3-Night Batumi Christmas Market and Çamlıhemşin New Year Fair Tour with Flights from İzmir

TRABZON - SERA LAKE - ATATÜRK MANSION - MAÇKA - SUMELA MONASTERY

Our tour begins by meeting at İzmir Adnan Menderes Airport at 05:00 for our tour program starting from İzmir and extending to the historical city of Batumi in Georgia. We complete our check-in procedures with our national ID cards or driver's licenses for the 07:15 Pegasus Airlines flight from İzmir to Trabzon. After a pleasant flight, we land at Trabzon Airport. After meeting our vehicle and guide waiting for us in Trabzon, we head to our restaurant to have our extra breakfast accompanied by the unique bird's-eye view of Sera Lake to shake off our morning drowsiness. After breakfast, we visit the Hagia Sophia Museum, one of the important works of the Pontic State, which was built in the 13th century during the time of Manuel I Komnenos, converted into a mosque in 1572, and turned into a museum in 1964. Then we set off towards the Soğuksu district. Here, a 20th-century masterpiece, the Atatürk Mansion, welcomes us. The Great Leader visited this mansion twice in 1924 and 1930, and stayed here in 1937, writing part of his will in this mansion. After our visit to the Atatürk Mansion, we visit the Filigree Workshop and Store, where we can see and purchase examples of the Telkari (filigree) art unique to Trabzon. Afterwards, we set off for our first stop, Altındere National Park. You will not be able to hide your astonishment when you see the architectural wonder of the Sumela Monastery, which was built by carving into the rocks on the skirts of Karadağ. You will be enchanted once again after our guide's explanations while observing the Sumela Monastery at an altitude of 1250 meters. (If the monastery is closed on the tour date due to heavy snowfall, a panoramic photo of the Sumela Monastery will be taken from within the Altındere National Park.) After our National Park tour, we head to our hotel.

Morning Breakfast: Will be taken extra at a point to be determined by our guide.

Lunch: Will be taken extra at a point to be determined by our guide.

Dinner: Will be taken extra at a point to be determined by our guide.

Accommodation: Maçka Hotels, etc.

Route: Trabzon - Maçka (40 km) Sightseeing (30 km)

Total Distance to be Covered: 70 km

Hotel Check-in Time: 18:00

UZUNGÖL - AĞARAN WATERFALL - BATUMI ACCOMMODATION AND CHRISTMAS MARKETS

Our tour continues after having breakfast at our hotel by going to our tea factory to learn on-site about the process tea goes through from being picked from the branch to reaching our glasses. After the information we receive here, those who wish can do their souvenir tea shopping from this point. After our tea factory visit, we go to the Sürmene Knife Store, which is one of the first elements that comes to mind when Sürmene is mentioned. After getting information about the Sürmene Knife and doing our shopping, we pass through Of, the famous district of Trabzon, and enter the Solaklı Valley. The valley will take us to Uzungöl, the region of the Black Sea that is the subject of postcards. You can take a short walk in Uzungöl, the symbol of the Black Sea, which was formed as a result of the Haldizen Stream being blocked by alluvium, take beautiful photos, and join in pleasant conversations with the local people. At the time specified by our guide, we meet at our vehicle and set off for the Ağaran Waterfall, which has a magnificent appearance with its water filtering through the stones and its magnificent nature (Extra). After our photo break here, we set off for Batumi. After completing our entry procedures at the Sarp Border Gate, we cross into the Adjara region of Georgia. We start our tour by seeing the magnificent walls remaining from the Gonio-Apsaros Fortress, which dates back to the Roman period and was last used during the Ottoman period, where the tomb of St. Matthias, one of the Twelve Apostles of Jesus, is also located. While continuing towards the Batumi city center, we see the Çoruh River, which originates in Bayburt and forms sharp lines up to the Batumi borders, and the old Corokhi Bridge over it. As we move towards Batumi Old Town, where we can find traces of Baltic architecture, we see the Ardagani pond, where illuminated water shows are held, and the Juli Shartava Boulevard, which lives up to the phrase "Las Vegas of the East" used for Batumi. We go on a Batumi night city tour with our guests who wish, which creates a beautiful appearance with the lighting of the streets. During the city tour, our first destination is the Justice Palace, designed in the shape of an inverted bottle, one of the different and remarkable structures, and then we move to the Old Port and the statue of Ali and Nino. Afterwards, we watch the dance of the water in the Small Water Games located in the city center, where we can watch the magnificent harmony of music and light, and visit the Christmas Market set up in Europe Square. Afterwards, we head to our hotel.

