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Rize & Ayder

6 places · 2 routes · Black Sea Türkiye

Tea terraces on every slope, a torrent of a river crossed by stone bridges, and meadows high under the Kaçkar peaks.

Today in Rize & Ayder: sunrise 06:36 · sunset 17:24 (calculated)

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Up the Fırtına valley to Ayder1 day · 2 stops Into the Kaçkar mountains1 day · 2 stops

Open / closed: Istanbul time, Fri 06:15. Ticket = foreign-visitor price. Visit times are our estimates.

  1. Nature · under 50 m ~1 min walk

    Ayder plateau

    Open space Free ~4–8 h

  2. Nature · 6.9 km ~16 min by road

    Pokut plateau

    Open space Free ~4–8 h

  3. Nature · 9.3 km ~19 min by road

    Palovit Waterfall

    Open space Free ~15–30 min

  4. Nature · 12 km ~23 min by road

    Fırtına Valley and Zilkale

    Open space Free ~2–4 h

  5. Culture · 50 km ~1.4 h by road

    Rize Castle

    Open space Free ~30 min–1 h

  6. Nature · Area-wide activity

    Kaçkar Mountains National Park

    Hours not verified Not verified ~4–8 h

Also in this area

Caves, waterfalls, gorges, hidden gems and viewpoints within 50 km (straight line) of the places above.

Adventure nearby: Horse riding (Kaçkar mountains) · Hiking (Kaçkar mountains) · Rafting (Çoruh river)

On this map and in our themes: Ayder plateau (viewpoint) · Pokut plateau (viewpoint)

Local food with a registered name: Rize Muhlaması

Caves & waterfallsHidden gemsViewpointsAdventureRegional food

Climate: when to go

Sea today: 18.3 °C at Çayeli (MGM station, 23 Oct 00:20)

Monthly averages for Rize province: warmest in August (average high 28.1 °C), coldest in February (average low 3.7 °C). Averages hide heat waves and cold snaps — check the forecast before you travel.

JanFebMarAprMayJunJulAugSepOctNovDec
Average high11°11°13°16°20°25°27°28°25°21°17°13°
Average low4°4°5°9°13°18°21°21°18°14°9°6°
Sunshine, hours a day2.03.03.74.85.86.55.75.25.24.12.91.9
Rainy days161417161616141515161415

Source: Turkish State Meteorological Service (MGM), 1991–2020 climate normals for Rize province (this month is highlighted). Values are averages for the whole province as MGM publishes them, not for one beach or hill.

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About Rize

Rize is the tea capital of Türkiye: the hills around the town are covered in bright green tea bushes, and the harvest runs through the summer. For visitors, the heart of the province is inland, up the Fırtına valley behind Ardeşen.

The valley climbs past Çamlıhemşin and a chain of humpback stone bridges to Zilkale castle and the high meadows. Ayder, at the end of a side road, is the base for walks into the Kaçkar mountains, whose lakes and passes are the best trekking country on the Black Sea.

Is Ayder worth visiting?

Yes, for walkers and anyone who wants to see the Black Sea mountains up close. The setting is spectacular; the village itself has grown fast and is busy in high summer.

Spend at least one night in Ayder or a guesthouse in the Fırtına valley. Day trips from Trabzon are possible but long.

Best for
Hikers, nature lovers, photographers.
How long
2–3 days; a week or more for Kaçkar treks.
Getting there
Rize–Artvin airport is on the coast between Rize and Ardeşen; minibuses run from Rize and Pazar to Çamlıhemşin and Ayder, most often in summer. General directions, not checked against timetables.

Best time to go Jun–Sep

Mid-June to September for the high pastures and trails; late May and October for quieter valleys. Mist and rain are possible every month.

Part of Black Sea Türkiye — all destinations, when to go and more places in the region.