Black Sea Region & Batumi Tour

Destinations

AMASYA – GOK MADRASAH – 2. BEYAZIT KULLIYAH – CLOCK TOWER  –  YEŞİLIRMAK –  HAVZA  – BOYABAT – SİNOP - SİNOP PRİSON – MAQUETTE WORKSHOP – GERZE – BAFRA – SAMSUN – STATUE HONOUR – BANDIRMA STEAMSHİP - ORDU – BOZTEPE – ALTINDERE NATİONAL PARK  – SUMELA MONASTRY – FRESCOS – KARADAĞ – AYAZMA – ROCKY CHURCH – MAÇKA – ZİGANA TUNNEL – TRABZON – HACIA SOPHİA MUSEUM – TELKÂRİ WORKSHOP – SOĞUKSU ZONE – ATATÜRK HOUSE – SÜRMENE – MEMİŞOĞLU HOUSE – OF - UZUNGOL – KARASTER – LUSTRA – YAYLAÖNÜ YAYLALARI – TEA FACTORY – RIZE – RIZE CASTLE – RIZE FABRIC WORKSOP – AYDER PLATEAU – GELİN DÜVENİ FOUNTAIN – FIRTINA CREEK  – ZILKALE –  RAFTİNG – BATUMI TOUR ICLUDED TO PACKET PRİCE – GONİO (APSAROS) CASTLE – ÇORUH RIVER – THEATHRE BUİLDİNG – MEDEA SCULPTURE – BATUMI PORT – CATHEDRAL CHURCH OF BLESSED VIRGIN MARY – ORTA MOSQUE – BOTANIC GARDEN – WODER OF NATURE, BORÇKA – KARAGOL – KLASKUR CREEK – ARTVİN DOMESTİC CITY TOUR – HUGE ATATURK SCULPTURE – ARTVIN CASTLE – TORTUM FOUNTAIN – UZUNDERE – ERZURUM – ERZURUm TWİN MINARET MADRASAH – GRAND MOSQUE – YAKUTIYE MADRASAH – OLTU STONE – TAŞHAN – NENE HATUN TOMB – AZİZİYE BASTIONS

We come together with you, esteemed guests, in front of the HRT TOURS agency at 22:00 on moving day, Friday and start to move at 22:15. We will take breaks when needed on travel  route. We go through (Kahramanmaraş- Sivas road or Malatya- Sivas road) to Amasya.

1st Day, Saturday

AMASYA – GOK MADRASAH – 2. BEYAZIT KULLIYAH – CLOCK TOWER  – YEŞİLIRMAK –  HAVZA  – BOYABAT – SİNOP - SİNOP PRİSON – MAQUETTE WORKSHOP – GERZE – BAFRA – SAMSUN – STATUE HONOUR – BANDIRMA STEAMSHİP

Dear guests, we start off with food and beverage services in HRT TOURS vehicle. We arrive Shahzadahs city, Amasya. We come across with one of the special architecture of Seljuk Rule, remained from in 1200, Gok Madrasah Mosque with its total magnificence. Here have most succesful wooden carving example and one of the unique and interesting architecture among the our mosques. After a short taking photos timebreak, we visit the one of the important monument, 2nd Beyazid Complex of Mosque (There is possibility of restraint to entry due to restarotion). Then we overview panaromically Rocky King Tombs at the riverside of the Yeşil Irmak Valley, take photos of Amasya Castle and Yalı Houses, walk shortly in Shahzadahs Park, see Magdenus, Alcak and Government Bridges, visit and take photos one of the special architectural manument of Ottomans, elegant and naive Hazerans House and Clock Tower evethough it is 19 century’s structure. Then we set off to visit water channels, one of the symbol of historical love story, Ferhat and Sirin’s Legend. Next, go towards from on Havza and Boyabat route to sweet city, Sinop. Sinop firstly welcomes us with its unique nature and we start off trip with  Ince Burun (peninsula) and Hamsilos fjord. Subsequently, we visit, subjected in poets and sings, Sinop Prison where a lot of films and TV series are made and many important people jailed there in history. After prison visit, we go to Sinop Port and Castle and buy a maquette ship from this handcraft workshop. Following the shopping of souvenirs and Boyabat sauce and tasting famous Sinop’s pasty (Mantı), we leave here, Middle Black Sea Region and we move to Samsun from on route of Gerze – Bafra – Alacam. Firstly, we visit symbol of Samsun Area and Samsun Mayority Park, Ataturk Statue Honour, sculptured by Sculptor Heinrich Krippel. Then, we arrive National Strugle Park (Milli Mücadele Parkı) where is copied of Bandırma Ship by which Ataturk navigate to Samsun. Next, we go to the center of city and accommodate to hotel for having rest and dinner.

