Long Black Sea, Batumi and Tbilisi Tour by Plane from Ankara 5 Nights

GEORGIA MANDATORY TRAVEL HEALTH INSURANCE IS INCLUDED IN THE PRICE

TRABZON – HAGIA SOPHIA MOSQUE / CHURCH – ATATURK MANSION - KAZAZIYE ART AND SILVER FILIGREE WORKSHOP – MACKA – SUMELA MONASTERY

Our tour begins by arriving at the airport at 05.30 to complete our check-in procedures with our ID cards or driver's licenses. After passing through security, we depart for Trabzon with the 07.40 Ankara – Trabzon flight. After meeting our vehicle and guide waiting for us in Trabzon, we head to our restaurant to shake off the morning grogginess and have our extra breakfast. After breakfast, we visit the Hagia Sophia Museum, one of the important works of the Pontic State, built in the 13th century during the reign of Manuel I Komnenos and converted into a museum in 1964. Following our museum visit, we head to the Soguksu area to visit the Ataturk Mansion, a masterpiece of the 20th century. After our visit to the Ataturk Mansion, we stop by the Filigree Workshop and Store, where we can see and purchase examples of the Telkari (filigree) art unique to Trabzon. At the end of our free time, we set off for Altindere National Park. Passing through Macka and entering Altindere National Park, you will not be able to hide your amazement when you see the architectural wonder of the Sumela Monastery, built by carving into the rocks on the skirts of Karadag amidst the greenery. After our monastery visit, we head towards the hotel. Dinner and accommodation will be at our hotel.

Breakfast: To be taken as an extra.

Lunch: To be taken as an extra.

Dinner: Included in the tour price, to be taken at the hotel.

Accommodation: Macka Hotels etc.

Route: Trabzon City Center (25 km) Trabzon – Macka (30 km) Macka – Sumela (15 km) Sumela Monastery – Hotel (15 km)

Total Distance to be Covered: 85 Km

Hotel Check-in Time: 18.30

TRABZON – SURMENE – TEA FACTORY - UZUNGOL – STORM VALLEY – MIKRON BRIDGE – ZILKALE – AYDER PLATEAU
Our tour, after the breakfast we will have at our hotel in the morning, we go to our tea factory to learn on-site the process that tea follows from being plucked from the branch to reaching our glasses. After the information we receive from the food engineer, those who wish can do their souvenir tea shopping at this point. After our tea factory visit, we go to the Surmene Knife Store. After getting information about the Surmene Knife and doing our shopping, we set off for Uzungol, which is the material for the postcards of the Black Sea. We take a short walk in Uzungol, the symbol of the Black Sea, which was formed as a result of the Haldizen Creek being blocked by alluviums, take beautiful photos, and join in pleasant conversations with the local people. After our free time, we enter the Storm Valley (Firtina Vadisi), one of the most beautiful valleys of the Black Sea. We have our lunch first in the Storm Valley. At lunch, we taste local delicacies such as Muhlama, Laz Boregi, Black Cabbage Rolls, and Red Spotted Trout (which you cannot find anywhere else). After lunch, it is activity time at our facilities by the Storm Creek.

We evaluate our different tour alternatives for our guests who wish.
Option 1 Zilkale, Cat Valley and Palovit Waterfall Tour: We start a magnificent tour with the minibuses we will board from Camlihemsin. We enter the Cat Valley, one of the important valleys that make up the Storm Valley. First, we pass through Ortan Village and see Senyuva Village, formerly known as Cinciva, where the TV series SEVDALUK and many other productions were filmed. Here, we take a photo break on one of the wide and long stone bridges, of which there are dozens in the valley. We set off towards Zilkale, which rises in the wild nature of the Cat Valley, passing through the Storm Mansions, which are the oldest mansions in our country located in this region. You can reach the most beautiful photo frames of your life during the time we will spend at Zilkale, which is 750 meters above sea level and 100 meters above the Cat Creek. After the pleasant moments, we climb even higher and reach the Palovit Waterfall, famous for its magnificent view and coolness that turns summer into winter. After the pleasant moments we will experience, we return to Senyuva Village and give you a tea break. After sipping your tea against the wonderful view, we board our minibuses and return to Camlihemsin. Extra

