Uzungol is a valley you could happily never leave — the lake, the mosque, and the highlands could fill a week on their own. But the eastern Black Sea around it is one of the most beautiful and distinctive regions of Turkey, and the day trips that radiate from the valley reward the traveler who goes further: the other lakes and valleys of the high country, the highland meadows (yayla) beyond the main stops, the waterfalls and the forest streams, the tea gardens of the coastal hills, and the old city of Trabzon with its famous monastery. Most of these are short drives from the valley, and a day out from Uzungol comes home to the same lake and the same trout dinners that make the valley such a good base. This guide covers the best day trips from Uzungol, ranked by the balance of effort and reward, with the practical details that turn a good idea into a good day.
The Day-Trip Landscape
Uzungol sits in the eastern Black Sea highlands, about 100 kilometers southeast of Trabzon, and the region around it is the eastern Black Sea’s great landscape: green, wet, and mountainous, with a distinctive culture and food. The day trips radiate in three directions: into the high country above the valley (the yayla meadows and the other lakes), down toward the coast (the tea hills, the waterfalls, and Trabzon), and along the mountain roads that link the region’s valleys.
Getting around: a car is the best enabler — most of these places are 30 minutes to two hours away by road, and the driving is through some of the most beautiful scenery in Turkey. Without wheels, the dolmuş and the organized tours from the valley cover the main sights. If you plan two or more day trips, a car for a few days usually pays for itself.
1. The Highland Meadows (Yayla) Beyond the Main Stops
Why go: the yayla meadows are the signature landscape of the eastern Black Sea — the high pastures where the region’s herders spend the summer, green and vast, with wooden huts, cattle and sheep, and views over the high country. The meadows above Uzungol are the natural first day trip.
What it involves: a drive or a dolmuş up into the high country, then the meadows themselves: the pastures, the herders’ life, the simple highland places, and the walking. The famous yayla stops get the crowds; the side roads beyond them reach the emptier, wilder version.
Practical notes: the weather changes quickly in the high country — take layers and a rain layer, and go on a clear day for the views. A simple highland lunch, with the cheese and the bread and the çay, is part of the experience.
Effort: easy driving, easy walking. Time: half to full day. Cost: fuel and food.
2. The Other Lakes and Valleys of the Region
Why go: the eastern Black Sea is full of lakes and valleys, and each has its own character. The region’s other lakes and highland valleys — quieter than Uzungol, less developed, and often just as beautiful — reward the traveler who goes looking.
What it involves: a drive to one of the nearby lakes or valleys, a walk around the water or along the valley, and the sense of discovery that the famous valley cannot give. Ask locally for the current favorites — the region is full of them.
Practical notes: many of the region’s lakes are reached by rough, winding roads — go carefully, check the conditions, and give yourself the time.
Effort: easy to moderate. Time: half to full day. Cost: fuel and food.
3. The Waterfalls and the Forest Valleys
Why go: the eastern Black Sea is a land of waterfalls, and the forest valleys around the region hide them — the streams tumbling over the rocks, the green pools, and the small cascades that the coast’s visitors never see.
What it involves: a drive into the forest valleys, a walk along the streams, and the falls themselves. The waterfalls are the green counterpoint to the lake, and they are almost always quiet.
Practical notes: the paths are rough and can be wet — take sturdy shoes. The falls are best after rain, when the water runs full.
Effort: moderate walking. Time: half a day. Cost: fuel.
4. Trabzon and the Sumela Monastery
Why go: the region’s old capital city, and the most impressive single destination within reach: the old town of Trabzon with its Byzantine church, its lively center, and the coast; and above it, in the forest, the famous rock monastery of Sumela, clinging to a cliff face — one of the great sights of Turkey.
What it involves: a drive of about two hours down to the coast, a day in the city, and — for the ambitious — the drive up to Sumela, set high in the forest above a valley. Sumela is a long day from Uzungol but one of the most rewarding in the region.
Practical notes: Sumela’s access can close for maintenance — check ahead. The drive from the valley to the coast is itself part of the beauty.
Effort: easy driving, moderate walking at Sumela. Time: full day, or longer for Sumela. Cost: fuel, food, and entrance fees.
5. The Tea Gardens of the Coastal Hills
Why go: the eastern Black Sea grows the tea of Turkey, and the coastal hills are carpeted with the tea gardens — the low green bushes climbing the slopes, the tea factories, and the region’s great drink at its source. It is a landscape and a culture that the valley’s visitors rarely see.
What it involves: a drive toward the coast, through the tea country, a stop at a tea garden or a factory, and the region’s famous çay at its source. The coastal hills, green and terraced, are a different world from the high country.
Practical notes: the tea season runs through the warmer months; the gardens are at their greenest in the summer. A cup of the local tea, bought and drunk at the source, is the takeaway.
Effort: easy. Time: half to full day. Cost: fuel and food.
6. The Coastal Towns and the Black Sea
Why go: for the other face of the region — the Black Sea coast itself, with its harbor towns, its beaches, and its fish. The coast is a world away from the mountain valleys, and the contrast — the sea after the high country — is part of the region’s richness.
What it involves: a drive down to the coast, a walk in a harbor town, a fish lunch, and the sea air. The coastal towns are working places, and their fish restaurants serve the Black Sea’s table.
Practical notes: the coast road is busier than the mountain roads — take it easy and give yourself the time.
Effort: easy. Time: full day. Cost: fuel and food.
Building Your Day-Trip Plan
- One day: the highland meadows above the valley, or a nearby lake — the natural extension of Uzungol.
- Two days: add the waterfalls and the forest valleys, or the drive to the coast.
- Three days or more: Trabzon and Sumela for the great sight, the tea country for the culture, and the lakes for the discovery.
- No car: the dolmuş and the organized tours from the valley cover the main yayla and the coast.
- Best seasons: spring and autumn for everything; summer for the highlands at their greenest and the tea gardens at their fullest.
The Takeaway
Uzungol is the ideal base for the eastern Black Sea. The day trips radiate in every direction — the highland meadows, the other lakes, the waterfalls, the tea country, and the great sight of Sumela — and each one comes home to the same lake and the same trout dinners that make the valley such a good place to return to. Rent a car, pick your priorities, and let the green mountains do the rest.
Frequently asked questions
What are the best day trips from Uzungol?
The highland meadows, the other lakes and valleys of the region, the waterfalls and the forest valleys, the tea country toward the coast, and — for the great sight — Trabzon and the Sumela monastery.
Do I need a car for day trips from Uzungol?
Not strictly — the dolmuş and the tours cover the main sights — but a car unlocks the lakes, the waterfalls, and the high country, and pays for itself over two or more trips.
How far is Trabzon from Uzungol?
About two hours by road down to the coast.
Which day trip is best for the high country?
The yayla meadows above the valley — the signature landscape of the eastern Black Sea.
Is Sumela worth the long day?
Yes, if you have the time and the access is open — the rock monastery is one of the great sights of Turkey.
What is the best day trip for the scenery?
The drive into the high country and the lakes of the region — the eastern Black Sea at its most beautiful.
All Over Information
The All Over Information editorial team researches and writes practical English-language guides to Turkey. Facts are checked against official and local sources before publication, prices are published as dated ranges rather than quotes, and guides are revised when things change. We accept no sponsored posts, paid placements or paid links.
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