overview

If you are looking for the perfect holiday for your family with the right balance of adventure, learning and relaxing, you are at the right place. Our Black Sea Family Adventure is specially designed for families with children and teenagers to encourage their curiosity and desire to explore and connect with nature and different cultures. Imagine hiking through mountains and highlands, gentle walks around picturesque lakes, swimming around powerful waterfalls and rafting through river rapids. While the parents are relaxing in the UNESCO protected nature of Artvin, kids can feed their curiosity. We added in workshops to give the young ones the opportunity to have a hands-on experience of the local skills such as basket and chair weaving, milking cows, hawkery, making local bread or bee keeping.

Start : Trabzon, Turkey 10 am Duration: 6 nights 7 days

Finish: Trabzon, Turkey 6pm Group size: Min 6, Max 12

itinerary

day 1. trabzon and firtina valley

Your tour stars with a warm welcome from your experienced local guide at Trabzon, a delightful port city full of history. Before jumping into the adventure, you will visit Sumela a dramatically situated monastery, perched on a steep rock cliff overlooking Altindere Valley. Built back in 386AD in honour of Virgin Mary, it must be seen to be believed.

The monastery is still undergoing renovations so you can only see a section of it, but views are still worth the drive and the hike.

kids harvesting tea workshop

After a delicious lunch break, learn about Turkish tea. Find out the steps that the local tea leaves goes through before being poured into your cup. You might get a chance to have a go at tea harvesting too! Then, it is time to head into Firtina Valley to get your heart pumping with white water rafting or ziplining. Or you can sit by the river and relax. Next up is Zil Kale. This 14th century castle is built on the edge of a cliff, overlooking a creek and it once guarded the passage of Silk Road. It stands strong as a stark contrast to the backdrop of the deep green forest that surrounds it. Get ready to feel the tingle in your spine when you look down at the valley below.

Time to head to back to your hotel in the mountains and recharge for the next day.

Accommodation: Boutique Mountain Hotel, 1 night

Meals included: None

day 2. firtina valley

A short drive from your hotel will take you closer to Bulut waterfall but a gentle hike up alongside a river  is needed to reach this hidden waterfall.

You might want to have a quick dip here to refresh before returning to your car.

Today’s workshop is all about weaving. Young ones will have the opportunity to learn about the local art of basket or chair weaving and then create their own miniature masterpiece.

Parents can either join the workshop themselves or relax at the café next to the workshop space.

Balut Waterfall

Fill your bellies with local foods and then it is time to be amazed by the wonders of the Black Sea nature. Jump into your car to go up the mountains to a highland to watch the clouds roll in as the sun is setting. The adventurous ones can jump on the swing on the edge of the cliff and fly on the sea of clouds. Or simply sit and soak in this magical natural phenomenon.

Finish off the day with a traditional meal and settle into your hotel for the night.

Accommodation: Boutique mountain hotel, Firtina Valley, 1 night

Meals included: Breakfast

day 3. artvin and macahel

Today, your journey into the UNESCO protected Macahel will begin. But before you leave Camlihemsin, you will get to learn about the local bagpipe (Tulum) from the only man left who makes these instruments.

After you enter Artvin, you will get to climb over the 18th century high arched stone bridges, Twin Bridges (Ciftekopru).

twin bridges artvin

Then it is time to head to the beginning of a short hike to reach a breathtaking waterfall. We recommend bringing in shoes that you don’t mind getting muddy for this part. You will be going up towards Mencuna. one of the highest waterfalls in Turkey. For the brave ones, the cold waters of this powerful waterfall create a lake deep enough to swim and refresh after you cross a suspension bridge.

Your mountain hotel in the raw nature of Macahel, very close to the Georgian border, awaits for you. Before dinner, everyone will have time to learn about the traditional bee keeping secrets and go up close with the bees if you are interested. Or you can marvel at view from your balcony or hotel’s veranda until bedtime.

Accommodation: Boutique mountain hotel, 1 night

Included meals: Breakfast and dinner

day 4. macahel

Your day will begin with opportunities to learn about and appreciate the village life. You and the kids can try your hand at milking cows or making the local bread before breakfast.

Another wonderful waterfall to be experienced today: Maral. Let the sound of the water excite you as you begin your hike down to the base of this captivating waterfall.

When you arrive at the midway point you have two choices.

