Far from the Aegean beaches and the arid landscapes of Anatolia, the Eastern Black Sea is a completely different Türkiye: green, misty, and mountainous, where the clouds tangle among the peaks and the slopes are covered with forests and tea plantations as far as the eye can see.
Hip Travel designs private journeys through this singular region: from the Sumela Monastery, suspended on a cliff face, to the high plateaus of Ayder, by way of the alpine lake of Uzungöl and the valleys of the Fırtına river. A journey of nature, pure air, and mountain hospitality, with the warmth of the local cuisine and private English-speaking guides.
The gateway to the region, Trabzon was for centuries a key port on the Silk Road and the capital of a Byzantine empire. A few kilometers away, embedded in the vertical wall of a cliff more than 1,200 meters high, stands the spectacular Orthodox monastery of Sumela, its centuries-old frescoes looking out over the void. One of the most striking sights in all of Türkiye.
In a valley ringed by forested peaks, Lake Uzungöl offers one of the most serene and photographed landscapes of the Black Sea. The small mosque at the water's edge, the reflection of the mountains, and the morning mist compose a scene of absolute calm. A place to breathe, to wander, and to let time pass.
In the heart of the Kaçkar Mountains, the Ayder plateau is the most famous of the Black Sea's "yaylas": high meadows dotted with wooden houses, waterfalls, hot springs, and the purest air. In summer, the mist rises through the valleys at dusk in a hypnotic spectacle. The starting point for discovering the traditional life of the highlands.
Rize is the heart of tea cultivation in Türkiye: endless slopes of an intense green, stepped terraces, and tea houses where the country's most prized brew is served. In the nearby Fırtına valley, whitewater rivers descend among Ottoman stone bridges and old mountain mansions, in one of the most beautiful natural corners of the entire region.
Chauffeured vehicles and private English-speaking guides throughout the region, with the flexibility of a tailor-made itinerary.
Wooden houses on the yaylas and charming hotels chosen for their setting and character, deep in nature.
A cuisine unlike any other in Türkiye: Black Sea fish, mountain cheeses, the local "muhlama" fondue, and the country's finest tea.