Option 2: RAFTING on the Storm Creek on a light track lasting approximately 1.5 hours (Extra)

Option 3: ATV Safari in the Storm Valley (Extra): A track that continues with the raging creek of the Storm Valley on one side and hundreds of shades of green on the other. An ATV tour in the heart of nature, approximately 6 km and 30 minutes long.

After our optional trips, we follow the Storm Creek and reach Camlihemsin, where the movie "Honey" (Bal), which won the Golden Bear Award for our country, was filmed, and then to Ayder Plateau, the sultan of plateaus. During this journey, we see the richest examples of Eastern Black Sea vegetation such as chestnut, alder, and oriental spruce, and take a photo break at the Mikron or Kale Bridge, which are historical Ottoman stone bridges next to the Hala Creek. We take a pleasant walk in Ayder Plateau, one of the most beautiful points of the Kackar Mountains. We see the Gelin Tuvulu Waterfall and other waterfalls. After the Kalegon trip, we give you free time in this delicious plateau. During this time, you can take a nice walk and have pleasant and laughter-filled conversations with the local people. You will feel like you are in a completely different world in Ayder Plateau. We meet at our vehicle at the time specified by our guide and set off for our hotel.

Breakfast: Included in the tour price, to be taken at the hotel.

Lunch: To be taken as an extra.

Dinner: To be taken as an extra.

Accommodation: Hopa Hotels.

Route: Macka – Surmene (95 km) Surmene – Uzungol (35 km) Uzungol - Ayder Plateau (110 km) Ayder Plateau - Hopa (70 km)

Total Distance to be Covered: 310 Km

Hotel Check-in Time: 19.00

NATURE WONDER BORCKA - KARAGOL - ARTVIN CITY TOUR – WORLD'S LARGEST ATATURK STATUE – HATILA VALLEY – MAGNIFICENT GLASS TERRACE - BATUMI NIGHT TOUR

Our tour, after the breakfast we will have at our hotel in the morning, we set off for the Klaskur Valley. From here, we reach Borcka on the Georgian border, which hosts different living spaces and has an untouched ecosystem that has preserved its natural beauty. When we arrive at Borcka, a district of Artvin, we transfer to our minibuses and reach Karagol (Extra), which has a magnificent ecosystem. You will not be able to get enough of the beautiful view while sipping your tea by the lake in Karagol, a nature wonder formed by the blocking of the Klaskur Creek as a result of a landslide in the 19th century, located at an altitude of 1500 meters above sea level. At the end of our break, we return to our bus and reach Artvin, the most interesting city of the Black Sea and perhaps Turkey. Artvin city center is very narrow and large buses cannot enter. For this reason, we board our minibuses to carry out our Artvin city tour and go to the Glass Terrace (Extra), where we can take the Hatila Valley under our feet and take magnificent photos. After the magnificent experience we will have here, we have the chance to see the largest ATATURK statue in the world. This statue, which is 22 meters high and weighs 60 tons, is one of the most important works that distinguishes Artvin from our other provinces. After our Artvin trips, 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. Mathias, one of the Twelve Apostles of Jesus, is also located. As we continue towards Batumi city center, we see the Coruh River, which forms sharp lines from its source in Bayburt to the borders of Batumi, and the old Corokhi Bridge on 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. Again at this point, after seeing the Justice Palace, which is one of the different and remarkable structures and designed in the shape of an inverted bottle, we reach Old Town and 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 narrations here, we will see the Piazza Square, which was designed inspired by Piazza San Marco in Venice, Italy. After seeing St. Nicholas, a Georgian Orthodox church, and the Armenian Orthodox churches, the European 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 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 stroll and shop. After the free time, we continue the Batumi city tour, which creates a beautiful appearance with the lighting of the streets. During the city tour, we set off for Miracle Park to see the statue of Ali and Nino. The places we will see in Miracle Park are; Ali Nino Statue, Panoramic Ferris Wheel, Batumi Port and Alphabet Tower. 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. During all our walks, you can taste the street delicacies of Batumi (Kvass, Pear Juice, Luca Polare Italian-style ice cream). After completing all our trips, we set off for our hotel. Guests who wish can go to the Casino.