Admire the fall while sipping tea or coffee with some locals or you can continue on and hike down to the bottom, where you can feel the force of the water as it falls 64 meters from above.

maral waterfall swim hole

Today’s other surprising moment will be when you walk into Iremit Camii as the outside of it is nothing like what you will find inside. This small, ordinary looking mosque has a very colourful all wood interior, a great learning opportunity for all ‘Don’t judge the book by its cover’.

If time permits, you will have another opportunity to appreciate what nature provides. Get your hands dirty and pick some veggies from hotel’s private organic garden before the sun sets.

Every traveller we had so far, loved the food at this hotel so we are almost certain that you will go for seconds at dinner but don’t forget to leave room for dessert.

Accommodation: Boutique mountain hotel, 1 night

Meals included: Breakfast and Dinner

day 5. artvin and savsat

After your delicious buffet breakfast, you will travel further inland to learn about renewable energy and enjoy the views from the top of Deriner, a 249 meter high, double-curved arched dam.

Then, a short picturesque drive will take you to a surprising landscape: Cehennem Deresi Kanyonu(Hell’s Creek Canyon) in Ardanuc.

One of the deepest canyons in the world will give you a thrilling experience with its very narrow paths, sinkholes and caves.

hells creek canyon

If you have very young kids with you, we recommend you keep them very close by as there are no rails around this canyon.

After exploring this unique and thrilling landscape it’s time to head to your mountain hotel in Savsat, surrounded by calming nature and animals.

Accommodation: Boutique mountain hotel, Savsat, 1 night

Meals included: Breakfast and Dinner

day 6. savsat

On your last day, we will continue to take things slow so you can end the trip savouring each moment.

Welcome to the slow city of Savsat, a member of Cittaslow, an organisation dedicated to slow down the pace of living in cities. We will take it slow here so you can all relax and enjoy the nature.
First stop is Savsat Black Lake, surrounded by lush green trees and mountain range so you can sink into the relaxation deeper. You might want to take the kids on rowing boats or take a stroll around the lake.

tibetian church

Before spending more time in nature let Tibetan Church change the focus of your mind and shift into a learning space. Walk through the ruins of this 9th century building and hear about its history.

Back into the breathtaking nature of Savsat, towards Sahara high plateau to enjoy a beautiful sunset with your family, appreciating the quality time this trip has brought to you before heading back to your hotel for a local dinner.

Accommodation: Boutique mountain hotel, Savsat, 1 night

Meals included: Breakfast and Dinner

day 7. hopa, borcka and trabzon

On your last day, we will continue to take things slow so you can end the trip savouring each moment.

You will have two options on the day depending on the weather. If the sun is out, you will visit another gorgeous lake, Borcka Karagol and take a circuit walk over the wooden walkway and take advantage of the photo opportunities at each angle.

Karagol lake

If it is overcast or raining, you will drive up to Cam Teras in Artvin to admire to view of the cliff and riverbed from 220 meters above.

Last unique moment you will get to experience in the region will be with the local hawks (Atmaca) and their handlers. Learn about the hawkery in the region and pet or feed these wonderful feathered creatures. Kids remember this moment as their highlight so we left it to last.

Then it is time to head back to Trabzon. Your belly full with delicious food and mind with the memories of a lifetime, your tour will come to an end. We hope each member of your family had special moments during this tour and you feel relaxed, inspired and invigorated after this experience.

Accommodation: None

Meals included: Breakfast

inclusions

Included Activities and Services
  • 6 delicious breakfasts and 4 dinners
  • Professional local tour guide for 7 days
  • Private transport
  • Trabzon airport pick up and drop off
  • Entrance fees for national parks and museums
  • Great experiences to be remembered for a life-time
  • Compulsory insurance by the tour operator
Exclusions
  • International flights
  • Visas
  • Lunches
  • Fees for optional activities such as rowing, rafting and chair weaving.
  • Personal travel insurance
  • Other expenses that are not included in the inclusions

important info

Click through to read all of the important finer details relating to Hidden Wonders Tours Note: We need to know the number of attendants in advance for some of the workshops such as basket and chair weaving.  We will contact you to confirm if your child wishes to attend these workshops 30 days prior to your tour departure.

dates and booking

As a boutique private tour company our key point of difference is that we can curate a tour to your preferences. Please get in touch to let us know when you would like to take your adventure and we will work with you to make that happen. We can provide you with a quote and can consider a variety of currencies, so don’t hesitate to let us know your preference (e.g. AUD, US, TL).  Send us a message here with all of your preferences and we will be in touch as soon as possible. Alternatively, use our Chat below and someone will be in touch.