A Different Side of Türkiye
Discover a region far removed from the country’s classic touring routes, where forested mountains, tea fields, coastal cities and village traditions create a completely different sense of place.
Emerald Horizons: 10-Day Black Sea Journey
Misty Mountains, Tea Country and Ottoman Towns Along Türkiye’s Northern Coast
Discover Morocco's royal capitals, historic medinas, Roman ruins, and elegant riad stays on a journey that can be tailored to your preferred pace and travel style.
Duration: 10 Days
Style: Tailor-Made
Route: Rize → Istanbul
Specialist travel since 2001
Tailor-made journeys
Expert Local Guides
Operated with local knowledge
Why This Tour
What sets this journey apart
Designed Around Your Pace
Travel privately with the flexibility to spend longer time in the landscapes, towns and cultural sites that interest you most. Driving days, walking levels and hotel choices can all be adjusted.
Nature, History & Local Life
Balance mountain scenery and waterfalls with Sumela Monastery, Trabzon’s Byzantine heritage, Safranbolu’s Ottoman architecture and everyday encounters in tea-growing communities.
Created by Local Experts
True Blue Tour manages the journey through regional guides, trusted drivers and local partners, shaping a route that works smoothly across a region where distances and weather require careful planning.
Route
The Journey Ahead
1
Rize
2 Days
Tea country, Ayder Plateau and the valleys of the eastern Black Sea
2
Trabzon
2 Days
Sumela Monastery, Byzantine heritage and Black Sea city life
3
Samsun
2 Days
Coastal promenades, regional history and a slower urban pause
4
Safranbolu
2 Days
UNESCO-listed Ottoman houses, artisan streets and saffron traditions
5
Istanbul
1 Day
Final overnight before departure or an optional private extension
At a Glance
Tour snapshot
Suggested Duration
10 days / 9 nights
Travel Style
Private Tailor-Made Cultural & Nature Journey
Group Size
Designed privately for your party
Suggested Start / End
Rize / Istanbul
Pace
Moderate to active, with several longer scenic driving days
Domestic Flight
Istanbul–Rize flight included in the suggested itinerary
Accommodation
Comfort or premium hotels selected according to preference and availability
Meals
Daily breakfast, selected lunches and one welcome dinner in the suggested program
Best For
Repeat visitors to Türkiye, nature lovers, photographers and culturally curious travelers seeking a lesser-known route
The Experience
What this journey feels like
What this journey feels like
This journey feels like discovering a side of Türkiye that most travelers never see. The road follows a landscape of tea-covered hills, mist drifting across mountain plateaus, wooden villages, rivers and forest lakes, with the Black Sea never far away.
There are quiet moments beside Borçka Karagöl, the sound of waterfalls in Artvin, the scent of fresh tea in Rize and the dramatic first view of Sumela Monastery clinging to the mountainside. Farther west, Safranbolu brings a different rhythm through Ottoman mansions, cobbled streets and saffron-scented traditions. More than a route across northern Türkiye, this is a journey shaped by atmosphere, regional identity and the pleasure of traveling somewhere that still feels genuinely undiscovered.
“Not all those who wander are lost.”
J.R.R. Tolkien
Like what you see so far?
Share your preferred travel dates and interests, and we'll create a personalized itinerary just for you.
What’s Covered
Included & not included
Included
- 9 nights’ accommodation in selected hotels
- Daily breakfast
- 8 selected lunches
- Istanbul–Rize domestic flight
- Private airport transfers
- Private air-conditioned vehicle throughout the land journey
- Professional licensed English-speaking guide during included touring
- All sightseeing and entrance fees listed in the final confirmed itinerary
- Tea plantations visit and tea tasting
- Saffron tea and local tasting experience in Safranbolu
- All applicable taxes and VAT
- True Blue Tour support before and during travel
Not Included
- International flights
- Optional rafting in Fırtına Valley
- Meals and drinks not listed as included
- Travel insurance
- Gratuities for guide and driver
- Personal expenses and hotel extras
- Any service not included in the final confirmed proposal
Before You Book
Good to Know
The Black Sea region is defined by mountains, valleys and long coastal distances. Several days involve four to five hours of driving, although the changing scenery forms an important part of the experience. A slower version can be created by adding nights or reducing the number of regions covered.
Weather can be changeable throughout the year, with rain, mist and cooler conditions possible even outside winter. Mountain and waterfall visits may be adjusted according to road, weather and trail conditions.
Is this journey right for you?
This journey is best suited to travelers who enjoy scenery, regional culture, long overland routes and destinations outside the usual tourist circuit. It includes short walks around lakes, waterfalls, caves, monasteries and historic towns, sometimes on uneven or wet surfaces.
The route can be adapted for different mobility levels, but Sumela Monastery, waterfall areas and cave visits may involve steps or uneven pathways. These preferences should be discussed during the planning stage.
Common Questions
Frequently asked questions
No. This is a private tailor-made journey idea with no fixed departure dates.
Yes. The journey can focus only on Rize and Trabzon, or combine the eastern Black Sea with Safranbolu using a different routing.
Yes. The best available hotels, boutique properties and restored mansions can be selected according to the destination and budget.
Several days include approximately four to five hours of driving. Additional nights can be added to create a slower version.
The suggested program includes an Istanbul–Rize flight. The final flight arrangements will be confirmed in the personalized proposal.
Yes. Rafting, longer walks, photography excursions and seasonal plateau visits can be incorporated.
It can be adapted for many senior travelers, but some natural and historic sites involve steps, uneven surfaces or short hikes.
Yes. The eastern Black Sea can combine naturally with Georgia, Armenia or a wider Caucasus itinerary.
True Blue Tour · Türkiye
Let's Create Your Perfect Journey
Every journey is designed around your preferred dates, pace and interests. Our specialists will create a personalized itinerary tailored entirely to you.