Sumela Zigana Hamsikoy Tour

Sümela Monastery

Sümela Monastery, the Monastery of the Virgin Mary, is built into a vertical rock face at around 1,200 metres on the slopes of Karadağ, about 45 km south of Trabzon. Tradition places its founding in the 4th century, and over the centuries it grew into a complex of chapels, a rock-cut church, monks' cells, a library and an aqueduct, all stacked on a narrow ledge above the forest. The frescoes covering the rock church, inside and out, are the highlight of any visit.

Is Sümela Monastery worth visiting? It is the signature sight of the eastern Black Sea and, after a long restoration, open to visitors again. On this Sümela Monastery tour from Trabzon you take the shuttle bus from the valley car park, then follow a forest path and steps up to the entrance. Opening hours change with the season, so plan around an hour and a half on site.

Altındere Valley National Park

The monastery stands inside Altındere Valley National Park, a steep, heavily wooded valley carved by the Altındere stream. Spruce, beech and alder cover the slopes, waterfalls drop from the cliffs after rain, and mist often fills the valley floor in the morning, so the monastery seems to float above the clouds. The road from Maçka follows the stream, with picnic areas and riverside restaurants along the way.

The path up to the monastery is the best way to appreciate the setting: every bend reveals a new view of the cliff and the buildings tucked into it. Wear shoes with good grip, as the stones can be damp, and take your time on the steps. The best time to visit Sümela is from May to October, when the valley is green and the road is fully open.

Zigana Mountains

South of Maçka the old road to Gümüşhane climbs towards the Zigana Mountains, a high ridge that has always separated the humid Black Sea coast from the drier interior of Anatolia. The pass, at roughly 2,000 metres, was for centuries part of the caravan route between Trabzon and Persia, and today the area is known for its snowy winters, alpine meadows and small ski slopes.

On this tour you enjoy the mountain scenery as the road rises through spruce forest and opens onto wide views of the peaks. Stop for photos where the landscape changes from green valley to high pasture, and notice how quickly the temperature drops with height. Even in summer a light jacket is welcome up here, and in winter the slopes are often white.

Hamsiköy Village

Hamsiköy is a highland village on the road to Zigana, surrounded by forest and pasture at around 1,300 metres. Its name is known all over Türkiye for one thing: sütlaç, a slow-cooked rice pudding made with rich local milk, baked until a golden skin forms on top and served with a sprinkle of Black Sea hazelnuts. Village restaurants also serve regional dishes such as kuymak, a cornmeal and melted cheese speciality.

The tour stops here for free time, so you can sit down for lunch at your own pace (not included), try the rice pudding and walk through the village centre with its wooden houses and small shops selling honey, butter and local cheeses. It is a relaxed, very local stop that balances the climb to the monastery.

Boztepe Hill, Trabzon

Boztepe is the hill rising directly behind Trabzon, at about 250 metres above the sea. From its park and tea gardens you look over the whole city: the old town, the harbour, the coast road and, on clear days, a long sweep of the Black Sea. It has been the city's favourite viewpoint for generations, especially in the late afternoon and at sunset.

The tour ends here before drop-off, giving you time to take photos and enjoy a glass of tea with the view (Boztepe entry fee paid on site). It is the perfect way to understand the layout of Trabzon after a day in the mountains, and a lovely place to watch the city lights come on.