I was the first collaborative travel writer in the study initiated by the Rize Provincial Directorate of Culture and Tourism and the Ministry of Culture to promote Rize.. I’ve been to Rize twice before. Rize is not a place where we can say it’s over.. It will make you fall in love with it with its smoky mountains, modern waterfalls flowing from everywhere, plateaus, and Fırtına Creek, where you can experience extreme green poisoning.. While returning, you leave a part of yourself in Rize.. same as me. If you want to read what we did in Rize in three days, let me take you to the article below.
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Like Rize’s People’s Geography
For a friend of mine, Rize, with whom I plan to go;
–I looked on the internet. a small city. He said it’ll be over in a day. I laughed so much at this.
–Rize center may be small, but roads are always vertical in Rize.. Like the same person, I said.
I couldn’t finish it even though I went three times. What we learned in geography lessons was that in the Black Sea, the mountains descended perpendicular to the sea.. Those mountains that rise above the clouds. People live in the highlands above those clouds.. Those fog clouds are flying left and right momentarily as if they are always in a hurry. It suddenly rains and suddenly it opens. Always a rush, always fast. Black Sea people also adapted to the geography.. talking fast. Practical thinking. No time to think long. He always has a soul. Always a witty. Even their anger is beautiful. One feels like living in a black sea joke. They don’t have a large time like the Aegean people.. Doesn’t have the patience to listen to you when you start to say something. Your sentences should be short and clear, or they get distracted after a while.. With this information in my pocket, I am on my way to the geography I fell in love with.
Rize is located in the north of Turkey, in the east of the Black Sea.. Therefore, if you are not in nearby cities, it is not a city you can go to.. Since Rize is now a favorite of Arab tourists, finding a flight ticket to Rize is also an issue.. The ticket you find will not be very cheap, as it is. I fly to Trabzon Airport first.. Tickets there are both more affordable and available.. DHA reporter Selçuk Bey greets me at the airport.. While it’s cloudy in Trabzon, it starts to rain as you head to Rize. As someone who has been to Rize twice in August, I can say that the rain has nothing to do with the season.. You can experience four seasons in one day in the Black Sea.. At the first entrance to Rize, Iyidere district welcomes us.. On the first day, we visit the Pileki cave in Iyidere.
- Click here if you would like to read my article on Pileki Cave on the first day.
Haremtepe (Çeçeva Village) Secret Garden
Dha reporter Emre Bey accompanies me on the second day. Our first stop is the tea gardens in Çayeli’ and the Secret Garden House made famous by Instagram.. The house we are looking for is located in Çeçeva Haremtepe Village.. While the rain is lightly snacking, we go beyond Çayelin, we go in the form of a yali, just like in the folk song.. If you type “Secret Garden” in the navigation, you can pinpoint it without getting lost.. After deviating from the highway on the beach, you climb 8 km through narrow country roads.. The roads are very narrow. In most places, two vehicles cannot pass when they meet.. You can go by normal vehicle.. The house is visible from where you left the car. You can go down to the garden of the house in a minute.
We were there on a rainy morning, so we could not meet the owners of the house.. There was a lot of mud between the tea gardens.. You will get quite wet from the seedlings while walking around the tea garden.. If it’s raining, you should choose clothes accordingly.. When you go there, you will understand why the tea garden is famous in its home.. It really creates a postcard look.. If you turn into a back street of the highway in the Black Sea, there are already tea gardens everywhere.. Tea was planted in every space found. There are sows shaped like a labyrinth. While I love these artistic works and laugh at some of them, my guide and travel friend Dha reporter Emre explains:
–Do you know how difficult it is to collect and carry tea?
It turns out it’s such a labyrinth for easy carrying. like they planted. mountain stone everywhere tea garden. On a very steep slope. What will you know when you’re not involved?. The way back is not as easy as the arrival.. The internet isn’t very good around here.. Navigation is losing us on dead-end country roads. Where did you come from when you left? how did you go take a look around. We come across a group of women on those lost roads.. Aunt Hatice can’t get enough of kissing me. I missed such unconditional pure love. Luckily it’s not too hard to find the way. I don’t know if I could find it easily if it wasn’t for Emre, of course.
Tar Stream Cloud Waterfall Natural Monument
Last summer, we went to the Black Sea. We went and visited all its waterfalls but Tar Creek Cloud Waterfall escaped my notice.. I was very upset about it afterwards.. Of course, I love it when I see your name on the list in the invitation I received.. To go to Tar Deresi Bulut Waterfall, you have to pass through Çamlıhemşin. As soon as Çamlıhemşin is finished, the road splits into two.. You will deviate from the Ayder Plateau sign on the left.. It is 11 km from Çamlıhemşin and 7 km from Ayder Plateau.
