4 days · Black Sea
Highlands of the eastern Black Sea
A green route from Trabzon to Sumela and Uzungöl, to Ayder and Zil Castle in Rize and Karagöl in Artvin.
- Day 1
Trabzon and Sumela
- 09.00–09.45 · Ortahisar, TrabzonHagia Sophia of TrabzonA building from the Empire of Trebizond, famous for its frescoes.
🚗 48,3 km · 44 min
10.29–11.14 · Maçka, TrabzonSumela MonasteryA Byzantine monastery built into a sheer cliff in the Altındere Valley.
🍽️ What to eat: Anchovies, Akçaabat köfte, Hamsiköy rice pudding
📍 Where to eat:- Anchovies: Fresh anchovies in winter.
- Hamsiköy rice pudding: Baked rice pudding with hazelnuts.
🛏️ Where to stay: Trabzon centre or Maçka: city hotels
- Day 2
Uzungöl
🚗 139,2 km · 121 min
11.01–13.01 · Çaykara, TrabzonUzungölA lake among mountains, ringed by wooden houses and a mosque.
🍽️ What to eat: Anchovies, Akçaabat köfte, Hamsiköy rice pudding
🛏️ Where to stay: Uzungöl: lakeside wooden hotels and bungalows
- Day 3
Ayder and the Fırtına Valley
🚗 147,8 km · 125 min
11.05–13.05 · Çamlıhemşin, RizeZil CastleA medieval castle on a rock in the middle of the forest in the Fırtına Valley.🚗 34,9 km · 48 min
13.53–15.53 · Çamlıhemşin, RizeAyder PlateauWooden houses, waterfalls and a hot spring at the foot of the Kaçkars.
🍽️ What to eat: Muhlama
📍 Where to eat:- Muhlama: At the highland restaurants.
🛏️ Where to stay: Ayder or Çamlıhemşin: wooden guesthouses
- Day 4
Artvin
🚗 136,6 km · 128 min
11.08–13.08 · Borçka, ArtvinBorçka KaragölA mountain lake ringed by spruce and beech forest.
🍽️ What to eat: Laz böreği