Black Sea Plateaus and Batumi Tour / 4 Nights Hotel Accommodation / Departure from Istanbul
• The tour duration is 5 nights and 6 days, including the day of travel and return, with 4 nights of hotel accommodation. 1 night is spent traveling.
• In our tour, guiding, transportation, accommodation, and sightseeing are all included as a package and cannot be considered separately. Unused transportation, accommodation, guiding, sightseeing rights, etc. cannot be refunded.
• Child discounts applied in tour packages are valid for one child accompanied by two adults. Separate beds may not be provided for children aged 0-6 in hotel accommodation.
• In hotel accommodations, the 3rd guest in triple rooms usually stays in an extra bed.
• The hotels specified in the program are Malitur's priority accommodation facilities. The region and hotels may change depending on occupancy, provided the hotel standards remain the same. Hotel names will be informed upon request 48 hours before the tour departure, based on availability.
• The rooms at the hotels are determined by the hotel. Selection between rooms is not possible.
• Our stopovers may change in terms of location and service standards due to reasons such as congestion, renovation, etc., as long as they remain the same.
• In the program timing, the guide may make changes if deemed necessary due to conditions such as weather, road conditions, and crowding at visit sites.
• Malitur is not responsible for places that cannot be visited during the tour program due to force majeure (weather, road conditions, crowding at visit sites, etc.) or if guests do not comply with the timings given by our guide during the tour. In such cases, the guest's right to claim does not arise.
• A gradual pricing system is applied in all our tours. The prices of the tour may gradually increase as the number of reservations in the package increases and the date approaches. Malitur reserves the right to increase prices. In this case, prices cannot be locked without an advance payment.
• A seat number cannot be promised or guaranteed during the reservation process. There is no guarantee for notes entered in the reservation. Special seating preferences such as front or back seats cannot be made.
• The seating arrangement in the vehicle is set by Malitur Operation based on the order of reservations. In case of objections regarding seat placement, refunds are not possible. All seats in our vehicles have the same standards.
• Additional tours, such as night tours in the tour program, depend on the number of participants and available personnel. Extra tours conducted on the road will be carried out even if not all guests participate. Guests who do not participate in extra tours will be directed by our guide to rest areas or city centers. Guests who do not participate in extra tours accept that they have joined the tour by agreeing to wait at the rest area.
• If an extra tour does not take place for any reason, the guest has no right to claim. Malitur has no responsibility in this situation.
• Extra tour prices may vary based on periods. In such cases, the date of the tour is considered, not the date the guest purchased the tour. The extra tour price valid during the period of the tour will apply. The guest has accepted this upon purchasing the tour.
• Malitur is not responsible for financial damages caused by guests in services provided by transportation vehicles, hotels, dining areas, and suppliers. Businesses have the right to demand compensation for damages caused by guests.
• In cases where minors under 18 years of age are not accompanied by one or both parents, a consent letter is required to be carried during the trip.
• Guests participating in the tour must carry reports regarding health issues, pregnancy, and medications they use regularly.
• Delays may occur due to traffic, accidents, etc., at the designated departure times.
• Information on arrival times at the end of the tour is estimated, and Malitur is not responsible for delays due to force majeure.
• At the end of the tour, guests will be dropped off at the stops where we picked them up. Please do not insist on being dropped off at a different point.
• According to traffic laws, all guests in the vehicle are required to wear seat belts during the journey; otherwise, Malitur is not responsible.
• The responsibility for all personal belongings in the vehicle rests with the guest during stops, etc.
• Since the first day’s sightseeing will begin before checking into the hotel, please prepare your necessary belongings separately.
• Due to the tight schedule during the tour, it may not always be possible to find ATMs, currency exchange offices, etc., so it is advisable to be prepared.
• Long distances may be covered during the programs. Necessary information will be provided by the tour guide in the vehicle.
• Lunches consist of economically created menus specific to the region. Groups will use separate tables for lunch and dinner, depending on regional density.
• The starting and ending routes of our tours are determined by regional density. Guests can learn about the confirmed starting and ending points of the tour up to 2 days in advance if they wish.
