Trabzon: Uzungöl Group Tour, Explore The Nature & Taste Tea

Uzungöl is the main event here, but the best part of this day is the chain of small Black Sea stops that leads you there. You taste local tea, browse Sürmene knives, sample Turkish delight, and then see the lake from Bayraktepe, high above the town.

I like the tea stop because it connects a simple cup of tea with daily life in the region, and the Uzungöl viewpoint gives you the photograph most people hope to take. The 8-hour route also includes hotel pickup and drop-off from selected Trabzon points, which saves you the trouble of arranging transport.

One caution: Sümela Monastery appears among the advertised highlights, but the detailed route provided for this tour does not include a Sümela visit. Ask for confirmation before booking if the monastery is important to you. Communication can also be slow before departure, so be ready at your pickup point even if final contact comes late.

Key points to know before you book

• Uzungöl from above: Bayraktepe gives you a high view of the lake before you spend time beside it.
• Black Sea tea culture: The Ikicay tea factory includes tasting, an explanation of tea production, shopping, and a traditional dance show.
• Sürmene knives: A short stop at Akif Usta Bıçakçılık introduces one of the area’s best-known crafts.
• Local food shopping: Ali Baba Lokumcusu offers Turkish delight, honey, sweets, and tasting.
• Independent time in Uzungöl: You get about 2.5 hours for lunch, photos, sightseeing, and a walk.
• Weather matters: The trip runs in rain, snow, or sunshine, so bring rain gear, comfortable shoes, and a windbreaker.

Why this day works as a Trabzon excursion

This tour is built for you if you want to see Uzungöl without renting a car or piecing together local transport. It is not a single attraction with a quick photo stop. Instead, you move through several parts of Black Sea culture before reaching the lake.

The route takes about eight hours. Pickup and drop-off are available at selected hotels and public meeting points in Trabzon, including Novotel Trabzon, Mercure Trabzon Hotel, DoubleTree by Hilton Trabzon, Ramada Plaza by Wyndham Trabzon, Panagia Premier Trabzon, Aksular Hotel & Restaurant, and several other listed stops.

You travel by air-conditioned bus with a group leader and a live guide in English, Arabic, or Turkish. The exact group size is not given, so you should expect a shared coach rather than a private outing. That keeps the $47 price reasonable, though it also means stopping and gathering on a fixed schedule.

The tour suits you best if you want a convenient day outside Trabzon and enjoy a mix of scenery, food samples, shopping, and short cultural visits. If you prefer long hikes, a quiet private drive, or plenty of time at one site, this organized route may feel busy.

Sürmene knives and a craft with a local name

The first stop is Akif Usta Bıçakçılık in Sürmene, a place known for its knives and their sharpness. You spend about 20 minutes here with a guided visit and time to shop.

This is a short stop, so think of it as an introduction to a local craft rather than a full workshop visit. You may see and compare knives, learn why Sürmene products are well known, and decide if something practical or decorative belongs in your luggage.

The shopping element is clear, but the tour information does not promise a full demonstration of forging or knife-making. I would keep your expectations modest. The stop works well as a quick look at regional production, especially if you enjoy seeing what a place makes rather than rushing straight to a viewpoint.

If you plan to buy a knife, remember that carrying sharp items onto an aircraft can require checked baggage and proper packing. The tour details do not explain shipping or airport rules, so ask at the shop before purchasing anything large.

Tea at Ikicay factory

Tea is part of everyday Black Sea culture, and the Ikicay tea factory gives this tour more local character than a basic sightseeing drive. You get about 35 minutes for a guided visit, tea tasting, shopping, and a tea ceremony.

A traditional dance show is also listed at this stop. That adds a bit of performance to the visit, though the schedule is short. You should expect an organized presentation rather than a long look at every stage of factory production.

The useful part is the connection between the drink in your cup and the regional economy. You can taste the tea, hear about its production, and buy tea to take home. Tea tasting is included, while additional food and drinks are not included in the tour price.

This stop is especially worthwhile if you want more than scenery. Uzungöl photographs well, but the tea visit gives you a better sense of what people in the Black Sea area produce and value. It also breaks up the drive at a sensible point.

