Hamsiköy (Rice Pudding Village)

Hamsiköy is a lush green mountain village in the Maçka district of Trabzon, set at roughly 1,200 metres on the northern slope of Zigana Mountain.

History & Significance

Its roots run deep: Byzantine sources call it Palaiomatzouka, meaning Upper Maçka, and its former name Ciharlı was officially changed to Hamsiköy in 1959. For centuries the village was a key staging post and rest stop on the northern branch of the Silk Road. Camel caravans hauling goods from the port of Trabzon toward Persia and the Caucasus made their final rest here before tackling the steep Zigana Pass, while travellers coming the other way paused in the village after clearing the arduous crossing. This centuries-old tradition of hospitality is exactly what tied the village name to the baked rice pudding, or sütlaç, that is now famous across Turkey.

Nature & Gastronomy

With its cool, humid climate, mist-shrouded spruce forests, fast-running stream and timber Black Sea houses, Hamsiköy is a natural refuge for those escaping the summer heat. The village's tourist appeal rests largely on gastronomy: the celebrated Hamsiköy rice pudding, made from butter, milk and rice and browned in the oven, is the unmissable dessert-and-tea break of nearly every day tour.

Visiting & Access

The main reason agencies favour the village is its location: sitting directly on the return route from Sümela Monastery and the Altındere Valley, it lets guides add a warm stop without any detour. The average visit lasts 45 to 60 minutes and is usually slotted in as an afternoon break after leaving Sümela. It lies about 50 kilometres from central Trabzon and 19 kilometres from Maçka, reached easily on the old Zigana road; although the new Zigana Tunnel opened in 2023 moved through-traffic underground, the village remains accessible year-round via the old route. The roadside bakery-restaurants offer wide coach parking, and because the ground is level, wheelchair access is moderately easy.

Recommended Route

The best time to visit is the green season from May to October; winter offers a striking snow landscape but road conditions can vary, and the peak season is July and August plus the national holidays. A recommended itinerary runs a Trabzon city tour, then Sümela and Altındere, with the Hamsiköy pudding break on the way back; nearby, the Zigana Pass viewpoint, central Maçka and Vazelon Monastery are also worth seeing.