Breakfast:

Lunch:

Dinner: at Hotel, included to price

Route: Gaziantep – Amasya (585 km), Amasya - Sinop (260)   Sinop- Samsun (156 km)

Total Distance: 1009 km.

2nd Day, SUNDAY

Dear guests, after buffet breakfast, we go on Çarşamba, Terme, Unye and Fatsa and pass through one of the longest underpass of Turkey highways, Nefise Akçelik Tunnel, constructed on Black Sea Coastal Highway. Then we arrive Black Sea’s pearl, Ordu. In the free timebreak, the wishing guests can go up to Boztepe by cable car and  enjoy their coffee in the meantime overwieving the wonderful landscape. Then we taste the famous Ordu sweet, then we leave here and move to Altundere National Park in Trabzon/Maçka. You see there 1001 tones of green. Then we visit placed among greenery of forest and on piedmont of Karadağ, Sumela (Virgin Mary) Monastry by curving the rocks, constructed by two priests named Barnabas and Sophranios from Athens in 386 B.C.. When you see the architectural wonder of the monastery, you will not be able to hide your astonishment. After a trip to Ayazma, rocky churches, aqueducts and rock frescos, we go to the Zigana Mountain which is the subject of folk songs and do not allow passage for long years. When you pass through Zigana Tunnel to Gumushane border, you will notice sharp seperation between Black Sea and Eastern anatolia’s botanic flora and climate. In Haskoy, located on Zigana, you can taste the village's famous rice pudding. (Extra) We reach our hotel after a pleasant day. Dinner and accomodation done in our hotel.

Breakfast:

Dinner: in hotel, included to price

Accommodation:

Route: Persembe – Ordu (15 km) Ordu – Giresun (42 km) Giresun – Trabzon (131 km) Trabzon – Sumela (39 km) Sumela – Arsin (60 km)

Total Distance : 287 km

3rd Day, Monday             

Dear guests, after the buffet breakfast in hotel, we arrive the most developed city, Trabzon. Then we visit one of the important construction of Pontus, Hagia Sophia Mosque which was builded in 13nd century, by  1. Manuel during Komnenos Kingdom and transformed from church to mosque in 1572 when Ottoman term and transformed from mosque to museum in 1964. After listening detailed story of magnificient frescos from our guide, we do a short trip in Trabzon center  and we go to Telkari Workshops and  Bazaar where we can buy and see the examples of Telkari Handcraft. Then we go to Soguksu. Here, we visit the 20th century magnificent construction, Ataturk House welcomes us which Ataturk like it when he came here and gifted to Ataturk by City Goverment Office and he stayed here at the  third visit of Trabzon ( Ataturk visited here two times in 1924 and 1930 and accomodated here 1937 and wrote a part of his last will). The House has fascinating garden and architecture. Followingly, we go to Tea Factory in Surmene and witness production process of tea  from harvest to place in our glass. After get infornmed by our guide, wishing guests can do shop of gifting tea. Then we visit workshop of knife prominent wih Surmen . Following the getting informed about this knife and shopping, we visit the one of the most  important instance of  Turkish Civil Architect of the region, Memis Aga House and take free timebreak tos hop cheese, butter, and other rural products. After taking wonderful photos here, magnificent masterpiece of Turkish and Greek Architecture, we move to symbol of Black Sea Region, Uzungol. Here, wishing guests can participate in Kaçkar Upland Tour (Extra 30 TL). In this tour we take places in the bus amd move to see Karaster – Lustra – Yaylaönü plateau. You find chance to see even the other plateaus  and take photos at timebreaks on route. In case of fog, it will be climb up to Demirkapı (Haldizen) plateau. After tirp of plateaus and Uzungol, we move to Rize. We do our Rize domestic tour panaromically. Then we reach t he workshop where the Rize fabric is presented and sold.  Next, we go up to Rize Botanic Garden and Rize Garden where you can overview Rize panaromically. Then we settle in our hotel. Dinner and accommodation in our hotel. 