Turkish delight, honey, and sweets at Ali Baba Lokumcusu

Before reaching Uzungöl, the bus stops at Ali Baba Lokumcusu Trabzon for about 30 minutes. This is a shop and food market visit with tastings of Turkish delight and other sweets, along with honey and local products for sale.

The stop is easy to understand: taste first, buy if you like something, and avoid buying more than you can carry. Turkish delight makes a practical gift because it is light and easy to share, while honey may be heavier and more awkward in your luggage.

I like this kind of stop when it stays brief. You get a look at local flavors without spending half the day in a shop. Still, shopping is part of the tour, so anyone who dislikes retail stops should know that this is not a purely nature-focused outing.

The included tasting does not mean lunch is covered. Food and drinks are listed as extra, and you should budget separately for your meal in Uzungöl.

Seeing Uzungöl from Bayraktepe

The road eventually reaches Uzungöl, one of the region’s most popular natural sights. The first stop is Bayraktepe, where you look down toward the lake and surrounding mountains from above.

This is the moment to take your wide views. From the higher point, you can understand the shape of the area before going down to the restaurant and lakeside setting. Weather will make a real difference. On a clear day, the lake and hills should be easier to see, while mist, rain, or snow can soften or block the view.

The tour operates in all weather. That is useful if your schedule is tight, but it means you should not assume that the famous view will look like a sunny postcard. Bring rain gear and a windbreaker, and wear shoes you can walk in comfortably.

The itinerary does not promise a long mountain hike. It describes a viewpoint, free time, sightseeing, and a walk around Uzungöl. If you want a serious trail day, this is not the right product. If you want an easy nature outing with time for photos, it fits better.

Two and a half hours for lunch and walking

After the viewpoint, the bus parks at a restaurant and gives you about 2.5 hours in Uzungöl. This is the most flexible part of the day. You can have lunch, explore, take photos, and walk at your own pace before meeting the group again.

Lunch is not included in the $47 price. That is worth noting because the route description refers to lunch, but the inclusions specify only transportation, the group leader, tea tasting, and Turkish delight tasting. You pay for your own meal and drinks.

The restaurant setting is described as idyllic, but no menu or meal choice is supplied. I would treat the restaurant as the base for your free time rather than assume a fixed group lunch. Ask your guide where and when to meet before you wander off.

Two and a half hours is a useful amount of time here. It gives you room for a relaxed meal and a walk without forcing you to choose between eating and taking photographs. At the same time, the stop is not long enough for extensive hiking around the surrounding hills.

Uzungöl can feel very different depending on the weather. In cold or snowy conditions, the view may be dramatic but walking can be less comfortable. In rain, the lake area may be atmospheric, yet wet paths and fog can limit sightseeing. Pack for conditions rather than for the season alone.

The tiled bridge on the way back

After free time, you rejoin the bus for the return to Trabzon. The route includes a short break to photograph the Historical Tiled Bridge.

This is a compact final stop, not a second major attraction. It gives you one more chance to stretch your legs and take a photograph before the drive back. Since no visit length is stated, listen carefully for the meeting time.

Small stops like this can make a long day feel less like a single transfer. You have already had the main Uzungöl visit, so the bridge works as a closing photo stop rather than something that needs a full tour.

What happened to Sümela Monastery?

Sümela Monastery is named among the tour highlights, but it is not included in the detailed sequence of stops. The route lists Sürmene knives, Ikicay tea factory, Ali Baba Lokumcusu, Uzungöl, and the Historical Tiled Bridge.

That difference matters. Sümela is a major attraction in the wider Trabzon area, and you should not assume you will see it simply because it appears in the promotional highlights. Contact the operator before booking and ask directly if your departure includes the monastery.

If Sümela is your main reason for leaving Trabzon, choose a tour that clearly gives it a scheduled stop. If Uzungöl is your priority, the listed route is easier to judge because the lake visit is clearly described.

The real value of the $47 price

At $47 per person, this tour offers solid value if you would otherwise need to arrange transport to Uzungöl and pay for several separate stops. Hotel pickup and drop-off from listed locations, an air-conditioned bus, a group leader, tea tasting, and Turkish delight tasting are included.

Your main extra cost is food and drinks. Shopping at the knife shop, tea factory, and sweets store is optional, so you can keep the day close to the advertised price if you choose not to buy anything.

