Trabzon's Uzungöl to Çamlıhemşin Road: The Black Sea's Most Beautiful Mountain Drive

A Day Among Clouds and Green

Start early in Uzungöl, where the lake mirrors pine-covered slopes and morning mist clings to the water. The air is cool and sweet with the scent of tea and damp earth. As you leave the lakeside promenade, the road begins to climb, winding through villages where wood-smoke curls from chimneys and locals wave from doorways.

This drive is not about rushing; it is about savouring every switchback. The Black Sea highlands are famously lush, a tapestry of emerald that seems to glow even under overcast skies. Let the scenery set your pace.

The Fırtına Valley: Where Rivers Roar

Descending from Uzungöl, you enter the Fırtına Valley, where the river of the same name rushes over boulders, its voice a constant companion. The valley walls are clothed in dense forests of spruce, beech, and rhododendron, and waterfalls thread down like silver ribbons.

This is a place to stop often. Pull over at a roadside tea garden, order a glass of çay, and simply listen. The Fırtına is famous for its whitewater, and you might spot rafters braving the rapids far below.

The valley is also home to traditional wooden houses raised on stone foundations, their roofs heavy with moss. Each bend reveals another postcard-perfect hamlet clinging to the hillside.

Çamlıhemşin and Its Ancient Bridges

As you approach Çamlıhemşin, the landscape opens into a bowl of green, and the iconic stone bridges come into view. These arched structures, some centuries old, span the Fırtına and its tributaries with graceful curves. The most famous, like the Şenyuva Bridge, are still used by locals and photographed by every passerby.

Park the car and walk across one of these bridges. Feel the cool spray from the river below and imagine the generations of villagers who crossed here with mules and harvests. It is a humbling connection to the past.

Çamlıhemşin itself is a small town with a big heart, where you can find cozy cafes and shops selling local honey and handicrafts.

Taste of the Highlands: Honey, Kuymak, and Tea

No journey through the Black Sea highlands is complete without stopping at a village terrace for local delicacies. Look for signs advertising kuymak—a gooey, comforting dish of cornmeal and melted cheese, often made with the region's famous tulum cheese. It arrives bubbling in a copper pan, best scooped up with fresh bread.

Drizzle wildflower honey over clotted cream or simply enjoy it by the spoonful. The honey here is dark and intensely floral, a product of the countless wildflowers that carpet the high meadows in summer.

And always, there is tea. Served in tulip-shaped glasses, it is the social glue of Türkiye. Sit on a wooden bench, breathe in the pine air, and let the kindness of your hosts warm you more than the drink itself.

Why You Should Hire a Driver

The road from Uzungöl to Çamlıhemşin is breathtaking but demanding: narrow lanes, hairpin turns, and occasional fog. Hiring a local driver lets you soak in the views without white-knuckling the steering wheel. It also supports the community and gives you a knowledgeable guide who knows the best photo stops and hidden tea houses.

Many drivers will happily share stories of the region, point out medicinal herbs along the trail, and even introduce you to their favourite serander—the traditional granaries on stilts that dot the hillsides.

Plus, with a driver, you can indulge in a second glass of tea without worry. The journey becomes a conversation, not a commute.

The Kindness of Mountain Hosts

What lingers longest after this drive is not just the scenery but the warmth of the people. In the highlands, hospitality is a way of life. You might be invited into a village home for a bowl of soup or offered a handful of freshly picked cherries by a stranger.

This is the Türkiye that travels straight to the heart: unpretentious, generous, and deeply connected to the land. As you wind back down toward the coast, you will carry with you the image of green mountains, the taste of honey, and the memory of smiling faces.

For more inspiration on exploring Türkiye's hidden corners, visit our guides or check our itineraries for similar routes.