Classic Eastern Black Sea Tour — 6 Days

Arrival in Trabzon and check-in. The day covers Sumela Monastery and Altındere Valley National Park. Sumela Monastery is a Byzantine cliff monastery carved into the sheer face of Karadağ (Black Mountain) at roughly 1,200 metres elevation, overlooking the Altındere Valley in the…

1. 08:00 - 10:30 Sumela Monastery· 150 dk

   Tour coaches can reach the Altındere National Park car park; the steep, narrow upper section cannot be reached by coach and requires the shuttle minibus. Parking: A large car park and reception facilities are available at the Altındere National Park entrance; vehicles are left there, with onward access by shuttle.

   The panoramic viewing terrace on the valley's opposite slope; the final bend of the trail approaching the monastery; the fresco walls of the Rock Church; the Altındere Valley view veiled in morning mist.

   Wheelchair access within the monastery is limited due to the rocky, stepped path; wheelchair users can still enjoy the valley floor and the viewing points.

2. 12:45 - 13:45 Lunch — local flavour stop· 60 dk

   Lunch break of regional cuisine.

3. 11:00 - 14:00 Altındere Valley National Park· 180 dk

   Tour coaches can reach the car park on the valley floor without difficulty; the final leg is completed only by shuttle service and on foot. Parking: Paid parking on the valley floor (approximately 50-70 TRY/day); also suitable for tour coaches and campervans.

   The valley viewpoint on the opposite slope where the monastery appears in panorama; the bridge and waterfall on the valley floor; the entrance terrace and fresco gallery of the rock church; the streamside area around the trout facilities.

   Limited — the car park, valley floor and trout facilities are level and accessible, but the final 20-30 minute steep path to the monastery is not suitable for disabled or mobility-restricted visitors.

Route Trabzon, Maçka

The day covers Hıdırnebi Plateau, Hamsiköy (Rice Pudding Village) and Zigana Pass & Tunnel. Hıdırnebi Plateau, in the Akçaabat district of Trabzon and set on an extension of the Metinkale Valley at roughly 1,600 metres, is one of the best known and most easily reached…

1. 08:00 - 10:00 Hıdırnebi Plateau· 120 dk

   The sealed road suits tour coaches; standard day-trip tour buses can reach the plateau. Parking: A parking area is available around the plateau facilities and festival grounds; capacity can fill on busy festival days.

   The viewing terrace (panoramic view of Akçaabat), the festival lawn / Argalos flat, forest edges where dawn mist fills the valleys, and paths through the pine-spruce forest.

   Partly possible around the viewing terrace; the grassy, sloping ground limits wheelchair use, so a companion is advisable.

2. 10:30 - 11:30 Hamsiköy (Rice Pudding Village)· 60 dk

   Suitable for tour coaches; flat parking areas in front of the businesses allow easy manoeuvring for large vehicles. Parking: Wide, free parking for cars and tour coaches in front of the roadside bakeries and restaurants.

   The panorama of the village and spruce forests framed from in front of the roadside bakery-restaurants; timber Black Sea houses by the stream; the misty-morning viewpoint overlooking the Zigana slopes; a macro shot of a freshly baked plate of sütlaç.

   Wheelchair access is moderately easy since the ground is largely flat; most restaurants have road-level entrances, though some paths within the village are uneven.

3. 12:45 - 13:45 Lunch — local flavour stop· 60 dk

   Lunch break of regional cuisine.

4. 12:00 - 12:45 Zigana Pass & Tunnel· 45 dk

   Tour coaches can park on the wide shoulders of the old pass road and the summit clearings; the narrow, steep bends require experienced drivers for large vehicles. The tunnel route is trouble-free for standard coaches. Parking: Free open-air parking on the wide shoulders of the old pass road, the flat areas around the summit, and near the ski facility.

   Summit viewing terraces (green Black Sea-facing slopes and southern Gümüşhane plateaus in one frame), the hairpin bends of the old pass road, the sea of clouds filling the valleys on summer mornings, and snowy forest views in winter.

   The panorama can be comfortably enjoyed from the vehicle or from level overlooks; sloping nature trails and snowy ground are not suitable for wheelchairs.

5. 13:15 - 14:45 Free time — city centre· 90 dk

   Rest and free exploration (~1.5 hours).

