Kümbet Plateau

Priority Stop Popularity 85/100 Visit ~3 saat Best Season Late June-September (highland season); the peak of greenery and endemic flowers is July. Accessible in winter for snow scenery, but road conditions become harder. Category Nature / Plateau

Nature Photography

Kümbet Yaylası (Kümbet Plateau) is one of the Eastern Black Sea's most celebrated highlands, lying within the Dereli district of Giresun Province, roughly 60 kilometres south of the city on the spruce-clad ridges of the Giresun Mountains.

Geography & History

Its broad meadows sit at about 1,640 metres, at the heart of a highland belt running parallel to the Black Sea coast, and on 20 May 1991 an area of some 3,800 hectares was declared an official tourism centre. The name derives from 'kümbet', the Turkish term for a domed, polygonal mausoleum of Central Asian origin.

Nature & Culture

The plateau's character is defined by clearings where forest and pasture interlace, scattered timber-and-stone highland houses, clear springs, and, in July, endemic lilies (Lilium ciliatum) blooming among oriental spruce (Picea orientalis) forest. What sets Kümbet apart from neighbouring plateaus is that it functions as a central marketplace used in both winter and summer, anchored by a traditional highland bazaar held every Friday through the season. Since 1990 the Kümbet Highland Festival has been staged at Aymaç in the second week of July (Friday to Sunday), a lively celebration of folk music, the horon dance, highland cuisine and crafts.

Visiting & Route

The plateau offers three focal points: central Kümbet, the Salon Çayırı forest recreation area about one kilometre away, and Aymaç, two kilometres to the northeast, known for its wildflower meadows. Agencies favour Kümbet because it is the hub of a well-connected 'plateau triangle' with Bektaş and Kulakkaya, with relatively developed lodging and picnic grounds, suiting both day trips and overnight programmes. A typical visit runs 2-4 hours, or a full day during the festival or with an overnight stay. Prime photo spots are Aymaç's wildflower fields, the spruce edges of Salon Çayırı, and misty ridge panoramas.

Access & Best Time

Access is via the Giresun-Dereli-Şebinkarahisar road, about 22 kilometres from Dereli; coaches can reach it, though the road is narrow and winding. NOTE: from 3 July 2026 the Dereli-Kümbet road was closed for roughly two months for repairs, with alternative routes signposted via Bulancak (İnece junction-Eriklik); confirm road status before travel. The best period is late June to September, peaking in July-August and the festival week. Winter access for snow activity is possible but road conditions are harder, and wheelchair access is limited by the natural terrain.

Images courtesy of Wikimedia Commons — click a photo for author and licence.

Visit & Logistics

Getting thereAbout 60 km from central Giresun, reached via the Giresun-Dereli-Şebinkarahisar road; about 22 km of paved but narrow, winding road after Dereli district. A private or tour vehicle is recommended; regional highland minibuses run in summer. As the main Dereli-Kümbet road is closed for repairs in the 2026 season, the alternative route via Bulancak must be used.
ParkingUnmarked open/meadow parking and roadside parking around central Kümbet, the Salon Çayırı picnic area and the festival square; adequate outside festival week, limited on busy days.
Coach accessTour buses can reach the plateau, but careful driving and turning points matter for large vehicles on the narrow, winding road. During the 2026 road closure, the current route status must be confirmed before access with large buses.
AccessibilityWheelchair access is limited due to the natural highland terrain, grassy sloped ground and irregular paths; panoramic points can be approached by vehicle, but walking within the meadows is difficult.
Photo spotsAymaç's endemic lily and wildflower fields in bloom in July; the oriental spruce forest edges of Salon Çayırı; central Kümbet's Friday market and scattered timber-and-stone highland houses; misty ridge panoramas running parallel to the Black Sea; horon dance and highland-culture shots at the festival grounds.
Suggested routeThe central stop of the 'plateau triangle' route together with Bektaş and Kulakkaya plateaus on the Giresun day-trip highland tour; positioned as the lunch break and festival/market stop on a half-day or full-day programme from Dereli.

Nearby Places

Tours that include this place

No published tour features this place just yet — but we can build one around you, with no obligation. AI Concierge

Design your own route in this region Pick your stops on the map, we'll price it. Plan a custom tour with this place Choose your activities, we'll suggest the destinations that match.

Sources