Black Sea Highlands and Batumi Tour / 3 Nights Hotel Accommodation / Departing from Istanbul
Tour Detail
Get ready for an unforgettable journey full of exploration and adventure, stretching from the lush highlands of the Black Sea to the colorful streets of Batumi!
On this special journey starting from Istanbul, while discovering the unique beauties of Samsun, Ordu, Trabzon, and Rize; you will be captivated by the enchanting view of Uzungöl, the fresh air of Ayder Plateau, and the lush nature of the Fırtına Valley. You will get to know Trabzon's historical and cultural heritage up close, enjoy unique landscapes among the Black Sea's famous tea gardens, and, for our guests who wish, add adventure to your trip with extra activities. With the city tour you will take in Batumi, Georgia's popular city, you will discover the culture and architecture of another country and the modern atmosphere on the Black Sea coast.
This special program, enriched with 3 nights of hotel accommodation, was designed to let you experience the Black Sea to the fullest by bringing together nature, culture, adventure, and fun.
On this special journey, with the privilege of professional guidance and comfortable transportation, you will collect unforgettable memories stretching from the Black Sea's unique highlands to the enchanting atmosphere of Batumi.
Tour Program
Night Journey
Enjoy the magnificent nature of the Black Sea to the fullest with itctur!
SAMSUN - ORDU - TRABZON - RİZE - BATUM - UZUNGÖL - AYDER PLATEAU
14:00 In front of İncirli Doğtaş Furniture
14:30 Mecidiyeköy IETT Stops (In front of Mado)
15:00 In front of Kadıköy Marriage Office
15:15 Kartal Bridge Bus Stop (Toward Ankara)
15:20 Pendik Bridge
15:30 In front of Çayırova Mc Donalds
15:45 In front of Gebze Center Mall
16:15 In front of İzmit Bus Terminal (Otogar-2 Stop)
17:15 Sakarya Bus Terminal
18:00 Düzce T7 Petrol Stop
18:45 Kaynaşlı Türsan Park Facility
After picking up our valued guests from the specified points, we start our night journey for the Black Sea Tour with itctur.
Extra Tours and Activities
* Zilkale Tour 700₺
* Rafting 900₺
* Zipline 400₺
* Giant Swing 400₺
* Çeçeva Tea Gardens Tour 750₺
* Lustra - Karester Plateau Tour 750₺
* Borça Karagöl 750₺
* Batum Tour 900₺
**Extra tour fees may vary by period. The specified fees are the current fees as of the reservation date. The agency is not responsible for any fee changes that may occur on or before the tour date.
Samsun / Monument of Honor / Bandırma Ferry / Giresun / Trabzon / Hagia Sophia / Atatürk Mansion / Silver Workshop
In the morning, we arrive in Samsun, one of the symbolic cities of our War of Independence. After the free breakfast break we will have here (optional, paid by our guests), we start our tour. Our first stop in Samsun is the Bandırma Ferry, which carried Gazi Mustafa Kemal Atatürk and his 18 companions to Samsun on May 19, 1919 (it will be visited if the museum is open), and the First Step Monument. Then we take souvenir photos at the Honor Monument in central Samsun, which was built while Atatürk was still alive.
After our tour here, we continue on toward Trabzon following the Ordu and Giresun route. Passing through Giresun, we see Giresun Island, the only island in the Black Sea, and Giresun Castle panoramically, and receive brief information about the region from our guide. After the lunch break we will have at a restaurant suitable for our program, we see Trabzon Castle panoramically and visit the Atatürk Mansion on Soğuksu Hill, built in the Art Nouveau style and gifted to Atatürk by the people of Trabzon. After our visit to the Atatürk Mansion, we head to Trabzon Hagia Sophia. After seeing this architectural structure, built in reference to Hagia Sophia in Istanbul during the Komnenos Kingdom period, we go to the largest silver workshop in the region.
Here we learn the intricacies of Silver, Filigree, the Trabzon woven bracelet, and Kazaziye, which is considered one of the most valuable art forms brought to the region by the Kazaz Turks and kept alive in our country by only three families in Trabzon. After our shopping break, we head to our hotel. Dinner and accommodation are at our hotel.
Breakfast: Will be taken optionally (extra) at a facility suitable for the tour route.
Lunch: Will be taken optionally (extra) at a restaurant suitable for our program.
