RIZE
Rize
(75 km east of Trabzon) is built on a mountain slope 
covered
with tea bushes that look like puffy green pillows. Be sure to see this
typical Black Sea city's 16th-century Islam Pasa Mosque and the remains
of a Genoese castle. From Ziraat Park you can take in a splendid panorama
of the whole area. A lightweight summer cloth of good quality and printed
with colorful patterns comes from the Rize area. During the Summer Tea
Festival you can purchase the best blend of Black Sea tea. Mehmet Mataraci
Mansion is now an Atatürk Museum that displays his personal belongings
as well as ethnographical artifacts from the region. Turning inland after
Ardesen off the road going east from Rize, you come to the beautiful little
town of Camlihemsin straddling a rushing stream. Nearby is the Firtina
Vadisi (Valley of Storms) - ideal for canoeing and the beautiful Zir Castle,
and stone bridges from Byzantine times. After walking around Ayder's rolling
meadows, you can relax in one of the many hot springs. For those who like
mountain climbing, this is the best starting point for scaling the Kackar
Mountains. This emerald range is one of the best and the most challenging
for climbers in Turkey. The whole of the Kackar Range constitutes the beautiful
Kackar Daglari National Park. In the mountains south of Rize, Anzer village
offers the world-famous and nutritious Anzer honey and is a nice area for
hiking and for its botany. Ikizdere Canyon, between Anzer and Ikizdere
Plateaus, is a great spot for hang-gliding. At the same time you get a
bird's-eye view of the area. Near Rize, the towns of Cayeli, Pazar, Ardesen,
Of and Findikli all enjoy a subtropical climate, lush green settings and
boast traditional chalets. The Camburnu coast is covered with golden pine
trees where many species of migrating birds stop and it is a lovely area
for resting and picture taking.
HOPA
Hopa,
an attractive town at the foot of a forested mountain, is the last port
before the Turkish-Georgian border. The international boundary actually
divides the village of Sarp. 27 km northeast of the town of Borcka on the
way to Artvin there is the wonderful alpine lake of Karagöl, with
various pine trees, as well as other flora and fauna. The road to Artvin
traverses the Cankurtaran mountain pass, where verdant landscape changes
to barren rocks. Hatira Valley National Park, about 25 km in length, is
10 km from Artvin, between the confluence of the Coruh River and the Hatilla
stream in the east, and Mt. Nathali (2,923 m) in the west. Canyons with
sheer cliffs and vertical drops can be seen though out the park. Both Mediterranean
and Black Sea flora flourish together in the park along with bears, deer,
wolves, foxes and eagles. Special houses on top of wooden stilts are home
to the park bees who produce the famous regional honey.
ARTVIN
A
winding drive midway up a Mountainside takes you to Artvin, the capital
of the province. At the foot of the escarpment, a ruined 16th-century castle
crowns a rocky outcrop. Artvin is a charming city with beautiful old Turkish
houses, typical of the region. The area's mild climate makes summer visits
delightfully refreshing and every June, crowds of tourists, as well as
brightly-clad locals, throng to the Kafkasör festival, where the spectacle
of fighting bulls highlights the celebration. The adventurous might like
to attempt white-water rafting on the wild, romantic Coruh River. During
the Middle Ages the Artvin area came under Georgian sovereignty, which
makes it the best place for touring remains of the Georgian past. Its wonderfully
scenic roads lead to the ruined churches and settlements that stand as
a legacy of this period. The best-preserved of these are at Barhal and
lshan, in the majestic Kackar Mountains. Barhal also offers some of the
best country horseback riding. Several other churches in Bagbasi and Camliyamac
are just off the road to Erzurum, passing by the Tortum Waterfalls and
the pristine Tortum Lake. Other Georgian churches and settlements near
Yusufeli are Dörtkilise, Köprügören, and Tekkale. Yusufeli
itself boasts wonderful possibilities for nature lovers and hiking at 4000
meters. East of Artvin is the former Georgian capital Ardanuc with its
famous castle, which overlooks the longest canyon in the region.
SAVSAT
55km
east of Artvin is Savsat, an alpine village surrounded by meadows of wild
flowers and butterflies, rushing streams and quaint chalets. The local
womens' organization has established a training center for weaving in an
attempt to keep the indigenous carpet and kilim traditions alive. Karagöl
- Sahara National Park, 17km from Savsat on the way to Ardahan, has one
of the most beautiful Karagöl alpine lakes as well as the widely-known
Sahara plateau. The lake is 45 km northeast of Savsat via Veliköy
Village, another typical authentic village. The area around the lake is
covered with a variety of pine trees and also has picnic facilities. Wildlife,
including bears, is plentiful. The Sahara plateau itself is also covered
with beautiful mineral and fresh springs. On the plateau is Kocabey Kislagi
Village where you can see traditional wooden houses with their friendly
residents. Another important plateau and popular summer residence in the
region is Bilbilan whose people are also exceptionally welcoming and helpful.
Generally, in all the national parks you can see wonderful examples of
birds and butterflies.