NOTE: According to the agreement between the Republic of Turkey and the State of Georgia, Turkish citizens can cross into Batumi with their new national ID cards containing their Turkish ID number. Crossing with other ID cards (driver's license, etc.) is not possible. Guests under the age of 18 who will not be traveling with their family (Mother and Father at the same time) must obtain a NOTARIZED CONSENT FORM to cross into BATUMI. It is mandatory for IDs to have photos, including for babies and children.

ATTENTION: DO NOT FORGET TO TAKE YOUR NATIONAL ID CARD WITH YOUR TURKISH ID NUMBER WITH YOU WHEN YOU GO ON THE TRIP. THE INTERNATIONAL DEPARTURE FEE IS PAID BY THE GUEST. OFFICIALLY, AS OF 01.09.2019, CROSSING TO GEORGIA WITH OLD NATIONAL ID CARDS WILL NOT BE POSSIBLE.

Morning Breakfast: Will be taken at the hotel and is included in the tour price.

Lunch: Will be taken extra at a point to be determined by our guide.

Dinner: Will be taken as an extra.

Accommodation: Batumi Hotels, etc.

Route: Maçka - Uzungöl (100 km) Uzungöl - Ağaran Waterfall (120 km) Ağaran Waterfall - Batumi (125 km)

Total Distance to be Covered: 345 km

Hotel Check-in Time: 17:00

BATUMI CITY TOUR - MAKHUNTSETI WATERFALL - ÇAĞLAYAN VALLEY - LAZ HOUSES - FIRTINA VALLEY - ÇAMLIHEMŞİN NEW YEAR FAIR

Our tour continues after breakfast at our hotel in the morning, and we start our Batumi city tour. In this pleasant walk we will take accompanied by our guide, our first visit point will be the Orta Mosque, the only mosque in Batumi. After listening to our guide's explanations here, we will see Piazza Square, which was designed inspired by Piazza San Marco in the Republic of Venice, Italy. After seeing the Georgian Orthodox St. Nicholas Church and the Armenian Orthodox churches, Europe Square with its newly created face will welcome us. After listening to the magnificent Medea Monument and its story from our guide, we go to Poseidon Square and photograph the Theater Building. After taking our group photo, we move to the Small Botanical Garden next to the old boulevard. After seeing many tree and plant species unique to the Black Sea, we give you free time on Batumi Boulevard to take a walk and shop. During all our walks, you can taste Batumi's street delicacies (Kvas, Pear Juice, Luca Polare Italian-style ice cream). After completing all our trips, we go on the Makhunseti Tour. First, we go to the authentic wine house (Adjarian Wine House) (Entrance Fee 20 Lari Extra). Our guests who wish can buy world-famous Georgian wines here. We visit the Makhuntseti Stone Bridge, built by the Georgian Queen Tamar Mepe in the old period, and the Makhuntseti Waterfall, a natural wonder. After our trips, we leave Batumi. After exiting through the Sarp border gate, we first head to the Rize Fındıklı Çağlayan Valley, which is rare in its naturalness and history. We take a short break by seeing the Çağlayan Village, mansions bearing historical traces, and examples of Laz Houses. Afterwards, we move to the Fırtına Valley. We take a short zipline break for our guests who wish. Afterwards, we follow the Fırtına Stream and move to the fair area near Şenyuva Village. We take a break in this fair area full of colorful stands, creative workshops, local flavors, and handmade products. After our break, we head to our hotel in Ayder.

Morning Breakfast: Will be taken at the hotel and is included in the tour price.

Lunch: Will be taken as an extra at a point to be directed by our guide.

Dinner: Will be taken as an extra at a point to be directed by our guide.

Route: Batumi - Ayder (130 km) Ayder - Rize (85 km)

Total Distance to be Covered: 215 km

Hotel Check-in Time: 18:00

AYDER PLATEAU - ZİLKALE - FAIRGROUND 

Our tour continues after breakfast at our hotel, as we explore the Ayder Plateau on foot accompanied by our guide. We will see the Gelin Düveni Waterfall and other waterfalls. After visiting Kalegon, we provide you with free time in this exquisite plateau. During this time, you can take a beautiful walk and enjoy pleasant, laughter-filled conversations with the local people. You will feel as if you are in a completely different world on the Ayder Plateau. After the time we spend here, we set off towards Zilkale, which rises in the wild nature of the Çat Valley (EXTRA). You will be amazed by the appearance of Zilkale, which resembles an Eagle's Nest. During the time we spend at Zilkale, located 750 meters above sea level and 100 meters above the Çat Creek, you can capture some of the most beautiful photo frames of your life. After these beautiful moments, we provide free time at the Çamlıhemşin fairground. At the end of the free time, we depart for Rize Airport. We depart for İzmir with the 23.20 flight operated by Pegasus Airlines. We say goodbye with sadness, hoping to meet again on the next Prontotour trip. Goodbye...

