Eastern Black Sea Highlands

After breakfast, we begin our tour. Today, we will visit four beautiful plateaus. Our first stop will be Pokut and Sal Plateaus.

Sal Plateau & Pokut Plateau 

Depending on the weather and road conditions, we will head to Pokut and Sal Plateaus with a suitable vehicle—these plateaus have been featured countless times in newspapers and magazines, and are indispensable for Instagram posts. At 2,000 meters above sea level, they offer breathtaking beauty. All the houses in these plateaus, which sit atop hills, are made entirely of wood. Surrounded by wild forests and retaining their pristine nature, these plateaus amaze visitors with their unforgettable scenery.

After about an hour's journey from the hotel, we reach our first stop, Sal Plateau. The wide grassy area in front of the plateau and the row of plateau houses behind it provide a unique beauty. Sitting on the bench at the top of Sal, watching the surroundings and breathing in the fresh air is an experience beyond words. After our time at Sal Plateau comes to an end, we move on to Pokut Plateau.

The half-hour flat forest walk between the two plateaus will add a special touch to our day. After this short walk, we enjoy the views of Pokut Plateau, with the sea on one side, the Kaçkar Mountains on the other, and, if we’re lucky, a sea of clouds and mountain islands rising above them. Pokut is surrounded by untouched, ancient natural forests that you’ll never get enough of. During our break at Pokut overlooking the panorama, we will surprise you with special treats. After touring and enjoying the plateau, we pass through the plateau houses into the forest and reach Eynetap. Here, we relax on the grass and take a short break. After the break, we start our hike toward Hazindak Plateau.

Hazindak Plateau

Hazindak is a small, charming, and well-preserved plateau situated on a hill where the paths of four plateaus intersect. After about a two-hour walk from Eynetap, we arrive at the plateau. We will have lunch here and spend some time among the plateau houses, before heading for Amlakit Plateau.

Amlakit Plateau

This part of the walk is easy and flat. Along the way, we’ll encounter massive stone steps placed on the trails by hand and several refreshingly cold springs. Located at about 2,000 meters above sea level, Amlakit Plateau—one of the largest plateaus in Hemşin, built alongside a river—greets us with its hospitable people and its peaceful silence. After a short tea break in Amlakit, we meet up with our vehicle and return to our hotel.

After breakfast, we set off towards Trovit Plateau, which is a one-and-a-half-hour drive from our hotel. 

Trovit Plateau & Yıldız Lake

Trovit Plateau is a settlement located in a valley at an altitude of 2500 meters, consisting of wooden and stone houses. After a brief photo break on the plateau, we begin our ascent towards Yıldız Lake. We hike for about an hour along the valley, which is mostly flat and has a stream running through it, then climb up to the right for half an hour to reach Yıldız Lake at an elevation of 2900 meters.

We are now face to face with a large glacial lake. The color and the shore of the lake may remind you of Salda Lake. Those who wish can swim comfortably in the lake. With our lunch break here, we will spend about 1.5 hours before heading back the same way.

Elevit Plateau & Çat Bridge

After descending from the valley and reuniting with our vehicle left at Trovit Plateau, we drive down to Elevit Plateau, which is at an altitude of 1800 meters. This 'population unknown' plateau, once the most visited and where the Vartivor festival was celebrated with great enthusiasm, currently longs for its lively days. After some walking and photo breaks within the plateau, we start our return to the hotel. Of course, we don't forget to stop for photos at Çat Bridge on the way. :) After leaving Çat, we return to our hotel.

After our breakfast, we set out towards Kale Plateau.

Kale Plateau, Kale-i Bala

The plateau itself is small and the valley it's located in is beautiful, but its main feature is that it is home to the sister of Zil Kale (Kale-i Zir – Lower Castle). Its name is Kale-i Bala, which means Upper Castle. Though it has not survived as intact as Zil Kale, you may want to climb up for a 360-degree panoramic view. Leaving behind this castle and its scenery, seen by only a handful of people, we move on to Çiçekli Plateau.