Dinner: Included in our hotel accommodation as an open buffet or set menu.
Accommodation: Sümela Holiday Resort – Bayrak Grand Hotel – Büyük Sümela Hotel - Marap Hotel etc.
Breakfast: Will be taken in Terme. (Extra)
Lunch: Will be taken in Akçaabat. (Extra)
Dinner: Will be taken at the hotel. Included in the tour price.
Maçka – Altındere National Park – Sümela Monastery – Sürmene Knife Workshop – Çeçeva Tea Gardens (Extra) – Batumi Night Tour (Included) – Sarp Border Gate
After the breakfast we will have at our hotel, we enter Değirmendere Valley from the Maçka junction in order to go to Altındere National Park and continue along the valley until we reach Maçka. In Maçka, our road splits in two, and by observing Altındere Valley we visit Sümela Monastery, built on steep cliffs at the foothills of Karadağ. After our tour with our guide’s explanations, during the free time given, you can take plenty of photos and enjoy the unique harmony of nature and history.
After our Sümela visit, we head towards Sürmene. We visit the Sürmene Knife Workshop, where the world-famous handmade Sürmene knives, which have an important place in the local culture, are introduced, and our guests who wish can have the opportunity to shop. Then we take a lunch break at a restaurant suitable for our program. (Extra)
After lunch, with our guests who wish, we carry out the Çeçeva Tea Gardens Tour by boarding our minibuses to see Turkey’s most famous tea gardens located in Haremtepe (Çeçeva) Village, affiliated with Rize’s Çayeli district. (Extra)
After taking our photos among the lush green tea fields and enjoying this unique view, we return to our vehicle.
We continue our tour by heading to our hotel in the Hopa – Arhavi region. After settling into our hotel and taking a short rest, we head to the Sarp Border Gate for the Batum Night Tour, which is included in the tour fee.
After completing our entry procedures at the border gate, we cross into Georgia / Adjara Region. First, we see Gonio (Apsaros) Castle, dating back to the Roman period, panoramically, and proceed to Batumi city center while viewing the Çoruh River and Gonio Bridge from our vehicle.
In Batumi city center, we carry out our panoramic and walking tour by seeing the Central Mosque, Europe Square, Medea (Golden Fleece) Statue, Poseidon Square, Theatre Building, Batumi Boulevard, and the Turkish Consulate Building. During the free time we will have along Batumi Boulevard, you can see and photograph the Ali & Nino Statue, which has become one of the city’s symbols and represents a tragic love story.
After free time, we return to the Sarp Border Gate, complete our entry procedures into Turkey, and return to our hotel.
Note: The Batumi excursion and round-trip transfers are included in the tour fee.
The exit fee from the country and travel health insurance are the responsibility of our guests.
Breakfast: Will be taken at the hotel and is included in the tour fee.
Lunch: Will be taken at a restaurant suitable for our program. (Extra)
Dinner: Will be taken freely during the Batumi excursion. (Extra)
Accommodation: Arhavi Resort Hotel – Paluri Hotel – Peronti Hotel etc.
Accommodation: Artvin / Hopa Sarp Hotel, Terzioğlu Hotel, Paluri Hotel etc. hotels
Breakfast: Will be taken at the hotel. Included in the tour fee.
Lunch: Will be taken in Fırtına Valley. (Extra)
Dinner: Will be taken freely during the Batumi excursion. (Extra)
Borçka Karagöl (Extra) – Fırtına Valley – Çamlıhemşin – Çinçiva (Şenyuva) Village – Zilkale – Palovit Waterfall – Ayder Plateau – Gelin Tülü Waterfall
After the breakfast we will have at our hotel in the morning, we offer an optional extra tour for our guests who wish to join. We head towards Borçka via the Cankurtaran Tunnel, which connects the Black Sea to Eastern Anatolia and is one of the longest tunnels in our country. Boarding the minibuses waiting for us in Borçka (Extra), we proceed toward Borçka Karagöl, one of the pristine natural wonders of the Black Sea region.
During our journey, we travel along the Klaskur Valley, one of our country’s biosphere reserve areas, see Georgian villages and organic tea gardens, and reach Karagöl after viewing Maisur Waterfall from a distance and passing by Bardnala Waterfall. In the free time we will spend at this unique natural wonder lake, which hosted the promotional filming of the series “Benim İçin Üzülme,” you can walk around the lake, take a boat ride, and take plenty of photos. After our Karagöl visit, we return to our main vehicle and continue our program.
