Trabzon is the eastern Black Sea's capital city, its airport, and its first impression. Most travellers to the region land here. Many of them never leave, which sounds dramatic until you realise that one province contains the most famous monastery in the country, an underground river cave, a couple of mountain lakes, an old Greek-Ottoman quarter, and a full menu of outdoor activities.
This guide starts with the practical groundwork: getting in from the airport and getting around a province where the best sights are spread out. After that come the city and its day-trips: Sümela, Uzungöl, the caves, the lakes, the monasteries the day-tour brochures don't include. A later chapter covers the outdoor activity scene, paragliding, trekking, climbing, camping, which has grown into a serious adventure economy over the last decade.
Allow three days. Four if you want to do an activity. The roads are good and the distances are short. And if you want to see these places in motion before you go, there are a few of our own films from the region further down the page.