Breakfast: Included in the tour price, to be taken at the hotel.
Lunch: To be taken as an extra.
Dinner: To be taken as an extra.
Accommodation: Batumi Hotels etc.
Route: Ayder – Hopa (95 km) Hopa – Karagol (70 km) Karagol - Artvin (25 km) Artvin – Batumi (120 km)
Total Distance to be Covered: 310 Km
Hotel Check-in Time: 19.00

PROMETHEUS CAVE - KUTAISI - TBILISI NIGHT TOUR - FREEDOM SQUARE - RUSTAVELI AVENUE - GEORGIAN NIGHT

Our tour, after the breakfast we will have at our hotel in the morning, we set off for the city of Tskaltubo, famous for its sanatoriums during the Soviet Union period. After a short panoramic city tour, we set off for the Prometheus Cave, one of the most beautiful caves in Georgia. We reach the cave after a magnificent 1.2 km walking track. Prometheus was discovered in the not-so-distant past, in 1984. At the end of our approximately 1.30-hour cave tour, guests who wish can continue with a boat tour on the river inside the cave. After our cave tour, after passing through the cities of Kutaisi and Kusheri, we reach Tbilisi, the capital of Georgia, from Gori, where Stalin was born and which was destroyed and rebuilt after the Georgian-Russian war in 2008. After settling into the hotel and taking a short break (depending on the time, the Tbilisi Tour can also be done before settling into the hotel), we go out for a Tbilisi night tour. First, we set off for Rustaveli Avenue, which is called the Baghdad Avenue of Tbilisi. The biggest feature of Rustaveli, which is the main street of the city, is that it is the place where not only Tbilisi's but the entire country's most important museums and state institutions are lined up on both sides. We take a short break at Freedom Square on the street where you can observe the traces of Soviet architecture. The places we will see panoramically are; Parliament Building, Tbilisi Opera and Ballet Building, Georgian Museum of Fine Arts. Afterwards, we set off for the Georgian night with a special menu consisting of Georgian dishes with our guests who want to come (Extra).

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

ATTENTION: DO NOT FORGET TO TAKE YOUR TR IDENTITY CARD 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 IDENTITY CARDS WILL NOT BE PROVIDED.

Breakfast: Included in the tour price, to be taken at the hotel.

Lunch: To be taken as an extra.

Dinner: To be taken as an extra in Tbilisi.

Accommodation: Tbilisi Hotels

Route: Batumi City Tour (20 km) Batumi - Prometheus Cave (150 km) Prometheus Cave - Tbilisi (240 km) Tbilisi City Center (10 km)

Total Distance to be Covered: 420 Km

Hotel Check-in Time: 19.00

TBILISI – SAMEBA CATHEDRAL – DAVID STATUE – SAINT NINO STATUE - JARDAN STREET – OTTOMAN BATH – GORI STALIN MUSEUM - BORJOMI - KARS