Breakfast: in hotel, included to price

Lunch:

Route: Surmene (inner city: 10 km), Surmene – Uzungol (60 km), Uzungol – Rize (85 km), Rize – Cayeli  (25 km )

Total Distance: 180 km

4th Day, Tuesday

Ayder Plateau – Gelin Duveni Fountain – Fırtına Creek – Zilkale – Rafting – Batumi Tour (included to Packet) – Gonio (Apsaros) CAstle – Coruh River – Theathre Building – Medea Sculpture– Batum Port – Batumi Cathedral of the Mother of God  – Orta Mosque – Botanic Garden

Dear guests, after buffet breakfast in our hotel, we move to Ayder Plateau known as paradise in the World. While following the Fırtına Creek, we can see most rich examples of Eastern Black Sea Anatolia’s botanic flora, the chestnut tree, alders, spruce and give a timebreak  near the Hala creek to take photos Ottoman stone bridge and Mikron or Kale Bridge. We go for a enjoyable walk at one of the most beautiful points of Kackar Mountains, Ayder Plateau. We visit the Gelin Düveni and other waterfalls. After Kolegon trip we take free timebreak to nature walk and have a chance to talk with region people.You feel yourself in a different World at Ayder Plateau. WE take a timebreak at Fırtına Creek, one of the most beautiful valley of Black Sea Anatolia. We get to try of the rural tastes Mıhlama, Laz patty, Collard roll, red spotted trout at lunch. 

We provide different tour alternatives for our guest if wished.

1st Choice: Zilkale, Çat Valley and Palovit Waterfall Tour: We start a wonderful tour with minibuses from Çamlıhemşin. We are entering Çat Valley, one of the important part of the Fırtına Valley. First we pass through Ortan Village and see Şenyuva Village, formerly known as Çinçiva, where SEVDALUK TV series and many other productions are also shot. Here we take photos in one of the longest and widest stone bridges, dozens of them in the valley. We are on our way to Zilkale rising in the wild nature of the Çat Valley, among the Fırtına mansions, oldest mansions in this region. Most probably you  amaze by the image of Zilkale that resembles the Eagle's Nest. 750 mt above than sea level and even 100 mt from Cat Creek, during the spending time at Zilkale, you can take a most beautiful photo of your life. After then this nice moments, we climb up more and reach the famous with wonderful landscape and coolness making summer to winter, Palovit Waterfall. After a pleasant moment, we return to Şenyuva Village for a tea break. After sipping your tea against the wonderful view, we go back to Çamlıhemşin by taking our minibuses. (Extra, and  50 TL per Person)

2nd Choice: Rafting at course which lasts  1,5 hours, at Fırtına Creek. 60 TL per person.

After the Fırtına Valley we move to Batumi. After completing our entry process at Sarp Border Gate, we move to Georgia / Adjara region. We see panaromically Gonio (Apsaros Castle) remained from Romans, even used Ottoman term and also have ST. Mathias‘s tomb, one of the Jesus’s twelve Apostles. Our next destiantion is Small Botanic Garden which is near old boulevard. After seeing Black Sea ‘s endemic trees and plants, we return city centers and start to trip here. We see historical Cathedral of Batumi Mother of God, Orta Mosque, Theathre Building, Medea Sculpture, Batumi Port and new constructured Europe Area. After walking at Batumi Boulevard, we take a free timebreak for shopping. Then, make exit process at Sarp Border Gate, we settle at hotel. Dinner and accommodation in our hotel.

