On this blog
we mostly talk about abroad, but now and then Turkey has corners where, without
leaving the country, you can step into an entirely different world. Most people
know the Black Sea coast — but the real magic begins when you climb up into the
mountains, toward the highland plateaus. Here's a route the tourist buses don't
reach.
A Journey That Begins in the Mist
As you climb
inland from the eastern Black Sea coast, the climate changes, the air cools,
and a mist settles over everything. This mist is the region's character — it
wraps the forests, tea gardens, and mountain villages in a fairy-tale veil. The
inner reaches of Rize and Artvin are the heart of this experience.
Highlands: Where Time Stands Still
Plateaus like
Ayder, Pokut, Sal, and Gito are cool even in summer, lush green, and incredibly
peaceful. Wooden houses, grazing animals, chimneys with smoke rising. Your
phone may not get signal here — which, for most visitors, is not a loss but a
gift.
Touching Local Life
The best thing
about this region is that it's not a touristic show. People genuinely live
here, picking tea and herding animals. If you stay in a highland house, you'll
wake to fresh milk, homemade cheese, and muhlama (a local cheese fondue). This
isn't an experience bought with money, but a life shared.
When to Go
The period from
late June to September is ideal — the plateaus are green, the roads open. In
winter, many plateau roads are inaccessible due to snow. Remember that mist and
rain are the region's nature; bring something waterproof, but see the mist not
as a flaw but as part of the experience.
Whether inside
Turkey or abroad, if you're looking for a genuine journey away from the crowds,
we can map out a route tailored to your interests. Sometimes the most
unforgettable place is the closest to you and the least known.