Trabzon: 5-Day Eastern Black Sea Tour

Discover the Eastern Black Sea region of Turkey from Trabzon, a historic coastal city surrounded by green valleys, mountain landscapes and traditional highland settlements. This 5-day tour is designed especially for travelers who want to see the region’s main highlights without changing hotels every night. You stay in Trabzon city center and travel out on a different route each day, returning to the same hotel in the evening.

The itinerary combines the cultural side of Trabzon with some of the best-known landscapes of the region. Explore Trabzon’s historic center and local bazaars, visit the cliffside Sumela Monastery, travel through Zigana and Hamsikoy, follow the rivers and stone bridges of Firtina Valley to Ayder Plateau, and spend time around Uzungol, one of the most recognizable mountain-lake destinations in northern Turkey. Along the way, you will also see tea-growing areas, traditional villages and the changing scenery between the Black Sea coast and the Kackar Mountains.

With 4- or 5-star city-center accommodation, daily breakfast, scheduled sightseeing tours, local guiding and arrival transfer from Trabzon Airport, the practical parts of the trip are already arranged. This makes the tour a suitable choice for first-time visitors to Trabzon who want a structured introduction to the Eastern Black Sea while still having some free time to explore at their own pace.

Upon arrival at Trabzon Airport, you will be met according to the flight details provided with your booking and transferred to your selected 4- or 5-star hotel in Trabzon city center. Standard hotel check-in time is 14:00, while early check-in is subject to room availability.

The rest of the day is free. From your centrally located hotel, you can easily reach Meydan Square, Uzun Sokak, nearby restaurants and shopping areas on foot, or simply relax after your journey. No guided sightseeing is scheduled for this day. Your Trabzon city tour begins the following morning.

After breakfast at the hotel, we set out to explore Trabzon’s history, culture and everyday city life. Our first stop is Ataturk Mansion, one of the city’s notable examples of historic residential architecture. After visiting the mansion, its period furnishings and gardens, we continue to Trabzon Botanical Park. We then visit Trabzon City Museum to learn about the city’s development, heritage and local culture. Along the route, we also see Trabzon Castle, Gulbahar Hatun Mosque, Zagnos Valley and the historic Ortahisar district.

Next, we walk through Kunduracilar Street, Semerciler, Kemeraltı and the traditional coppersmiths’ bazaar, with free time for browsing and shopping.

We stop for lunch near Sera Lake Nature Park, then continue to Hagia Sophia Mosque to see its Byzantine-era frescoes and architectural details. Our final stop is Boztepe, where you can enjoy panoramic views of Trabzon and the Black Sea before returning to your hotel.

After breakfast, we leave Trabzon and head inland through Macka Valley toward Altindere National Park. From the park entrance, the included shuttle service takes us closer to Sumela Monastery. The final approach involves a forest path and stepped section of around 350 metres. Along the way, we stop near St. Barbara Chapel for a striking view of the monastery built into the steep cliffside.

During the visit, our local guiding service introduces the monastery’s history, architecture, frescoes, chapels and main rock church. You will also have some free time to take photographs and explore the site at your own pace.

We then continue to Zigana Pass, a historic crossing point associated with the old Silk Road, for a mountain scenery stop. The final visit of the day is Hamsikoy, where you can enjoy lunch at your own expense and, if you wish, try the village’s well-known rice pudding. Afterwards, we return to Trabzon.

After breakfast at the hotel, we travel east along the Black Sea coast toward Firtina Valley. Tea gardens, traditional wooden houses and lush valley scenery accompany the route as we pass the region’s characteristic stone arch bridges. Guests who wish may join optional rafting or zipline activities, depending on weather conditions and whether the activities are operating that day; those preferring a slower pace can enjoy free time by the river.

We then continue toward the foothills of the Kackar Mountains and reach Ayder Plateau, located at approximately 1,350 metres above sea level. Here, you can enjoy views of Gelintulu Waterfall, walk among traditional wooden houses and explore the plateau at your own pace.

During your free time, you may have lunch and try local dishes such as muhlama and cornbread. In the afternoon, we return to Trabzon through Firtina Valley and drop you off at your hotel.