After passing through beautiful landscapes, you see the sign and the entrance gate.. At the entrance, you have to park your car and follow the 2 km walking path.. There is a fee of 3 TL per person, 1.5 TL for students.. When we went, the doors were open and there was no one.. We were able to go up to the waterfall by car.. There was also a bridge made of wood on our way.. We drove over. If it didn’t rain and we had plenty of time, we would definitely walk.. A modern cascading creek on one side, a lush nature on the other, a wonderful walking path.
Then, suddenly, a waterfall appears in front of you as if pouring through the clouds.. Among the smoky mountains, the source cannot be seen. The first time I see it, the words “what can I go down, but from this waterfall” are pouring out of my mouth.. The only waterfall in Turkey that has the distinction of being the waterfall pouring from the highest altitude is Tar Creek Bulut Waterfall. The total length of the waterfall, which consists of 3 separate stages, is 250 meters.. Cloud Waterfall is located on Tar Stream. It takes its name from here.. We cross a suspension bridge to get to the waterfall.
While we were thinking that there weren’t many people at the waterfall due to the season, we came across a school group coming from Bitlis.. How nice that high schools organize trips like this. We expect them to have fun, pose and take pictures.. Youth is a beautiful thing. If it were summer, I think what would we swim in the lake formed in front of the waterfall.. The weather is quite cold and wet to do these.. To the point where I stand, the waters flowing from the waterfall are raining like dust. The wind blows my hair. We are leaving to come again in a sunny weather.
Zilkale
Zilkale, on the Gito road, welcomes its proud and proud guests among the smoky mountains. Zil Kale is in Rize’s Çamlıhemşin district.. 750 meters above sea level. Storm creek flows below. 100 meters above it. Even from far away we can see the magnificent Zil Kale. Museum pass not valid. This was a place of pilgrimage for the Laz.. built in the 14th century. Built by the Trabzon Empire, the castle was used for military purposes during the Ottoman period.. According to the data found in the building, it is thought to have four floors at the time. Every plateau exit would stop by here and pass without looking at the Storm creek flowing madly from the top of the castle below.
He visited Zilkale twice before, down to the smallest detail. I am on my way to Gito Plateau, but the snowy roads do not allow. Even 4×4 doesn’t help. Since the seasons are different this year, there is snow even though it is the end of April.. When we are hungry, we go to one of the restaurants on the road and have something to eat.. Those who come to these sides can also stay in the bungalows on this road.. Up to 3 people have a daily fee of 500 TL including breakfast.. We warm up in the warm stove and set off.
A little far away, unaware of the falling snow, the flower stopped to the insect.. It reminds me of the lines “one part of us is shedding leaves, one part of us is the spring garden”. Coming down from the icy snow and the sliding roads, I throw myself into the yellow flowers. It amazes me that two different places within 10 minutes’ distance have such a temperature difference.
Head of Dumanlı Mountains
Rize, which I always came to in August before, took me by surprise. welcomes you in the spring. People realize how much they miss when they come.. The smoky mountains that I adore seem ordinary to the locals.
–How beautiful is the moon. Smoky mountains.. I say head. My guide Emre finally takes a look at it strangely.
– Here’s the mountain, he says.
When you get used to it, it seems ordinary. In the promised paradise, however, this is the green place depicted, under which rivers flow.. How would you know? I think you’ve never been without the Black Sea. Smoke was not a popular thing in the Black Sea Region.. she looks good to us. Black sea music accompanies you along the way.. Listening to something else in this region does not give pleasure to one.. Last summer we didn’t have any black sea music and we crossed the black sea with Aegean folk songs.. Believe me, it does not go in this region.
Raining huh this smoke
Smoke is on smoke
Let me be the smoke
Those black eyes of yours
Is it possible to go back to Storm Creek without Zipline?
Many of the things we plan to do cannot be done because of the bad weather.. Among them, there is rafting in Fırtına Creek.. The waters are too high for rafting, but I can’t go back without ziplining on Fırtına Creek while I’ve come this far.. We are on the way to Ottoman Rafting with the suggestion of Dilek lady at the restaurant where we ate.. The longest track is here and passes under one of the historical bridges.. Even hearing this makes me very excited.
The following is written on the Ottoman Rafting sign: Pass under the 400-year-old historical stone arch bridge.. May your wishes be granted. Let the kismetun be opened Once you read this, you can’t go back without doing it anymore. Very crowded due to the weekend.. There is a fee of 15 TL. They give you a belt. Full body wraps your body completely. Do not forget to tighten the belts according to your own size. Gather your hair well. Because they don’t give a helmet.
