BLACK SEA KACKAR MOUNTAINS TREKKING TOUR 9 DAYS · TRABZON · RIZE

DAY 2  TRABZON – SUMELA – UZUNGÖL | Monastery Hike & Highland Ascent

After breakfast, it’s on to Altındere Valley, where a riverside trail climbs to Sumela Monastery, its buildings fixed improbably to a sheer cliff face. From there the day continues east toward Uzungöl — with a stop in Maçka for a bowl of Hamsiköy rice pudding — before a second, longer climb through forest to Karester Highland, where the group settles in for the night with the lake spread out far below.

DAY 3  FIRTINA VALLEY – ŞENYUVA – SAL – POKUT | Ottoman Bridges to Highland Dancing

Breakfast comes with a view of Uzungöl before the group heads for Fırtına Valley, stopping at its arched Ottoman bridges for rafting or a zipline over the river for anyone who’s game. Şenyuva village and its Love Bridge come next, then the drive climbs to Sal Highland’s wooden houses and on to Pokut, where a short hike leads above the clouds — and the evening ends with horon dancing to the tulum.

DAY 4  POKUT – HAZİNDAĞ – SAMİSTAL – AMLAKİT | Three-Stage Highland Traverse

This is the longest hiking day so far, strung across three stages. Pokut to Hazindağ takes about two and a half hours through forest and cloud-level views, followed by a short rest, then two hours on to Samistal — with the Kaçkar valleys opening up along the way — and a final hour and a half to Amlakit, where the pace finally slows for the night.

DAY 5  AMLAKİT – PALOVIT WATERFALL – AYDER – YUKARI KAVRON | Waterfalls, Thermal Springs & Highland Roads

A morning drive brings the group to Palovit Waterfall, then on toward Çamlıhemşin for a riverside hike to Tar Bulut Waterfall. Ayder Highland follows, with its thermal hamam on offer for anyone who wants it, then a short hike out to Gallerdüzü past Gelintülü Waterfall before the drive continues to Yukarı Kavron, pausing at Aşağı Kavron along the way.

DAY 6  YUKARI KAVRON – DEREBAŞI LAKE – DENİZ GÖLÜ – DİLBERDÜZÜ | Into the Kaçkar Highcountry

This is a full trekking day with no driving to break it up. Main luggage stays behind at the pension — just a daypack and a packed lunch for the thirteen kilometres ahead, following the Kavron River up toward the Kaçkar range, past Derebaşı Lake and Deniz Gölü, and on to a camp at Dilberdüzü where the tents, gear, and dinner are all waiting.

Accommodation: Tented camp, Dilberdüzü

DAY 7  KAÇKAR SUMMIT | Dilberdüzü – Deniz Gölü – Kaçkar Peak – Dilberdüzü

Up before dawn for a 5am start, the climb to Deniz Gölü at 3,450 m takes around forty-five minutes, then another forty-five to the Decision Point at 3,600 m, where anyone unsure about continuing can turn back. From there it’s a steeper, rockier push to Kaçkar Peak at 3,937 m — thirty to forty minutes at the top before heading carefully back down to camp.

DAY 8  TRANS-KAÇKAR TO AYDER | Dilberdüzü – Büyük Deniz Lake – Yukarı Kavron – Ayder

With the summit behind you, today’s route crosses from the southern side of the Kaçkar range to the northern side — past Dibedüz and Büyük Deniz Lake, six hours of walking with lunch on the trail, before meeting the waiting vehicle at Yukarı Kavron. From there it’s a transfer to Ayder, where the thermal baths are waiting for exactly this occasion.

DAY 9  SHOPPING & DEPARTURE | Ayder → Trabzon Airport

The last day is unhurried by design: a transfer back toward Trabzon with stops along the way for Rize’s cloth workshops, the knife-making museum in Surmene, and a quick look through a Black Sea tea factory, before the drive continues to the airport in time for your flight.

* Airport Transfers – * Luggage Transfer

* Entrance Fees – * Trekking Guidance