Getting to Uzungol takes a little planning, and it is worth being honest about that at the start: there is no airport in the valley, no railway, and no direct express route. Uzungol sits high in the eastern Black Sea mountains, and every route into it ends with the climb from the coast through the green valleys to the lake. But the journey is part of the destination — the approach to the valley, with the lake appearing through the trees, is one of the great arrivals of the Turkish highlands — and with the right plan the trip is straightforward. This guide covers the airports, the transfers, the buses, the cars, and the local transport options, with the practical numbers you need to arrive at the lake without drama.
The Airport: The Gateway
Uzungol has no airport, and the region’s gateway is Trabzon. Trabzon Airport (TZX) is the practical and nearly the only airport serving the region — about 100 kilometers from Uzungol, with flights from Istanbul and the major Turkish cities, and a growing international service. The drive from the airport to the valley takes about two hours, through the mountain valleys of the eastern Black Sea.
The alternative airports — at Rize and the nearby centers — are small and limited; Trabzon is the real gateway, and the flight to Trabzon is the way most visitors arrive.
From the Airport to the Valley
Once you have landed at Trabzon, the final leg is where the planning pays off.
Rental car — the best option for most travelers. Collect a car at Trabzon Airport and drive to Uzungol. The drive takes about two hours, climbing from the coast through the green valleys and the forested slopes to the lake, and the car unlocks the region once you arrive — the highlands, the other lakes, and the coast are all within easy reach. The road is scenic and manageable, and the drive is one of the best parts of the trip.
Shared transfer — the easy option. Many of the valley’s hotels arrange transfers from Trabzon Airport, and there are independent shuttle services. You book ahead, give them your flight number, and a van delivers you to your hotel. It is the simplest option for those who do not want to drive.
Public transport — the budget option. Buses and dolmuş connect Trabzon to Uzungol at honest prices, with the final leg a local connection or a walk. It is the cheapest way, but it takes longer and involves transfers with your bags. For most travelers, the rental car or the transfer is worth the small premium.
Getting Around Uzungol Once You’re There
Inside the valley, transport is minimal by design — and that is the point. The layout is simple:
- The village is walkable. The lake, the mosque, the shops, and the restaurants are all within walking distance of each other. You will walk more than you expect and enjoy it.
- The lake walks are on foot. The paths along the shore and the slopes above the village are walked, not driven.
- The region needs wheels. The highlands, the other lakes, and the coast are the car territory — the dolmuş covers the nearer routes, but a car unlocks the region.
Dolmuş. The shared minibuses of the region connect the valley with the local towns and the coast, at honest prices. They are the standard way to move without a car for the nearer journeys.
Taxis. The valley and the nearby towns have taxis, useful for the airport runs and the shorter journeys. Agree on the fare or use the meter.
Cars. A car is the best transport for the region — the highlands, the lakes, and the coast all reward wheels, and the mountain roads are a pleasure in good conditions.
Boats. The boats on the lake are excursions rather than transport — the lake crossing and the views are the point, not the logistics.
The Practical Numbers
- Trabzon Airport to Uzungol: about 100 km, 2 hours by car.
- Trabzon city to Uzungol: about 100 km, 2 hours by car, or by bus and dolmuş.
- Uzungol to the highlands: 30–60 minutes by car to the main yayla meadows.
- Uzungol to the coast (Rize, the tea country): 1.5–2 hours by car.
- Istanbul to Uzungol: about 95 minutes by flight to Trabzon, plus the 2-hour drive.
Transport Planning That Saves Time and Money
- Book the flight early. Istanbul–Trabzon fares rise sharply as the date approaches, especially in summer. Booking two to six weeks ahead usually gets the best price.
- Rent the car for the region. If you plan day trips from Uzungol — the highlands, the lakes, the coast — the rental from Trabzon Airport pays for itself and unlocks the region.
- Match the transfer to your style. The rental car for the flexibility, the shared transfer for the simplicity, the public transport for the budget — the choice is yours, and all three work.
- Mind the mountain roads. The drive from Trabzon climbs into the high country — scenic and manageable, but take it steadily, and check the weather in the shoulder and winter seasons.
- Pack for the last leg. The airport-to-valley journey is a real journey — keep essentials in hand luggage.
- Arrive in daylight. The approach to the valley, with the lake appearing through the trees, is one of the great arrivals — and the village’s lanes are easier to navigate when you can see them.
Getting Around the Region
Uzungol is the kind of place that makes you want to see what is around it, and the eastern Black Sea rewards the traveler who does. The highland meadows (yayla) above the valley are a short drive, and the region’s other lakes and valleys are within reach by car. The coast — the tea country, the harbor towns, and the beaches of the Black Sea — is about an hour and a half to two hours down the mountain roads. And the old city of Trabzon, with its monastery and its lively center, is the two-hour drive back to the gateway. For all of these, a car is the best enabler; for the nearer routes, the dolmuş and the taxis cover the journeys. The region around Uzungol is one of the most beautiful in Turkey, and getting out into it is half the point of coming.
The Seasonality of the Journey
The journey to Uzungol changes with the season, and planning the transport accordingly saves trouble. In the summer, the flights and the valley’s rooms rise in price together, and the mountain roads carry the holiday traffic — book both ahead, travel midweek if you can, and give the mountain drives extra time. In the shoulder months of May, June, September, and October, the flights are cheaper, the roads are calmer, and the drive is a pleasure. And in the winter, the mountain roads need real care — the snow and the ice call for a properly equipped car, chains or a 4×4 for the passes, flexible plans, and a check of the conditions before you set out. Whenever you come, the arrival is the same: the green valleys opening to the lake and the mountains, and the journey ending at one of the most beautiful landscapes in Turkey.
The Takeaway
The journey to Uzungol is a study in contrasts: a short flight to the coast, then a beautiful climb into the mountains to the lake. Fly to Trabzon, and finish the journey by rental car, transfer, or bus — the choice depends on your budget and your appetite for the region. The arrival — the lake appearing through the trees, the mosque at its edge, the mountains rising around it — is worth every kilometer. Then leave the car at the hotel, walk to the shore, and let the valley take over from there. The transport problem is solved, and the lake, the mist, and the mountains do the rest.
Frequently asked questions
Is there an airport at Uzungol?
No. The gateway is Trabzon Airport, about 100 kilometers away, with the drive taking about two hours through the mountain valleys.
How do I get from Trabzon Airport to Uzungol?
By rental car (the best option for the region), by shared transfer arranged with your hotel, or by public transport (buses and dolmuş, cheaper and slower).
Is there public transport to Uzungol?
Yes — buses and dolmuş connect Trabzon to the valley, and the village is walkable once you arrive.
Do I need a car in Uzungol?
Not for the valley itself — the lake, the mosque, and the village are walkable. A car pays for itself for the highlands, the lakes, and the coast.
How far is it from Trabzon to Uzungol?
About 100 kilometers by road, roughly two hours through the mountain valleys.
Is the drive to Uzungol scenic?
Yes — it is one of the most beautiful drives in Turkey, climbing from the coast through the green valleys to the lake in the mountains.
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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