If you lose your hair once, it will hurt a lot and you will be in the middle of the water until someone comes and saves you.. You can’t save your hair without cutting it.. Don’t let what I say scare you.. It’s enough to collect your hair. I had to hold my head back all the time because I jumped from the excitement of the job without fully collecting. Lock system is very professional. No risk of falling. Security is very important. When you cross the street, you have to leave the station and connect to the other line.. There is someone who does this, who greets you on the other side.. Do not worry. 22 seconds on the way, 18 seconds on the way back. It’s over in the blink of an eye. If I jump ten times, it will be enough for me. It’s such a fun thing. It should be on your list of things you won’t return without doing.. This adrenaline must be experienced.
There are countless Historical Stone Bridges on the Fırtına Stream on the Çamlıhemşin side. Who did it? When did he do it? No one knows who set foot. A trip to the Black Sea without stepping on or touching one of these bridges is definitely incomplete.. They are usually crowded during the season, but the views make for a postcard look.. Last summer, we couldn’t get past the crowd of people and take pictures, but this time I give all kinds of rights from gold to top.
Paradise Valley, İkizdere
Road construction works on İkizdere road continue at full speed.. Tunnels are dug, roads are widened. I hope all these roads will be over when you go. We reach our hotel through twisty dark roads.. We are very cold and tired.. We run to the thermal pools, which are open until 11 am.. You can have scrubs, foam and various massages provided that you make an appointment in advance.. Since I went last minute, I can’t find a place in any of them.
Ridos Thermal Hotel is the only one in the region and the biggest thermal hotel in the Black Sea.. The hotel on a 30-decare land is also used as a honeymoon hotel.. You sleep with the sound of water and wake up with the sound of birds.. It is 85 km from Rize and 28 km from İkizdere.. Its location is called Paradise Valley.. While boiling healing waters flow under it, an ice-cold stream flows right next to it.. Mountain, stone, green everywhere. The promised paradise must be right here. The manager of the hotel, Mr. Cemal, welcomes us with his friendly, sympathetic ways, in love with his job.. It gives information about the region while we drink our morning coffee.. Talking about waterfalls with no roads. There are 45 waterfalls registered in Rize.. If they tried to record each waterfall, I think it would exceed 100.
There are mixed pools for men and women.. Available in women only pool. The healings of the thermal waters in Cennet Valley are endless.. It has many benefits from musculoskeletal diseases, skin diseases, stomach, kidney, neurological diseases.. It sure gave me a good rest.
Heliski and Kaçkarlar
Paradise Valley introduces me to a sport I have never heard of before.. Heliskiing is a type of sport that allows skiers to glide from there by helicopter, leaving them in hard-to-reach places without a runway.. The most important feature of the heliski, which can be done in very few places in the world, is that it can be done in places with plenty of snow, far from facilities and ski slopes.. No runways, no snow crushed. Can you imagine gliding like this?. I’m skiing but I don’t think I dare that much.. Two helipads await those who do this sport at Ridos Thermal Hotel.. It is written exactly as follows on the website of the Rize Provincial Directorate of Culture and Tourism:
Heliski, which is one of the most exciting nature sports in the world, was only used until recently. It was done in the Swiss Alps, the Himalayas, and the Canadian mountains.. Since 2004, tours to the Kaçkar Mountains have been organized for European ski enthusiasts.. Skiers and snowboarders staying in Ayder Plateau reach the steep hills of Kaçkar Mountains by helicopter and make a freestyle descent towards the foothills of the mountains.. Only by professional skiers, this sport requires special equipment and experience.. Held every year in January-April, the heliski brings together ski enthusiasts in the foothills of the Kaçkars, Ayder, İkizdere and Ovit, and other high altitude regions.. Thanks to the Heliski, important studies have been initiated to develop skiing in the region.. Every year, around 500 ski lovers come to Rize to do helix skiing.
Ridos Termal Hotel has two helipads.. They host adrenaline addicted athletes in winter.. I wish I could watch it even though I couldn’t.. It must be a pretty expensive sport.
On the Road to Cimil Waterfall and Cimil Plateau
As we leave the hotel, we fall on the road to Cimil Plateau. On the way, we are accompanied by a creek, snowy mountains, light sun, icy weather and waterfalls.. The road is pretty bad. Shortly after leaving the hotel, we come across a huge waterfall.. It doesn’t have a name. It can be seen from the road.
After leaving the waterfall, we follow dirt roads for a while.. The road takes us over a bridge and the road splits in two. There is neither signage nor internet working. We don’t know which way to go. Luckily we turn right. We are on the right track. Dirt roads become concrete after a while. Since the winter was hard in the region, they were making the roads from concrete.. We went a little and we reached the Cimil Waterfall.
