Eastern Black Sea Highlands (3 Nights 4 Days)

After breakfast, we begin our tour. Today, we will visit four beautiful plateaus. First, we will go to Pokut and Sal Plateaus.

Sal Plateau & Pokut Plateau

Depending on the weather and road conditions, we will reach Pokut and Sal Plateaus by suitable vehicles. These two plateaus, which have been featured countless times in newspapers and magazines and are indispensable spots for Instagram posts, are dazzling beauties located at 2000 meters altitude. All the houses in these plateaus built on a hilltop are made entirely of wood. These two untouched plateaus are surrounded by wild forest, and the scenery is absolutely breathtaking.

After about an hour's drive from the hotel, we arrive at our first stop, Sal Plateau. The wide grassy area at the front of the plateau and the row of plateau houses behind offer a distinct beauty. Sitting on the bench at the top of Sal, watching the surroundings and breathing in the fresh air is one of those experiences that cannot be described—only lived. After our time at Sal Plateau is over, we continue to Pokut Plateau.

The half-hour walk through the flat forest between the two plateaus will add a special touch to our day. After this short walk, we enjoy the views of Pokut Plateau—on one side, the sea, on the other, the Kaçkar Mountains. If we’re lucky, we’ll also see a sea of clouds and mountain islands emerging from the mist. Pokut, surrounded by pristine old-growth forest, will leave you wanting more. During our break facing the views in Pokut, we will have surprise treats for you. After exploring and enjoying the plateau, we enter the forest between the plateau houses and reach Eynetap. Here, we relax on the meadow for a short break. After our rest, we start the walk towards Hazindak Plateau.

Hazindak Plateau

Hazindak is a small, charming, and well-preserved plateau situated atop a hill where the paths of four plateaus intersect. After about a 2-hour walk from Eynetap, we reach the plateau. We have lunch here and spend some time among the plateau houses before heading towards Amlakit Plateau.

Amlakit Plateau

This part of the hike is easy and flat. Along the way, giant stone stairs placed on the trails by human effort and cold springs will accompany us. Again, located at an altitude of about 2000 meters, positioned by the stream, Amlakit Plateau, one of the largest Hemşin plateaus, welcomes us with its hospitable people and tranquil silence. After a short tea break in Amlakit, we meet our vehicle and return to the hotel.

After breakfast, we set off towards the foothills of Mount Verçenik, the second highest mountain in the region at 3,711 meters.

Verçenik Plateau & Kapılı Lakes

We follow the rivers and streams that form the Storm Valley all the way to their sources. The road ends at Verçenik Plateau. From here, we continue on foot along a trail. Most of the trail is gently sloped, but when we reach the base of the lakes, the path rises sharply in switchbacks. Sometimes we walk over grass, sometimes through rocky trails, and cross small streams to reach the deep blue Kapılı Lakes scattered beneath Mount Verçenik at 3,000 meters elevation. The lakes, lined up like steps one above the other, and the mountain’s reflection on the water are a paradise for photography lovers. Of course, when you see a lake, swimming in it is only natural. It’s a good idea to bring your swimsuit and towel so you won’t regret it later. After a long lunch break by the lake, we return by the same route, meet up with our vehicle, and go back to our hotel.

After breakfast, we begin the last day of our tour.

Mollaveyis Village - Çinçiva Village Walk, Historic Mansions

During the first stage of the day, we will walk from Mollaveyis Village to Çinçiva Village (Şenyuva). The entire route is within the forest. We’ll be surrounded by chestnut, linden, and spruce trees. After a 45-minute walk, we reach the Zizna area and visit the historic mansions.

Afterwards, we leave Zizna and continue our hike. Taking the forest trails, we walk for another approximately 1 hour and 15 minutes towards the Çinçiva Bridge, thus completing the first stage of the day. After taking a group photo at the historic Çinçiva Bridge, we return to our hotel to collect our belongings and depart from the Fırtına Valley.

Kamilet Valley & Mençuna Waterfall & Twin Bridges

After leaving the Fırtına Valley, we retrace our route and take the coastal road to reach Arhavi district of Artvin. We have lunch along the way. Then, we enter Kamilet Valley. After visiting Twin Bridges, the only place in the region where you can see two stone bridges side by side, we reach the starting point of the Mençuna Waterfall hiking trail by vehicle. Following the path, we reach the waterfall after a 45-minute walk. The waterfall drops from approximately 70 meters and, although it does not have a high flow rate, is visually satisfying. Those who wish can swim in the pond beneath the waterfall. After leaving the waterfall, we continue our journey towards Rize Airport.

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