• Breakfast on the first day as specified in the program
• Dinner on the last day as specified in the program
• Batumi dinner (Georgian Night)
• Beverages consumed during all meals
• Lunches
• International exit fee (for the Batumi tour)
• International travel (health) insurance (for the Batumi tour)
• Sümela Monastery shuttle vehicle fee
• All additional organizations specified in the program
• All personal expenses
• Museum and cultural site entrance fees (valid for municipal and private enterprises.)
• Museum Card (valid for museums affiliated with the Ministry of Culture and Tourism.)
• Zilkale Tour 600₺
• Huser Plateau Tour 850₺
• Fırtına Stream Rafting 900₺
• Fırtına Stream Zipline 300₺
• Giant Swing 300₺
• Çeçeva Tea Gardens Tour 650₺
• Lustra - Karester Plateau Tour 650₺
• Georgian Night 80 Lari
**Extra tour fees may vary according to the seasons. The fees stated are the current rates for the reservation date. DGN Travel is not responsible for any price changes that may occur on or before the tour date.
**Day 1** - Trabzon – Maçka – Altındere National Park – Sümela Monastery – Hamsiköy Rice Pudding - Sürmene Tea Factory – Of – Çaykara – Uzungöl – Lustra and Karester Plateau - Rize - **Departure:** Pegasus Airlines Sabiha Gökçen Airport – Trabzon or Rize Airport : 07:00 - **Departure:** Turkish Airlines Istanbul Airport – Trabzon or Rize Airport : 06:30 - **Return:** Pegasus Airlines Trabzon or Rize Airport – Sabiha Gökçen Airport : 20:00 - **Return:** Turkish Airlines Trabzon or Rize Airport – Istanbul Airport : 20:40 - **Arrangement of flight itinerary will be determined based on selected dates.** - After meeting our guide at Trabzon Airport in the morning following our flight for the Air Travel Eastern Black Sea and Batumi Tour, we will transfer to our bus. We will reach Maçka and take a break for breakfast. - After breakfast, we start our tour with Sümela Monastery. We arrive at Sümela Monastery, located about 300 meters above the valley created by the Coşan Stream, found in Altındere Valley, known in Ancient Greek as "Maçuka," meaning the place with plenty of rain. Sümela Monastery, a Rum Orthodox Monastery and Complex, is one of the oldest churches in Christian history. Commonly known as the Virgin Mary, Sümela Monastery is believed to have taken its name from the word "melas," meaning black. We explore Sümela Monastery with the guidance of our tour guide. After completing our tours here, we will meet our bus and head to a facility where we will taste the famous Hamsiköy rice pudding. After enjoying our rice pudding, we visit the Tea Factory where we can taste the most delicious teas of the Black Sea region. Here, we will receive information about the stages of tea production and have free time to enjoy delicious teas and shop. - Next, proceeding along the Of-Çaykara-Taşkıran route, we progress along the Solaklı Stream and Valley and arrive at Uzungöl, a set lake formed by landslide rocks blocking the river valley. We will have a short tour with our guide and then have free time in Uzungöl. During the free time, guests who wish can join the Lustra – Karester Plateau tour, where they can have a bird's eye view of Uzungöl. - (Depending on weather conditions and regional density, the Lustra – Karester Plateau Tour will primarily be conducted, but if the weather does not permit, the Haldizen Stream – Demirkapı Plateau tour will be conducted instead. One of the two group tours will take place.) - **Lustra-Karester Plateau Tour (Extra):** By boarding the minibuses waiting for us at Uzungöl, we will reach the first point at Lustra Plateau, which is at an altitude of 1900 meters. After a photo break here, we will ascend to an altitude of 2300 meters and after a short walk, we will arrive at Karester Plateau. During our free time at Karester Plateau, where we will have a panoramic view of Uzungöl, you can take amazing photos, drink tea, ayran, and milk, and enjoy Trabzon’s famous rice pudding. After our free time, we will board the minibuses and return to Uzungöl. - After our delightful plateau tour, we will meet our bus in Uzungöl and head towards our hotel. Dinner and accommodation will be provided at our hotel. - **Breakfast:** Will be taken in Maçka. (Extra) - **Lunch:** Will be taken in Sürmene. (Extra) - **Dinner:** Will be served at the hotel. Included in the tour price. - **Accommodation:** Rize/Naliya Hotel, Hayde Hotel Ayder, Zafran Hotel Ayder, Ayder Ümit Hotel, Patika Hotel, etc. **Day 2** - Ayder Plateau – Gelintülü Waterfall – Huser Plateau – Fırtına Valley - Zilkale – Çat Valley - Batumi - On the second day of the tour with DGN Travel, after breakfast at the hotel, we head towards Ayder Plateau. We take photographs of Gelintülü Waterfall, which is named after its white veil-like cascade of hundreds of meters. Then we have free time in Ayder Plateau. During the free time, you may take unforgettable photographs against the stunning backdrop and enjoy your morning coffee. After our free time, we will proceed with the Huser Plateau tour