Next, following the Fındıklı – Ardeşen route, we enter the Fırtına Valley. In the valley, which welcomes us with its turbulent stream and lush green nature, we take a lunch break at a suitable venue for our program. (Extra)
Then, with our guests who wish to join, we board the minibuses waiting for us in Çamlıhemşin (Extra) and enter the Çat Valley at the foothills of the Kaçkar Mountains. We take a photo break at the historic stone bridge in the village known for the series “Sevdaluk,” formerly called Çinçiva and now named Şenyuva. Afterward, we visit Zilkale, built at a point overlooking the valley to protect the trade routes of the period, with its grandeur resembling an eagle’s nest. After our Zilkale visit, we move on to Palovit Waterfall with its roaring waters and lush green nature, and photograph this unique view from the observation terrace. After the tour, we return to our main vehicle by minibuses.
After our tour, we leave Çamlıhemşin and head toward Ayder Plateau, at an altitude of 1350 meters and surrounded by pine forests. Along the way, we see Aşağı and Yukarı Ambarlık and Şenlik Düzü panoramically, and take a photo break at Gelin Tülü Waterfall, which has become the symbol of Ayder. During the free time we will have at Ayder Plateau, you can take short walks and enjoy the fresh highland air.
After our excursions, we head to our hotel.
Dinner and accommodation at our hotel.
Breakfast: Will be served at the hotel and is included in the tour fee.
Lunch: Will be served at a suitable venue in Fırtına Valley. (Extra)
Dinner: Will be served at the hotel and is included in the tour fee.
Accommodation: Ars Hotel – Minerva Hotel – Green Suada Hotel etc.
Accommodation: Trabzon/ Arsen Hotel, Mori Sport Hotel, Dedehan Hotel, Zigana Gümüşkayak Hotel etc. hotels
Breakfast: Will be served at the hotel. Included in the tour fee.
Lunch: Will be served in Sürmene. (Extra)
Dinner: Will be served at the hotel. Included in the tour fee.
Rize Cloth Workshop – Uzungöl – Karaster (Garaster) – Memişağa Mansion – Tea Factory – Ordu (Boztepe) – Istanbul
After the breakfast we will have at the hotel in the morning, we check out of our rooms and set off toward the Rize Cloth Workshop, where we can closely get to know the local handicrafts of the Black Sea region. Here, we receive information about the production process of Rize cloth, a handwoven fabric unique to Rize, and our guests who wish can do some shopping.
Then we arrive at Uzungöl, one of the most popular natural beauties of the Black Sea. We have free time accompanied by a lake view and find plenty of opportunities to take photos.
After our Uzungöl visit, we optionally carry out our Karaster (Garaster) Plateau tour with our guests who wish to join. (It is conducted with regional vehicles depending on weather and road conditions.) We take photo breaks accompanied by the plateau’s unique views. (Extra tour)
As we continue our program, we stop by Memişağa Mansion for shopping local products. We have the opportunity to learn about and shop for Black Sea-specific products such as tea, honey, hazelnuts, and butter.
Then we move on to the Tea Factory, one of the symbols of the Black Sea. Here, we are informed about the stages of tea production, and our guests who wish can shop for tea.
As we begin our return journey, we stop in Ordu. Our guests who wish can optionally go up to Boztepe by cable car. (The cable car fee is paid by the guests.) Guests who do not want to use the cable car can spend free time in central Ordu.
After the break, we continue our return journey and complete our tour with arrival in Istanbul in the morning hours.
Breakfast: It will be taken at the hotel and is included in the tour fee.
Lunch: It will be taken freely around Uzungöl. (Extra)
Dinner: It will be taken at rest facilities along the route. (Extra)
Accommodation: There is no hotel accommodation tonight.
Breakfast: It will be taken at the hotel. Included in the tour fee.
Lunch: It will be taken in Terme. (Extra)
Dinner: It will be taken at a rest facility along the route. (Extra)
Ankara, Bolu, Düzce, Sakarya, İzmit, Gebze, Istanbul
We drop off our valued guests who joined our Black Sea Storm and Batumi Tour from Ankara, Bolu, İzmit, and finally Istanbul at the points where we picked them up, and we say goodbye, hoping to see you again on our next ITC TUR organization.