NOTE => According to the agreement signed between the Georgian government and Turkey, Turkish citizens can entrance Batumi with identity card ID number on. Other ID cards (driving license, corporate IDs, etc.) cannot be accepted. Guests under the age of 18 who will not travel with their family (Mother and Father at the same time) are required to obtain a NOTARIZED APPROVAL from the NOTARY for their passage to BATUM. IDs of children including babies, must be with photographs. IDs should not be torn and worn. Georgian officials do not accept IDs that are older than 10 years from time to time.

Attention: Please do not forget your TR identity card ID number on when you go journey. The exit fee paid by guests.

Alternative Program

Guests who cannot or do not want to pass Batumi can join our Extra Mençuna Waterfall tour if they wish. The minibus take us from Arhavi pass through Çiftekemer Bridge and reach Küçükköy. In Küçükköy, we get off our minibuses and cross the suspension bridge and start a very pleasant walk. In our journey that take about 30 minutes, we pass through the trees resembling the Botanical Park. We pass through the tea gardens on the same route and you can participate in our tea harvest activity. When we arrive at Mençuna, which means ‘’unreachable’’  in Laz , the scenery we see simply is wonderful. After this wonderful tour we return to Arhavi and meet our group and bus.

Mençuna Waterfall Tour: (30TL per person, extra)

Breakfast: in hotel and included to tour price

Lunch:

Dinner:

Acommodation:

Route: Rize Domestic City Tour (10 km)   Rize – Ayder Plateau (70 km)  Ayder Plateau – Hopa (86 km)  Hopa – Sarp Border Gate (17 km)  Sarp – Batumi (14 km) Batumi Domestic City Tour (30 km) Batum – Hopa (42 km)

Total Distance: 269 km

5th Day, Wednesday

Borcka – Karagol – Klaskur Creek – Artvin City Tour – Huge Ataturk Sculpture – Artvin Castle – Tortum Waterfall – Uzundere - Erzurum

Dear guests, after buffet breakfast at the morning in our hotel, we move to Klaskur Valley. From here, we go to Borcka, at near Georgia Border, that include different life environmant, protecting its nature and having virgin ecosystem. Following the Artvin’s district, Borcka,  we arrive Karagol, with its wonderful nature. You like the beautiful scenery while sipping your tea by the lake in Karagol which is at 1500 mt height and  a natural wonder formed by the closure of Klaskur Creek as a result of a landslide in the 19th century. In the  past years Karagol and around here hosted one of the Turkish TV series ‘’ Benim için üzülme’’. And after the visit here, we return  our bus and arrive one of the most interesting city of Black Sea or maybe Turkey. Centre of Artvin is very narrow and the big buses can’t enter here’s streets. That’s why, we do our Artvin Tour panaromically. After we see panaromically Ghazi Mustafa Kemal Ataturk’s biggest sculpture of the World, move to from on Yusufeli to Tortum. After take a photo break at Tortum Waterfall, we reach our hotel in Erzurum. Dinner and accommodation in our hotel.

Breakfast: in hotel and included to price

Lunch:

Accommodation:

Route: Hopa – Borcka Karagol (61 km) Karagol – Artvin (44 km) Artvin – Tortum Waterfall (130 km) Tortum – Erzurum (85 km)

Total Distance: 320 km

6th Day, Sunday

Erzurum – Çifte Minareli Medrese (Twin Minaret Madrasah) – Grand Mosque – Yakutiye Madrasah – Oltu Stone – Taşhan – Nene Hatun Tomb – Aziziye Bastions

  Dear guests, after the buffet breakfast at hotel at the morning, we start to trip the highest city of Eastern Anatolia, Erzurum. Our first stop point is Turkey’s largest madrasah and remembered with its interesting story, Çifte Minareli Medrese (Twin Minaret Madrasah). Then, we visit Grand Mosque, Yakutiye Madrasah (Turkish and Islamic Works Museum) and go to Tashan where is showed famous Oltu stone. After this fascinating stone exhibition, we visit Aziziye Bastions keeping tomb of Nene Hatun, one of the heroines of Erzurum defence. Later, we leave the city and start to returning journey. We arrive at start point of our tour and leave each other with you, esteemed guest  to meet again at another HRT TOURS.

