Follow Turkey's dramatic northeastern frontier on this 7-day Black Sea tour from Trabzon to Erzurum, planned in-house by Inca Tour, a TURSAB-licensed operator, and led by your own English-speaking guide. It weaves together misty green mountains, alpine plateaus, cliff-hanging monasteries and Seljuk-era stone monuments — a side of Turkey most visitors never see.
You begin in Trabzon with the breathtaking cliffside Sumela Monastery in Altındere National Park, the Byzantine Hagia Sophia church, Atatürk's Mansion and the panorama from Boztepe. You cross the Zigana Mountains along the old Silk Road, descend into the underground wonder of Karaca Cave, and reach the postcard lake of Uzungöl for a trout lunch beside the water.
The journey continues through the tea-covered hills of Rize, the wild Fırtına Valley and the flower-filled Ayder Plateau beneath the Kaçkar Mountains, then on to Artvin, the emerald lake of Borçka Karagöl and the medieval Georgian churches of the Çoruh Valley. The finale is Erzurum, with the mighty Tortum Waterfall en route and the city's Seljuk masterpieces — the Çifte Minareli Madrasa, Yakutiye Madrasa, Grand Mosque and Erzurum Castle.
Because this is a private departure, hotels can be tailored to your preferred category and the pace adjusted to you. Tell us your dates and group size and our team will send a customised quote within 24 hours.
Your full program, day by day — click a day to see every stop.
Welcome to the Black Sea! On arrival at Trabzon Airport you are met and transferred in comfort to your hotel. The rest of the day is free to relax and explore the lively harbour city of Trabzon at your own pace. Dinner and overnight in Trabzon.
After breakfast we drive into the Altındere Valley National Park to visit the spectacular 4th-century Sumela Monastery, clinging to a sheer cliff face high above the forest. We then cross the scenic Zigana Mountains along a stretch of the old Silk Road and descend into the dazzling underground formations of Karaca Cave. Dinner and overnight in Trabzon.
After breakfast we tour Trabzon's landmarks: the Byzantine Hagia Sophia church, the Gülbahar Hatun Mosque, Trabzon Castle, Atatürk's Mansion, the Ortahisar Mosque, the Girls' Monastery and the Boztepe viewpoint. In the afternoon we head up to the enchanting mountain lake of Uzungöl, where lunch is served at a lakeside trout restaurant (own account). Dinner and overnight near Uzungöl.
After breakfast we travel through the lush tea plantations of Rize, taking in a panoramic viewpoint, then follow the wild Fırtına Valley past Çamlıhemşin into the Kaçkar Mountains. We reach the flower-filled Ayder Plateau with its botanic garden and thermal springs, with lunch in the forested foothills (own account). Dinner and overnight in Ayder.
After breakfast we journey east to the serene emerald waters of Borçka Karagöl, then visit the medieval Doliskana Monastery and Yeni Rabat Church, set among the mountains along the fast-flowing Çoruh River — Turkey's swiftest. Dinner and overnight in Artvin.
After breakfast we travel down the dramatic Çoruh River Valley, visiting the historic Georgian churches of İşhan and Öşk-Vank and the beautiful Tortum Waterfall, with lunch en route (own account). We continue to the highland city of Erzurum. Dinner and overnight in Erzurum.
After breakfast we tour Erzurum's Seljuk and Mongol masterpieces — the twin-minaret Çifte Minareli Madrasa, the Yakutiye Madrasa, the Grand Mosque (Ulu Camii) and Erzurum Castle — before your transfer to the airport for your departure flight, at the end of an unforgettable northeastern Turkey adventure.
Trabzon → Uzungol → Ayder → Artvin → Erzurum
Modern, comfortable and fully-equipped vehicles — the same fleet we use on your tour.
👥 54 Seats
👥 37 Seats (2+1 VIP)
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👥 46 Seats
👥 37+2 Seats
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👥 16+1 Seats
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Extra day tours you can add along your route — Trabzon, Uzungol, Ayder, Artvin, Erzurum.
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Other private and group tours that visit the same destination.
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Real, verified reviews from travellers who explored Turkey with us.
My husband and I chose Inca Tour for our honeymoon and we are so glad we did. The boutique hotel selection was beautiful and the Bosphorus dinner cruise was so romantic. Thank you for making our trip special!
It was important for us to have a guide who spoke Russian, and Ender was wonderful. He explained every detail at Dolmabahce Palace. The Princes Islands day trip was a beautiful break from the busy city.
Our guide Ender was incredibly knowledgeable about Turkish history. The hot-air balloon ride at sunrise in Cappadocia was the highlight of our trip. Everything was perfectly organized — from airport pick-up to the last d...
Ender was our Italian-speaking guide and we felt like family. He took us to local spots tourists never see. The hotel choice in Sultanahmet was perfect for walking everywhere.
10+ years later we still talk about our Cappadocia balloon ride and the Bosphorus sunset cruise. Some memories are timeless. Thank you Inca Tour!