Note: We reach Ankara at around 11:30 PM.
Note: We reach Istanbul at around 06:00 in the morning.
The Black Sea Storm and Batumi Tour bulletin is valid as of the date of publication, 09.10.2023. A tour bulletin for the same tour that will be published at a later date supersedes the previous one.
General Information
The duration of our tour is 4 Nights 6 Days. Hotel accommodation is for 3 Nights.
Child discounts can be applied when accompanied by two adults.
Our guide may make changes to the itinerary as long as the program is fully carried out. Our tours are a whole with hotel, bus, airplane tour program and guiding services and cannot be considered separately.
Children aged 0–6 may not be provided with a bed in hotel accommodation.
On bus tours, no fee is charged for children aged 00-1.99. If a seat is requested for children on the bus, the 02-06 child price applies.
In triple rooms, the 3rd bed may not have the comfort of a regular bed. Depending on the situation, the hotel may provide our guests with a folding bed or sofa bed.
Every individual over the age of 2 is required to have a seat on the bus.
Unused transportation, accommodation, sightseeing, etc. within the tour. Rights cannot be refunded.
A seat cannot be promised during reservation. Seat numbers are determined according to the order of reservation dates. Guests who purchase the tour earlier are entitled to sit in the front.
On tours with accommodation of 4 nights or more, a rotation system is applied by shifting the seating arrangement by one row.
Tiered pricing applies on all tours. As the occupancy of the tours increases, tour prices also increase. In price changes after the date of purchase, the guest cannot claim the difference.
On air tours, ITC TUR reserves the right to change the airport, airline company, and flight time depending on density and provided that the program is not disrupted. In case of airport changes, ITC TUR must provide free shuttle service to its guests.
Extra tours operate depending on the number of participants. If an extra tour does not take place, the guest is not entitled to compensation. In this case, ITC TUR has no responsibility. Extra tour prices may change. In this case, the date the tour departs, not the date the guest purchased the tour, is taken into consideration. The extra tour price valid on the date the tour is taken will apply. The guest has purchased the tour accepting this.
The times specified in the tour program have been calculated according to normal weather and road conditions, and in possible delays, ITC TUR is not responsible, and the guest has no right to compensation.
Changes may be made in the tour accommodation regions and hotels, provided that they remain at the same standard, depending on density. All room assignments are made by the hotel authorities, and ITC TUR has no sanction regarding this matter.
The plateau hotels where accommodation will be made on Black Sea Tours have bungalow and standard plateau hotel structures. There is no obligation for local food in the hotels.
During tours, due to the intensity of the program, since it is not always possible to find ATMs, exchange offices, etc., it is beneficial for our guests to be prepared for this situation.
For lunch, region-specific economical menus have been prepared. At lunch and dinner, tables divided into groups are used depending on the density of the region.
ITC TUR has no responsibility for tours that cannot be carried out due to weather conditions before or during the tour.
The minimum number of participants for the departure of this tour is projected as 30. When there is not a sufficient majority, ITC TUR reserves the right to cancel the tour by notifying 3 days in advance.
In case of tour cancellation, ITC TUR
must notify the cancellation personally. Since this is a legal process, there is no right to compensation.
Museum and archaeological site entrance fees are not included in the prices.
ITC TUR reserves the right to change the hotel to an equivalent or higher category, provided that the star category remains the same.
While traveling, make sure that when leaving the vehicles and hotels we use, you have taken all your belongings with you completely; ITC TUR is not responsible for lost items.
Guests who register for the tour have the right to cancel free of charge up to 30 days before departure. If there are fewer than 30 days left until the tour date, a 30% penalty applies, and if there are 20 days or less left, a 100% penalty applies. Along with the participant's cancellation request, they must present the report (signed by the Chief Physician) obtained from State Hospitals in Turkey.
Additional Information
- The Borçka Karagöl program is only carried out on days when there is Artvin accommodation; the Borçka Karagöl program is not applied in accommodations in other cities.