• If the tour does not meet the required number, the agency is obliged to inform the guest and, according to the guest's preference, the tour can be postponed to the next date or canceled. Alternatively, ticketing can be arranged for the nearest departure point to allow the guest to participate in the tour. In such cases, the agency is required to inform the guest three (3) days in advance via phone, SMS, or email. In such situations, the guest's right to claim does not arise.
• Guests can cancel and modify their bookings without providing a reason up to 30 days prior to the start date, and the amount paid will be refunded. For cancellations and changes made between 29 to 15 days before the tour date, 30% of the reservation fee will be deducted; between 15-7 days, 50% will be deducted; and for cancellations made less than 7 days before, 100% of the reservation fee will be deducted.
• Guests who have purchased the Cancellation, Refund, and Guarantee Package can cancel the purchased tour without a reason up to 72 hours before the start date. The Cancellation, Refund, and Guarantee Package does not cover plane tickets.
• Museum passes and entrance fees to museums are not included in the tour price. All museum entrance fees are to be paid by the guests.
Sinop, Amasya, Samsun, Ordu, Giresun, Trabzon, Rize, Artvin, Batumi
Day 1
- Night Journey
- 21:00 Yenibosna Airport Avm Parking Lot
- 21:30 Mecidiyeköy Torun Center Front
- 22:00 In Front of Kadikoy Marriage Office
- 22:10 Under Bostancı Bridge
- 22:20 Under Kartal Bridge
- 22:30 Under Pendik Bridge
- 22:40 In Front of Çayırova McDonald's
- 22:50 In Front of Gebze Center
- 23:20 İzmit Halkevi Station (Opposite Asia Hotel)
- 23:50 Sakarya Total (Next to the Bus Station)
- 01:35 Next to Bolu Bus Station
- After picking up our esteemed guests from the specified points, we will begin our night journey with DGN Travel for the Black Sea Tour.
Day 2
- Amasya – Ferhat and Şirin – Archaeology Museum – Yeşilırmak – Kral Kaya Tombs – Şehzadeler Park – Samsun – Bandırma Ship Museum – Onur Monument – Terme - Ordu
- After our night journey, we will arrive at Amasya, our first stop on the Black Sea Tour with SGN Travel, and start our day with a breakfast break. We will then see the water channels that are believed to have been carved by Ferhat for Şirin in the legendary love story of Ferhat and Şirin. After listening to the story of this place from our guide and taking our photos, we will board our bus to visit the Amasya Archaeology Museum, known as the mummy museum.
- The museum features a collection of artifacts from 13 different civilizations, including the Ottoman period. After our museum tour with our guide, we will visit the Bayezid Complex, built on the orders of Sultan 2. Bayezid, who came from Amasya and became an Ottoman Sultan. After seeing the chinar trees used as a lightning rod, the historic fountain depicting the silhouette of Istanbul for Amasyans who were curious about the capital but could not go there, and the balance columns at the entrance, we will head down to the banks of the Yeşilırmak River.
- Amasya is a city located on both sides of the Yeşilırmak River. After listening to the story of the Kral Kaya Tombs located on the banks of Yeşilırmak from our guide, we will photograph the rock-carved tombs. The busts of sultans placed along the Yeşilırmak River enrich the city’s texture. At the same time, the yalı houses and the clock tower, which are some of the finest examples of Ottoman civil architecture that we can see along the banks of Yeşilırmak, add a unique visual richness to the city. After walking in the Şehzadeler Park, we will say goodbye to Amasya and head to Samsun.
- Our first stop in Samsun will be the replica of the Bandırma Ship, which Atatürk arrived at with 18 friends on May 19, 1919, to start the National Struggle. After obtaining information from our guide and taking a short photo break, we will proceed to our next stop, the Onur Monument. Constructed by Austrian sculptor H. Krippel in 1931, we will take a photo before saying goodbye to Samsun and reaching Ordu via Terme.
- Upon arriving in Ordu, we will give you free time on the Ordu coast. During this time, guests who wish can take the cable car line and go up to Boztepe with the view of Ordu. The Ordu Boztepe cable car takes you to a height of 530 meters in just 7 minutes from the city center. When you reach the top, you will be greeted with the wonderful view of the Black Sea and Ordu. One of the best things to do in this environment full of green and blue is to enjoy the view and take photos. After spending time on Boztepe, we will return via the cable car to meet our bus and continue to our hotel. Dinner and overnight stay will be at our hotel.
