Çaykara
Highlands, tea slopes and cloud valleys
Why visit
Çaykara (Caykara), Trabzon
Çaykara is the inland district that contains Uzungöl and the high plateaus behind it. Beyond the lake it is one of the greenest and least crowded parts of Trabzon province: deep valleys, wooden villages, waterfalls and summer pastures.
Distances
- Trabzon city centre: about 75 km via Of, 1.5 hours.
- Uzungöl: about 20 km from Çaykara town, 30 minutes uphill.
- Trabzon Airport: about 80 km.
What to see
- **Uzungöl** — the lake and viewpoints.
- **Demirkapı and Şekersu plateaus** — summer highland roads and meadows.
- **Haldizen valley** — river, waterfalls and trout restaurants.
- Village architecture and tea houses in Çaykara town itself.
Best season and driving
June to September for the plateaus; roads can be closed by snow in winter and slowed by fog and rain at any time. The mountain sections are narrow — drive them in daylight.
Çaykara is the district that contains Uzungöl and the high pastures around Şekersu. Plan the drive with our distances and driving times guide, and combine it with Maçka if you also want Sumela.
- