Blacksea Tour

Day 1 | START: ISTANBUL

Before embarking on our journey at night, we pick up our guests from meeting points on both the European and Asian sides of Istanbul.

Day 2 | SAMSUN & ORDU & TRABZON

Bandırma Ferry – Monument of Honor – Bolaman Turns – Yason Cape and Church – Boztepe

Early in the morning, we arrive in Samsun, the largest city in the Black Sea Region and one of the symbolic cities of our independence struggle, where Mustafa Kemal Atatürk and 18 of his comrades arrived on May 19, 1919, aboard the Bandırma Ferry, which holds a special place in our national struggle.

In Samsun, our first stop is the Bandırma Ferry, which has a special place in our national struggle and brought Mustafa Kemal Atatürk and his 18 comrades to Samsun on May 19, 1919.

We also visit the Monument of Honor and the Gazi Museum in Samsun before continuing our journey. We stop for lunch along the way.

On our way, we visit the historic Göğceli Mosque in Çarşamba district of Samsun, which dates back to the Seljuk period and is a valuable cultural heritage. This mosque, built entirely of wood without nails, will take you back centuries.

Continuing our journey along the old Black Sea coastal road, we reach Yason Cape and visit the historic church located there. Here, our guide tells us about the story of the Byzantine Komnenos Dynasty’s expansion into the eastern Black Sea. Before leaving, a tea break by the Black Sea shore against the horizon will be refreshing for everyone.

When we arrive in Ordu, we have free time to explore Ordu city center or take a cable car ride to Boztepe, which is known for its songs and folk dances.

We then proceed to our hotel in Trabzon for dinner and overnight stay.

Day 3 | TRABZON

Atatürk Mansion – Hagia Sophia – Kazaziye Silver – Altındere National Park – Sumela Monastery – Uzungöl

After breakfast in the morning, we head to Atatürk Mansion, which is a gift from the people of Trabzon to their leader Atatürk.

Next, we visit the Trabzon Hagia Sophia, dedicated to the Hagia Sophia in Istanbul during the Comnenos Kingdom period.

Here, we learn about the intricacies of Kazaziye art, which is known for its workmanship, silver craftsmanship, and is produced only in Trabzon by three families.

After our shopping break, we arrive at Altındere National Park, passing through the Fırtına Valley. Along the Coşandere Valley, we admire the magnificent beauty of the Black Sea nature and reach the Sumela Monastery. This monastery, built on steep cliffs, will enchant you with both its scenery and its living and worship areas inside.

After Sumela, we descend to the coastal road and head towards Of, the easternmost district of Trabzon. When we reach Of, we start climbing up to Uzungöl again through the valleys. Uzungöl, located at an altitude of 1090 meters above sea level, will make you feel like you’ve left the beauty of the Alps behind with its steep slopes and magnificent forest cover.

After Uzungöl, we head towards Rize.

Day 4 | RIZE – ÇAYELİ – HOPA – BATUM (Optional)

Rize Cuisine – Tea Factory – Rize Fabric Weaving Workshop – Çayeli Beans – Hopa – Batumi (Extra)

We arrive in Rize in the evening on the third day and settle into our hotel. For those who wish, there is an option to explore Rize and enjoy dinner in one of Rize’s best restaurants, arranged by the guide.

After breakfast at the hotel, we visit a tea factory to learn about the journey of tea, one of the most famous products of the Black Sea, from cultivation to our tables. Our guide will help you find special tea products at Çaykur sales points or specialty stores that are not available in regular supermarkets.

While in Rize, you can also purchase organic textiles, particularly the hemp fabric woven in Rize, which is beneficial for allergies and skin conditions. You will have free time to shop for Rize’s organic products such as chestnut/flower honey, local cheeses, butter, cornmeal, and more.

We also visit the workshops where Rize fabric, a type of organic textile unique to the region, is woven.

For lunch, we recommend enjoying a delicious meal at one of the restaurants in Çayeli that are famous for their dried beans, along with local dishes such as alabalık (trout), muhlama (cornmeal porridge), laz böreği (pastry), and pickled meats.

After Çayeli, we head to Hopa, the easternmost district of the Black Sea region. Upon arrival in Hopa, you can choose to take an extra trip to Batumi. Our driver will take guests who wish to visit Batumi to the Sarp border crossing and pick them up on the return journey. (If conditions permit, our bus may take you to the center of Batumi. However, crossing into Batumi by car can be time-consuming due to long procedures and waiting times.)

In Batumi, we visit Gonio-Apsaros Castle, dating back to Roman times and where the tomb of St. Mathias, one of the twelve apostles of Jesus, is located. We also see the Poseidon Statue, the Theater Building, the Medea Statue, and the newly created European Square. After a stroll along Batumi Boulevard, free time is provided. After free time, we return to Turkey. Upon entering Turkey, there is an opportunity to shop at the Duty-Free store for a period of time determined by your guide. After entering Turkey, we head to our hotel.

Day 5 | HOPA & ARTVIN & AYDER

Borçka Karagöl – Çamlıhemşin – Çat Valley – Zilkale – Palovit Waterfall – Ayder Plateau – Gelintülü Waterfall

After breakfast at our hotel, we travel to Karagöl, located within the borders of Borçka, Artvin, to enjoy some of the natural beauty of the Black Sea region that we haven’t seen yet. After spending some free time at Karagöl, we continue our journey towards the Fırtına Valley.

We have lunch at a trout farm in the Fırtına Valley. Trout, muhlama, laz böreği, pickled meats, and cornbread are some of the local dishes you can try here.

After lunch, we continue our journey along the Fırtına River and enter the Çat Valley. We stop for a photo break at Şenyuva (ÇİNÇİVA) Stone Bridge. Here, you can take photos against the backdrop of Çinçiva Village and our guides will provide information about the architectural style and living conditions of the Black Sea Mountains. After the photo break, we reach Zil Castle, which resembles an eagle’s nest perched on the slopes of the Kaçkar Mountains. To see the enchanting beauty of the Polovit Waterfall in the fresh air of the Kaçkars is the next stop on our tour.

Before leaving the mountains, we make one last visit to the king of the plateaus and a must-see in the Kaçkars, Ayder Plateau. In addition to its natural beauty, Ayder Plateau offers visitors festivals, horon dances in the meadows, traditional restaurants, and a thermal facility.

After free time at Ayder Plateau, we head to our hotel. Dinner and accommodation are provided at our hotel.

Day 6 | GİRESUN & ORDU & AMASYA

Blue Lake – Kuzalan Nature Park

It’s time to start our return journey, but we will still enjoy some of the beauty of the Black Sea on our way back.

After having breakfast at Ayder and bidding farewell to Ayder, we head to Giresun. Our first stop is the Kuzalan Waterfall, which flows down in strands from the steep mountain slopes and is truly breathtaking. After taking photos at the Kuzalan Waterfall, we visit the Blue Lake, one of the most special formations of Kuzalan Nature Park, which is one of the most special formations of the park.

We then arrive at Perşembe Plateau after our photo break at Şenyuva (ÇİNÇİVA) Stone Bridge. Situated by the lakeshore, Perşembe Plateau offers a picturesque view of the lake and its surrounding meanders, and you can enjoy tea and coffee by the lake while our guides provide information about the Black Sea’s plateau life.

From Perşembe Plateau, we make our way to Amasya via the Reşadiye-Niksar-Erbaa route.

Amasya, known as the city of princes, is a charming city with its two sides on the banks of the Yeşilırmak River, offering beauty day and night. In Amasya, we visit the Amasya Archaeology Museum, also known as the Mummy Museum, and the complex built in the name of İkinci Beyazıt. After a pleasant walk by the Yeşilırmak River, we begin our return journey to Istanbul.

Day 7 | ARRIVAL IN ISTANBUL

After a night of travel, we arrive in Istanbul on the 7th day. We bid farewell to our guests, dropping them off at convenient points along the main routes, and express our wishes to meet again for the next tour.