Ayder Yaylasi Tour

Ayder Plateau (Ayder Yaylası)

Ayder sits at about 1,350 metres in the Çamlıhemşin district of Rize, a high meadow ringed by forested peaks inside Kaçkar Mountains National Park. Wooden guesthouses, highland cafés and the long white ribbon of the Gelin Tülü (Bridal Veil) waterfall give the plateau its alpine feel, and snow often lingers on the summits until early summer. The village is also known for its thermal spring and for hearty dishes such as muhlama, a melted cheese and cornmeal speciality.

Is Ayder worth visiting? If you want to see the greenest side of Türkiye, absolutely. On this Ayder Plateau day trip from Trabzon you have around two hours of free time to walk up towards the waterfall, have lunch at your own pace and take in the views. The best time to visit Ayder is from late May to early October, when the road and meadows are at their most lively.

Fırtına Valley and the Rafting Area

The Fırtına stream, whose name means “storm”, races down from the Kaçkar range to the Black Sea through a deep, forested valley. Arched stone bridges, tea terraces and wooden village houses line the road, and in places the water turns a vivid turquoise between the rocks. It is the best-known rafting river of the eastern Black Sea, with the main season running from spring to late summer.

The tour stops for about 45 minutes at an activity area beside the river, where you can choose rafting, a zipline across the valley or a swing. These activities are optional and paid on site, and depending on the weather there may be extra time for rafting. If you prefer to stay dry, the riverside terrace is a pleasant place to watch the boats and enjoy the scenery.

Eskitoğlu Waterfall and Swing

The first stop of the day is the Eskitoğlu waterfall, which drops in two stages from a height of around 80 metres just before the road reaches Rize. The water spills over a mossy rock face surrounded by dense greenery, and the site is only a short distance from the sea, so you see coast and forest almost in the same frame.

You have about 30 minutes here for photos and a break. A giant swing has been set up facing the falls, and brave visitors can ride it for a few seconds of flying over the valley (paid on site). It is a good spot to stretch your legs after the drive from Trabzon along the coast road, and the light is usually soft in the morning.

Kale-i Hala Bridge

On the way back down the Fırtına Valley the tour pauses at Kale-i Hala, also called Kale Köprüsü, a graceful single-arch stone bridge built in the 18th century. Bridges like this once linked the scattered villages of the Hemşin area, and many still stand today, carrying footpaths across the rushing water. Their high, narrow arches were designed to stay clear of the spring floods, when snowmelt swells the river.

This is a short photo stop of about 10 minutes, but it is one of the most photographed views of the valley, with the arch reflected in the green water and forest on every side. Stand on the riverbank downstream for the classic shot, and keep an eye on your footing, as stones near the water can be slippery after rain.

Rize Town and Rize Cloth

Rize, the provincial capital, is the centre of Türkiye's tea industry, its hillsides covered in tea terraces that climb almost straight up from the sea. The town is compact, with a waterfront, a central mosque and plenty of shops selling local tea. The route passes through the centre on the way to the Fırtına Valley, so you get a feel for daily life on this stretch of the Black Sea.

On the return journey the tour stops for about 25 minutes at a shop selling Rize bezi, the traditional hand-woven cloth of the region. Made from plant fibres and known for keeping cool in summer, it is used for towels, scarves, shirts and table linen. It makes a light and useful souvenir, and you are free to browse without any obligation to buy.