Uzungol Tour

Uzungöl Lake and Village

Uzungöl, literally “long lake”, lies at roughly 1,100 metres in the Çaykara district, about 100 km south-east of Trabzon. The lake formed centuries ago when a landslide blocked the Haldizen stream, and today its calm water mirrors steep slopes of spruce, rows of wooden chalets and the slender minarets of the lakeside mosque. Morning mist often drifts down the valley and lifts by midday, giving the village its famous postcard look.

Is Uzungöl worth visiting? For anyone who loves green mountain scenery, the answer is yes. The level path around the lake takes about 45 minutes at an easy pace, with small bridges, benches and viewpoints along the way. On this Uzungöl day trip from Trabzon you have free time to stroll, take photos and sit down for lunch beside the water, and your group leader tells you exactly where and when to meet for the return.

Nature Walk in the Haldizen Valley

Above the lake, the Haldizen stream tumbles down a narrow valley lined with alder, spruce and wild rhododendron. Village lanes lead past trout ponds, old wooden granaries raised on stilts and summer houses that local families still open when they move up towards the highland pastures. The air stays fresh even in July, and after rain the slopes turn a deep, saturated green.

The nature walk on this tour is easy and follows village lanes and lakeside paths rather than steep mountain trails, so most travellers manage it comfortably in normal trainers. Take your time at the small wooden bridges where the stream enters the lake: this is where the best reflections of the mosque and the forest appear. Your group leader suggests a route that fits the free time available.

Sürmene and the Black Sea Coast Road

The first part of the drive follows the Black Sea coast east of Trabzon, with the sea on one side and green hills dotted with houses on the other. Sürmene, about 40 km from the city, has been known for generations for its knives: local smiths forge kitchen knives, folding knives and decorative blades, and a “Sürmene knife” is still a byword for quality across Türkiye.

The tour pauses here so you can learn how the blades are forged and finished and browse the workshop displays, a practical stop if you are looking for a lasting souvenir. Keep in mind that knives must travel in checked luggage when you fly. From the coast the road turns inland at Of and follows the river valley up through Çaykara towards the lake.

Tea Gardens of Of and Çaykara

The hills between Rize and Trabzon are the heart of Türkiye's tea country. Tea was planted widely here in the mid-20th century, and today terraced plantations climb the slopes above Of and Çaykara, picked by hand from late spring to early autumn. The mild, rainy climate gives Black Sea tea its bright amber colour and smooth taste, and almost every village has a tea garden where neighbours gather.

On the way to the lake the tour includes a stop to try freshly brewed tea, served in the classic tulip-shaped glass, together with soft Turkish delight. It is a relaxed moment to ask how the leaves are withered, rolled and dried, and to pick up a packet for later. The best time to visit Uzungöl and the tea gardens for fresh green scenery is from May to October.