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Highland plateau (yayla)
Rize
Karadeniz
Priority Stop
NaturePokut Plateau, in the Çamlıhemşin district of Rize, sits on a ridge rising between the valleys carved by the Fırtına and Hala streams at roughly 2,050 metres (its highest point measured at 2,032 m), and it is one of the most celebrated highlands of the Eastern Black Sea.
Setting & Traditional Character
Established on the northern flanks of the Kaçkar Mountains, the plateau owes its name and character to the Hemşin communities who for centuries have brought their herds up to these summer pastures. Pokut's most distinctive feature is its cluster of traditional Hemşin timber lodges and serender storehouses: steep-roofed, entirely wooden structures set on stone foundations, scattered across the slope in a way that gives the plateau its unmistakable local texture. Unlike many neighbouring highlands, where trees rarely survive above 1,800 metres against the harsh Black Sea winds, Pokut is a green world where the forest climbs almost to the ridgetops.
The Sea of Clouds & Touristic Value
What truly makes the plateau legendary, however, is its 'sea of clouds': in the early morning and again toward evening, banks of cloud spread out beneath the slope like a vast white ocean, and the timber lodges appear to float upon it. This spectacle has turned Pokut into one of Turkey's most photographed highland scenes and is the very reason agencies treat it as an indispensable stop on their Çamlıhemşin-Ayder itineraries.
Access & Transport
Lying about 86 km from central Rize and 15-21 km from Çamlıhemşin, the plateau is reached by a steep, narrow, mostly unpaved road beginning at the Şenyuva (Çinçiva) bridge; the final stretch is therefore usually covered by 4x4 vehicles or local jeep-safari services in an average of 1.5-2 hours. Large tour coaches come only as far as Çamlıhemşin or Şenyuva, where passengers transfer; parking at the plateau entrance is limited. Because of the rugged terrain, high altitude and gravel roads, accessibility for visitors with disabilities is very difficult.
Best Time to Visit & Tips
The best period to visit is the highland season from June to September, with the sea of clouds at its most striking in late summer and autumn; in winter the road is generally closed by snow, and peak season falls in July-August and the religious holidays. An on-site visit averages 2-3 hours, though an overnight stay in the timber lodges is recommended to feel the plateau's full magic. The finest photography points are the ridge line where the lodges face the cloud sea at sunrise and the panoramic saddles along the Sal-Pokut walking trail. Nearby highlights include Sal Plateau, Hazindak Plateau, Zil Castle, the Fırtına Valley, Palovit Waterfall and Ayder Plateau.
Visit & Logistics
Visit & Logistics- Getting thereAbout 86 km from central Rize, 15-21 km from Çamlıhemşin. A steep unpaved road begins at the Şenyuva (Çinçiva) bridge; the final stretch is usually covered by 4x4 vehicles or local jeep-safari services in an average of 1.5-2 hours. Ordinary passenger cars are not recommended.
- ParkingAn informal car park with limited capacity at the plateau entrance; finding space can be difficult in peak season.
- Coach accessLarge tour buses cannot reach the plateau; they come at most as far as Çamlıhemşin or Şenyuva, where passengers transfer to 4x4/jeep services.
- AccessibilityVery poor; the rugged terrain, high altitude, unpaved roads and stepped timber buildings make it unsuitable for wheelchair access.
- Photo spotsThe ridge line where the lodges face the cloud sea at sunrise; the panoramic saddles of the Sal-Pokut walking trail; the mist-wrapped facades of the wooden highland houses.
- Suggested routeA morning stop on Çamlıhemşin-Ayder highland tours: ascend by 4x4 from the Şenyuva bridge, photograph the sea of clouds and serender lodges at Pokut, then either walk the Sal-Hazindak trail or descend toward Zil Castle-Fırtına Valley.
Tours that include this place