for those who wish. - **Huser Plateau Tour (Extra):** (If the Huser Plateau Tour cannot take place due to weather conditions, an alternative extra tour to Kavron Plateau will be arranged.) We start a fun-filled tour with stunning views by boarding minibuses from Çamlıhemşin. If it is cloudy, you will be mesmerized by the view of a sea of fog. If the weather is clear, you will be able to see the Avusor, Kavron, Verçenik, and Samistal Plateaus, the peaks of the Kaçkar Mountains, and the Black Sea with the Kaçkar Mountains. The Huser Plateau tour lasts for about 2.5 to 3.5 hours. - After our Huser Plateau tour, we see the charming district of Çamlıhemşin, set at the beginning of Fırtına Valley, and enjoy free time by Fırtına Stream, where guests can optionally take an extra tour of Zilkale and Çat Valley. - **Zilkale, Çat Valley Tour (Extra):** We start a fun-filled tour with minibuses from Çamlıhemşin. We enter Çat Valley, one of the two valleys that form Fırtına Valley. We pass through Ortan Village, known as a filming location for the series "Sevdaluk," and reach the old name, Çinçiva, or Şenyuva Village. Here, we take a short photo break at the Şenyuva Bridge. Next, we move toward Zilkale, rising majestically in the wild nature of Çat Valley. The castle's eagle's nest-like appearance will captivate you. When we reach the castle, located 750 meters above sea level and 100 meters above Çat Stream, we will receive information from our guide and will have free time to walk around the castle while taking stunning photos with the enchanting green scenery. After our free time in Zilkale, we will board the minibuses and return to Çamlıhemşin. - After the Zilkale tour, we board our bus and reach the facility located in Fırtına Valley. During our free time here, you can taste local delicacies such as muhlama, laz böreği, and trout and engage in adrenaline-filled activities. - **Rafting in Fırtına Stream (Extra):** For adrenaline-seeking guests, rafting on Fırtına Stream is an enjoyable activity that takes about 1.5 hours. You can experience fun moments and immortalize the excitement with photos taken during the activity. - **Zipline in Fırtına Stream (Extra):** You can cross from one side of Fırtına Stream to the other by zipping along steel ropes, enjoying a fun activity. - **Giant Swing (Extra):** Experience an adrenaline-filled swing that is pulled over a steel cable about 5 meters high and launched over Fırtına Stream. - After completing our activities in Fırtına Valley, we head towards our hotel in Hopa. After dinner at the hotel, guests who wish can join the Night Batumi Tour, which is famous for its illuminated scenery, as we board the bus to Sarp Border Gate. After completing our customs procedures, we will check in at our hotel in Batumi. - Guests who wish can gather in the lobby at the time determined by our guide and enjoy a Georgian Night, where we will have the opportunity to explore Caucasian culture and taste Georgian cuisine. (Extra) - ***According to the agreement made between Turkey and Georgia, TC citizens can cross into Batumi with their ID cards bearing their TC identity number.*** - ***ID cards must not be worn and must not be older than 10 years. Entry into Batumi is not permitted with old-style ID cards.*** - ***Entry is not allowed with any identification other than ID cards (driver's license, institutional IDs, etc.)*** - ***Travelers under 18 years of age traveling with one parent must have a Notary-approved Consent Form to enter Batumi.*** - ***It is mandatory that identification, including infants and children, contains a photo.*** - ***As of 01.09.2020, entry into Batumi with old ID cards is not permitted.*** - ***Guests must carry their ID cards with TC numbers.*** - ***The foreign exit fee will be paid by the participant before crossing.*** - ***Each TC citizen must have valid international health insurance with a minimum coverage of 30,000 EURO for entry into Georgia. This insurance must be presented in physical or electronic form at the entrance. The insurance must be arranged by the participant.*** - **Breakfast:** Will be taken at the hotel. Included in the tour price. - **Lunch:** Will be taken in Fırtına Valley. (Extra) - **Dinner:** Will be taken in Batumi. (Extra) - **Accommodation:** Batumi/Metro City Hotel, İntourist Hotel, Iberia Hotel, Sputnik Hotel, etc. **Day 3** - Batumi – Piazza Square – Astronomical Clock Tower – Europe Square – Medea Statue – Theater Building – Poseidon Statue – Çça Tower – Port – Ali and Nino Statue – Çoruh River - Gonia (Apsaros) Castle – Sarp Border Gate – Hopa – Borçka – Karagöl - Rize - On the third day of the DGN Travel Air Travel Eastern Black Sea and Batumi Tour, after breakfast at the hotel, we will board the bus to see Orta Mosque, the only remaining structure from the Ottoman Period, which was built in 1886 and features stunning door decorations made by Laz artisans. Then we will see St. Nicholas Church, with striking architecture, before arriving at Piazza Square, which resembles