and return to the hotel, with free time for the evening.

Open buffet breakfast at hotel

Overnight at 4 stars hotel / Trabzon city center

Day 4 · Ayder Plateau and Storm Valley

1. 1

   Firtina Deresi

   1 h 30 min

   After breakfast at the hotel, depart toward Ayder Plateau via the scenic coastal route. Arrive in Fırtına Valley, where free time is given to enjoy the natural surroundings or take part in optional activities such as rafting, ziplining, or swinging. The journey then continues uphill to Ayder Plateau.

2. 2

   Ayder Yaylasi

   3 hours Admission included

   Follow the course of the Fırtına Stream through Fırtına Valley, one of the world’s protected ecological regions, and continue along the Çamlıhemşin road to reach Ayder Plateau. At 1,400 meters above sea level, visit the natural Gelintülü Waterfall, set against the slopes of the Kaçkar Mountains. Free time is provided to walk around the plateau and enjoy tea or coffee with views of the waterfall and surrounding nature.

   In the afternoon, meet at the vehicle and depart Ayder Plateau. After a short break along the way, return to Trabzon and the hotel, with free time for the evening.

Open buffet breakfast at hotel

Overnight at 4 stars hotel / Trabzon city center

Day 5 · Sumela Monastery, Zigana, Hamsiköy and Karaca Cave

1. 1

   Altindere Vadisi National Park

   Passing by

   After breakfast at the hotel, depart for the Sümela Monastery tour. Following a scenic drive of approximately one hour, arrive at Altındere National Park.

2. 2

   Sumela Monastery

   one hour Admission not included

   Continue within the national park by minibus, followed by a short walk through the forest to reach Sümela Monastery. Along the way, pass historic aqueducts and stone stairways before arriving at the visitor area, where a brief break is given to enjoy the surrounding nature and views.

   Explore Sümela Monastery, including its main rock church, chapels, student rooms, library, guesthouse, and sacred spring, all dramatically set into the cliff face.

3. 3

   Zigana

   1 h 30 min

   After the visit to Sümela Monastery, return to the vehicle and continue toward Zigana Pass. A lunch break is taken at a local restaurant along the route.

   Zigana Pass, one of the most important passages of the Silk Road, has been the gateway of Eastern Anatolia and Iran to the West throughout history. The New Zigana Tunnel, which was put into service in April 2023 on the Zigana Pass, which still maintains its importance today, is the longest road tunnel in Europe.

4. 4

   Karaca Cave

   one hour Admission not included

   Pass through the 14.5 km-long New Zigana Tunnel to reach Karaca Cave. Visit this impressive cave, often described as a natural gallery with its stalactites, stalagmites, and travertine formations. After the visit, continue the journey toward the next destination.

5. 5

   Hamsikoy

   one hour

   Travel along the scenic Hamsiköy Road, also known as the historic Old Zigana Road, offering impressive mountain views. Arrive in Hamsiköy, where there is time to taste the village’s famous rice pudding.

   At the end of the day, our Sumela Monastery, Hamsiköy and Karaca Cave Tour ends in Trabzon. We arrive at your hotel at the end of a happy day and give free time until tomorrow's departure.

Open buffet breakfast at hotel

Overnight at 4 stars hotel / Trabzon city center

Day 6 · Hıdırnebi Plateau and Çal Cave

1. 1

   Cal MagarasI

   one hour Admission not included

   After breakfast and check-out from the hotel, begin the final day of the tour with a drive to Çal Cave, often regarded as one of the longest caves in the world. Located at an altitude of 1,050 meters in Çal Village, the cave is reached after an approximately one-hour journey. After exploring the cave, enjoy a short break at the nearby cafés before continuing toward Hıdırnebi Plateau.

2. 2

   Hidirnebi Yaylasi

   3 hours

   After an approximately one-hour drive, arrive at Hıdırnebi Plateau, located at 1,600 meters above sea level and known for its fresh air and wide mountain views. This highland area offers a glimpse into traditional plateau life, with walking paths, local restaurants, small shops, and open spaces ideal for relaxing and photography. Free time is provided to explore the plateau and enjoy its natural surroundings.

   In the afternoon, meet at the vehicle and depart from Hıdırnebi Plateau. The tour concludes with a transfer to the airport or your hotel, marking the end of the journey.

Open buffet breakfast at hotel