- Breakfast: Will be taken in Amasya. (Extra)
- Lunch: Will be taken in Samsun. (Extra)
- Dinner: Will be taken at the hotel. Included in the tour fee.
- Accommodation: Ordu or Samsun / Anemon Hotel, Kubaliç Hotel, Samsun Palas Hotel, etc.
Day 3
- Giresun – Trabzon – Atatürk Pavilion - Maçka - Altındere National Park - Sümela Monastery - Hamsiköy Pudding – Tea Factory - Of – Çaykara – Uzungöl – Karaster Plateau - Rize
- On the 3rd day of the Black Sea Tour with DGN Travel, after the breakfast at the hotel, we will get on our bus and, after seeing Giresun Castle panoramically, we will proceed to our first stop in Trabzon, which is Atatürk Pavilion.
- The Atatürk Pavilion, which was visited twice by our great leader Mustafa Kemal Atatürk in 1924 and 1930 and where he wrote part of his will in 1937, will enchant you with its architecture and garden. We will explore the Atatürk Pavilion with information from our guide. Afterward, we will pass through Maçka (which means a place with abundant rain in old Greek), and arrive at Sümela Monastery, located in the Altındere Valley created by the Coşandere River. (Extra ring vehicles will be used to reach the Monastery within the National Park.) The Sümela Monastery, located approximately 300 meters high from the valley, is one of the oldest churches in Christian history and is a Rum Orthodox Monastery and Complex. Generally known as the Virgin Mary, it is believed to have taken its name from the word “melas” which means black. We will explore the Sümela Monastery, which has played a significant role in the history of Christianity, with our guide's explanations. After completing our visits here, we will meet our bus and proceed to the restaurant for lunch. We will also taste the famous Hamsiköy pudding and visit the Tea Factory, where we can taste the most delicious tea from the Black Sea.
- Here we will learn about the stages of tea production and after having time to drink delicious teas and to shop, we will respectively continue to Uzungöl.
- After passing Talas and Çaykara, while continuing along the Solaklı River and Valley, we will arrive at Uzungöl, which formed as a set lake due to landslides that blocked the entrance of the valley with falling rocks. We will have a brief excursion with our guide after arriving at Uzungöl. After obtaining information from our guide, we will give free time at Uzungöl. During the free time, guests who wish can join the Lustra – Karester Plateau tour, where they can see Uzungöl from a bird's eye view.
- (Depending on the weather and the area's density, the Lustra – Karester Plateau Tour will primarily be conducted, and if the weather prevents it, the Haldizen River – Demirkapı Plateau tour will be conducted. One of the two tours will be conducted as a group.)
- Lustra-Karester Plateau Tour (Extra): We will reach Lustra Plateau at an altitude of 1900 meters by getting on the minibuses waiting for us in Uzungöl. After taking a photo break here, we will climb to 2300 meters and reach Karester Plateau with a short walk. During our free time at Karester Plateau, where we will see Uzungöl from a bird's eye view, you can take stunning photos, drink tea, ayran, and milk, and enjoy the famous Trabzon pudding. After the free time, we will return to Uzungöl by minibuses.
- After the enjoyable plateau tour, we will head to our hotel. Dinner and accommodation will be at our hotel.
- Breakfast: Will be taken at the hotel. Included in the tour fee.
- Lunch: Will be taken in Sürmene. (Extra)
- Dinner: Will be taken at the hotel. Included in the tour fee.
- Accommodation: Rize/ Naliya Hotel, Hayde Hotel Ayder, Zafran Hotel Ayder, Ayder Ümit Hotel, Patika Hotel, etc.
Day 4
- Ayder Plateau – Gelintülü Waterfall – Huser Plateau – Fırtına Valley - Zilkale – Çat Valley – Batumi – Gonia (Apsaros) Castle – Çoruh River – Orta Mosque – Piazza Square – St. Nicholas Church (Noel Baba Church) – Armenian Apostolic Church - Astronomical Clock
- On the 4th day of the Black Sea Tour with DGN Travel, after having breakfast at the hotel, we will head to Ayder Plateau. Upon arriving at Ayder Plateau, we will get off the bus and photograph the Gelintülü Waterfall, which flows hundreds of meters like a white veil. Then we will have free time at Ayder Plateau. During this free time, you can take unforgettable photos with the wonderful scenery and enjoy your morning coffee. After the free time, we will undertake the Huser Plateau tour with guests who wish.