Italian squares. Piazza Square, one of the prominent places to visit in Batumi, appears like a small Italian town with its interesting architectural structures. After taking photos here, we will walk towards Europe Square. During our walk, we will see the Astronomical Clock Tower, which resembles structures found in Prague and Venice, and the Armenian Apostolic Church, and enter Europe Square. In Europe Square, we see the Medea Statue, which reflects the mythical face of the Caucasus, and we will receive information from our guide. We then see the Theater Building and the Poseidon Statue, representing one of the Greek Gods and the replica of the İzmir Clock Tower known as Çça Tower. Afterward, we reach Batumi Port to see the Ali and Nino Statue, whose love story has inspired movies, and listen to its tale from our guide. Next, we will see the Alphabet Tower, which symbolizes the freedom of the Georgian Alphabet and people, standing at 130 meters high, and have free time at Batumi Boulevard. Afterward, on our way to Sarp Border Gate, we will panoramically view the Soviet-style buildings and modern constructions of Batumi, the Çoruh River that flows from Erzurum to the borders of Batumi, and the old Çoruh Bridge that crosses it. After that, we will panoramically view Gonio (Apsaros) Castle, from the Roman period where the tomb of St. Matthias, one of the 12 apostles of Jesus, is found, before reaching Sarp Border Gate. - While entering Turkey, you will have the opportunity to shop at Duty-Free for the time determined by our guide. After completing our exit procedures, we will have lunch in Hopa. After our meal, we head towards Borçka for the Karagöl Tour. Guests who wish can start the extra Karagöl Tour with us. - **Borçka Karagöl Tour (Extra):** By boarding our minibuses from Borçka, we will take a one-hour journey through a tunnel-like path surrounded by trees to reach Karagöl. Formed in the 1800s due to a landslide near the present Klaskur Plateau, Karagöl will impress you with its stunning nature and abundant oxygen. You will experience moments where time seems to stand still in the naturally preserved Karagöl with its rich vegetation. After approximately 1 hour of free time, we will board again and return to Borçka. We will board our bus and proceed to our hotel. Dinner and accommodation will be provided at our hotel. - **Breakfast:** Will be taken at the hotel. Included in the tour price. - **Lunch:** Will be taken in Hopa. (Extra) - **Dinner:** Will be taken at the hotel. Included in the tour price. **Day 4** - Rize – Rize Fabric Workshop – Haremtepe Çeçeva Tea Gardens - Knife Workshop – Atatürk Pavilion – Akçaabat – Local Delicacies – Hagia Sophia – Telkari and Kazaziye Workshops - Istanbul - On the fourth day of the DGN Travel Air Travel Eastern Black Sea and Batumi Tour, after breakfast at the hotel, we will visit the Rize Fabric Workshop, famous for its fabrics, where we gain information about yarn and weaving before having free time for shopping. The main feature of Rize Fabric is its ability to absorb sweat and keep the body cool and dry, thereby acting like air conditioning. After our shopping break for Rize Fabric, we will board the waiting minibuses for the Haremtepe Çeçeva Tea Gardens tour for those who wish. - **Haremtepe Çeçeva Tea Gardens Tour (Extra):** In Çeçeva Village, you can take beautiful photos dressed in traditional clothes while using tea scissors and baskets among the lush tea fields. - After the Çeçeva Tour, we head to the knife workshop to learn about handmade Sürmene knives, which hold an important place in local culture, and to shop for our needs. After our shopping, we will move on to Atatürk Pavilion. - The Atatürk Pavilion, which the Great Leader Mustafa Kemal Atatürk visited twice in 1924 and 1930 and stayed at in 1937, and where a part of his will was also written, will enchant you with its architecture and garden. We will visit the pavilion with information from our guide. Afterward, we will have lunch at a restaurant famous for Akçaabat Meatballs. After lunch, we head towards the Local Products Store to shop for local products such as butter, cheese, and honey produced in the region. Following a tasting and shopping break at the store, we will proceed to Trabzon Hagia Sophia. - Trabzon Hagia Sophia, built between 1250-1260 by King I. Manuel, who established the Trabzon Empire in 1204, and converted into a mosque in 1584 by orders of Sultan 3. Murad, is another highlight of our tour. After the explanations from our guide, we will visit the workshop where the traditional arts of telkari and kazaziye will be introduced. After free time for shopping at the Telkari and Kazaziye Workshop, we will board our bus and head towards the airport. After completing our baggage procedures, we conclude the DGN Travel Air Travel Eastern Black Sea and Batumi Tour and say goodbye until the next DGN Travel organization. - **Breakfast:** Will be taken at the hotel. Included in the tour price. - **Lunch:** Will be in Akçaabat. (Extra)