Private Ayder High Plateau tour from Trabzon with licensed guide

Drive 400 kilometers through the mountains and reach 1,350 meters without arranging the route yourself

A private full-day tour from Trabzon to Ayder High Plateau with a licensed English-speaking guide covers mountain roads, riverside driving, Zil Castle, and the high plateau at 1,350 meters altitude. Pickup from Trabzon is included. The tour spans 7 to 9 hours and covers approximately 400 kilometers. Lunch at a seaside restaurant and visits to knife and tea production centers in Sürmene are part of the itinerary.

Step-by-step itinerary

Explore Ayder Plateau and Surroundings

• Depart from Trabzon
• Visit Memişağa Mansion by the sea
• Enjoy Turkish Tea at mansion
• Drive alongside Fırtına River
• Stop for easy zipline adventure
• Visit Zil Castle viewpoint
• Stop at old stone Ottoman Bridge
• Explore Ayder High Plateau
• Have lunch at seaside restaurant
• Visit Sürmene knife and tea centers
• Return to Trabzon in evening

The experience

The day starts in Trabzon with pickup and a stop at Memişağa Mansion, an old Ottoman villa by the sea where you'll have Turkish tea before heading inland. From there, the route follows the Fırtına (Storm) River up a smooth mountain road. The guide handles the driving while you watch the landscape shift through various shades of green. A 15-minute zipline stop breaks up the climb and gives you a moment of adrenaline before you continue toward Zil Castle, a historic Silk Road guarding station perched 700 meters above sea level with views across the green mountains.

The road climbs further to Ayder High Plateau at 1,350 meters, where you stop for walks and to breathe the fresh air. On the descent, you'll pass an old stone Ottoman bridge and stop for lunch at a seaside restaurant. The final stretch takes you to Sürmene, a small town where you visit centers producing the region's famous knives and Turkish tea before returning to Trabzon in the evening. The guide is licensed and speaks English throughout, and the air-conditioned vehicle carries bottled water for the full 400-kilometer drive.

What’s included

• Pickup from Trabzon.
• licensed English-speaking guide for the full day.
• air-conditioned vehicle.
• bottled water.
• entry to Memişağa Mansion with Turkish tea.
• the 15-minute zipline adventure.
• visits to knife and tea production centers in Sürmene.

Before you book

Days and timesEvery dayDeparts at 09:00

GroupPrivate

Live guideEnglish

Meeting point and pickupHotel pickup included.

Cancellation and refundsFree cancellation up to 24 h before the start. After that, no refund.

Paid on siteUS$ 2

Prices and times updated 15 days ago

Good to know

Low physical effortInfant seats availablePets welcomePublic transport nearby

Operated by Tour Guide in Trabzon

Is this one for you?This is a private tour, so you travel with your own group and the guide adjusts the pace to suit you. The licensed guide speaks English and handles all 400 kilometers of driving, which suits travelers who want to see the high plateau and the Silk Road sites without navigating mountain roads themselves.

Top questions

What exactly is Zil Castle and why stop there?

Zil Castle is an old guarding station from the historic Silk Road, built 100 meters above the river and 700 meters above sea level. The stop gives you views across the green mountains and a sense of the region's trade-route history.

How much driving is involved in a single day?

The tour covers approximately 400 kilometers over 7 to 9 hours, but the route follows smooth mountain roads and riverside paths rather than highways, so the pace is steady rather than rushed.

Is lunch included in the tour price?

Lunch is not included in the tour price, but the guide takes you to a seaside restaurant where you can order and pay separately.

What happens during the zipline stop?

The zipline is an easy-level adventure that lasts about 15 minutes and breaks up the mountain drive before you continue toward Zil Castle.

Do I need to arrange my own transport to the starting point?

No, pickup from Trabzon is included in the tour, so the guide collects you and handles all the driving for the full day.