Our tour continues with our Tbilisi excursion after breakfast at our hotel. We visit the Sameba Cathedral, the largest in the Caucasus and the 3rd largest in the Middle East. After seeing the Vakhtang Gorgasali Statue, which gave Tbilisi its name, the David the Builder Statue, and the Saint Nino Statue, we move to Jardan Street, where Turks, Azerbaijanis, Armenians, and Georgians live together. Here, we see the colorful historical Tbilisi houses around the Kura River, the Ottoman-era Mosque, and the Bath (old sulfur bath) before we have some free time. At the end of our free time, we depart for Gori, known as the city where the Georgian-born Soviet leader Joseph Stalin was born. In Gori, we visit the Stalin Museum. At the museum, we will be able to see the small wooden hut where Stalin was born in 1878 and spent his first four years, as well as the green Pullman carriage that Stalin used on many of his travels. After our museum visit, we set off for Kars, accompanied by the Kura River, which originates from the Kars plateaus. Passing through Borjomi, a natural wonder filled with medieval castles and a key point of the Baku-Tbilisi-Ceyhan Pipeline project, we reach the city of Akhaltsikhe, where Abkhazian Turks live in large numbers. From there, we reach the Posof Türkgözü border gate between Georgia and our Ardahan province, and after completing our exit procedures, we arrive in Kars. Guests who wish to do so may attend the Caucasian Folk Dance show (Extra). (Night tours are extra and are subject to participation and the number of people.)

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: Kars Hotels, etc.

Route: Within Tbilisi (35 km) Tbilisi – Borjomi (240 km) Borjomi – Posof (90 km) Posof – Kars (140 km)

Total Distance to be Covered: 505 km

Hotel Check-in Time: 20.00

KARS – ANI ARCHAEOLOGICAL SITE - NAMIK KEMAL HOUSE – SARIKAMIŞ – ERZURUM – THREE TOMBS (ÜÇ KÜMBETLER) – TAŞHAN

Our tour, after breakfast at the hotel, we head to the Ani Archaeological Site, which has been added to the UNESCO World Heritage list. Located right next to the Arpaçay River, which forms the border with modern-day Armenia, the archaeological site in Ocaklı village features monumental structures such as the Tigran Honents Church, Ani Cathedral, the Convent of the Virgins, the Menuçehr Mosque, and the Church of the Apostles. After our visit to the archaeological site, we return to Kars city center. Here, we head to the Church of the Apostles (Kümbet Mosque), built at the foot of Kars Castle. After examining this structure, where we can study the Armenian-Georgian architectural style, we take a walk through the streets of Kars. During our exploration in the land of "Ashiks" (bards), flavors such as honey, kashar cheese, gruyere cheese, piti, hangel, kete, goose meat, and yellow fish will encourage us to become gourmets. We see the Stone Bridge, which has survived from the Roman period and is still in use, and the Historical Bath. While walking among the structures where we can see all the subtleties of Russian architecture reflected, we forget that we are in Turkey. We see the house where our famous poet Namık Kemal lived for a period and then move to our store where we can find local products such as the famous Kars Kashar, Gruyere, and Flower Honey. After the presentation and tasting of Kars kashar here, we depart for Sarıkamış. After visiting the Martyrs' Monument in Sarıkamış, we arrive in Erzurum via Horasan and Pasinler. In Erzurum, the pearl of the East, we have a comfortable trip with the coolness of Palandöken Mountain behind us. During this trip, we visit structures such as the Grand Mosque (Ulu Camii), Three Tombs (Üç Kümbetler), the Double Minaret Madrasa (Çifte Minareli Medrese), and the Yakutiye Madrasa (Panoramic). After the free time we will give at the Historical Taşhan (Rüstem Pasha Madrasa), where handicrafts made of Oltu stone, the famous gem of the region, are exhibited, we reach Erzurum Airport. We complete our check-in procedures for the Erzurum – Ankara flight departing at 21.35 operated by Ajet Airlines and arrive in Ankara. We sadly bid you farewell, hoping to meet again in another Prontotour organization. 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: ATTENTION, THERE IS NO HOTEL ACCOMMODATION TONIGHT. TOUR RETURN DAY

Route: Kars City Tours (120 km) Kars - Erzurum (210 km)

Total Distance to be Covered: 330 km

Total Tour Distance: 1960 KM

Amasya Lalehan Hotel: Ministry of Culture and Tourism - Tourism Operation Certificate: 13663