Breakfast: To be taken at the hotel and is included in the tour price.

Lunch: To be taken as an extra.

Dinner: To be taken as an extra.

Accommodation: THIS IS THE RETURN DAY, THERE IS NO ACCOMMODATION.

Route: Ayder – Rize Airport (185 km) Sightseeing (40 km)

Total Distance to be Covered: 225 Km

TOTAL TOUR DISTANCE: 855 Km

Important Note: The departure point of our tours is İzmir, and guests joining the tour from different cities are entirely responsible for any intermediate flights or connecting tickets they purchase individually. In the event that the tour is cancelled due to insufficient participation or flight times are changed by the airline, our agency is strictly not responsible for any cancellation, refund, or change costs of tickets purchased by guests from other provinces.

NOTE: All extra activities such as ATV safari, boat tours, diving, jeep safari, parachuting, hot air ballooning, and similar activities that are not included in the package tour program but are offered or suggested to guests during the tour are outside the scope of the Package Tour Agreement and are considered separate services. Such extra services are not organized by our agency, and the relevant services are provided by independent third-party suppliers. Guests purchase and participate in these services entirely at their own request and initiative. The guest acknowledges and declares that they establish a direct contractual relationship with the relevant local service provider before participating in extra activities and that information regarding the scope, safety, and conditions of the service will be provided by the relevant provider. In this context, our agency has no responsibility for any accidents, injuries, deaths, material and moral damages, or negative situations caused by third parties that may occur during extra tours. The guest acknowledges that they are aware that such activities involving risk are inherently dangerous, that their health status is suitable for participation, and that all necessary responsibility belongs to them. Furthermore, all dangerous activities are not covered by insurance.

INFORMATION
* Due to periodic congestion at the Batumi border crossing, there may be delays in crossing procedures. Your guide will provide the necessary warnings regarding this matter.

* There is a mandatory minimum stay of 3 days to bring goods (alcohol, cigarettes, etc.) when entering Turkey from abroad.

* According to the law introduced by Georgia, the Georgian Police do not accept any medication at the country's entry. Legal proceedings are immediately initiated against individuals found with medication. For daily entries, you may take only one dose of medication that you will use during the day, wrapped in paper.
* PRONTOTOUR is not responsible for any problems that may occur at the Georgian border crossing due to deformation of identity cards. Georgia requires photos on identity cards, including for babies and children. (A photo is mandatory)
* Foreign guests who have entered Turkey from abroad with a passport must have obtained a multiple-entry visa for Turkey to go to Georgia and return to Turkey. Furthermore, visa/visa-free passage will be provided according to the visa protocol of the Georgian Government with the countries to which the passports or identity cards belong. TRNC citizens, if they enter Turkey using their TRNC identity cards, will also be able to enter Georgia with their TRNC identity cards. TRNC citizens who enter Turkey with an EU passport must also have obtained a multiple-entry visa to return to Turkey.

* On the day of crossing to Batumi, due to the congestion at the border gate, there may be an early departure from the hotel in the morning. Or, similarly, there may be a very late check-in at the hotel in the evening. In this case, breakfast or dinner may not be taken at the hotel. Prontotour has no responsibility in this situation, and guests have no right to compensation. Breakfast hours at hotels are between 07.00 – 10.00. Dinner hours are between 19.00 – 21.30.
* The plateau hotels to be stayed in have a bungalow and standard plateau hotel structure, and all accommodations are determined by the hotel. There is no obligation for local food to be served at the hotels. 
* Since it is not always possible to find ATMs, currency exchange offices, etc., during the tour due to the intensity of the program, it is beneficial for our guests to be prepared for this situation.
* Long distances may be covered during the day within the programs to be carried out. Information on this subject will be provided to you by your guide.
* Economical menus specific to the region have been created for lunches.
* Depending on the density of the region, tables divided into groups are used for lunches and dinners.