It can be seen from the road. We look far away. places snow. Trying to go next to you is meaningless in this snow and winter.. we keep going. The villages on our way are now neighborhoods. Trees get smaller as you go higher. We see vast mountain and snow landscapes. Whoever we talk to says the roads are closed. It’s obvious from the cold weather, but we persist and continue on our way.. The road really gets covered with snow after a while and we have to turn around.
The word turning seemed like an easy thing here, but even if it’s 4×4, it’s mud, Even turning the vehicle on muddy roads full of water and snow is very difficult.. Last time we came back to the village, I see women in local clothes.. He shyly responds negatively to my request to take a photo, saying, “My sons are angry.”. My sister got married at 32. Widowed with two sons 6 years later. Tears fill her eyes as she tells. Shows where he lies with his gaze. He’s such a good man. When he likes the clothes he’s wearing, he runs home and brings them to me.. I’m like Tutankhamun when I wear it. Nobody stays in the village in winter.. There are two left this winter.. When I leave I say “I’ll come back”. I hope to meet you again when I go.
While the roads leading to the springs on the Çamlıhemşin side are vertical, the Cimil Plateau road is flatter.. On the Çamlıhemşin side, on the way between the pine trees, we are driving in a very open valley here.. One side of the road is snow, the other side is green. The roads are covered with concrete.
We went to Petran Plateau, But What’s The Use
We are trying to go back to Petran Plateau this time by going back on the same roads. We have not been able to reach a single plateau for two days.. Vehicles we meet on the road say the roads are open. We finally manage to reach a plateau on completely mud-covered roads, but what good is it?. Can’t see through the fog. It’s snowing. On the way to Rize, “Oh, let it snow, I’m content.. That’s not what I meant when I prayed, “As long as it doesn’t rain”. We got stubborn, but eventually we got one.. I also set foot on Petran Plateau.
As we descend the paths we came, I watch the smoky mountains.. What is beautiful for me means hardship for local people.. means difficult living conditions. It’s like I’m wandering around Bob Ross paintings. How beautiful is İkizdere Road, which I could pass through at night and see nothing.. A creek accompanies the green road again. How beautiful are our flags, red and red, waving in that green along the way.
We Lose Ourselves in the Tastes of Port Restaurant
We ran all day. We struggled with the snow and we were so hungry. My guide and companion Emre asks if I can endure the hunger a little longer.. ”
-Those who come to Rize must eat there,” he says.
What do you mean when you taste the food of Port Restaurant? I understand . Liman Restaurant is located in the center of Rize, on the closed road.. Prices are very reasonable. The flavors are indescribable. I’m not a person who writes that I usually eat and drink in my articles, but this place should not be overlooked.
3. generation İsmail Bey carried the flag he received from his grandfathers very well.. He shows me his 50-year-old hearths. Mr. İsmail helps me to put less of everything and try it so that I can taste every flavor.. I think I ate the best cabbage rolls and roasts I’ve ever eaten.. There is something called Rize Roast.. I’ve never heard of it before. I don’t know when was the last time I ate such a delicious roast beef.. I don’t know when I’ll be on my way again, when I can taste it, but when you go, you can stop by and write me your own experiences.
Other flavor spots in Rize Dağbaşı Restaurants. There are many restaurants where you can go out and see Rize from the top.. Again, luckily, the whole place was covered with fog and it was raining, but once the fog cleared, I could see the view.. It was really beautiful. These are not places that come to watch the scenery and have regular customers.. It was not possible to find local dishes in the restaurant we went to.
Rize Accommodation
Rize Ramada Hotel is my accommodation hotel in the center of Rize.. If you are not going to stay in the highlands, you should definitely stay here if you want to stay in the city.. You can watch the fierce Black Sea from the window of your room and relax in the comfortable rooms.. They gave me such a beautiful room that I did not go to the pool or to dinner in the evening.. I’ve never left the room. I noticed this the next day. I feel like I’m back home after a long journey.
If you are going to stay in the highlands, there are many hostel and hotel services in the highlands.. On the Çamlıhemşin side, along the Fırtına Creek, you can stay in small wooden houses for 500 TL, including breakfast, for up to 3 people.. These prices belong to a place I saw on the road near Zilkale.. It has nothing to do with the photo below. I couldn’t find out the price of the houses below.
Camping is inevitable when there is such a magnificent nature.. As someone who traveled camping in the Black Sea region for 20 days last month, I can say that camping is very easy.. You should know that you should not leave food out in case animals come in nature.. It is more possible to camp in the highlands, but you should not forget that you will be cold even in summer months.
