Çeçeva Haremtepe Tour

Eskitoğlu Waterfall's Cascade

Eskitoğlu Waterfall opens the day with water dropping over a rock face into a shaded pool, framed by dense forest that keeps the air noticeably cooler than the coast. A short walkway leads guests close enough to feel the spray on warmer days, and the sound of falling water sets a relaxed tone before the more structured stops later in the itinerary. Benches and viewing points along the path let the group pause without needing to move far from the parking area. This opening stop favours a quiet look at nature over a long walk, easing travellers into the day before the drive continues toward the Botanical Park.

Among the Falls and Forest

Beyond the main viewing point, paths around Eskitoğlu Waterfall wind briefly through the surrounding forest, where moss-covered rocks and smaller side streams add texture to the main cascade. Photographers in the group tend to linger here longest, working around the changing light through the tree cover. The relatively short distance from the parking area to the falls makes this an easy stop regardless of walking ability, and the guide keeps track of time so the group can move on comfortably toward the next stop. This forested opening sets a green, unhurried tone that carries through much of the day ahead.

A Walk Through the Botanical Park

The Botanical Park offers a change of scenery from the waterfall, with pathways running between beds of local plants and flowering shrubs arranged across open, landscaped grounds. The group walks through at an easy pace, with enough variety in the planting to interest both casual visitors and anyone with a particular interest in the region's flora. Shaded sections provide a break from direct sun, useful given the walking involved earlier at the waterfall. This calmer, more organised stop sits between two more distinctive highlights of the day, giving the group a settling moment before lunch at the White Bean Restaurant.

Lunch at the White Bean Restaurant

The White Bean Restaurant brings the group together for a seated meal built around the region's well-known white bean dish, prepared in a style specific to this part of the Black Sea coast. Wooden interiors and a relaxed dining room give the stop a proper break in the middle of the day, rather than a quick snack stop. Travellers share tables as part of the group setting, giving the meal a social element alongside the food itself. This midday pause resets the pace before the afternoon continues toward the terraced tea gardens further into the hills.

Arriving at Çeçeva Tea Gardens

Çeçeva Tea Gardens, also known locally as Haremtepe, spread across terraced hillsides where tea bushes follow the contour of the land in tight green rows. The group steps out here into open air after the indoor lunch stop, with paths running between the terraces at several levels. Workers can sometimes be seen picking tea by hand along the slopes, giving a direct look at how the leaf reaches market from this part of Rize. The layered green terraces make this one of the more visually distinct stops of the day, standing apart from both the waterfall and the park visited earlier.

Walking the Tea Terraces

Moving further into the Çeçeva Tea Gardens, the paths climb gently between rows of tea bushes, offering wider views back over the terraces the higher the group walks. The air here carries a faint, earthy scent from the tea plants themselves, distinct from the forest smell at the earlier waterfall stop. Photographers usually find the strongest shots from the upper paths, where the layered green terraces stack visibly down the hillside. This extended time among the tea bushes gives the group a proper sense of the plantation landscape before returning to the vehicle for the final stop of the day at Rize Tea Bazaar.

Browsing Rize Tea Bazaar

Rize Tea Bazaar closes the itinerary with a market setting built around the region's best-known product, with stalls selling packaged and loose tea alongside other local goods. The group has time to walk between vendors at their own pace, comparing the different grades and blends grown across the surrounding hills. This unstructured browsing window contrasts with the more guided stops earlier in the day, giving travellers a chance to pick up something specific to take home. The bazaar's central setting also makes it a natural point to regroup before the drive back toward Trabzon.

The Giant Tea Glass Landmark

Standing near the bazaar, the oversized tea glass sculpture has become a familiar symbol of Rize's connection to tea, and the group typically stops here for a photograph before heading back to the vehicle. Its scale makes it hard to miss from within the bazaar area, and it offers a clear, recognisable marker for the tour's final stop of the day. Coming after the tea garden walk and the bazaar browsing, this landmark ties together the tea theme that runs through the second half of the itinerary, rounding off the day on a lighter, more photogenic note.

Who Enjoys This Waterfall and Tea Route

This group tour suits travellers interested in nature, local food and the tea culture specific to the Rize region, combining a short waterfall visit with a relaxed lunch and time among working tea terraces. The pace stays moderate throughout, with no long or difficult walking sections, which makes it comfortable for families and older travellers alike. Because the day includes a proper seated lunch, it also suits guests who prefer their itinerary to include a substantial meal rather than snack stops, giving structure to a day otherwise built around scenery and shopping.

Pickup, Timing and Booking

The day's shared coach starts its Trabzon hotel rounds at 10:00 so the whole group reaches Eskitoğlu Waterfall together for the first stop, with the itinerary wrapping up back in the city by 17:00. Places are secured through Haqqi Tours' WhatsApp line, staffed in Arabic and English for guests wanting to confirm a date before their Trabzon stay. Terms covering hotel collection, the guide, lunch at the White Bean Restaurant and the visits to the tea gardens and bazaar are put in writing ahead of payment. Any question about the waterfall walk or the tea terraces is welcome while arranging the date.