- Huser Plateau Tour (Extra): (Depending on weather conditions, if the Huser Plateau tour cannot be conducted, the alternative extra tour will be the Kavron Plateau Tour.) We will start a lively and enchanting tour with minibuses from Çamlıhemşin. If the weather is cloudy, you will be enchanted by the magnificent fog sea view. If the weather is clear, you will be able to see the Avusor, Kavron, Verçenik and Samistal Plateaus, the peaks of Kaçkar, and the Black Sea and Kaçkar Mountains. The Huser Plateau tour lasts around 2.5 - 3.5 hours.
- Following our Huser Plateau tour, we will see the charming district of Çamlıhemşin, where the Fırtına Valley begins, while giving free time by Fırtına River for our guests who wish, and then we will conduct an extra tour to Zilkale and Çat Valley.
- Zilkale, Çat Valley Tour (Extra): We will start a lively tour with minibuses from Çamlıhemşin. We will enter Çat Valley, one of the two valleys that compose the Fırtına Valley. As we pass through Ortan Village, we will reach Şenyuva Village, formerly known as Chinçiva, which has been the filming location for many productions of the series Sevdaluk. Here we will have a short photo break on the Şenyuva Bridge. Afterward, we will move towards Zilkale, which rises in the wild nature of Çat Valley among the Fırtına Mansions, one of the oldest konaks in the region. The eagle nest-like appearance of the castle will fascinate you. At 750 meters above sea level and 100 meters above the Çat River, we will receive information from our guide upon arriving at the castle and have free time. During this free time, you can tour the castle and take stunning photos while enjoying the enchanting green view. After our free time at Zilkale, we will return to Çamlıhemşin with minibuses.
- After our Zilkale tour, we will board our bus and reach the facility located in Fırtına Valley. Here during our free time, you can taste local delicacies such as muhlama, laz böreği, and trout, or participate in adrenaline and fun-filled activities.
- Rafting in Fırtına River (Extra): For guests who love adrenaline, rafting in Fırtına River offers a thrilling experience. During this approximately 1.5-hour event, you can enjoy fun moments and immortalize this fun with the photos taken.
- Zipline in Fırtına River (Extra): You can participate in a fun project by crossing back and forth over the Fırtına River through steel cables.
- Giant Swing (Extra): You can experience an adrenaline-packed swing that is pushed into the Fırtına River at a height of about 5 meters, attached by strong cables and propelled by motors.
- After our activities in Fırtına Valley, we will proceed to our hotel in Hopa. After having dinner at the hotel, guests wishing to join the Batumi Tour, famous for its illuminations at night, will board our bus to cross the Sarp Border Gate.
- Batumi Tour (Extra): After completing our entry procedures at the Sarp Border Gate, we will enter Georgia and get on our waiting bus to start our journey. Our first stop will be the panoramic view of Gonio (Apsaros) Castle, where the tomb of St. Matthias, one of Jesus Christ's 12 Apostles, can also be found and is dated back to Roman times and was also used during the Ottoman period. As we continue towards Batumi city center, we will see the Çoruh River, which rises from Erzurum and reaches Batumi borders, and the old Çoruh Bridge over it. While traveling through the Batumi Boulevard, we will see buildings built in Soviet architectural style and new constructions, and we will arrive at the city center.
- In the city center, we will get off our bus and start our walk. First, we will visit the Orta Mosque, which is the only remaining monument from the Ottoman period and was built in 1886 with beautiful door decorations made by Laz masters. Next, we will see the architectural eye-catching St. Nicholas Church and reach Piazza Square, reminiscent of European city squares. Piazza Square, one of the prominent places to visit in Batumi, looks like a small Italian town with its interesting architectural structures. After a photo break here, we will walk towards the European Square. During our walk, we will see the Astronomical Clock Tower, similar to those found in Prague and Venice, and the Armenian Apostolic Church as we enter the European Square. In European Square, we will see the Medea Statue, which reflects the mythical face of the Caucasus, and after receiving information from our guide, we will see the Theater Building. Then, we will see the Poseidon Statue, one of the Greek gods, and the clock tower known as the İzmir Clock Tower. Finally, we will reach Batumi Harbor and see the Ali and Nino Statue, which has been the subject of films, and listen to its story from our guide. We will also see the Alphabet Tower at a height of 130 meters, which symbolizes the freedom of the Georgian alphabet and its people and later have free time on the Batumi Boulevard. After our free time, we will say goodbye to Batumi and head towards Sarp Border Gate. While entering Turkey, you will have the opportunity to shop at Duty-Free during the time determined by our guide. After completing our exit procedures, we will board our bus and head towards our hotel.
