The Black Sea Tour in 5 Days: Trabzon, Sumela, Uzungöl, the Tea Hills and Ayder

Overview

The eastern Black Sea is the green corner of Turkey. Here, mountains rise straight from the sea into cloud forests, tea grows on every slope and families still take their cows up to the summer pastures. Our Black Sea tour gives you five days for its monastery, its lakes, its tea hills and the high meadows under the Kaçkar peaks.

Trabzon and Sumela on the Black Sea Tour

We begin in Trabzon, a port of the old Silk Road. Here, the old church of Hagia Sophia, now a mosque again, keeps frescoes from the mid-13th century. At sunset, we drink tea on Boztepe hill above the city. On the second day, we drive into the forest of the Altındere valley to the Sumela Monastery, which hangs on a cliff at about 1,150 meters (3,770 feet). Parts of it may be closed, so ask us to confirm which parts are open before the day.

Uzungöl and the Tea Hills

Then, on the third day, we drive to Uzungöl, a long lake among pine-covered mountains, for trout and muhlama, melted cheese with cornmeal. The fourth day takes us east to Rize, the heart of Turkey’s tea country. On every slope, tea bushes grow in neat green rows, and from May, families harvest the fresh leaves.

The Fırtına Valley and Ayder

Next, we drive up the Fırtına valley, crossing old stone bridges with single high arches. Above the river, the castle of Zilkale stands on its rock in the forest. In the evening, we reach Ayder, a village of wooden houses on a green meadow at about 1,350 meters (4,430 feet).

The Last Day of the Black Sea Tour

On the last morning, you walk on the meadows of Ayder, with the peaks of the Kaçkar Mountains above you. Finally, you rest in the hot springs, before your flight home from the Rize–Artvin or Trabzon airport.

From our team

• TeaMost of Turkey’s tea grows here, on the slopes around Rize.
• HamsiIn winter, the Black Sea anchovy, hamsi, is fried, baked with rice or even made into bread.
• HoronIf you hear a kemençe fiddle, watch for the horon, the fast line dance of the coast.
• YaylaIn summer, highland villages hold festivals with music, dancing and food.

Our suggestion On the high meadows of Ayder, bring a light rain jacket, even in August, for the morning walk.

Shape Your Black Sea Tour

Every journey is private, so we add a hiking day in the Kaçkars or a night in a yayla. For a single day, see our Sumela Monastery tour. For a shorter trip, see our Trabzon Rize tour in 3 days.

Route

1. Trabzon
2. Sumela
3. Uzungöl
4. Rize
5. Fırtına valley
6. Ayder

Day by day

1. Day 1 · Trabzon

   Trabzon

   Arrival, the frescoes of Trabzon's Hagia Sophia, the Atatürk Pavilion and tea on Boztepe hill at sunset.

   • Places: Boztepe, Trabzon
   • Stay: Trabzon

2. Day 2 · Trabzon

   Sumela Monastery

   The Altındere valley and the monastery on its cliff, as its visiting status allows, with rice pudding in Hamsiköy on the way back.

   • Places: Sumela Monastery
   • Stay: Trabzon

3. Day 3 · Trabzon

   Uzungöl

   The long lake among the pines, trout and muhlama for lunch, and a high pasture village in summer.

   • Places: Uzungöl
   • Stay: Uzungöl

4. Day 4 · Black Sea

   Tea hills and the Fırtına valley

   The tea gardens of Rize, the old stone bridges of the Fırtına valley and the castle of Zilkale on its rock.

   • Places: Zilkale
   • Stay: Ayder

5. Day 5 · Black Sea

   Ayder and home

   A morning walk on the high meadows of Ayder, the hot springs and the flight home from Rize–Artvin or Trabzon.

   • Places: Kaçkar Mountains, Ayder

What’s included

Practical

Best time to go

June to September, when the high pastures are green and the highland roads are open. In the other months, we keep to the coast and its towns.

Fitness level

Moderate: forest paths, steps to Sumela and walks on the meadows of Ayder.

Accessibility

Tell us your needs. Many viewpoints can be reached by car.

Gallery

Frequently asked questions