Zigana Mountains, Hamsikoy & Karaca Cave tour from Trabzon

Three distinct landscapes (mountains, forest and cave) fit into a single morning and afternoon.

A full-day tour from Trabzon covers Zigana mountains, Hamsikoy village and Karaca Cave with a private guide, hot lunch, and round-trip hotel transfer. The route climbs through Altindere Valley National Park, descends into forest beside the sea, and includes time inside Karaca Cave, where cooler air and mineral-rich atmosphere draw visitors seeking relief from respiratory strain. Lunch features the region's signature rice pudding at a traditional Turkish restaurant in Hamsikoy, a stop along the ancient Silk Road.

Step-by-step itinerary

Zigana mountains, cave, village tour

• Breakfast at hotel
• Pick up by private tour guide
• Drive along Zigana mountains and forest
• Stop for photos of scenic views
• Visit Karaca Cave and explore
• Learn about cave's air benefits
• Drive on ancient Silk Road route
• Visit Hamsikoy village
• Enjoy hot lunch with rice pudding
• Return to hotel/hostel

The experience

Your guide picks you up after breakfast and drives an air-conditioned car through Zigana mountains, where the road climbs high enough to show both peaks and forest canopy dropping toward the Black Sea coast. The guide shares local history and points out photo stops. The drive itself is part of the experience, not just transit to the sites. Karaca Cave sits partway through the route. You walk inside to feel the temperature drop and the mineral-rich air that has drawn visitors for generations, particularly those with asthma or respiratory concerns.

Lunch happens in Hamsikoy village, a traditional settlement on the old Silk Road route, where you eat at a recommended Turkish restaurant. Rice pudding, the village's specialty, anchors the meal. The guide chooses the restaurant and timing fits naturally into the day's rhythm. After lunch, you continue through Altindere Valley National Park, the formal protected area that frames much of the tour's landscape, before returning to your hotel or hostel by evening.

What’s included

• Hot lunch at a Turkish restaurant in Hamsikoy village.
• air-conditioned vehicle for the full day.
• round-trip hotel transfer with your private guide.

Before you book

Days and timesEvery dayDeparts at 09:30

Book up to1d before

AgesAdult (5 to 80 years) · Under 5: can't be booked

GroupUp to 5

Live guideArabic

Meeting point and pickupHotel pickup included.You can choose from 20 pickup points.

Cancellation and refundsFree cancellation up to 24 h before the start. After that, no refund.It may be canceled due to bad weather. If that happens, you're offered another date or a refund.

Prices and times updated 10 days ago

Good to know

Moderate physical effortInfant seats availableNot recommended during pregnancyNot recommended with heart problemsInfants must sit on laps

Operated by ToBadaa

Is this one for you?This is a private tour, so you travel with your guide alone or with your group rather than joining strangers, and the pace follows your interests and photo stops. The eight-hour format suits a free day when you want to see three distinct natural sites without committing to a multi-day trip, and the included lunch and transport mean you do not need to arrange separate meals or navigate between stops yourself.

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Top questions

What happens if it rains?

It may be canceled due to bad weather. If that happens, you're offered another date or a refund. Free cancellation up to 24 h before the start.

What exactly is Karaca Cave and why do people visit it?

Karaca Cave is a natural cavern known for air that stays cooler than the outside temperature and carries mineral content believed to ease respiratory conditions like asthma. Visitors walk inside to experience the cave environment. It is not a guided underground expedition but a straightforward visit to the cave opening and interior.

Is this tour only for experienced hikers or people in very good shape?

The tour requires at least a moderate level of physical fitness because you walk into Karaca Cave and move between the car and village stops. It is not a strenuous hike. Most of the day is spent driving and standing at viewpoints, with one cave walk as the main physical component.

What is Hamsikoy village like, and how much time do you spend there?

Hamsikoy is a traditional village along the ancient Silk Road, known for rice pudding and other regional dishes. You stop there for lunch at a Turkish restaurant the guide recommends. The meal is included and built into the day's schedule, so you experience the village setting while you eat rather than as a separate walking tour.

Does the guide speak English, and what language is the tour conducted in?

The tour guide speaks Arabic and conducts the tour in that language. If you speak Arabic, the guide will share information about the sites and history throughout the day. If you do not, you may want to confirm language compatibility before booking.

How long is the full day, and what time does it end?

The tour runs for eight hours from your morning pickup, so if you are collected at 8am, you return to your hotel by 4pm. The exact start time depends on your hotel location and when you finish breakfast. The guide coordinates pickup timing with you.