The price also pays for convenience. You do not need to plan the road route, find parking in Uzungöl, or work out when to return to Trabzon. In exchange, you accept a shared schedule and limited time at each preliminary stop.

I see the strongest value for solo visitors, couples, and anyone staying in central Trabzon without a car. A private taxi or private guide would give you more control, but it would cost more. A self-guided trip might give you longer at Uzungöl, yet it would require more planning and transport knowledge.

Pickup, timing, and communication

You must select one of the listed pickup points or contact the operator if your location is not included. Available points include major hotels, Burger King, Shell, and Vatan Bilgisayar Trabzon.

One practical warning deserves attention: final contact may not happen until close to, or even after, the scheduled start time. Since pickup is included, be ready at the agreed location on time and keep your phone available.

The tour has a free cancellation policy up to 24 hours before departure, and you can reserve now and pay later. Those terms are useful if your Trabzon plans may change, but they do not remove the need to confirm the pickup details.

Guiding is available in English, Arabic, and Turkish. The provider is Zağnos Tours International. A manager named Hakan received particular praise for answering questions and helping the day run smoothly, though a specific guide is not assigned in the information provided.

What to pack for a Black Sea day

The tour runs in rain, snow, or sunshine. That is not a minor detail in this part of Turkey, where conditions can change the feel of the lake and the comfort of your walk.

Bring:

• Rain gear
• Comfortable walking shoes
• A windbreaker

You should also leave room in your bag for tea, sweets, or other purchases if you plan to shop. Alcohol and drugs are not allowed on the tour.

The road portions and stop times make comfort important. You will spend much of the day moving between places, then walk and stand during visits. Shoes that handle wet conditions will serve you better than smart shoes.

Who should book this Uzungöl day?

I would book this tour if you want a straightforward day from Trabzon with scenery, food sampling, shopping, and light walking. It works particularly well for first-time visitors who want an introduction to Black Sea culture without arranging every detail themselves.

You will probably enjoy it if you like variety. The knife stop, tea factory, sweets shop, viewpoint, free time, and bridge create a fuller day than a simple drive to Uzungöl.

I would think twice if you want a quiet nature trip with no shopping, or if you need a private timetable. The stops are short, and the group must stay together. I would also confirm the Sümela question before paying, since that monastery is not clearly part of the route described here.

Should you book it?

Book this $47 tour if Uzungöl is your main goal and you value easy transport from Trabzon. The best parts are the Bayraktepe view, the generous 2.5 hours at the lake, the tea tasting, and the chance to sample regional sweets without planning a route yourself.

Choose another tour, or ask for written confirmation, if Sümela Monastery is essential. Also be prepared for changing weather and late pickup communication. With those points understood, this is a practical, well-priced introduction to the nature, food, and small-scale crafts of the Black Sea region.

FAQ

Where does the tour start?

Pickup is available from selected Trabzon hotels and meeting points, including Novotel Trabzon, Mercure Trabzon Hotel, DoubleTree by Hilton Trabzon, Ramada Plaza by Wyndham Trabzon, Panagia Premier Trabzon, Aksular Hotel & Restaurant, Burger King, Shell, and Vatan Bilgisayar Trabzon.

Where does the tour end?

Drop-off is available at the listed Trabzon hotels and meeting points, including Mercure Trabzon Hotel, DoubleTree by Hilton Trabzon, Aksular Hotel & Restaurant, Novotel Trabzon, Ramada Plaza by Wyndham Trabzon, Panagia Premier Trabzon, Burger King, Shell, and Vatan Bilgisayar Trabzon.

How long does the tour last?

The tour lasts about eight hours.

What languages are available?

The live guide service is available in English, Arabic, and Turkish.

Is lunch included?

No. Food and drinks are not included. You receive free time in Uzungöl to have lunch and pay for your own meal.

Is tea tasting included?

Yes. Tea tasting at the Ikicay tea factory is included.

What should I bring?

Bring rain gear, comfortable shoes, and a windbreaker. The tour operates in rain, snow, and sunshine.

Can I cancel the booking?

You can cancel up to 24 hours before departure for a full refund. You can also reserve now and pay later.