Trabzon — Hagia Sophia & Boztepe Sunset Tea (Trabzon)
Arrive at Trabzon (TZX), visit 13th-century Hagia Sophia of Trabzon and Atatürk Pavilion.
Sümela Monastery Cliff Frescoes & Uzungöl Lake (Trabzon → Uzungöl)
Morning visit to Sümela Monastery in Altındere Valley, afternoon around alpine Uzungöl.
Rize Tea Gardens, Fırtına Valley & Zilkale Castle (Rize & Çamlıhemşin)
Sip fresh tea at Rize Ziraat Garden, cross Ottoman stone bridges over the Fırtına River, and climb Zilkale.
Ayder Yaylası & Pokut Cloud Plateau (Ayder (Kaçkar Mountains))
Ascend above the sea of clouds into the Kaçkar highland pastures for Kuymak fondue.
Scenic Mountain Drive via Artvin & Tortum Waterfall to Erzurum (Ayder → Erzurum)
Drive through spectacular Çoruh River gorges past Tortum Waterfall to Erzurum (1,900 m elevation).
Erzurum Twin Minaret Madrasa, Cağ Kebabı & Train to Kars (Erzurum → Kars)
Tour Çifte Minareli Medrese and Yakutiye Medrese, savor authentic Cağ Kebabı, and ride the scenic Doğu Ekspresi rail leg to Kars.
UNESCO Archaeological Site of Ani & Kars Castle (Kars)
Walk the medieval 'City of 1,001 Churches' above the Arpaçay Gorge at Ani and taste aged Kars Gravyer cheese.
Lake Çıldır & Fly Home from Kars Harakani Airport (KSY) (Kars)
Morning visit to high-altitude Lake Çıldır before flying back to Istanbul or Ankara from KSY.
Come Arrivare e Muoversi
Highland Minibus/4x4 + Erzurum–Kars Eastern Express (Doğu Ekspresi). Book TCDD YHT high-speed trains 15–30 days ahead on e-Bilet and domestic flights on Turkish Airlines, Pegasus, AJet, or SunExpress.