TRABZON · BLACK SEA
Trabzon & Black Sea Highlands Tour – 5 Days
From $899 per person
- Duration: 5 days / 4 nights
- Stay: Trabzon 2N + Ayder 1N + Uzungöl 1N · 4★
- Meals: Daily breakfast + 2 dinners
- Group: Private vehicles, 1–12 guests
- Guide: Guide: English, Arabic
- Cancellation: Free cancellation up to 7 days
Tour Overview
5-Day Trabzon Black Sea Tour: Sümela Monastery, Ayder Highland & Uzungöl Lake
This 5-day Trabzon Black Sea tour (4 nights) starts with a pick-up at Trabzon Airport (TZX) or your Trabzon hotel and moves steadily inland: two nights in Trabzon, one in Ayder Highland and one at Uzungöl. Flights are not included, so you book your own arrival and departure to Trabzon.
Along the way you see Trabzon’s Hagia Sophia and Atatürk Mansion, Sümela Monastery in the Altındere valley, the Zigana Pass and Karaca Cave, the Ottoman stone bridges of the Fırtına Valley, Ayder Highland and Uzungöl Lake. What sets the route apart is a private 4x4 climb to the Lustra and Karester plateaus, which look down on the lake from above the clouds.
It suits couples, families and small groups who want mountain scenery without driving themselves. Rooms are in 4★ hotels and boutique highland lodges (or similar); the price covers daily breakfast, dinners on Days 3 and 4, transfers, a licensed English-speaking guide and the listed entrance fees. Extra nights are available on request. Compare it with our 7-day Trabzon & Uzungöl tour with flights, or browse all Black Sea tour packages.
Highlights
- Sümela Monastery in Altındere Valley
- Trabzon Hagia Sophia and Atatürk Mansion
- Rice pudding stop in Hamsiköy
- Ottoman stone bridges of Fırtına Valley
- Ayder Highland and Gelin Tülü Waterfall
- Private 4x4 to Lustra and Karester plateaus
- Tea factory tasting and Sürmene knife makers
Quick facts
- Best time to visit: April–June and September–October; the highlands are misty and rainy at any time, so bring a rain jacket.
- River rafting or zipline in the Fırtına Valley is optional and may have age limits.
- Flights are not included; a pick-up is arranged from Trabzon Airport or your hotel.
Day-by-Day Itinerary
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Day 1Arrival in Trabzon & Old City Sights
Your driver meets you at Trabzon Airport (TZX), the cruise port or your city hotel and takes you to your hotel in Trabzon. After check-in the day belongs to the city. You see Trabzon’s Hagia Sophia, a 13th-century Byzantine church that now serves as a mosque, the Atatürk Mansion, a villa in a pine garden that Atatürk used during his visits, and Ortahisar, the old stone-built quarter of the city. The rest of the evening is free for a walk and a first taste of Black Sea cooking.
Overnight: Trabzon — 4★ hotel (or similar)Transport: Private transfer from airport, port or hotel, then short city drivesTour: Private vehicle with guideEntrances: included (listed museum admissions) -
Day 2Sümela Monastery, Zigana Pass & Karaca Cave
After breakfast you drive south into Altındere National Park, a deep forested valley, to Sümela Monastery, a Greek Orthodox monastery whose buildings and rock-cut chapels cling to a sheer cliff above the valley. With your guide you climb through the courtyards and look at the frescoes. From Sümela the road crosses the Zigana Pass to Karaca Cave, a cave of stalactites in Gümüşhane province. On the way back you stop in the mountain village of Hamsiköy for its famous rice pudding before returning to Trabzon for the night.
Meals: BreakfastOvernight: Trabzon — 4★ hotel (or similar)Transport: Private drive, ~5 h in totalTour: Private vehicle with guideEntrances: included (Sümela and national park tickets); Karaca Cave entrance payable on-site -
Day 3Fırtına Valley & Ayder Highland
Check out and follow the coastal road east to Rize, then turn inland up the Fırtına Valley, where the river rushes beneath Ottoman-era stone bridges and your driver stops for photographs. The road passes through Çamlıhemşin and climbs into the Kaçkar Mountains to Ayder Highland, a pasture settlement of wooden chalets. You see the Bride’s Veil Waterfall (Gelin Tülü) and have free time to walk the high meadows. River rafting or a zipline in the valley is optional, with age limits. Dinner and the night are at a boutique highland lodge in Ayder.