Route Trabzon, Akçaabat, Maçka

The day covers Kadırga Plateau, Çal Cave and Sera Lake. Kadırga Plateau is a high summer highland at roughly 2,000 metres of altitude in the interior ranges of the Eastern Black Sea, on the eastern flank of the Zigana Pass where the…

1. 08:00 - 10:00 Kadırga Plateau· 120 dk

   Tour coaches can reach the plateau flat in summer season; however, since the final climb is narrow, early morning hours and an experienced driver are recommended for large vehicles. Parking: Ample meadow and festival-ground parking on the plateau flat; early arrival is required on the busy festival day.

   The open-air mosque's two minarets and stone perimeter wall framed against the meadow panorama; horon dancing and kemençe moments at the festival ground; the sea of clouds filling the valleys in the early morning; the ridge line overlooking the Kesikbaş and Çevirme Boğazı hills.

   Limited. Partial access is possible on the level grass around the mosque, but the ground is natural, uneven and site infrastructure is minimal.

2. 10:30 - 11:30 Çal Cave· 60 dk

   Tour coaches can reach the parking area near the cave entrance; the final approach may be narrow. Parking: Parking is available at the cave site for both cars and tour coaches.

   The Sakızcılar Asmaaltı waterfall at the entrance; the illuminated inner lake and underground stream; the large stalactite-and-stalagmite chamber; flowstone formations along the wooden platform.

   Limited; wheelchair access is difficult due to the stepped, sloping wooden platform structure.

3. 12:45 - 13:45 Lunch — local flavour stop· 60 dk

   Lunch break of regional cuisine.

4. 12:00 - 13:30 Sera Lake· 90 dk

   A car park where tour coaches can enter and manoeuvre is available; vehicles pass through the entrance checkpoint and park close to the lakeshore. Parking: Free/organised large car park at the park entrance; may fill up on busy weekends, so arriving early is recommended.

   Forest reflection from the lake's eastern shore in the early morning; a lakeside perspective from the wooden bridges; a wide-angle view of the water and forest from the viewing platform on the western shore.

5. 14:00 - 15:30 Free time — city centre· 90 dk

   Rest and free exploration (~1.5 hours).

Route Trabzon, Tonya, Düzköy, Akçaabat

Transfer from Trabzon to Rize. The day covers Ayder Plateau & Thermal Springs and Sal Plateau. Ayder Plateau, in the Çamlıhemşin district of Rize province and set at roughly 1,350 metres inside the Kaçkar Mountains National Park, is the emblematic stop of Eastern Black Sea…

1. 08:00 - 09:15 Transfer from Trabzon to Rize· 75 dk

   Inter-city transfer in an air-conditioned vehicle; short rest stop en route.

2. 09:15 - 11:45 Ayder Plateau & Thermal Springs· 150 dk

   Tour coaches can climb as far as the plateau's entrance car park; the narrow inner roads mean the core area is reached on foot or by shuttle. Parking: Vehicle traffic is regulated at the plateau entrance; car parks have been pulled back to the entrance area, with pedestrian and shuttle access prioritised for the inner sections.

   The entrance Dutdibi (Ayder) Waterfall, the viewing slope above the thermal facility, the Pokut-Gito ridge for the morning sea of clouds, and the spruce-forested slopes ringing the plateau.

   Limited due to the steep terrain; the thermal facility and entrance surroundings are relatively accessible, while the inner pedestrian paths are steep and difficult.

3. 12:15 - 13:15 Lunch — local flavour stop· 60 dk

   Lunch break of regional cuisine (outside half-board).

   Local spread and presentation shots.

4. 13:15 - 14:45 Sal Plateau· 90 dk

   Large tour coaches cannot reach the plateau due to the narrow, steep road; group transfers are made from Çamlıhemşin or Ardeşen with small vehicles. Parking: Limited packed-earth/meadow areas around the guesthouses; there is no organised paved parking.

   Open areas where the serender storehouses line the meadow ridge, slope thresholds looking out over the sea of clouds, the view toward Pokut from the spruce-forest path, and peak silhouettes at sunrise or sunset.

   Limited. The natural trail surface, muddy meadows and steep terrain make wheelchair access largely impractical.

Route Rize, Çamlıhemşin

The day covers Hemşin Pokut-Sal Walking Route and Pokut Plateau. The Pokut-Sal walking route is the classic day-hike of the Eastern Black Sea, running along the ridge between the Fırtına and Hala valleys in the Çamlıhemşin district of Rize, at…

1. 08:00 - 11:30 Hemşin Pokut-Sal Walking Route· 210 dk

   Standard tour coaches cannot reach the plateau due to the narrow road and unpaved surface; groups transfer to a jeep or minibus in Çamlıhemşin or Şenyuva. Parking: There is no formal or paved car park on the plateau; vehicles are left on flat open ground beside the seranders or in front of guesthouses.

   The ridgeline and sunset terrace of Sal Plateau; the valley-facing terrace of Pokut; serander silhouettes floating in the morning and evening sea of clouds; the open ridge sections of the Pokut-Sal path.

   Limited. Not suitable for wheelchairs due to the steep, path-based terrain and earthen surfaces; not recommended for visitors with reduced mobility.

2. 12:45 - 13:45 Lunch — local flavour stop· 60 dk

   Lunch break of regional cuisine.

3. 12:00 - 14:30 Pokut Plateau· 150 dk

   Large tour buses cannot reach the plateau; they come at most as far as Çamlıhemşin or Şenyuva, where passengers transfer to 4x4/jeep services. Parking: An informal car park with limited capacity at the plateau entrance; finding space can be difficult in peak season.

   The ridge line where the lodges face the cloud sea at sunrise; the panoramic saddles of the Sal-Pokut walking trail; the mist-wrapped facades of the wooden highland houses.

   Very poor; the rugged terrain, high altitude, unpaved roads and stepped timber buildings make it unsuitable for wheelchair access.

Route Rize, Çamlıhemşin

The day covers Fırtına (Storm) Valley, Çamlıhemşin Stone Arch Bridges and Zil Castle. The Fırtına Valley is a deep, emerald gorge carved over millions of years by the roughly 68-kilometre Fırtına River, which rises on the northern slopes of the Kaçkar Mountains and… Transfer at the end of the tour.

1. 08:00 - 11:30 Fırtına (Storm) Valley· 210 dk

   Tourism coaches can reach central Çamlıhemşin and the area around Şenyuva; because the inner valley road is narrow and winding, transferring to minibuses/shuttle is recommended for large coaches. Parking: Car parks in central Çamlıhemşin, around the Şenyuva bridge and at the Zil Castle entrance; space is limited within the valley, so early arrival is advised in peak season.

   The Şenyuva (Çinçiva) stone arch bridge from above and from a low angle, the panorama over the valley from Zil Castle, the riverside rafting put-in point, misty morning forest bands and the Ottoman bridges along the valley.

   Limited; although the bridge surroundings and some viewpoints can be reached by vehicle, the valley floor, trails and rafting areas are uneven and unsuitable for wheelchairs.

2. 12:00 - 12:30 Çamlıhemşin Stone Arch Bridges· 30 dk

   Full-size tour coaches struggle on the valley's narrow, winding road; operators usually use a midibus or minibus instead. Parking: Limited at the bridge heads; narrow roadside pockets are used and can fill up in peak season, so an early morning arrival is recommended.

   The downstream riverbed at the bridge, the hillside path that frames the arch from across the water, and the upper viewing shelf; the best light is the soft glow that fills the valley in early morning and late afternoon.

   Low; the paths down to the bridges are stony and sloped, unsuitable for wheelchairs. The view can be partly enjoyed from the roadside.

3. 13:00 - 14:00 Lunch — local flavour stop· 60 dk

   Lunch break of regional cuisine (outside half-board).

   Local spread and presentation shots.

4. 14:00 - 15:00 Zil Castle· 60 dk

   Because the road is narrow with sharp bends, large tour coaches cannot reach the castle; agencies in the region generally use a midibus/minibus or partly transfer by private vehicle. Large coaches are left around Çamlıhemşin centre and passengers transfer. Parking: A small car park exists at the foot of the castle; from there it is a 10-15 minute uphill walk to the castle. Early hours are recommended since the area fills quickly in peak season.

   The most iconic shot is from the roadside viewpoint on the opposite slope of the valley before climbing to the castle, capturing its full mist- and forest-wrapped facade. From the head tower inside the keep, the panorama over the Fırtına Valley and moments wrapped in low morning/evening mist give the most dramatic light; autumn colour transitions are ideal.

   Limited. The climb from the car park to the castle is a sloping, stony path with steps, making access difficult for wheelchair users and visitors with reduced mobility; the interior of the keep is also partly uneven.

5. 15:30 - 17:00 Free time — city centre· 90 dk

   Rest and free exploration (~1.5 hours).

Route Rize, Çamlıhemşin