10 days • 9 nights • Turkey
Ten days between the Black Sea coast and its plateaus: Trabzon, Uzungöl, Sultan Murat, Ayder and Rize, Sümela Monastery and Karaca Cave, at a relaxed pace.
The 10-Day Black Sea Tour is the complete trip for nature lovers: three main areas of Turkey's Black Sea region, Trabzon, Uzungöl and Ayder in Rize, with high plateaus, caves, lakes and tea plantations. The length lets you visit all the well-known stops without spending your days on the road, with two days for shopping and rest in Trabzon.
The tour starts and ends at Trabzon Airport, which you can reach on a seasonal direct flight or via Istanbul. You spend 3 nights in Trabzon, then 2 nights on Lake Uzungöl, 1 night in Ayder in the Kaçkar Mountains, and the last 3 nights in Trabzon. All tours are by private car with an English-speaking driver who knows the mountain roads well, and day 9 can become a trip to Batumi in Georgia for travelers whose nationality allows it. If you have less time, see the 7-day Trabzon and Uzungöl tour, a shorter version of this trip.
We meet you at Trabzon Airport (TZX), close to the city center, and take you to your hotel to rest. Before sunset we go up Boztepe Hill for views of the city and the Black Sea, with a cup of tea. We hand you your SIM card and go over the program with you.
We start with Hagia Sophia of Trabzon, the Byzantine church that became a mosque and still keeps its frescoes. Next come the Atatürk Mansion and its garden in the Soğuksu district, then Lake Sera west of the city for a walk around the lake. We have lunch in Akçaabat, famous for its köfte, and return in the evening to Meydan Square and Uzun Sokak Street.
We set off for Maçka and the Altındere Valley, about an hour away, to visit Sümela Monastery, carved into a cliff above the forests; reaching it takes a few minutes of uphill walking. Then we head up to the village of Hamsiköy to taste rice pudding with hazelnuts in its cafes overlooking the valley. We return to Trabzon in the afternoon with time to rest or shop.
We head east along the coast, then uphill to Uzungöl, about two hours with stops. We stop in Sürmene for its knife shops, at a tea house, and at the waterfalls in the Çaykara Valley. After check-in we stroll around the lake and its mosque, and visit a horse farm and the honey and Turkish delight shops.
We drive up to Sultan Murat Plateau, about 35 kilometers away on a mountain road, with its green pastures, stone houses and clouds drifting between the peaks. We return to visit the panoramic Uzungöl viewpoint above the lake, with the option of trying the zipline. The evening is free on the lakeshore.
We leave Uzungöl for Rize and stop at the tea garden overlooking the city, among the tea plantations on the slopes. Then we enter the Fırtına Valley and climb to Ayder Plateau; the whole drive takes about two and a half to three hours. We visit the Gelin Tülü waterfall, and you can try the hot springs before the overnight stay in a hotel or wooden cabin.
After breakfast you can take a local 4x4 up to Hoser Plateau above Ayder (optional). Then we visit Zil Castle on a rock above the Fırtına Valley and stop at the Ottoman stone bridges, with the option of rafting or ziplining in season. In the afternoon we return to Trabzon, about three hours.
A morning at Hıdırnebi Plateau, one of the highlands near Trabzon that visitors love, with its meadows and mountain views, and the option of a barbecue or a village breakfast. In the afternoon we return to the city to shop at Forum Trabzon or the Kunduracılar Bazaar, where you will find tea, hazelnuts, honey and textiles. The evening is free to rest.
We head south on the Gümüşhane road through Zigana Pass and its plateaus, then stop at the Torul Glass Terrace above the valley. We continue to Karaca Cave with its colorful stalagmites and stalactites, and return to Trabzon in the evening. Alternatively, this day can become a trip to Batumi in Georgia (about three hours each way via the Sarp border crossing), depending on your nationality, or a free day.
A free morning for last-minute shopping, depending on your flight time. The driver picks you up at the hotel and takes you to Trabzon Airport with plenty of time before takeoff. We wish you a safe journey home.
| City | Nights | Suggested |
|---|---|---|
| Trabzon | 6 | 4-star hotel in the city center or on the coast in Yomra (3 nights at the start and 3 after returning from Ayder), or an aparthotel for families. |
| Uzungöl | 2 | Hotel or wooden bungalow with a view of the lake or the valley. |
| Ayder | 1 | Hotel or wooden cabin on the plateau; for large families we suggest an alternative in Çamlıhemşin or Rize. |
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Questions & answers
The name for the Black Sea region in northeast Turkey. Its main stops are Trabzon, Uzungöl, Rize and Ayder Plateau, plus high plateaus such as Sultan Murat and Hıdırnebi.
About 150 to 160 kilometers, roughly two and a half to three hours by car via the city of Rize. That is why we included a full night in Ayder instead of going there and back in one day.
Yes. Batumi is about three hours by car via the Sarp border crossing, and day 9 can become a trip there, depending on your nationality and Georgia's entry requirements. For a longer visit, see the 7-day Georgia tour.
Yes. The longest driving day is about three hours, and sightseeing needs little effort, except Sümela Monastery, which involves a short uphill walk. Any day can be swapped for a rest day.
Winter is beautiful, with snow in Uzungöl, but some roads and high plateaus may close, so we suggest a modified version then. If snow is what you want, also see the Istanbul and Uludağ winter tour.
From the OYA guide
A balanced 10-day family itinerary in Turkey that combines city, nature and snow or lakes, with ideas for children's activities and practical tips on accommodation and getting around with little ones.
Instead of generic numbers that don't fit your trip, we explain the components of travel costs in Turkey and what raises and lowers them, with a simple way to calculate a one-week budget and practical saving tips.
Turkey has varied climates, so what suits Istanbul may not suit Antalya or Uzungöl in the same month. A month-by-month guide helps you choose the timing and the destination together.
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