Anzer Plateau (Ballıköy)

Anzer Plateau lies about 35 kilometres southwest of the İkizdere district of Rize and 54 kilometres from the provincial centre, set at an altitude exceeding 2,100 metres, making it one of the most celebrated highland pastures of the Eastern Black Sea.

Location & Honey Culture

Officially named Ballıköy, the settlement is divided into two sections, Lower Anzer (Çiçekliköy) and Upper Anzer (Ballıköy), and is known in Laz as "Anzeri Gola." What has made the plateau world-famous is Anzer honey, which can be produced only in this particular geography. Hundreds of flower species, many of them endemic, grow across the meadows that climb above 2,000 metres and allow the bees to gather a nectar found nowhere else; regarded as a natural remedy, this honey ranks among the most expensive in the world due to its limited output and intense demand. The plateau was declared a tourism centre by cabinet resolution in 1991 and has since gained importance for both gastronomy and nature tourism.

Nature, Scenery & Culture

With its alpine meadows, ice-cold spring waters, mist-wrapped spruce forests and a skyline framed by peaks rising beyond 3,000 metres, Anzer draws photographers and trekkers alike. The best photo spots are the flower-covered upper slopes of Ballıköy, the valley lined with traditional wooden highland houses, and the high pastures where the beehives are arranged. Culturally, the plateau is a living example of the Black Sea tradition of seasonal migration and pasture life; the "Anzer Honey and Highland Festival," held every first week of August with horon dancing, folk music and local produce, is one of the region's most colourful events.

Visiting, Access & Tips

Agencies favour Anzer for its tangible gastronomic story (the world-famous honey), its strong visual appeal, and a location that combines easily with other stops on the İkizdere-Ovit corridor. The average visit lasts two to three hours, extending to half a day when honey production and the festival are included. In guided programmes it usually appears as an intermediate stop within the Uzungöl-İkizdere-Anzer triangle or on wider tours crossing the Ovit pass. Notable nearby points include Uzungöl, the Ovit Tunnel and Ovit Plateau, the İkizdere town centre and the Cimil valley. Access is via İkizdere along narrow, winding mountain roads, taking roughly one hour from the district centre. Parking is available around the village square, but because of the tight roads, midibuses are preferred over full-size coaches. Disabled access is limited due to the steep, uneven terrain. The ideal time to visit is July-August, when the flowers bloom and the honey is harvested; peak season is the festival week in August. Recommended route: depart İkizdere in the morning, spend the late morning among Anzer's flowering meadows and honey producers, then continue toward Uzungöl or the Ovit pass in the afternoon.