Gümüşhane Zigana Gümüşkayak Facilities: Ministry of Culture and Tourism - Tourism Operation Certificate: 13663

Gümüşhane Ramada Hotel: Ministry of Culture and Tourism - Tourism Operation Certificate: 14864

Ordu Anemon Hotel: Ministry of Culture and Tourism - Tourism Operation Certificate: 12871

Giresun Hüseyin Hotel: Ministry of Culture and Tourism - Tourism Operation Certificate: 18329

Trabzon Büyük Sümela Hotel: Ministry of Culture and Tourism - Tourism Operation Certificate: 7149

Trabzon Bayrak Grand Hotel: Ministry of Culture and Tourism - Tourism Operation Certificate: 19695

Rize Newarise Hotel: Ministry of Culture and Tourism - Tourism Operation Certificate: 20896

Rize Green Suada Hotel: Ministry of Culture and Tourism - Tourism Operation Certificate: 13418

Hopa Terzioğlu Hotel: Ministry of Culture and Tourism - Tourism Operation Certificate: 14013

Hopa Heyamo Hotel: Ministry of Culture and Tourism - Tourism Operation Certificate: 2022-8-0063

*** The list of our contracted hotels by region is specified above. During peak periods, accommodation may also be provided in hotels outside this list.

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

* There is a mandatory 3-day stay requirement 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 upon entry into the country. They immediately initiate legal proceedings against individuals found with medication. For daily entries, you may carry only one single dose of medication you will use during the day, wrapped in paper.
* Prontotour is not responsible for any problems that may occur due to deformation of IDs at the Georgian border crossing. Georgia requires photos on IDs, 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 in order to go to Georgia and return to Turkey. In addition, visa-free/visa-required passage will be provided according to the visa protocol of the Georgian Government with the countries to which the passports or IDs belong. TRNC citizens, if they enter Turkey using their TRNC IDs, will be able to enter Georgia with their TRNC IDs as well. 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, early departure from the hotel may be required. Or, similarly, late arrival at the hotel in the evening may occur. In this case, breakfast or dinner may not be available at the hotel. Prontotour has no responsibility in this case, 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 highland hotels to be stayed in have a bungalow and standard highland hotel structure, and all accommodations are determined by the hotel. There is no obligation for local food to be served in hotels.
* During the tour, since it is not always possible to find ATMs, currency exchange offices, etc., 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 regarding this 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 separated for 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 precipitation 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 large. At the same time, winters in the region are not very cold, but they are rainy. Precipitation is mostly in the form of rain, and while snowfall and frost events can be seen, fog is also frequently seen. Summer months in the region are also temperate. 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 goes to the east of the region. The region shows variations in terms of temperature and precipitation according to its geographical features. Rainfall occurs as cool and humid air coming over the Black Sea rises along the North Anatolian Mountains. Due to the high altitude in the Eastern Black Sea Region, 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 Region is the region's least rainy section due to the decrease in altitude. The average annual rainfall here is about 700 mm. In the Western Black Sea Region, parallel to the fact that the elevation is lower than in the Eastern Black Sea Region, rainfall in this section is less than in the Eastern Black Sea Region. The average annual rainfall is around 1200 mm. Throughout the region, the annual rainfall amount can exceed 2000 mm, especially in the Eastern Black Sea Region, and can drop to 600 mm in the Central Black Sea Region. A continental climate is seen in our Eastern Anatolia Region. The feature of the continental climate is that winters are cold and snowy, and summers are generally hot and dry. In places where the continental climate is seen, winter starts early and there is an average of 90 days of snow cover on the ground. Summers also start as early as winter and are hot, but since the humidity is low, this heat is not felt much, and the temperature difference between night and day and the annual temperature difference is very high.

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 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 Bus Seats, Abs, Asr, Air Conditioning, 1 Refrigerator, Reading Lights, Sound System for Guide Announcements, Cd And Dvd Player.

NOTE: In our tours, any of the vehicle types mentioned above are used according to the number of people.

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