- *According to the agreement made between the states of Turkey and Georgia, Turkish citizens can enter Batumi with their identity card containing their Turkish ID number.
- *Identity cards must not be worn or older than 10 years. Old-style identity cards cannot be used to enter Batumi.
- *No entry is allowed with ID other than ID cards (driver's licenses, institutional IDs, etc.).
- *Minors, who will travel with only one of their parents (mother or father), must obtain a notarized consent letter to enter Batumi.
- *It is mandatory for all individuals, including infants and children, to have a photo on their identity.
- *Officially, as of September 1, 2020, entry into Batumi with old identity cards is not permitted.
- It is mandatory for our guests to carry their Turkish ID with them.
- *The overseas exit tax must be paid by the participant before entry.
- *All Turkish citizens must have valid international health insurance with a guarantee of a minimum of 30,000 EURO for entry into Georgia. The insurance must be presented in physical or electronic format upon entry and must be obtained by the participant.
- Breakfast: Will be taken at the hotel. Included in the tour fee.
- Lunch: Will be taken in the Fırtına Valley. (Extra)
- Dinner: Will be taken at the hotel. Included in the tour fee.
- Accommodation: Artvin / Sarp Hotel, Terzioğlu Hotel, Peronti Hotel, etc.
Day 5
- Borçka – Karagöl – Rize Fabric Weaving Workshop – Haremtepe Çeçeva Tea Gardens – Sürmene Knife Workshop - Ayasofya - Local Delicacies – Giresun Castle - Ordu
- On the 5th day of the Black Sea Tour with DGN Travel, after having breakfast at the hotel, we will head towards Borçka for the Karagöl Tour. Those who wish can join the extra Karagöl Tour.
- Borçka Karagöl Tour (Extra): After boarding the minibuses in Borçka, we will travel for about 1 hour, passing through a tunnel-like forest to reach Karagöl, which was formed as a result of a landslide in the 1800s blocking the Klaskur River's entrance. You will be amazed by its magnificent nature and fresh air in Karagöl, which retains its natural state with rich vegetation. After approximately 1 hour of free time, we will return to Borçka by minibuses.
- After the Karagöl Tour, we will board our bus and arrive in Çayeli. We will learn about the ropes and weaving concerning one of our country’s famous weavings, Rize Fabric and have free time for shopping. The most important feature of Rize Fabric is that it absorbs sweat from the body and keeps it cool and dry like an air conditioner. After the shopping break, we will head to the Haremtepe Çeçeva Tea Gardens with the minibuses waiting for us, to experience the local culture.
- Haremtepe Çeçeva Tea Gardens Tour (Extra): In Çeçeva Village, you can dress in traditional costumes and take beautiful photos while using a tea cutter and basket among the endless tea fields.
- After our Çeçeva Tour, we will move towards the knife workshop to learn about Sürmene knives, which hold an important place in the regional culture and to shop. After obtaining information about the artisanal knives passed down from generation to generation, we will have our lunch at a restaurant. Our next destination will be Trabzon Ayasofya, one of the important faith centers in the Black Sea.
- Trabzon Ayasofya was built between 1250 – 1260 by King I. Manuel, who founded the Trabzon Empire in 1204, and was converted into a mosque on the orders of Sultan 3. Murad in 1584. After the presentations from our guide, we will visit the workshops where we will be introduced to the telkari and kazaziye arts that have been present since the Ottoman period. Afterward, we will visit the Local Product Store to shop for local products such as butter, cheese, and honey produced in the region. After the tasting and shopping time at the store, on our way back to our hotel, we will see Giresun Castle panoramically while passing by Vakfıkebir, Tirebolu, and Espiye. Dinner and overnight stay will be at our hotel.
