Rafting from Trabzon: Ayder Plateau & Fırtına Valley

Rafting the Fırtına River, then highlands at the foot of the Kaçkar Mountains

A full-day tour from Trabzon to Ayder Plateau and Fırtına Valley with hotel pickup, professional guide in English or Arabic, and a 1–2 hour activity break where you can choose rafting, ziplining, the giant swing, or simply rest by the river. The tour includes transport, sightseeing at Gelin Tülü Waterfall and the Glass Terrace, free time in Ayder until 16:00, and hotel drop-off. Rafting and other adventure activities are optional and paid separately at the site.

Step-by-step itinerary

Full-day tour to Ayder Plateau and Fırtına Valley

• Depart from Trabzon at 09:00
• Drive along Black Sea coastline
• Activity break by Fırtına River
• Optional rafting, ziplining, or swinging
• Continue to Ayder Plateau through forest roads
• Visit Gelin Tülü Waterfall and Glass Terrace
• View from Ayder Plateau Observation Terrace
• Free time in Ayder Plateau until 16:00
• Return to Trabzon with breaks

The experience

You leave Trabzon at 09:00 from your hotel and drive roughly 1.5 hours inland through coastal towns and forested slopes toward the mountains. The route climbs into Rize Province, where the landscape shifts from Black Sea views to river valleys and highland terrain. Around midday you reach Fırtına Valley, where the tour stops for 1–2 hours beside the rushing Fırtına River. This is where the day splits: you can join optional rafting, ziplining, or the giant swing (each paid on-site), or simply sit by the water and watch the activity or rest.

After the valley break, the drive continues uphill through forested roads to Ayder Plateau, a highland retreat at 1,400 meters at the foot of the Kaçkar Mountains. The first stop is Gelin Tülü Waterfall, a 50-meter cascade named for its resemblance to a bridal veil. Nearby, a 20-meter glass walkway called the Glass Terrace lets you view the waterfall from a different angle and is a popular photo spot. You then reach the Ayder Plateau Observation Terrace for panoramic views of the surrounding mountains and highland settlements.

From roughly 13:00 until 16:00 you have free time in Ayder. Most travelers eat lunch, drink tea or coffee at countryside cafés, or watch the horon dance (a traditional local dance accompanied by the tulum, a local bagpipe). Some join in the dancing. At 16:00 you meet the vehicle for the return drive to Trabzon, with breaks along the way, arriving back in the evening. The tour includes hotel pickup and drop-off from selected Trabzon locations, transport in a modern air-conditioned vehicle, and a professional guide who speaks English or Arabic.

What’s included

• Hotel pickup and drop-off from selected Trabzon locations.
• transport in a modern air-conditioned vehicle.
• professional tour guide in English or Arabic.
• sightseeing at Gelin Tülü Waterfall, the Glass Terrace, and Ayder Plateau Observation Terrace.
• free time in Ayder Plateau.

Before you book

Days and timesEvery dayDeparts at 09:00

Book up to2h before

AgesAdult (6 and older) · Child (3 to 5 years) · Infant (under 3): free

GroupUp to 25

Live guideEnglish and Arabic

Meeting point and pickupHotel pickup is optional; you can also go straight to the meeting point. Ends back at the starting point.

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

Prices and times updated yesterday

Good to know

Low physical effortStroller-friendlyInfants must sit on laps

Operated by Sultanahmet Old City Travel Turizm Organizasyon

Is this one for you?Book this tour if you're staying in Trabzon without a car and want to reach the Ayder Plateau and Fırtına Valley in one day. Hotel pickup means you don't arrange transport yourself, and the guide handles the route and timing so you focus on the river, the waterfall, and the highland views. The optional activities in the valley let you choose your own pace: join the rafting or swing, or simply rest and watch.

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Top questions

What languages is the tour guided in?

Live guide in English and Arabic.

Can children come?

Yes. Ticket types: Child (3 to 5 years); Infant (under 3): free.

Can I do rafting in Fırtına Valley on this tour?

Yes, rafting is one of three optional activities available during the 1–2 hour break in Fırtına Valley, along with ziplining and the giant swing. All three are paid separately at the site. You can also skip the activities and rest by the river instead.

What is Gelin Tülü Waterfall like?

Gelin Tülü is a 50-meter waterfall on Ayder Plateau named for its elegant flow resembling a bridal veil. A nearby Glass Terrace with a 20-meter glass walkway lets you view it from a unique angle and is a popular spot for photos.

How much free time do I get at Ayder Plateau?

You have free time from roughly 13:00 until 16:00 in Ayder. Most travelers use it for lunch, tea or coffee at local cafés, watching or joining the traditional horon dance, or exploring the plateau before the return drive to Trabzon.

Does the tour include meals and drinks?

The tour does not include food or drinks. You can buy lunch and refreshments at cafés in Ayder Plateau during your free time, or bring your own.

What is the drive time from Trabzon to Ayder Plateau?

The drive from Trabzon to Fırtına Valley is roughly 1.5 hours. After the activity break in the valley, the drive to Ayder Plateau takes additional time as the route climbs through forested mountain roads.