CLIMATE

It is a generally temperate climate type that is rainy in every season. Frontal and orographic rains are dominant. The presence of high mountains parallel to the coast in the region has created an environment for increased rainfall. Although not in terms of rainfall amounts, the most rainfall is seen in autumn and the least in spring. The region is also the most humid region of our country in terms of humidity. For this reason, the annual and daily temperature difference in the region is not high. At the same time, winter is not very cold in the region, but it is rainy. Precipitation is mostly in the form of rain, and snowfall, frost events can be seen, and fog is also frequently seen. Summer months are also temperate in the region. The average of the hottest month does not exceed 22°C-24°C. The average temperature of the coldest month is always above 0°C. Although cold air masses coming from the northwest occasionally affect the region, this effect disappears as one moves towards the east of the region. According to its geographical features, the region shows variations in terms of temperature and precipitation. Precipitation occurs as cool and humid air coming from the Black Sea rises along the North Anatolian Mountains. Due to the high altitude in the Eastern Black Sea Section, the most rainfall is seen in this section. The average annual rainfall is 2000 mm (Rize 2300 mm). In the southern part of the North Anatolian Mountains, this value drops to 300 mm. The Central Black Sea Section is the section of the region that receives the least rainfall due to the decrease in altitude. The average annual rainfall here is about 700 mm. In the Western Black Sea Section, parallel to the fact that the elevation is lower than in the Eastern Black Sea Section, rainfall in this section is less than in the Eastern Black Sea Section. The average annual rainfall is around 1200 mm. Throughout the region, the annual rainfall can exceed 2000 mm, especially in the Eastern Black Sea Section, while it can drop to 600 mm in the Central Black Sea Section.

BUSES

MERCEDES TRAVEGO & TOURISMO: 46+1+1 Seating, ABS, ASR, Air Conditioning, Body Lowering-Lifting System, Tempomat (Speed Limiter and Cruise Control), TV, DVD Player (DVD, VCD, CD, MP3), 15" LCD monitor in the front and middle.

MAN FORTUNA: 46+1+1 Seating, ABS, ASR, Air Conditioning, Body Lowering-Lifting System, Tempomat (Speed Limiter and Cruise Control), TV, DVD Player (DVD, VCD, CD, MP3), 15" LCD monitor in the front and middle.

NEOPLAN CITYLINER / TOURLINER: 46+1+1 Seating, ABS, ASR, Air Conditioning, Body Lowering-Lifting System, Tempomat (Speed Limiter and Cruise Control), TV, DVD Player (DVD, VCD, CD, MP3), 15" LCD monitor in the front and middle.

TEMSA SAFIR / MARATON: 46+1+1 Seating, ABS, ASR, Air Conditioning, Body Lowering-Lifting System, Tempomat (Speed Limiter and Cruise Control), TV, DVD Player (DVD, VCD, CD, MP3), 15" LCD monitor in the front and middle.

MIDIBUSES

ISUZU TURKUAZ: 31+1 or 27 + 1 Seating, Reclining Bus Seats, ABS, ASR, Air Conditioning, 1 Monitor, 1 Refrigerator, Kitchen Unit with Water Heater, Reading Lights, Sound System for Guide Announcements, CD and DVD Player.

NOVO LUX: 31+1 or 27 + 1 Seating, Reclining Bus Seats, ABS, ASR, Air Conditioning, 1 Monitor, 1 Refrigerator, Kitchen Unit with Water Heater, Reading Lights, Sound System for Guide Announcements, CD and DVD Player.

TEMSA PRESTIGE: 31+1 or 27 + 1 Seating, Reclining Bus Seats, ABS, ASR, Air Conditioning, 1 Monitor, 1 Refrigerator, Kitchen Unit with Water Heater, Reading Lights, Sound System for Guide Announcements, CD and DVD Player.

MINIBUSES

MERCEDES SPRINTER: 12+1 or 16 + 1 Seating, Specially Designed Reclining Leather Bus Seats, ABS, ASR, Air Conditioning, 1 Refrigerator, Reading Lights, Sound System for Guide Announcements, CD and DVD Player.

VOLKSWAGEN CRAFTER: 12+1 or 16 + 1 Seating, Specially Designed Reclining Leather Bus Seats, ABS, ASR, Air Conditioning, 1 Refrigerator, Reading Lights, Sound System for Guide Announcements, CD and DVD Player.

NOTE: Depending on the number of people in our tours, any of the vehicle types mentioned above is used.

OUR TOUR PROGRAMS HAVE BEEN PREPARED IN ACCORDANCE WITH CONSUMER LAW NO. 6502.