- Breakfast: Will be taken at the hotel. Included in the tour fee.
- Lunch: Will be taken in İyidere. (Extra)
- Dinner: Will be taken at the hotel. Included in the tour fee.
- Accommodation: Ordu or Samsun / Anemon Hotel, Kubaliç Hotel, Samsun Palas Hotel, etc.
Day 6
- Samsun - Terme – Sinop – Historical Sinop Prison – Hamsilos Bay - Istanbul
- On the last day of the Black Sea Tour with DGN Travel, after having breakfast at the hotel, we will follow the Black Sea coastal road, passing through Fatsa and Ünye to reach Terme. We will learn about the women of the Amazons while sipping our coffees and then see the Amazon statues found at the East Park of Samsun while we take a panoramic Samsun tour and move to Sinop, the northernmost point in Turkey.
- We will start our Sinop visit at the Historical Sinop Prison, which is recognized as a UNESCO World Heritage Site and is currently used as a museum. Once described as the “Alcatraz of Anatolia,” the Sinop Closed Prison was closed in 1999 and converted into a museum. This building, which dates back to ancient times, has housed many famous names. Known for its location in Sinop Castle, the prison has inspired poems and songs. After visiting the Historical Prison with our guide and getting information, we will head to the Sinop coastline and, for those who desire, we will join a Sinop boat tour. (Extra) After the boat tour, we will reach a restaurant to enjoy the famous Sinop Dumplings and Nokul.
- After the meal, we will move towards Hamsilos Nature Park, located 14 km from the city center. The Hamsilos Nature Park, which includes two unique natural harbors - Hamsilos Bay and Akliman Bay - where the sea flows inland like a river, is a natural wonder with its forested areas and rich biodiversity. During our free time, you can enjoy the natural beauty and take souvenir photos. After our free time, we will conclude our Black Sea Tour with DGN Travel and begin our return journey. We will bid farewell to our esteemed guests as we drop them off at the points we collected them from during the evening.
- Breakfast: Will be taken at the hotel. Included in the tour fee.
- Lunch: Will be taken in Sinop. (Extra)
- Dinner: Will be taken at the rest area along the route. (Extra)
- No hotel accommodation is available this night.
According to the agreement made between Turkey and Georgia, Turkish citizens can cross into Batumi using their identity card with a Turkish identity number. It is not allowed to cross with other identity cards (such as driver's licenses, institutional IDs, etc.). Guests under 18 who are not traveling with their family (both parents simultaneously) are required to obtain a notarized consent letter for crossing into Batumi. It is mandatory for identities to include a photo, including for infants and children. The identity cards must not be worn out and must not be older than 10 years.
As of 01.09.2020, it is not allowed to cross into Batumi with old identity cards.
Guests are required to carry their TC identity card. The foreign exit fee of 1250 ₺ must be paid by the guest.
Malitur is not responsible for any issues that may arise at the Georgian border entry due to deformities on the identity cards.
Foreign guests who have entered Turkey with a passport must have obtained a multiple entry visa to be able to go to Georgia and return to Turkey.
Additionally, according to the visa protocol between Georgia and the countries to which the passports or identity cards belong, entry will be provided based on whether a visa is required or not.
Citizens of the Turkish Republic of Northern Cyprus (TRNC) will be able to enter Georgia using their Turkish identity cards while entering Turkey. TRNC citizens who enter Turkey with a European Union passport must also have obtained a multiple entry visa in order to be able to return to Turkey.
What's Included
• 4 nights accommodation in hotels
• 4 buffet breakfasts at hotels
• 4 buffet or set menu dinners at hotels
• Transportation by luxury vehicles
• Sightseeing tours as specified in the program
• Professional guiding service
• Bottled water on board the vehicle
• Malitur assurance
• Mandatory Travel Insurance according to Tourism Law No. 1618
Not Included
• Breakfast on the first day as stated in the program
• Dinner on the last day as stated in the program
• Beverages included with all meals
• Lunches
• Ordu Boztepe cable car fee
• Sümela Monastery shuttle vehicle fee
• All organizations extra stated in the program
• All personal expenses
• Museum and site entrance fees (valid for government and private enterprises)
• Museum Card (valid for museums under the Ministry of Culture and Tourism)
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