Trabzon Tour from Istanbul: Private 2 Days with Flights

Trabzon in 2 days from Istanbul with flights: the key facts

This package flies you from Istanbul to Trabzon on the Black Sea coast for two days of green valleys, mountain roads and tea country. Day 1 covers Sumela Monastery in the Pontic Mountains, lunch in Zigana, Karaca Cave and Hamsikoy, the anchovy village. Day 2 is a trip to Uzungöl, the Long Lake, with stops at the knife makers of Sürmene, a tea factory in Of and a horse farm in Çaykara. You fly back to Istanbul late on Day 2.

It suits travellers who have seen the classic sights and want a different landscape in a short time, and who can handle two very early or very late flights. Return flights, airport transfers in both cities, one night in a 5-star or boutique hotel with breakfast, an English-speaking licensed guide and VIP entrance fees are included. The price is from $785 per person.

Is this tour private or shared?

The page says two things. The tour type is "Private Tour", but the inclusions say the sightseeing tours run "on a regular group guided basis", and the Day 1 plan says you join your guide "and the other participants" at a meeting point in Trabzon. Our reading is that the flights, transfers and hotel are arranged for you, while the two day tours are shared with other travellers. If a fully private guide and vehicle matter to you, ask us to confirm this in writing and quote the difference before you pay.

How early are the flights?

Very. On Day 1 we collect you from your Istanbul hotel at 04:30 AM for the 06:00 AM flight to Trabzon. You are met at Trabzon Airport at 07:40 AM and taken to the meeting point. On Day 2 the Uzungöl tour ends back in Trabzon at 17:00, you collect your luggage from the hotel at 18:30 and reach the airport at 19:00 for the 21:30 flight. You land in Istanbul at 22:50 and are transferred to your hotel. Plan a quiet morning in Istanbul on the day after you return.

Are lunches included?

The exclusions list meals as not included, and the only meal in the inclusions is one breakfast at the hotel. The day plans still mention a lunch of local dishes at a restaurant in Zigana on Day 1, a food stop in Hamsikoy and lunch at Uzungöl on Day 2. Treat these as stops where you pay for your own meal, unless we confirm otherwise in writing. Hamsikoy is known for anchovy dishes and rice pudding, so it is a good place to try local food.

What is Sumela Monastery like to visit?

Sumela Monastery is a Greek Orthodox monastery dedicated to the Virgin Mary, built into a cliff face on Mount Melá in the Maçka district. It is the first stop on Day 1, after the drive from the meeting point. Expect some walking on a mountain path and steps to reach it, so wear shoes with good grip. After the monastery you continue to Zigana for lunch and then to Karaca Cave near Torul, a cave system that opened to visitors in 1996. The cave is cooler than outside, so bring a layer.

What do we see on the Uzungöl day?

Day 2 starts at 10:00 AM after breakfast. The first stop is Sürmene, where knives have been made since at least Byzantine times. Next comes a tea factory in Of, where you see how Turkish tea is produced, and a stop at a horse farm in Çaykara. At Uzungöl Lake you look around the waterfalls and take photos from the hill above the lake. After lunch the afternoon is free for a walk around the lake before the drive back to Trabzon.

What should we pack for the Black Sea?

The region is green because it rains often, so a light rain jacket is useful in any season. Mountain areas such as Sumela, Zigana and Uzungöl are cooler than Trabzon city, so bring a warm layer. Wear comfortable walking shoes. Since you only spend one night, a small bag is enough; you collect it from the hotel before the evening flight. Our Black Sea Turkey guide has more on the area and its towns.

Are there other Trabzon options?

Yes. Our Trabzon tour from Istanbul for 2 days, with flights, Sumela and Uzungöl, is listed from $640 per person. If you are already in Trabzon, the Sumela Monastery tour from Trabzon with Karaca Cave is from $120 per person and the private Uzungöl day trip is from $80 per person. For a longer stay that adds Istanbul, see the Istanbul and Trabzon tour from $1,455 per person. Inclusions differ, so check each page.

How do we book this package?

Choose your date and number of guests in the booking form on this page, or write to us on WhatsApp at +90 545 307 67 88. Send us your Istanbul hotel address so we can plan the 04:30 AM pick-up. We confirm the flight times for your date, the hotel in Trabzon, whether the day tours are private or shared and which meals you pay for. The full plan is sent to you in writing before any payment. Get Turkey Tours is a TÜRSAB-licensed agency (A-15751).