Self-Launched Istanbul to Black Sea: Trabzon, Uzungol & Ayder Highlands
4 days · Black Sea Region, Turkey
Alaturka Turkey – Tours & Blue Cruises charges £1,830
No-markup version: ~£285 per person
Estimate only, not a guaranteed price. Always verify costs independently before booking.
A self-launched, independent version of Alaturka Turkey's 4-day private Istanbul-to-Black-Sea tour. Instead of a costly private car and guide, you fly (or overnight bus) from Istanbul to Trabzon, base yourself in Trabzon, Uzungol and Ayder, and use dolmus minibuses and local buses to reach Sumela Monastery, the Hagia Sophia of Trabzon, Boztepe viewpoint, Surmene, Rize's tea country, Storm Valley and the Ayder highlands. Same destinations and experiences, a fraction of the US$2,330 (approx £1,830) private tour price. Costs are approximate per person and based on current budget/backpacker rates in Turkey.
Day-by-day
Istanbul to Trabzon & Sumela Monastery
Trabzon / Sumela
Fly Istanbul (IST/SAW) to Trabzon with Pegasus or AJet (~£35-55, 1h45m) or take the overnight bus (~£22, 15-18h). Drop bags at a Trabzon hostel/hotel near Meydan Square, then take the local dolmus/minibus towards Macka and onward to Sumela Monastery (~£3-4 each way). Explore the clifftop Sumela Monastery and the green Altindere Valley, then visit Karaca Cave and stop in Hamsikoy village for a famous rice pudding (sutlac). Return to Trabzon for the evening and wander the bazaar area for dinner.
🚌Flight IST/SAW-Trabzon ~£35-55 or overnight bus ~£22; local dolmus to Sumela ~£3-4 each way
🛏Budget hotel/hostel in Trabzon city centre (~£20-30)
- →Sumela Monastery entry & Altindere Valley
- →Karaca Cave
- →Hamsikoy village rice pudding stop
Trabzon to Uzungol via Surmene
Trabzon / Surmene / Uzungol
Morning in Trabzon: visit the Hagia Sophia of Trabzon museum (entry ~£3) and ride the cable car or taxi up to Boztepe viewpoint over the city. Take a coastal dolmus east to Surmene to watch the famous dagger-making craftsmen, then continue by minibus up to the Uzungol lake area. Base in Uzungol for the night; rent a pedal boat on the lake, walk the lakeside trails, and keep an eye out for wildlife in the surrounding forests.
🚌Local dolmus Trabzon-Surmene (~£2) and Surmene-Uzungol minibus (~£3-4)
🛏Guesthouse/wooden bungalow near Uzungol Lake (~£20-30)
- →Hagia Sophia of Trabzon
- →Boztepe viewpoint
- →Surmene dagger workshops
- →Uzungol Lake pedal boat & hiking trails
Uzungol to Rize & Ayder Highlands
Rize / Ayder
Travel from Uzungol to the coast at Rize by minibus (~£3), then head to the Rize Botanical Gardens for a tea break overlooking the Black Sea. Continue to Storm Valley (Firtina Vadisi) to see the old Ottoman stone bridge, then take a dolmus up to the Ayder highlands. Stroll Ayder village, see the waterfalls and explore the plateau; overnight in an Ayder pension or guesthouse.
🚌Minibus Uzungol-Rize (~£3), local dolmus Rize-Firtina Valley-Ayder (~£3-4)
🛏Pension/guesthouse in Ayder highlands (~£25-35)
- →Rize Botanical Gardens
- →Ottoman stone bridge, Storm Valley
- →Ayder village & Ayder waterfalls
Ayder to Caglayan, Trabzon & onward
Caglayan / Trabzon
Morning in the Ayder highlands, then travel back down to Cayeli and Caglayan village to see the tea and kiwifruit plantations and walk along the River Caglayan for about an hour, finishing with a local bean dish lunch. Return to Trabzon to browse the bazaar, then fly or take the overnight bus back to Istanbul (or continue to Izmir).
🚌Dolmus Ayder-Trabzon (~£4-5); return flight Trabzon-Istanbul ~£35-55 or overnight bus ~£22
🛏Overnight bus or flight back to Istanbul (or one final night in Trabzon ~£20-30)
- →Caglayan village tea & kiwifruit plantations
- →River Caglayan walk
- →Trabzon bazaar
Self-launched vs. Alaturka Turkey – Tours & Blue Cruises
| This itinerary (self-launched) | Alaturka Turkey – Tours & Blue Cruises | |
|---|---|---|
| Price per person | ~£285 | £1,830 |
| Duration | 4 days | 4 days |
| Who books it | You and your group, direct | Tour operator, guided group |
| Savings | £1,545 per person (84%) | |
Estimate only, not a guaranteed price. Always verify costs independently before booking.
Want to see more Alaturka Turkey – Tours & Blue Cruises-style trips? Check them out here.~£285
estimated per person
You never pay Travel Crew for this — you pay hostels, transport, and activity providers directly, the same as if you'd booked it all yourself.
This publishes your dates so other travellers can find and join you — no tour operator needed.
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Frequently asked questions
How much does Self-Launched Istanbul to Black Sea: Trabzon, Uzungol & Ayder Highlands cost?+
Doing it yourself with this self-launched itinerary costs an estimated £285 per person for 4 days in Black Sea Region, Turkey. This is an AI-generated estimate based on typical budget-traveller prices — actual costs will vary by season and how you book.
Is this cheaper than booking with Alaturka Turkey – Tours & Blue Cruises?+
Yes — Alaturka Turkey – Tours & Blue Cruises charges around £1,830 per person for a similar tour. Doing the same route independently, using the same standard of accommodation and activities, costs an estimated £285 — a saving of roughly £1,545 (84%) per person.
How long is the Black Sea Region, Turkey trip?+
This itinerary runs 4 days, covering 4 day-by-day stops through Black Sea Region, Turkey.
How do I join this trip?+
You can join an existing open departure using this itinerary if one is scheduled, or launch your own departure with your own dates and invite other travellers to join you — no tour operator required.
Isn't it easier to just use a tour operator?+
Well, yes, a tour operator will book all the individual parts of your travel for you and provide a guide. That's obvious, but doing this has the potential to save the group thousands, which can in turn improve your itinerary substantially or save you huge amounts of money. Also, when you launch a departure, Travel Crew has tools in place to help you book the individual sections of the trip or make it easier for you to do this as a group. Really, you do not need a middle man. If you are more comfortable paying more and using a middle man, then you should certainly do this.
Is it safer to book through a tour operator?+
Arguably, there isn't much difference. A self-launched trip runs on the same principle as a group travel crew: collective responsibility, everyone looking out for each other, the same way it would if a group of friends organised the trip themselves — because that's exactly what's happening. You should always take out travel insurance before you go, self-launched or not; that doesn't change either way. Every open departure is published publicly with real dates and a real trip organiser, so it's never an anonymous arrangement, and our support team is reachable any time you need help, including in an emergency while you're away. Longer-term, we're building direct relationships with ground DMCs in popular destinations, offered as an optional paid add-on for extra on-the-ground support. Ultimately, though, the group is responsible for its own conduct and safety on a self-launched trip, same as on any trip you plan yourself.
What kind of trip is this?+
This is a culture, adventure, hiking trip through Black Sea Region, Turkey, self-launched rather than run by a tour operator — you organise it with a group you find or bring yourself.
Would you like to name the operator, name the trip, or have any suggestions about how to improve this itinerary?
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