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
Duration
10 days
Style
Tailor-Made
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
Start City
Rize
End City
Istanbul
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
Day by Day
Your 10-day itinerary
Rize
The Black Sea journey begins where mountains meet the coast.
Welcome to Rize. Upon arrival, meet your guide and transfer to the hotel. The remainder of the day is free to settle in and begin absorbing the quieter rhythm of Türkiye’s northeastern coast.
Follow mountain roads into a landscape of forests, valleys and falling water.
Travel east toward Artvin and Borçka Karagöl, a tranquil forest lake surrounded by dense mountain scenery. Walk beside the water, take time for photography or simply enjoy the stillness of the national park. Continue through the region’s valleys and villages, stopping for a traditional Black Sea lunch before visiting natural landmarks such as Kamilet Valley, Deliklikaya Waterfall and Mençuna Waterfall. Some sites require short walks on uneven or occasionally wet paths. The exact combination of stops can be adjusted according to weather, season and preferred activity level.
Misty plateaus, stone bridges and tea-covered hills define the eastern Black Sea.
Begin in the mountain landscapes of Ayder Plateau, known for wooden houses, forested slopes and cool highland air. Continue through Fırtına Valley, where rivers, historic stone bridges and villages reflect the character of the region. A rafting experience may be added for travelers seeking a more active day. Later, visit a tea plantation or local tea producer in Rize to learn how Türkiye’s best-known tea is cultivated and processed. Enjoy a tasting overlooking the green hills before continuing to Trabzon.
History and faith rise dramatically from the forests of the Pontic Mountains.
Travel into Altındere National Park to visit Sumela Monastery, one of Türkiye’s most dramatic historic monuments. Built into a sheer cliff face, the monastery combines Orthodox heritage, mountain scenery and a powerful sense of isolation. After lunch, return to Trabzon to visit Hagia Sophia of Trabzon, a 13th-century Byzantine church known for its frescoes and views toward the sea. Complete the day at Atatürk Mansion, an elegant early 20th-century residence surrounded by gardens and connected to the life of Mustafa Kemal Atatürk.
The journey west follows the Black Sea through caves, viewpoints and coastal cities.
Leave Trabzon and travel west along the Black Sea coast. Visit Çal Cave, where underground passages, water features and natural formations offer a different perspective on the region’s geology. Continue to Ordu for lunch and a panoramic introduction to the city before proceeding to Samsun. Check in to the hotel and enjoy the evening at leisure.
A day shaped by the sea, local history and time to explore independently.
Begin with a relaxed walk along the Atakum waterfront before continuing into central Samsun. See the city’s Atatürk Monument and learn about Samsun’s place in the history of modern Türkiye. After lunch, visit the Amazon Village open-air museum, dedicated to the legendary warrior women associated with the wider Black Sea region. The evening is free for independent exploration or a private dinner arranged according to your interests.
The landscape changes again as the journey enters the Ottoman Anatolia.
Travel inland toward Safranbolu, stopping in Kastamonu for a regional lunch and a brief introduction to the city. Continue to Safranbolu and check in to your hotel. Depending on arrival time, take a first walk through the historic streets or relax before the following day’s guided exploration.
Wooden mansions, artisan streets and saffron traditions bring the past to life.
Explore Safranbolu’s UNESCO-listed old town, where cobbled streets, wooden mansions, fountains and courtyard houses preserve the atmosphere of an Ottoman trading center. Visit Köprülü Mehmet Paşa Mosque and continue through the Arasta Bazaar, where copperware, textiles and saffron products reflect local craftsmanship. Enjoy lunch at a traditional restaurant and complete the day with saffron tea and Turkish delight.
The final road returns from Ottoman Anatolia to the Bosphorus.
Enjoy a free morning in Safranbolu before lunch and departure for Istanbul. Upon arrival, transfer to your hotel. The evening is at leisure.
The journey ends, but the route can continue in any direction.
Enjoy breakfast and private transfer to the airport for your onward flight. Please kindly note that since this is a tailor-made journey, additional nights in Istanbul or extensions to Cappadocia, Eastern Türkiye, Georgia or another destination can be added according to your travel plans.
Like what you see so far?
Share your preferred travel dates and interests, and we'll create a personalized itinerary just for you.
Your feature stay
A handpicked stay on the route
Feature stay
Safranbolu
Hıdırlık Konakları
Hidden within UNESCO-listed Safranbolu, Hıdırlık Konakları offers an authentic Ottoman stay. Beautifully restored and full of character, it blends traditional architecture with warm hospitality, making it one of the journey's highlights.
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.