Trabzon is the main city of the eastern Black Sea coast, and the departure point for some of the most visually dramatic day trips in Turkey. Sümela Monastery — built into a vertical cliff at 1,200 metres in the Altındere Valley — is the signature attraction: a Greek Orthodox complex founded in the 4th century CE and still standing intact after 1,600 years. Uzungöl, a glacial lake surrounded by forested hills at 900 metres altitude, sits 99 kilometres southeast. Ayder Plateau, in the Kaçkar Mountains at 1,350 metres, is a highland resort with thermal springs and waterfalls. The Hagia Sophia of Trabzon — a separate building from Istanbul’s — stands 2 kilometres west of the city centre. Below we map the best Trabzon tours by traveller type.
We have identified 8 top-rated options across the main categories. Prices are approximate in EUR as of 2026 and vary by operator and season.
Top Trabzon Tours at a Glance
| Tour | Duration | Approx. Price | Best For |
|---|---|---|---|
| Sümela Monastery Day Tour with Lunch | Full day | from €30 | First-timers |
| Sümela Monastery and Hamsiköy Tour | Full day | from €35 | Culture & food lovers |
| Sümela Monastery & Uzungöl: Daily Group Tour | Full day | from €40 | Two-in-one value |
| Uzungöl Group Tour: Explore the Nature & Taste Tea | Full day | from €30 | Nature lovers |
| Trabzon: Uzungöl — Explore Nature, the Magic of the Black Sea | Full day | from €28 | Scenery seekers |
| Uzungöl Private Tour & Explore the Nature & Tea | Full day | from €60 | Private groups |
| Day Trip to Ayder Plateau & Rize: Black Sea, Fırtına Stream | Full day | from €40 | Mountain & plateau seekers |
| Uzungöl Tandem Paragliding Experience | 1–2 hrs | from €80 | Thrill seekers |
Browse all Trabzon tours on GetYourGuide
For First-Time Visitors
Sümela Monastery Day Tour with Lunch
The Sümela Monastery Day Tour with Lunch is the essential Trabzon tour and the reason most visitors stop here at all. Sümela is built directly into a vertical cliff face at 1,200 metres altitude in the Altındere National Park — the approach through the forested Maçka valley is itself notable. The monastery complex includes multiple chapels, frescoed walls dating to the 9th century CE, a library, and guest quarters carved into the rock over successive centuries of construction. Founded by Greek Orthodox monks in 386 CE, it was used continuously until 1923 when the Greek population of the region was exchanged with Turkish populations in Greece.
The tour from Trabzon covers the 47-kilometre drive to Maçka, then a 15-minute walk up to the monastery observation platform and through the complex. Lunch is included, typically at a restaurant in the valley. Duration is a full day, usually departing 08:30–09:00. Prices from approximately €30 per person as of 2026.
Sümela Monastery and Hamsiköy Tour
The Sümela Monastery and Hamsiköy Tour adds the highland village of Hamsiköy to the monastery circuit. Hamsiköy sits at approximately 900 metres on the plateau above Maçka and is known for two things: its milk pudding (sütlaç) made from locally sourced milk in the traditional method, and the views across the Zigana Mountain range. The road to Hamsiköy passes through the Maçka river valley and several Black Sea tea-farming villages. A lunch of Black Sea cuisine is included. Prices from approximately €35 per person as of 2026.
For Nature Lovers
Uzungöl Group Tour: Explore the Nature and Taste Tea
The Uzungöl Group Tour covers the 99-kilometre route from Trabzon to Uzungöl — a glacial lake at 900 metres altitude surrounded by steep forested hillsides and a cluster of wooden chalets. The route passes through the Of district and its river valley, with a stop at a working tea factory for a tasting session. Tea cultivation dominates the eastern Black Sea coast economy, and the factory visit shows the harvest-to-cup process. The lake itself is best in the morning before cloud builds up over the surrounding ridges; the group tour typically arrives in late morning.
Duration is approximately eight hours. Prices from approximately €30 per person as of 2026.