Breakfast: in hotel, included to price

Lunch:

Dinner:

Accommodation:

Route: Erzurum Inner city (20 km), Erzurum –Gaziantep (629 km)

Total Distance: 649 km

General Total Distance: 2714

Services included to price

• 5 Nights,half pansion accomodation at 5 Stars hotel 
• Travel by High Model Vehicle
• Professional Guidance Services in Turkish
• Food and Beverage Services in bus
• HRT TOURS Assurance
• 5 Open Buffet Breaksfasts
• 5 Open Buffet and Set Menu Dinners
• Obligatory Travel Insurance according to 1618th Law
• Additional Service Fees – Batumi Tour
• Fee of transfers to Plateau ( transfers which aren’t extra)

Agency Tour Notes

Cancel and Repayment Insurance Packet: It is provided %100 guarantee to repayment unconditionally if requested canceling reservation 72 hours (3 days) before starting day or any change about tour. Packet price is 20 TL per person in 1, 2 or 3 nights accomodated tour. The tours 4 nights or above accommodated tour, price is 30 TL per person. There is no repayment at flying tour.

Content of the  Compulsory Travel Insurance according to 1618th rule of the Tourism Law

• Canceling of tour due to situation of bankrupt or any other reasons. This isn’t health insurance and no charge for medical costs. (Private health insurance is a kind of spending by guests.)
• Attention: The bus tour is free for babies 0-1.99 years old. If wishing to book a seat, received price of 2-6 years old kids charge. Don’t pay any entrance fee for 0-7 years kids in historical sites and museums.

Information

• There may be postponement at Batumi border entrance process due to temporary density. Our guide warsn about this in necessary situations.
• To able to bring goods (smoking- alcohol from abroad toTurkey, it is obligated to accommodate 3 days at least.
• According to a Georgian Law The Georgian Police does not accept any medication during the entrance process this country. Legal action is conducted to whom have drug. At the conversion tours, you can take a single drug that you use during the day by wrapping it in paper.
• HRT TOURS isn’t responsible the problems during the entrance process of Georgian border due to deformation of ID card
• The foreign guests from abroad entering to Turkey with pasaport must have multiple entrance visa to able to go to and come from Georgia. In addition, visa / visa-free pass will be provided according to the visa protocol of the Government of Georgia with the countries where passports or IDs belong. TRNC citizens, while entering Turkey if they enter by using the ID card  are able to enter with their ID card to Georgia. Citizens of the TRNC entering Turkey with EU passport must have multiple entrance visa in order to return to Turkey.
• It may be checked out early at the morning the day going to Batumi due to density on border or likely checked in late at evening in hotel. In this case, may be it isn’t had breakfast or dinner at hotel. There is no reponsibility of HRT TOURS with this. The guests don’t have compensation right. Breakfast at between 07:00-10:00. Dinner at between 19:00-21:30.
• Plateau hotels to stay, have standard plateau hotel structure, all accommodation is determined by the hotel. There is no obligation to have local food in hotels
• It is the best to be ready the situations because there aren’t availibilty of money exchange or ATM all times.
• There may be to take long distance on plan. The necessary informed is done by guide.
• Economical menus peculiar to region are arrenged.
• Tables are divided into groups depending on the density of the region for lunch and dinner.

Tour programmes are arrenged according to 6502th Customer Law

The free time provided in the regions, the free time given in museums and historical sites varies from tour to tour, but is regularly reported to the guests by the tour guide every day. Since the Professional Tour Guide with Kokart is the best person who knows the program of the day, he will determine the schedule according to the trip points and the opening hours of the museum and give out at the appropriate hour. Each guest participating in the tour is considered to have accepted and committed to comply with these hours to be announced by the tour guide. Each guest is obliged not to interrupt the program flow. The departure times are also determined in parallel. 14:00 Check-in and 12.00 check-out times, which are generally applied in hotels, are not valid for Domestic Culture Tours. Check-out time is 08.00. However, the guide may change at this time depending on the intensity of the program. In such a case, the new clock is notified to the guests a day before by the Professional Tour guide.