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Highland plateau (yayla)
Trabzon
Karadeniz
Priority Stop
NatureThe Haldizen (Şerah) Plateaus form a chain of highland pastures in the Çaykara district of Trabzon, beginning just south of the famous Uzungöl lake and climbing along the valley of the Haldizen stream.
Geography & Formation
This landscape is in fact the origin of Uzungöl's own story: a landslide of rocks from the steep slopes once dammed the Haldizen stream, and the water pooling in the valley floor created the lake. The lake and the plateaus are therefore two faces of the same watercourse. Reached by a forest road that passes the characteristic old timber houses of Şerah village, the plateaus open into a corridor of pine forest, riverside meadows, glacial tarns and sheer valley walls. As the valley deepens southward, beyond the Haldizen Canyon lies Demirkapı Plateau, also known locally as Haldizen Plateau, from which the ridges rise to the 3,376-metre Demirkapı summit and, higher still, to the Yedigöller (Seven Lakes) — crater lakes such as Balıklı, Aygır and Sarıçiçek set above 2,700 metres. Because the whole area falls within the Uzungöl Special Environmental Protection Zone, its natural fabric has been kept largely intact.
Nature & Activities
Its tourism value rests on the sea of clouds that fills the valley at dawn, the crystalline stream water and the untouched alpine wildflowers. Agencies favour this route because it lets them add a nature-and-walking 'breathing space' to the busy lakeshore of Uzungöl: on the second day of overnight Uzungöl tours, an early jeep safari covers the Haldizen–Demirkapı line. Visitors can hike, trek, run photo safaris, mountain-bike, birdwatch, take botanical tours or paraglide, while more advanced groups climb on to Yedigöller and camp. In guided itineraries Haldizen usually sits as a half-day module paired with an Uzungöl overnight stay.
Route & Best Time
The strongest photographs are the mist-wrapped meanders of the Haldizen stream, the wooden plateau houses and the snow-streaked ridges of Demirkapı. Key nearby points are Uzungöl, Demirkapı Plateau, Yedigöller and Şerah village. The best window is the plateau season from mid-June to September, with July and August being the busiest months.
Visit & Logistics
Visit & Logistics- Getting thereReached from Trabzon via Of, the Solaklı Valley and the Çaykara-Uzungöl route (~99 km). Beyond Uzungöl, the ~15 km narrow forest/gravel track over Şerah village to the Haldizen-Demirkapı line can only be driven safely with 4x4 or jeep-safari vehicles; a local off-road transfer is recommended instead of a private car.
- ParkingThe Uzungöl lakeside car parks are the main parking area; higher up at Haldizen/Demirkapı there is limited, informal roadside parking around the plateau hotel-restaurant (Yedigöller Hotel).
- Coach accessLarge tour coaches cannot reach the plateau on the narrow, steep forest road; coaches stay at Uzungöl, where visitors transfer to jeep/off-road vehicles.
- AccessibilityLimited. The gravel forest road, steep slopes and unpaved plateau terrain are not suitable for wheelchairs or visitors with limited mobility; the accessible alternative is the Uzungöl lakeshore walking path.
- Photo spotsThe meanders of the Haldizen stream beneath the morning sea of clouds; the timber plateau houses of Şerah village; the exit of the Haldizen Canyon; the snow-streaked ridges and meadow flowers of Demirkapı Plateau; the reflections of the Yedigöller crater lakes.
- Suggested routeTrabzon → Sümela → Uzungöl (overnight) → early Haldizen-Demirkapı jeep safari on day 2 → (advanced groups) Yedigöller
Nearby Places
Tours that include this place
Tours that include this placeNo published tour features this place just yet — but we can build one around you, with no obligation. AI Concierge
No published tour features this place just yet — but we can build one around you, with no obligation. 