Classic Eastern Black Sea Tour — 4 Days

Arrival in Trabzon and check-in. The day covers Sumela Monastery and Altındere Valley National Park. Sumela Monastery is a Byzantine cliff monastery carved into the sheer face of Karadağ (Black Mountain) at roughly 1,200 metres elevation, overlooking the Altındere Valley in the…

1. 08:00 - 10:30 Sumela Monastery· 150 dk

   Tour coaches can reach the Altındere National Park car park; the steep, narrow upper section cannot be reached by coach and requires the shuttle minibus. Parking: A large car park and reception facilities are available at the Altındere National Park entrance; vehicles are left there, with onward access by shuttle.

   The panoramic viewing terrace on the valley's opposite slope; the final bend of the trail approaching the monastery; the fresco walls of the Rock Church; the Altındere Valley view veiled in morning mist.

   Wheelchair access within the monastery is limited due to the rocky, stepped path; wheelchair users can still enjoy the valley floor and the viewing points.

2. 12:45 - 13:45 Lunch — local flavour stop· 60 dk

   Lunch break of regional cuisine.

3. 11:00 - 14:00 Altındere Valley National Park· 180 dk

   Tour coaches can reach the car park on the valley floor without difficulty; the final leg is completed only by shuttle service and on foot. Parking: Paid parking on the valley floor (approximately 50-70 TRY/day); also suitable for tour coaches and campervans.

   The valley viewpoint on the opposite slope where the monastery appears in panorama; the bridge and waterfall on the valley floor; the entrance terrace and fresco gallery of the rock church; the streamside area around the trout facilities.

   Limited — the car park, valley floor and trout facilities are level and accessible, but the final 20-30 minute steep path to the monastery is not suitable for disabled or mobility-restricted visitors.

Route Trabzon, Maçka

The day covers Hamsiköy (Rice Pudding Village), Zigana Pass & Tunnel, Atatürk Pavilion and Trabzon Hagia Sophia (Museum-Mosque). Hamsiköy is a lush green mountain village in the Maçka district of Trabzon, set at roughly 1,200 metres on the northern slope of Zigana Mountain.

1. 08:00 - 09:00 Hamsiköy (Rice Pudding Village)· 60 dk

   Suitable for tour coaches; flat parking areas in front of the businesses allow easy manoeuvring for large vehicles. Parking: Wide, free parking for cars and tour coaches in front of the roadside bakeries and restaurants.

   The panorama of the village and spruce forests framed from in front of the roadside bakery-restaurants; timber Black Sea houses by the stream; the misty-morning viewpoint overlooking the Zigana slopes; a macro shot of a freshly baked plate of sütlaç.

   Wheelchair access is moderately easy since the ground is largely flat; most restaurants have road-level entrances, though some paths within the village are uneven.

2. 09:30 - 10:15 Zigana Pass & Tunnel· 45 dk

   Tour coaches can park on the wide shoulders of the old pass road and the summit clearings; the narrow, steep bends require experienced drivers for large vehicles. The tunnel route is trouble-free for standard coaches. Parking: Free open-air parking on the wide shoulders of the old pass road, the flat areas around the summit, and near the ski facility.

   Summit viewing terraces (green Black Sea-facing slopes and southern Gümüşhane plateaus in one frame), the hairpin bends of the old pass road, the sea of clouds filling the valleys on summer mornings, and snowy forest views in winter.

   The panorama can be comfortably enjoyed from the vehicle or from level overlooks; sloping nature trails and snowy ground are not suitable for wheelchairs.

3. 10:45 - 11:45 Atatürk Pavilion· 60 dk

   Tour coaches can reach the Soğuksu car park; the municipality's Köşk shuttle bus service is also available. Parking: Soğuksu pavilion car park; tiered fee for cars (first 30 minutes free). Free for a set period for disabled visitors' vehicles.

   City rooftops and Black Sea panorama from the garden terrace (a classic tour photo); the white neoclassical façade amid the pine grove; the period-furnished interiors of Atatürk's study and bedroom.

   Entry is free for disabled visitors and one companion; the disabled car park is free for a set period. Because it is a historic mansion, access to the upper floors is by stairs; the ground floor and garden are accessible.

4. 12:15 - 13:15 Lunch — local flavour stop· 60 dk

   Lunch break of regional cuisine (outside half-board).

   Local spread and presentation shots.

5. 13:15 - 14:15 Trabzon Hagia Sophia (Museum-Mosque)· 60 dk

   Tour coaches can pull up close to the building; drop-off and pick-up are possible a short walk from the garden entrance. Parking: Dedicated parking beside the building is limited; paid car parks and street parking are available nearby.

   The garden framing the bell tower and main dome together; the sea-view south terrace; the stone reliefs on the south portal; the frescoes and the opus sectile floor beneath the dome inside the apse.

6. 14:45 - 16:15 Free time — city centre· 90 dk

   Rest and free exploration (~1.5 hours).

