7 days • 6 nights • Turkey
A week in Turkey's Black Sea region: two nights on Lake Uzungöl, a night in Ayder among the mountains, Sümela Monastery and the city of Trabzon, with an English-speaking driver.
The Trabzon and Uzungöl 7-Day Tour takes you to the best of Turkey's Black Sea region: Lake Uzungöl among green mountains, the Sultan Murat Plateau above the clouds, the tea plantations of Rize, the waterfalls of Ayder, and Sümela Monastery hanging on a rock cliff. We designed the program for people who love nature and cool air in summer, with comfortable travel by private car and an English-speaking driver from Trabzon Airport until departure.
We spread the nights so you do not spend your day on the road: two nights in Trabzon, then two nights in Uzungöl so you can experience the lake in the morning and evening, then one night in Ayder, and a final night in Trabzon near the airport. Distances in the region are fairly short, but the roads are mountainous, so each day has one main stop with light stops along the way. The program can be adjusted for large families or older travelers, or the Ayder night can be turned into a day trip.
Your driver meets you at Trabzon Airport (TZX), only about 10 minutes from the city center. After check-in and a rest, we go up to Boztepe Hill before sunset to see the city and the Black Sea from the tea gardens. Then an evening stroll around Meydan Square and Uzun Sokak.
We head south through Maçka to the Altındere Valley in about an hour, where Sümela Monastery hangs on a rock cliff among the forests. Reaching it takes a few minutes of walking uphill. After the visit we continue to Hamsiköy village to taste the hazelnut rice pudding it is known for. Then we climb to the Zigana Pass and its green plateaus before returning to Trabzon in the evening.
After breakfast and check-out, we head east along the Black Sea coast and then up the valley toward Uzungöl, about two hours with stops. We stop at Sürmene for its famous knife shops, at a tea shop, and at the waterfalls along the road. After arriving, we walk around the lake, its mosque and the wooden houses, and spend the evening in one of the cafés with a view.
In the morning we go up to the Sultan Murat Plateau, about 35 kilometers from Uzungöl by a mountain road, with its wide pastures, stone houses and mist drifting between the peaks. We come back to visit the panoramic Uzungöl viewpoint above the lake, then the horse farm and the honey and Turkish delight shops. Adventure lovers can try the zip line over the valley.
We leave Uzungöl for Rize, then Fırtına Valley, and on to the Ayder Plateau, a trip of two and a half to three hours with stops. We stop at the tea garden overlooking Rize and at the Ottoman stone bridges in Fırtına Valley, where rafting is possible in season. In Ayder we visit the Gelintülü Waterfall and spend the night in a hotel or wooden cabin in the mountains, where you can also try the hot baths.
After breakfast in the mountains, we return to Trabzon in about three hours, with a short stop in the city of Rize. In the afternoon we visit the Hagia Sophia of Trabzon with its Byzantine frescoes, and Atatürk Pavilion and its gardens, then Lake Sera west of the city for a walk and the Akçaabat köfte. We finish the day shopping at the Kunduracılar bazaar or at one of the malls.
A free morning for last-minute shopping, such as tea, hazelnuts, honey and Sürmene knives. Your driver picks you up at the hotel and takes you to Trabzon Airport with plenty of time before departure. We wish you a safe journey home.
| City | Nights | Suggested |
|---|---|---|
| Trabzon | 3 | 4-star hotel in the city center near Meydan Square, or on the coast in Yomra near the airport (2 nights at the start and 1 night before departure). |
| Uzungöl | 2 | A hotel or wooden bungalow with a view of the lake or the valley, with a family suite option. |
| Ayder | 1 | A hotel or wooden cabin on the plateau. For large families, we suggest staying overnight in Rize or making Ayder a day trip while staying in Trabzon. |
Book this program
Add your arrival date, the number of travelers and the hotel level, and you will receive a written offer with the final price via WhatsApp.
Questions & answers
About 100 kilometers, roughly an hour and a half to two hours by car depending on stops. The road follows the Black Sea coast and then climbs through a green valley to the lake.
We recommend at least two nights. The lake is much calmer in the early morning and evening than in the daytime crowds, and staying overnight lets you visit the Sultan Murat Plateau without rushing.
From May to September, when the plateaus are green and the mountain roads are open. Demand rises sharply in July and August. Winter is beautiful with snow in Uzungöl, but some high roads are closed.
There are seasonal direct flights from some Arab cities, especially in summer. Otherwise, the domestic flight from Istanbul takes about two hours. You can also combine the two destinations in the Istanbul and Trabzon 10-Day 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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Personal service from start to finish
We design a custom program for you, with the number of days, cities and hotels you want — just tell us.
