Trabzon Highlands

The Sera Lake Area

Transportation: In order to get there, you need to take the Trabzon-Akçaabat road for 7 km. and then turn south on the gravel road. It is 2 km. to the village. There are minibus services between Trabzon and Akçaabat 24 hours a day.

Description: There are basic services like running water, electricity and a post office, as well as a very fine camping and picnic area. Fishing in the lake is allowed.

Accommodation - Food and Drink: Accommodations are provided by the village of bed and breakfast houses. All types of basic necessities can be obtained from the village. The local fish restaurant, tea house and markets are open until late at night.

Maçka-Şolma Highland

Transportation: Access to the village 22 km from south of Maçka is provided by a dirt road. At the 16 km. mark, one will begin to see the beautiful lush slopes of Mt. Kulin. In the summer there is a minibus service to the village.

Description: The infrastructure of this village perched at 1700 m. has been completed. There is running water electricity and telephone.

Accommodation - Food and Drink: Because there are no accommodation facilities, camping gear should be brought, but a small market, green grocer, tea house and butcher will provide some basic necessities.

Maçka-Mavura Highland

Transportation: There is a minibus service in the summer to the Mavura highland, located 18.5 km west of Maçka.

Description: There is running water and electricity is this highland village as well as a tea house, a market, a butcher and a green grocer. The dirt road between Mavura and Solma is an ideal 3.5 km for hike.

Accommodation - Food and Drink: Due to no accommodations, camping equipment should be brought in. Basic supplies can be obtained from the village.

Maçka-Kiraz Highland

Transportation: The 22 km road between the town of Maçka and the village of Gürgenağaç is asphalt. At the village take the dirt road south for 7 km. In the summer, commercial vehicles offer passenger service to visitors.

Description: The village which sits at 1850 m. has a completed infrastructure. Visitors can fish for trout in the ice-cold creek which runs through the village or sled down the steep grass covered hills. The 'Ayeser' festival is held there on the third Friday of July of each year.

There is electricity, running water, a fountain and a post office, as well as a small market, tea house, butcher and restaurant.

Accommodation - Food and Drink: There are bed and breakfasts in the villages of Hamsiköy and Gürgenağaç. The markets and restaurants in the highland can provide all other basic necessities.

Lapazan Highland

Transportation: Located in the south of Gürgenağaç, access to this village sitting at 2200 m. is by means of a 27 km dirt road. A four-wheel drive vehicle is recommended.

Description: There are no services in this highland village and in June and July there are still scattered snowbanks on the slopes. The slopes there are ideal for sledding as the vegetation is thick enough not to be crushed down and killed.

Accommodation - Food and Drink: Bring camping equipment if you intend to stay over night in this pristine area.

Maçka-Çakırgöl Highland

Transportation: Access to the village is provided by a dirt road that turns off to the right 5 km out on the Maçka - Meryemana road and continues for another 90 km. Sometimes it is possible to get a ride with one of the commercial vehicles using the road. Off-road vehicles should be used to get to the Çakırgöl highland.

Description: On the way to the 2504 m. Çakırgöl Highlands, you will pass by the highland villages of Arnavutluk, Kırantaş, Akarsu, Ayraksa, Livayda Kurugöl, Mesaraş Furnoba, Kasapoğlu, Camiboğazı, Ortaoba and Deveboynu.

Accommodation - Food and Drink: Someone who wants to camping, should bring their own tents and other basic camping supplies.

Çaykara - Uzungöl Tourist Center

Transportation: The transportation facility goes on all over the year to Uzungöl, which is 20 km from Çaykara.

Description: Situated at 1250 m., Uzungöl, with its unparalleled natural beauty, has become a popular tourist destination in the last few years. The infrastructure is complete and the 500,000 m2 lake has large numbers of trout and carp. Ten kilometers south of Uzungöl in the Holdizon Mountains is Lake Balıklıgöl, a perfect place to take a hike and observe wildlife in a pristine unspoiled environment.

Accommodation - Food and Drink: There are lodgings at Uzungöl which command a view of the lake. There are a number of restaurants and wooden bungalows, (72-bed capacity), which are open around the year.

Karadağ Tourist Center- Karadağ Highland

Transportation: Access to the village is provided by turning west on a dirt road 12 km out on the Akçaabat - Düzköy road. Continue for another 28 km in order to reach the village. Commercial vehicles offer transportation during the summer months.

Description: The oxygen-rich air of this village sitting at 1946 m has made it a popular place for those suffering from lung problems. The village infrastructure is complete. Wildlife here is abundant and souvenirs and gift items are available.

Accommodation - Food and Drink: There is a bed and breakfast with 10 beds and a small market, a bakery, a tea house and a restaurant.

Karadağ Tourist Center - Hıdırnebi and Kuruçam Highlands

Transportation: You can get to the village by turning west on the dirt road 12 kilometers out of the Akçaabat - Düzköy road. The road is open year-round and commercial vehicles provide transportation. It is one kilometer from Kuruçam to Hıdırnebi.