Çiçekli Plateau

After arriving at the plateau and relaxing for a bit while taking in the view, we hike amidst unique landscapes to the meeting point with our vehicle. Then, we regroup with our vehicle, descend to the valley floor, and proceed to lunch.

Mollaveyis Village – Çinçiva Village Hike, Historic Mansions

In the second part of the day, we will hike from Mollaveyis Village to Çinçiva Village (Şenyuva). The entire trail is through forested areas, surrounded by chestnut, linden, and spruce trees. After a 45-minute walk, we arrive at the Zizna region and visit the historic mansions. Afterwards, we leave Zizna behind and continue our hike. Walking along forest paths for about 1 hour and 15 minutes, we reach Çinçiva Bridge and complete our hike. After taking a group photo at the historic Çinçiva Bridge, we return to our hotel.

After an early breakfast, we leave our hotel and the Fırtına Valley behind and set off towards the Macahel Valley, located in the Borçka district of Artvin.

Borçka Karagöl Nature Park

On our journey, we take a short detour to visit the Borçka Karagöl Nature Park. It's surprising how a landslide could create such a beautiful result. In the early 19th century, a landslide near the Klaskur Plateau blocked the Klaskur Stream, forming this lake at 1500 meters altitude that is now a nature park.

Macahel Valley & Camili Village

After leaving Karagöl, we continue our journey. Following a photo break at Macahel Pass, we arrive at the Macahel Valley, one of the most important and well-preserved regions of Eastern Black Sea, which has been declared a biosphere reserve by UNESCO.

Our first stop in the region is Camili Village. We tour the village and photograph its mosque, which stands out with its wooden architecture. After leaving Camili Village, we set out for Maral Village, where we take a lunch break at Sevda Abla's place.

Maral Waterfall

After lunch, we begin our half-hour hike to Maral Waterfall. Maral Waterfall is Turkey’s highest waterfall that descends in a single drop. While you can admire the 63-meter Maral Waterfall from above, those willing to tackle the steep path with a guide can also take the opportunity to swim beneath the falls. After the waterfall tour, we settle into our hotel in Maral Village.

After our breakfast, we set out towards the foothills of Verçenik Mountain, the second highest in the region at 3,711 meters.

Verçenik Plateau & Kapılı Lakes

We follow the rivers and streams that form the Fırtına Valley all the way to their source. The journey ends at Verçenik Plateau. From there, we continue on foot along the trail. The route is generally not too steep, except for some sections where the path slopes sharply in an S-shape under the lakes. Sometimes we walk across grassy fields, at other times through rocky paths, crossing small streams to reach the deep blue Kapılı Lakes nestled at 3,000 meters under Verçenik Mountain. The lakes are stacked like steps, and the mountain's reflection on the water makes this spot a haven for photography enthusiasts. Naturally, taking a swim in the lake is a common activity here. To avoid any regrets, it’s a good idea to bring your swimsuit and towel along. After a long break for lunch by the lakeside, we retrace our steps, meet our vehicle, and head back to the hotel.

After breakfast, we set out towards Rize Airport. There will be one more place to see on our journey back.

Kamilet Valley & Mençuna Waterfall & Dobule Bridges

After leaving Macahel, we retrace our route back and take the coastal road to reach Arhavi, a district of Artvin. Next, we enter Kamilet Valley. We visit Çifteköprü (Double Bridges), the only place in the region where you can see two stone bridges together. Afterwards, our vehicle brings us to the start of the Mençuna Waterfall hiking trail. It takes about 45 minutes on foot along the path to reach the waterfall. The waterfall drops from around 70 meters, and although the water flow is not very high, the visual experience is quite satisfying. Those who wish can swim in the pool beneath the falls. After leaving the waterfall, we head for lunch. Following the meal, we continue towards Rize Airport.

Around 18:00, we arrive at Rize Airport and bid you farewell, hoping to see you again on another Bukla Tour.