From Istanbul to Tbilisi along the Black Sea

Explore Turkey’s Black Sea coast and northeastern highlands on this 12-day small-group journey from Istanbul to Tbilisi, Georgia. The route combines Ottoman towns, Byzantine churches, mountain villages and regional food traditions, revealing a side of Turkey that differs considerably from its better-known Mediterranean coast.
In Safranbolu, a UNESCO World Heritage-listed town, walk through historic Ottoman districts and learn how Turkish delight is made, often flavoured with saffron, rose or pistachio. Continue through the countryside to Horma Canyon, where a wooden walkway follows the canyon beneath steep rock faces. In Samsun and Trabzon, discover Black Sea coastal life, visit Trabzon Hagia Sophia and explore Sumela Monastery, a historic religious complex built into a mountainside above a forested valley.
The journey continues into Rize, Turkey’s principal tea-growing region, where a plantation visit introduces the cultivation and processing of Turkish tea. Sample kuymak, a rich regional dish of cornmeal, cheese and butter, before travelling into the green mountain landscapes around the Ayder Plateau. Visit Zil Castle and walk through highland villages on the Elevit Plateau, where seasonal patterns of rural life remain closely connected to the mountains.
In eastern Turkey, explore the medieval ruins of Ani and meet a cheesemaking family in Bogatepe village to sample local Kars gravyer. After crossing into Georgia, stop at Paravani Lake and the Poka St. Nino Nunnery before finishing in Tbilisi, a fitting conclusion to a journey shaped by history, food and the cultural connections of the Caucasus.