Sultan Murat Highlands Tour

What the Sultan Murat Plateau Is

Sultan Murat is a highland plateau, known locally as a yayla, sitting above the tea valleys inland from Trabzon, where coastal families have traditionally moved with their animals in the warmer months. The landscape here is open and green, a contrast to the dense forest and terraced hillsides passed on the drive up, with wooden houses scattered across the meadows rather than gathered into a single village centre. Because the plateau sits at altitude, the air stays noticeably cooler and clearer than in Trabzon, and cloud can drift low across the grass even on an otherwise sunny day. This shift in scenery is much of the appeal for visitors who have only seen the coastal side of the region.

Leaving Trabzon Behind

The tour begins with a coach pickup from hotels across Trabzon, after which the group heads inland on roads that climb steadily away from the city and the coast. Early stretches of the drive pass through tea plantations and smaller towns before the road narrows and begins winding higher into forested hills. A guide travels with the group throughout, pointing out landmarks and explaining a little about how highland life differs from the coastal towns most guests have already seen. The change in scenery becomes obvious well before the plateau itself is reached, as farmland gives way to pasture and the temperature noticeably drops.

Villages Along the Way

Several highland villages sit along the route to Sultan Murat, their houses built from timber and stone in a style suited to heavy winter snow, with narrow lanes running between them. The coach makes stops at points where the group can step out, walk a short distance and take in the setting before continuing, and the guide uses these pauses to talk about how the villages are used seasonally rather than as year-round settlements for most residents. Locals selling honey, cheese or other highland produce are sometimes present at these stops, giving visitors a chance to see everyday plateau life rather than only its scenery.

Meadows, Herds and Wooden Houses

Once on the plateau itself, wide meadows open up around the road, dotted with grazing cattle and wooden houses spaced apart from one another rather than clustered together. The grass stays green through much of the season, fed by mist and rainfall that the higher altitude attracts more often than the coast below. Walking a short distance from the road brings guests closer to the herds and the houses, and the guide can point out details of how the timber buildings are constructed to suit the climate. This open, pastoral landscape is very different from the dense green forest passed on the way up.

Tea Houses and a Break at Altitude

A break is usually built into the day at one of the tea houses found across the plateau, simple wooden buildings where locals and visitors alike stop to rest with a glass of tea looking out over the meadows. These stops give the group a chance to sit down away from the coach, warm up if the weather has turned cool, and take in the surroundings at a slower pace than the rest of the drive allows. The guide uses this time to answer questions about the plateau and the rest of the day's route, and it is often the most relaxed part of the whole tour.

Viewpoints Over the Valleys

Several points along the route offer wide views back down over the valleys the group has driven up through, with the tea terraces and forested slopes stretching toward the coast in the distance. These viewpoints are among the most photographed parts of the day, particularly when cloud sits low in the valleys below while the plateau itself remains in clear air. The guide will usually stop wherever conditions allow the best visibility, since cloud cover on the plateau can change how much of the view is visible from one stop to the next during the day.

Who Enjoys This Tour Most

This tour suits travellers who enjoy scenery and open-air walking over a packed sightseeing schedule, including families looking for a change of pace, older guests who prefer gentle stops rather than strenuous activity, and anyone curious about rural life away from Trabzon's coastal centre. Because most of the day is spent travelling by coach with stops rather than any physically demanding activity, it works well for groups with a mix of ages and fitness levels. Guests who prefer a faster-paced adventure day may prefer a more active excursion, but for a scenic, unhurried outing this plateau tour is well suited.

What to Wear at Altitude

Temperatures on the plateau run noticeably cooler than in Trabzon, and weather can change quickly at altitude, so guests should bring a jacket or fleece even if the coast is warm when they set off. Comfortable walking shoes make the short stops at villages and viewpoints easier, particularly where paths are grassy or slightly uneven rather than paved. A light waterproof layer is also worth carrying, since mist and short showers are common on the higher ground even when the rest of the region stays dry. Sunglasses are useful too, as the light at altitude can be stronger than expected.

A Full Day on the Coach

Because the plateau sits some distance from Trabzon, this tour runs as a full-day excursion, with guests spending a meaningful part of the day travelling by coach between stops rather than staying in one place. The pace is unhurried, with the guide building in breaks for tea, photographs and short walks rather than rushing between sights. Guests should expect a mix of driving and standing time at each stop, and to be back in Trabzon later in the day once the group has made its way back down from the highlands.

Booking with Haqqi Tours

Haqqi Tours arranges this plateau excursion with its own coach, driver and guide, and sets out the group price in writing before the booking is confirmed, so guests know what the day covers before travelling. Because the trip runs as a shared group tour, the operations desk can advise on typical group sizes and pickup areas when guests get in touch on WhatsApp, and can answer questions in Arabic or English about the plateau, the weather on the day or what to expect from the drive. Any change to pickup details is handled directly through the same desk.