Black Sea Route — Mist, Tea, Highlands, Long Views

The Black Sea doesn’t hurry for anyone.
Mornings open with mist. Afternoons turn every hill green. Rivers run fast after rain, and tea terraces climb as if they won’t stop.

This route is about air and altitude: forests, waterfalls, wooden bridges, small villages on wide horizons. We plan it with fewer bases and longer stays, so you can slow down and actually feel the place.

Where the route flows

• Rize & Çamlıhemşin – tea gardens, wooden houses, rushing rivers. Day trips to Pokut and Sal highlands, Zil Kale and Palovit waterfall.

• Trabzon – a good hub for the east; visit Sumela Monastery, markets, seaside walks.

• Uzungöl – lake views, easy loops, slower evenings.

• Artvin & Macahel – deeper into the highlands: chestnut forests, stone bridges, big skies.

• Giresun–Ordu – gentle coast, hazelnut orchards, cable-car viewpoints.

• Amasra (west) – small peninsula town: cobbled lanes, old fort walls, calm sunsets.

Pick two or three bases that match your days: coast + highland is a good pair. We connect them with drives that make sense for the season and daylight.

What you’ll actually do

Walk a yayla path above the clouds.
Taste tea at the source.
Stop at waterfalls just because you heard them before you saw them.
Try kuymak/mıhlama for breakfast, grilled corn on the roadside, trout by a cold stream.
When the fog lifts, watch valleys open for miles; when it returns, enjoy the quiet.

If you like, we’ll add a tea-factory visit, a short river walk, a farm lunch, or a simple sunset spot the buses skip.

When to go

Late spring to early autumn is easiest: clear roads, long days, green everything.
Winter has its own beauty, but expect snow on the high passes and slower travel.

Where you’ll stay

We match your base to the terrain and your pace:

• Mountain lodges & yayla pensions for wood, warmth, and views.

• Boutique stays near rivers or tea hills.

• Apartments in Trabzon/Rize for a simple city hub.

Tell us what matters—altitude tolerance, step-free access, kid-friendly rooms, silence at night—and we’ll shortlist places that fit.

How Holitat builds the Black Sea

• Listen first: dates, comfort with mountain roads, hiking level, kid stops, pace.

• Map cleanly: 2–3 bases; avoid leapfrogging every night.

• Stitch lightly: tea tastings, heritage walks, easy ridge trails, waterfall pauses.

• Support quietly: transfers where useful, reliable drivers, simple timing.

The Black Sea Route isn’t about “seeing it all.”
It’s about breathing deeper and letting green fill your days.