Route Trabzon, Maçka, Ortahisar

Transfer from Trabzon to Rize. The day covers Ayder Plateau & Thermal Springs and Pokut Plateau. Ayder Plateau, in the Çamlıhemşin district of Rize province and set at roughly 1,350 metres inside the Kaçkar Mountains National Park, is the emblematic stop of Eastern Black Sea…

1. 08:00 - 09:15 Transfer from Trabzon to Rize· 75 dk

   Inter-city transfer in an air-conditioned vehicle; short rest stop en route.

2. 09:15 - 11:45 Ayder Plateau & Thermal Springs· 150 dk

   Tour coaches can climb as far as the plateau's entrance car park; the narrow inner roads mean the core area is reached on foot or by shuttle. Parking: Vehicle traffic is regulated at the plateau entrance; car parks have been pulled back to the entrance area, with pedestrian and shuttle access prioritised for the inner sections.

   The entrance Dutdibi (Ayder) Waterfall, the viewing slope above the thermal facility, the Pokut-Gito ridge for the morning sea of clouds, and the spruce-forested slopes ringing the plateau.

   Limited due to the steep terrain; the thermal facility and entrance surroundings are relatively accessible, while the inner pedestrian paths are steep and difficult.

3. 12:15 - 13:15 Lunch — local flavour stop· 60 dk

   Lunch break of regional cuisine (outside half-board).

   Local spread and presentation shots.

4. 13:15 - 15:45 Pokut Plateau· 150 dk

   Large tour buses cannot reach the plateau; they come at most as far as Çamlıhemşin or Şenyuva, where passengers transfer to 4x4/jeep services. Parking: An informal car park with limited capacity at the plateau entrance; finding space can be difficult in peak season.

   The 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.

   Very poor; the rugged terrain, high altitude, unpaved roads and stepped timber buildings make it unsuitable for wheelchair access.

Route Rize, Çamlıhemşin

The day covers Fırtına (Storm) Valley, Palovit Waterfall and Zil Castle. The Fırtına Valley is a deep, emerald gorge carved over millions of years by the roughly 68-kilometre Fırtına River, which rises on the northern slopes of the Kaçkar Mountains and… Transfer at the end of the tour.

1. 08:00 - 11:30 Fırtına (Storm) Valley· 210 dk

   Tourism coaches can reach central Çamlıhemşin and the area around Şenyuva; because the inner valley road is narrow and winding, transferring to minibuses/shuttle is recommended for large coaches. Parking: Car parks in central Çamlıhemşin, around the Şenyuva bridge and at the Zil Castle entrance; space is limited within the valley, so early arrival is advised in peak season.

   The Şenyuva (Çinçiva) stone arch bridge from above and from a low angle, the panorama over the valley from Zil Castle, the riverside rafting put-in point, misty morning forest bands and the Ottoman bridges along the valley.

   Limited; although the bridge surroundings and some viewpoints can be reached by vehicle, the valley floor, trails and rafting areas are uneven and unsuitable for wheelchairs.

2. 12:00 - 12:45 Palovit Waterfall· 45 dk

   Not suitable for large tour coaches due to the narrow, winding cobbled road; coaches are left at Çamlıhemşin or Zil Kale, with transfer by minibus/4x4. Parking: The car park at the waterfall entrance (Palovit Waterfall car park). Capacity is limited in peak season due to the narrow road.

   The wooden viewing platform opposite the falls and the edge of the lower pool; morning and overcast light are ideal for the silky long-exposure water effect. The cobbled bridge along the approach road and forest clearings also offer strong compositions.

   Limited. The final stretch is a footpath over stony ground; wheelchair access is difficult. There is a short but sloped walk to the viewing platform.

3. 13:15 - 14:15 Lunch — local flavour stop· 60 dk

   Lunch break of regional cuisine (outside half-board).

   Local spread and presentation shots.

4. 14:15 - 15:15 Zil Castle· 60 dk

   Because the road is narrow with sharp bends, large tour coaches cannot reach the castle; agencies in the region generally use a midibus/minibus or partly transfer by private vehicle. Large coaches are left around Çamlıhemşin centre and passengers transfer. Parking: A small car park exists at the foot of the castle; from there it is a 10-15 minute uphill walk to the castle. Early hours are recommended since the area fills quickly in peak season.

   The most iconic shot is from the roadside viewpoint on the opposite slope of the valley before climbing to the castle, capturing its full mist- and forest-wrapped facade. From the head tower inside the keep, the panorama over the Fırtına Valley and moments wrapped in low morning/evening mist give the most dramatic light; autumn colour transitions are ideal.

   Limited. The climb from the car park to the castle is a sloping, stony path with steps, making access difficult for wheelchair users and visitors with reduced mobility; the interior of the keep is also partly uneven.

5. 15:45 - 17:15 Free time — city centre· 90 dk

   Rest and free exploration (~1.5 hours).

Route Rize, Çamlıhemşin