Meals: Breakfast, DinnerOvernight: Ayder Highland — boutique highland lodge (or similar)Transport: Private drive ~4 h plus photo stopsTour: Private vehicle with guideEntrances: included (listed sites)Optional: Optional river rafting or zipline in the Fırtına Valley (payable separately; age limits may apply) -
Day 4Uzungöl Lake & the Lustra and Karester Plateaus
From Ayder you drive through deep valley forests to Uzungöl, a lake in the Çaykara district that formed when a landslide dammed a mountain stream, with a mosque and red-roofed houses on its shore. Walk along the water first, then leave the busy lakeside behind: private 4x4 off-road vehicles climb to the Lustra and Karester plateaus, high pastures that look down on the lake and, on a clear morning, from above the clouds. Back in Uzungöl you have dinner and spend the night at a hotel in the village.
Meals: Breakfast, DinnerOvernight: Uzungöl — 4★ hotel or boutique highland lodge (or similar)Transport: Private drive ~2.5–3 h, then private 4x4 to the plateausTour: Private vehicle with guideEntrances: none -
Day 5Tea Tasting, Sürmene Knife Makers & Departure
After breakfast and check-out you leave Uzungöl for the coast. A stop at a tea factory shows how Black Sea tea is processed and ends with a tasting. In Sürmene you visit the workshops of the town’s knife makers, who forge blades by hand, and have time to look for souvenirs. You then continue by private transfer to Trabzon Airport (TZX) for your return flight, which is not included. The departure time of the transfer follows your flight, so tell us your flight time before you book.
Meals: BreakfastOvernight: —Transport: Private drive ~2 h plus stops, to Trabzon AirportTour: Private vehicle with guideEntrances: none
Places Along the Route
Trabzon Hagia Sophia
Built in the mid-13th century under the Empire of Trebizond, this domed church keeps carved stone portals and traces of Byzantine wall paintings. Its lawned garden by the sea makes it one of the calmest medieval sites in the city.
Sümela Monastery
A Greek Orthodox monastery that tradition dates to the 4th century, built against a sheer cliff far above the valley floor. Its rock-cut church is covered in frescoes, and the forest climb to the gate is part of the visit.
Ayder Highland
A summer pasture settlement at about 1,300 m in the Kaçkar Mountains, with wooden chalets scattered over meadows. It is known for its hot springs and cool air, and evenings turn quiet once day visitors leave.
Uzungöl Lake
A mountain lake created when a landslide blocked a stream, ringed by spruce forest. A mosque and red-roofed houses stand on the shore, and a walking path passes the trout restaurants beside the water.
Atatürk Mansion
A Black Sea-style villa set in a shady garden above the city, where Atatürk stayed on his visits to Trabzon. It now works as a museum with furniture of the period, and the grounds look out toward the coast.
Zigana Pass
A mountain pass of about 2,000 m on the old route between the coast and the interior. Forest slopes give way to open alpine pasture here, and fog often climbs up from the sea.
Karaca Cave
A show cave in Gümüşhane province whose chambers are hung with stalactites and stalagmites in several colours. Lit walkways keep the underground route easy, and the air inside stays cool even in summer.
Hamsiköy
A mountain village on the Zigana road, known for its sütlaç, a rice pudding made with local milk. Timber houses and cool air make it an easy stop on the descent to the coast.
Fırtına Valley
A forested river gorge in the Kaçkar Mountains with fast, cold water. Single-arch Ottoman stone bridges, built to serve the highland villages, are the valley’s main sights.
Gelin Tülü Waterfall
A cascade that falls in a long pale sheet down a rock face near Ayder, which gives it the name of the bride’s veil. Spruce forest surrounds it, and the flow is fullest in spring when the snow melts.
Lustra and Karester Plateaus
High pastures above Uzungöl, reached by 4x4 on a steep forest track. From the open meadows the lake lies far below, and on clear mornings clouds can drift beneath you.
Why Choose This Trabzon Black Sea Tour?
This five-day route does not stay in one place: you sleep two nights in Trabzon, then one in Ayder Highland and one at Uzungöl, so each stop is a real overnight rather than a day trip from the coast.
- Three bases, no repeat drives — Trabzon, Ayder Highland and Uzungöl each have their own hotel night, so you wake up in the mountains instead of driving back to the coast every evening.
- Private 4x4 above the lake — On Day 4 private 4x4 vehicles climb to the Lustra and Karester plateaus above Uzungöl, high pastures that look down on the lake and, on a clear morning, from above the clouds.
- Dinners and entrances included — Daily breakfast, dinners on Days 3 and 4 and the listed museum and national park tickets, including Sümela Monastery, are covered. Lunches and drinks stay yours to choose, so you decide where to eat.
- Licensed guide, private vehicles — A licensed English-speaking guide is included. Your group of 1–12 guests travels in private vehicles at a pace for couples, families and friends; children aged 0–2 travel free, ages 3–7 get 30% off.
- Licensed local agency — TÜRSAB A-group licence #18154, Istanbul-based, rated 5.0 on Google (15 reviews), free cancellation up to 7 days before the start date.
