Trabzon a-week-trip

We just booked our hotel and flight for 7-day-stay in Trabzon and surely plan to enjoy every moment of our low budget trip. Our hotel is located in Iskenderpaşa area. When collecting information, I realized it's better to ask the forum about local transportation to reach interesting places from our hotel precisely.

1. Sumela Monastery and its forest trail

We got some info that to reach Sumela Monastery, it is possible to take minibus / dolmuş to Gümüşhane or Maҫka and stop in the entrance of Altındere National Park (Milli Park). Where can we find that dolmuş to reach Sumela? Is it easier to go first to otogar or bus station?

We also heard about bus company called "Ulusoy". Although Ulusoy seems that it only serves transportation between big cities in Turkey, does anybody have information how to make the reservation to Sumela Monastery?

1. Uzungöl

A friend informed us that the village can be reached by taking bus to "Of" first and continue to "Uzungöl". As we have no information on which bus company and from where we should catch the bus or dolmuş, we would appreciate any info surely.

1. Ayder and Zigana

Many say that to reach Ayder, it will take approximately 2.5 hours from Trabzon. For this trip, we think to use a local tour company. Does anybody have experience good reliable tour operation which has a day-trip-program to Ayder and Zigana?

1. Lastly: beach

It would be worthy to enjoy one of great Karadeniz beaches in Trabzon. Do you have any recommendation?

Thanks for info.

The Maçka Koop has buses from 06.30 every 15 minutes to Maçka leaving from the bus station.Once there you transfer to a small bus to the park.Be aware that upon arrival you will still have c.25 minutes walk through the park to the monastery though.
Last bus back from Makça to Trabzon is at 20.30.It takes c.40 minutes to Maçka and then another c.15 minutes to the park.Cost is 10TL.

For Üzüngöl...Of Council buses are from Trabzon at 07.00 ,08.00 and every 2 hours after that.Once in Of an hour later you need to take the Caykara Tur mini bus for the lake.Be aware that the last bus back from Of is at 17.00 so this does not give you long at Üzüngöl.Perhaps try to get that first morning bus to maximise your time.

For Ayder and Zigana you could try contacting Volkan at this company.He has excellent English and is very helpful-
http://www.eycetours.com/
Click on'iletişim' to send an e mail marked for his attention.

You need to be careful on the Karadeniz beaches;there are very powerful cross currents right along the coast and there are deaths by drowning every summer.So if you intend swimming stay close to the shore and with eye contact to your friend at all times.
Yomra's Kaşüstü beach and Sürmene's Çamburnu beach are both excellent and very clean.The former is closer to Trabzon than the latter.

You may also be interested in this truly wonderful web site with all you could possibly want to know about the Karadeniz region!
http://www.karalahana.com/english.html

Is there a bus from Istanbul to Trabzon? I really want to visit Sumela Monastery!

Yes there is...if your bum can cope with it :)Several bus companies cover the route including Kanberoğlu Turizm,Ulusoy Turizm and metro Turizm.But it takes 17½ hours......Cost is 80TL.If budget isn't too tight then you could fly,you can often find reasonably priced flights if you book in advance.
If you intend to head this way then perhaps it would be better to visit other spots on the way,Cappadocia for example and slowly work your way north east in stages rather than one single l-o-n-g bus ride.

hannahy123, if you are in trabzon, sumela is worthwhile, otherwise I question it (i have been there).
Essentially its a facade. There are some rooms and buildings - many of the paintings have graffiti or are defaced. A few hours there is heaps.

The monastery is well worth a visit, despite the graffiti. But I doubt that you will be at the site for much more than an hour.

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