Description: With an elevation of 1742 m., the village has a completed infrastructure. The 'Hıdırnebi' Festival, which is held July 20-22, is held on Hıdırnebi Mountain, a beautiful lookout with a spectacular view. In the forest it is possible to see wolves, foxes, jackals and other wild animals and it is a great place for a photo safari..

The local villagers sell hand-made bags, woolen socks, woven baskets and kitchen utensils such as wooden spoons and churns.

Accommodation - Food and Drink: There is a small market, green grocer, butcher, bakery, restaurant and teahouse. During the summer a bed and breakfast provides accommodations. In the village of Acısu, there is a mineral spring and a bed and breakfast.

Tonya-Erikbeli Tourist Center- Erikbeli Highland

Transportation: From Tonya it is 24 km to the Erikbeli Highland. In the summer months, commercial vehicles provide transportation.

Description: The infrastructure of this village is situated at 1800 m. and has been completed. The Erikbeli Tourist Center is located at the intersection of the roads leading to the highlands of Kadırga, Çatma Obası, Sazalanı, Zigana and Ken. The area between the highlands of Erikbeli, Sazalanı, Ken, Sinlice, Şıkkıranı and Sis dağı is an excellent place for taking nature walks. The Ken highland is 9 km from north of the Erikbeli Tourist Center and the Şıkkıran highland is in the forest 19 km north.

Accommodation - Food and Drink: Due to no facilities, you need to bring your own camping equipment but meat, milk, eggs, bread and the like can be obtained in the villages.

Sazalanı Highland

Transportation: The Sazalanı highland is 5 km in west of the Erikbeli Tourist Center down a dirt road which is serviced by commercial vehicles during the summer months.

Description: The infrastructure of the village sitting at 1700 m. is completed. There is a restaurant, teahouse and small market.

Accommodation - Food and Drink: You need to bring your own camping gear, but basic supplies can be obtained from the village.

Sis Dağı Highland

Transportation: Access to the village of Sis dağı is provided by a 25 km dirt road out of the Erikbeli Tourist Center.

Description: Improvements have been made to the infrastructure of the village, which sits at an elevation of 1550 m. There is a small market, butcher and teahouse. Every year on the third Saturday of July the 'Sis Dağı' Festival is held here.

Accommodation - Food and Drink: You need to bring your own camping gear, but basic supplies can be obtained from the village.

Kadırga Highland

Transportation: The Kadırga Highland is 14 km. east of the Erikbeli Tourist Center. Commercial vehicles provide transportation in the summer months along this dirt road.

Description: This village, with an elevation of 2300 m. is located right around the tree line. Every year tens of thousands of people come to the 'Kadırga' Festival held here. During the folk dances, competitions, and musical entertainment, literally tons of food and drink is consumed and the whole area looks like a huge bazaar or fairground.

There are basic services such as electricity, running water and toilets as well as a small market, butcher, bakery, restaurant, sewing supplies shop and teahouses.

Accommodation - Food and Drink: Bring your own camping gear, but basic supplies can be obtained from the village.

Çatma Obası Highland

Transportation: It is located at 14 km east of the Erikbeli Tourist Center and 9 km south of Tonya. As there is no transportation available, car rental is recommended.

Description: This is a very small highland, with an elevation of 2200 m. It is possible to take nature walks between the Erikbeli-Kadırga-Çatma Obası Highland and the Zigana Ski Center. There are several sites in the area which have legends attached to them, for example Mızraklı Su, Şehitler Tepesi and Çıngıraklı Kuyu.

Mızraklı Su: According to legend, during a battle one of the soldiers gets really thirsty. He takes a spear and breaks it in half and throws the two pieces, one to the right and the other to the left, with all of his might. From the place where the first part stuck in the ground, water begins to spring up and it flows down to where the other part of the spear stuck in the ground and disappears. The upper part of this small stream which mysteriously disappears into the grass 50-60 meters down the hill, is protected by a concrete barrier.

Çıngıraklı Kuyu The sound of a rock thrown down the well continues for a long time and that is where the well gets its name. The opening is a cave that is covered by snow most of the year.

Accommodation - Food and Drink: Camping gear and picnic supplies should be brought in as there are no facilities.

Düzköy (Haçka Obası) Highland

Transportation: Access to the village is by the way of a 12 km dirt road that begins in the village of Düzköy (40 km. out of Trabzon).

Description: The village, which sits at 1784 m., has basic services. Because of the Kadırga Festival on the 3rd Friday of July and the Karaabdal Festival held on the 14th of August, the tomb of Haçkalı Baba located here has lot of visitors. There is a small market, butcher, green grocer, bakery and a teahouse.

Accommodation - Food and Drink: There is 20 beds capacity a bed and breakfast and many places to buy food and drink.