Trabzon: Uzungöl — Explore Nature, the Magic of the Black Sea
The Uzungöl: Explore Nature, the Magic of the Black Sea covers the same route with a stop at the Ataköy waterfall in the Çaykara district — a cascade through beech forest that is less visited than Uzungöl itself. The tour departs from central Trabzon and picks up from hotels along the route. Duration is ten hours. Prices from approximately €28 per person as of 2026.
For Two Destinations in One Day
Sümela Monastery and Uzungöl Daily Group Tour
The Sümela Monastery and Uzungöl Daily Group Tour combines both of Trabzon’s most significant day-trip destinations in a single day — a practical choice for travellers with only one full day in the region. The monastery visit takes the morning; Uzungöl fills the afternoon. The two sites are not directly adjacent — the monastery sits southwest of Trabzon, and Uzungöl lies southeast — so the logistics require a full day to do both without rushing. Duration is a full day. Prices from approximately €40 per person as of 2026.
For Mountain and Plateau Seekers
Day Trip to Ayder Plateau and Rize: Black Sea, Fırtına Stream
The Day Trip to Ayder Plateau and Rize covers the section of coast and mountain that Trabzon-based tours often miss: the province of Rize and its tea plantations, the Fırtına (Storm) River valley, and the Ayder Plateau at 1,350 metres in the Kaçkar Mountains. Ayder has a cluster of thermal springs (kaplıca) and several waterfalls, including the Palovit waterfall — one of the most visited in the Black Sea region — accessible by a short trail from the plateau. The Fırtına Valley contains several Ottoman bridges, including the Arili Bridge (17th century), still intact over the river.
This is the tour for travellers who want the mountain and plateau landscape rather than the monastery circuit. Duration is a full day with an 8-hour format. Prices from approximately €40 per person as of 2026.
For Private Group Travel
Uzungöl Private Tour: Explore the Nature and Tea
The Uzungöl Private Tour covers the Uzungöl lake and tea region with a dedicated driver and guide for your group only. The itinerary is more flexible than the group tour — stops can be adjusted, and photography time at the lake is not constrained by a group schedule. The route typically includes a tea factory visit, the Ataköy waterfall, and the lake. Prices from approximately €60 per person as of 2026, with the per-person cost falling as group size increases.
For Thrill Seekers
Uzungöl Tandem Paragliding Experience
The Uzungöl Tandem Paragliding Experience launches from above Uzungöl and glides over the lake, the forested hillsides, and the valley below. The combination of a glacial lake directly beneath the flight path and the layered mountain ridges beyond makes this a visually rewarding paragliding site — different in character from the sea-views of Ölüdeniz or Marmaris. No prior experience is required; you fly tandem with a licensed instructor. Prices from approximately €80–100 per person as of 2026. Availability depends on weather and wind conditions.
Practical Information for Trabzon Tours
Sümela Monastery access. The monastery is open daily, typically 08:00–17:00 (last entry). Entry costs approximately ₺600 as of 2026 — verify at the site before visiting, as fees increase annually. From the carpark, the walk to the monastery takes approximately 15–20 minutes on a paved path through Altındere National Park. Modest dress is expected inside.
Uzungöl morning timing. The lake sits in a valley and clouds frequently build over the surrounding peaks by midday. Tours that arrive before 11:00 tend to see the reflection of the forested hillsides on the lake; by early afternoon the light changes and the valley often clouds over. This is worth considering when choosing between tours with different departure times.
Ayder Plateau thermal springs. The kaplıca (thermal baths) at Ayder are open to the public; single-use entry costs approximately ₺200–300 as of 2026. The springs are sodium bicarbonate water at approximately 54°C, cooled to bathing temperature in the facilities. Bring a towel.
Trabzon’s Hagia Sophia. The Trabzon Hagia Sophia — a 13th-century Byzantine church converted to a mosque — is a 20-minute walk from the city centre. Entry costs approximately ₺250 as of 2026. It is not included in most day tours but worth the addition if you have a spare morning before or after a tour day.
Getting to Trabzon. Turkish Airlines and Pegasus fly frequently from Istanbul to Trabzon Airport (TZX), a 15-minute drive from the city centre. The flight takes approximately 1 hour 50 minutes. Trabzon has no high-speed rail connection; the nearest HST terminal is Ankara.