About Batumi Entry
According to the agreement between Turkey and Georgia, citizens of the Republic of Turkey can pass to Batumi with their identity cards or passports containing a Turkish Republic ID number. Passage is not possible with other identity cards (driver's license, marriage certificate, etc.). Guests who are not citizens of the Republic of Turkey will cross with a passport. Guests under 18 who will not be traveling with their family must obtain a notarized consent letter for entry to Batumi, and the consent letter must be approved by both mother and father, even if there is custody.
Important Note: Entry to Batumi is made with the new chip ID cards. Since the old ID cards of our guests who applied for a new ID card are canceled, they are not valid; therefore, they cannot pass to Batumi until their new chip ID cards arrive.
About the Cancellation Refund Guarantee Package and Mandatory Travel Insurance
Cancellation Refund Guarantee Package; if a reservation cancellation request is made or a change is requested up to 72 hours (3 days) before the departure day of the tour, an unconditional 100% non-deductible refund guarantee is offered. In accommodation tours, the insurance fee is 2500 TL per person.
Mandatory travel insurance; the details of the insurance coverage provided free of charge by our agency to all our guests include the inability to provide package tour services due to the agency's bankruptcy or for any reason. It is not health insurance and does not cover treatment expenses. (Private health insurance is the guest's own private expense)
Vehicles Used According to Number of People
Buses: (Used for 32 - 54 people) Mercedes Travego/Tourismo, Neoplan Cityliner/Tourliner, Temsa Safir/Maraton, Man Fortuna
Midibuses: (Used for 20 - 31 people) Isuzu Turkuaz, Otokar Mega
Minibuses: (Used for up to 19 people) Vw Volt, Mercedes Sprinter
All guests are deemed to have completed the sale of the tour by accepting the above-mentioned items.
Departure Points
- Incirli Metrobus Stop in front of Dilek Patisserie (Istanbul, 14:00-14:00)
- Mecidiyeköy Square IETT Stops (In Front of Mado & Tavuk Dünyası) (Istanbul, 14:30-14:30)
- In front of the Kadıköy Marriage Office Parking Lot (Istanbul, 15:00-15:00)
- Bostancı Bridge Underpass (Ankara Direction) (Istanbul, 15:05-15:05)
- Kartal Bridge (Ankara Direction) (Istanbul, 15:15-15:15)
- Pendik Bridge Underpass (Ankara Direction) (Istanbul, 15:20-15:20)
- In front of McDonald's in Çayırova (Istanbul, 15:30-15:30)
- Gebze Center Front (Istanbul, 15:45-15:45)
- Izmit Public House Stop (Istanbul, 16:15-16:15)
- Sakarya Terminal Junction (Istanbul, 17:15-17:15)
- Düzce T7 Petrol Stop (Istanbul, 18:00-18:00)
- Kaynaşlı Türsan Park Facility (Istanbul, 18:45-18:45)
What's Included
3 nights accommodation in hotels
3 buffet breakfasts at hotels
2 buffet or set menu dinners at hotels
Transportation with luxury vehicles
Sightseeing tours specified in the program
Professional guiding service
Bottled water in the vehicle
ITC TUR Guarantee
Mandatory Travel Insurance
Not Included
❌First day breakfast specified in the program
❌Last day dinner specified in the program
❌Beverages taken with all meals
❌Lunches
❌Foreign departure tax
❌Ordu Boztepe cable car fee
❌Sümela Monastery shuttle vehicle fee
❌All organizations specified as extra in the program
❌All personal expenses
❌Museum and archaeological site entrance fees
Extra Tours and Activities
* Zilkale Tour 700₺
* Rafting 900₺
* Zipline 400₺
* Giant Swing 400₺
* Çeçeva Tea Gardens Tour 750₺
* Lustra - Karester Plateau Tour 750₺
* Borça Karagöl 750₺
* Batum Tour 900₺
**Extra tour fees may vary according to periods. The stated fees are the current fees as of the reservation date. The agency is not responsible for fee changes that may occur on or before the tour date.
Extra tours
* Zilkale Tour 700₺
* Rafting 900₺
* Zipline 400₺
* Giant Swing 400₺
* Çeçeva Tea Gardens Tour 750₺
* Lustra - Karester Plateau Tour 750₺
* Borça Karagöl 750₺
* Batumi Tour 900₺
Additional tour fees may vary depending on the season. The listed prices are current as of the reservation date. The agency is not responsible for any price changes that may occur before or on the tour date.