STEP BY STEP BLACKSEA AND HIGHLANDS

FULL BOARD

Unye, Cakirtepe, Iason Cape (Yason Burnu), Iason Church, Hidirnebi Highland, Altindere Valley National Park, Sumela Monastery, Trabzon Hagia Sophia Church,  Ataturk Mansion, Tea Gardens, Uzungol, Haldizen Valley, Visiting a Tea Factory, Hopa, Cankurtaran Pass, Borcka, Borcka Dam, Artvin, Kafkasor Highland, Ayder Highland, Firtina Valley, Senyuva Bridge (Cinciva Bridge), Zilkale, Ortan Village, Karaca Cave, Zigana Pass,  Giresun Castle, Ordu Boztepe, Bandirma Vapuru,  Hazelnut Groves.

DAY 1: MEETING AND DEPARTURE

Meeting and departure at 23.30 in front of Tempo Tour. After Kirikkale having a break near Sungurlu. Then arriving Blacksea shore road via Corum-Samsun road.

DAY 2: SAMSUN-ORDU-GIRESUN-AKCAABAT-HIDIRNEBI HIGHLAND

Having a breakfast in Unye-Cakirtepe by a beautiful view. Arriving Akcaabat passing by Ordu and Giresun. After having lunch in Akcaabat (traditional Akcaabat meatballs) , driving to Hidirnebi Highland by minibuses or midibuses. Beautiful villages and scenery companies us. After check-in the hotel, walking around who wants to attend. People who do not want to walk can stay at the hotel. From the highland which has a beautiful view, when the air is clear Akcaabat and Trabzon shores and sea can be seen. Dinner by live traditional music and accommodation at Trabzon - Akcaabat - Hidirnebi Highland Houses. All rooms have shower, WC and tv.

DAY 3: TRABZON-HAGIA SOPHIA-ATATURK MANSION-UZUNGOL-HALDIZEN VALLEY

After having breakfast, descending from the highland by minibuses or midibuses and getting on the bus and visiting Trabzon'da Ataturk Mansion and Hagia Sophia Church. Then diriving to Uzungol. On the road to Uzungol, visiting Hapsiyas Bridge and tea gardens. Lunch  as fried trout with butter and sutlac (milky rice puding). After lunch, getting on minibuses or midibuses to visit Haldizen Valley and back to Uzungol. Then walking around Uzungol with people who want. Accommodation at Uzungol - Inan Kardesler Hotel.

DAY 4: CAYELI-CAMLIHEMSIN-AYDER-FIRTINA VALLEY-ZILKALE-HOPA

After breakfast leaving from Uzungol. Visiting a tea company and watching all steps from the garden to our glasses. Then shopping Rize Fabric and having lunch as traditional famous Cayeli bean. After a little break in Camlihemsin, driving up to Ayder Highland. Visiting around Ayder Highland then, visiting Firtina Valley, Senyuva (Cinciva-Archer Bridge) Bridge and Zilkale Zil Castle) by minibuses-midibuses. Then driving to Hopa by bus. Check-in the hotel. Accommodation and dinner at Hopa-Paluri Hotel(****).

DAY 5: HOPA-BORCKA-ARTVIN-KAFKASOR HIGHLAND-CAYELI

After breakfast, driving to Borcka via Cankurtaran Pass by viewing Hopa Shore. After visiting Borcka Dam, driving to  Artvin. Driving to Kafkasor Highland, which is eight km. above  Artvin, by minibuses-midibuses. This highland is very famous about its bullfighting. After visiting the highland then having lunch and driving to Cayeli. Accommodation and dinner at Cayeli-Grand Cavusoglu Hotel(****).

DAY 6: RIZE-SUMELA MONASTERY- ZIGANA PASS-TORUL-GUMUSHANE

After breakfast, driving to Rize. Visiting Ziraat Park and Tea Garden then driving to Sumela Monastery where is in the Altindere Valley National Park. Walking up to the monastery and back, takes about 1,5 hour. After lunch visiting Hamsikoy then driving to Zigana. Driving to Gumushane via Zigana Pass. After visiting Gumushane Mansions, free time for shopping pestil and kome. Accommodation and dinner at Gumushane-Cimenler Hotel(***).

DAY 7: KARACA CAVE-KURTUN DAM-GIRESUN

After breakfast, driving to Karaca Cave which has beautiful formations. Then driving to Giresun by Kurtun Dam view. Visiting Giresun Castle and a hazelnut garden. After check-in the hotel, accommodation and dinner at Giresun-New Jasmin Hotel(***).

DAY 8: ORDU-BOZTEPE-IASON CAPE-SAMSUN-ANKARA

After breakfast, driving up to Ordu-Boztepe. Here you can see Ordu as bird’s-eye view. Then driving to Iason Cape and Iason Church and visiting there. Near Iason Church there is a cfae and you can have a drink with a wonderful sea view. After Iason Cape, driving to Samsun.  Visiting the Bandırma Ship Museum which brought Ataturk and his companion in arms in 19 May 1919 and was built faithful to the original one. Then visiting Samsun Archeology and Etnography Museum. Driving to Ankara and arriving about 21.30.
* The guide can change the programme according to the weather or road conditions.

SERVICES INCLUDED:

Transportation by bus, accommodation at hotels and bungalows (6), breakfasts (7), lunches (6), dinners (6), transfers to highlands by minibuses-midibuses, TRAVEL INSURANCES, guiding services, VAT.

SERVICES EXCLUDED:

Last day lunch and dinner, all drinks during the meals,  museum entrance fees.
NECESSARY EQUIPMENTS : Good, light hiking boots (used ones are prefered), rain coat ( poncho is prefered), comfortable cotton clothes, considering to cold weather jumper might be needed, hat, gloves, little backpack, extra underwear and clothes, extra socks and shoes or boots, slippers, sun care cream, camera, battery, memory stick, charger, spare film, antibacterial  gel.