Your Hotels on This Tour
These are the hotels we use on this tour, so you know where you’ll stay and can explore them before you book. Your final hotel is confirmed with your booking; if a listed hotel is unavailable on your dates, we reserve another hotel of the same category (or similar).
Trabzon · 2 nights
- Standard★★★★
Sera Lake Center Hotel
Akçaabat (Black Sea coast), Trabzon
- Sea-view rooms with balcony
- Spa with hammam & sauna
- Pool
- Sea-view restaurant
Breakfast included
- Standard
Sera Lake Resort Hotel
Akçaabat, near Sera Lake (Yıldızlı Mah.), Trabzon
- Lake & sea view rooms
- Terrace restaurant
- Spa with Turkish bath & sauna
- Garden cafe
Breakfast included
Ayder Highland · 1 night
Boutique highland lodge in Ayder area
Hotel confirmed with your booking (or similar)
Breakfast and dinner included
Uzungöl · 1 night
4★ hotel or boutique highland lodge in Uzungöl area
Hotel confirmed with your booking (or similar)
Breakfast and dinner included
Tour Price & Booking
What’s Included
What’s Not Included
Optional Upgrades
Add these to your request — we confirm availability and the final total before you pay.
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5★ hotel upgrade
Ask for 5★ hotels instead of the standard 4★ hotels. We check availability and confirm the extra cost before you pay.
Subject to availabilityHave something else in mind? Ask us on WhatsApp
Good to Know
Highland Weather
Fog and rain are common in the highlands at any time of year. Bring a light raincoat and layers for Ayder and Uzungöl.
Arabic-Speaking Guide
An Arabic-speaking guide can be requested; tell us when you book.
Pick-up Times
Your exact pick-up time is confirmed with you the day before each tour.
Hotel Check-in & Check-out
Standard hotel check-in is from 14:00 and check-out is until 12:00. Early check-in or late check-out depends on availability; ask us and we will request it.
Dietary Requirements
Halal and vegetarian options are available. Please tell us about any dietary needs when you book.
What to Wear
Please dress modestly when visiting mosques and religious sites: shoulders and knees covered, and a scarf for women. Comfortable walking shoes are recommended on every tour.
Cancellation Policy
- For a full refund, cancel up to 7 days before the start date.
- If you cancel less than 7 days before, the amount paid is non-refundable.
- Changes made less than 7 days before the start date cannot be accepted.
- If the tour is cancelled due to poor weather, you'll be offered a different date or a full refund.
Payment
Reserve now, pay later (no credit card required). A 30% deposit secures your booking after we confirm availability; the balance is due 15 days before the start date.
What guests say about TourQuaz
"Super und zuverlässige Organisation unseres Fimenausflugs. Zuverlässige Abholungen zu vereinbarten Zeiten und hilfreiche Tips beim Programm vor Ort.
Vielen Dank an das ganze Team. Jeder Zeit wieder!"
"Everything was very good specially the staff there
Special thanks to Mr. Emre for amazing efforts and support during all visit in istany"
"معاملة راقية تجربة تستحق الإشادة شكرا على حسن التعامل"
Frequently Asked Questions
The package includes 4 nights in 4★ hotels and boutique highland lodges (or similar), daily breakfast and dinners on Days 3 and 4, private ground transfers starting from Trabzon Airport (TZX), the listed national park and museum entrance fees (including Sümela Monastery), the private 4x4 climb to the Lustra and Karester plateaus, and a licensed English-speaking guide throughout the journey.
No. The price of $899 per person covers the land programme only; flights to and from Trabzon are not included. Our team can help you plan your arrival and departure times to match the itinerary.
On Day 1 your driver meets you at Trabzon Airport (TZX), the cruise port or your city hotel. On Day 5, after the tea factory and the Sürmene knife makers, a private transfer takes you to Trabzon Airport for your return flight. The departure time of the transfer follows your flight, so tell us your flight time before you book.
Breakfast is included every day, and dinner is included on Day 3 in Ayder and on Day 4 in Uzungöl. Lunches and drinks are your choice, so you can eat where you like.
Yes, the listed museum and national park tickets are included, including Sümela Monastery. The Karaca Cave entrance fee on Day 2 is payable on-site.
Yes. Contact our travel advisors via WhatsApp or email to add extra nights or optional activities such as river rafting or a zipline in the Fırtına Valley. Transfers and tours run in private vehicles for your group of 1–12 guests.
Yes. We use comfortable private vehicles and can help with family-friendly rooms, and the pace is relaxed. Certain adventure activities in the Fırtına Valley may have age restrictions. Children aged 0–2 travel free; children aged 3–7 get a 30% discount when sharing the room with adults.
Free cancellation: cancel up to 7 days before the start date for a full refund. Reserve now, pay later (no credit card required). A 30% deposit secures your booking after we confirm availability; the balance is due 15 days before the start date.
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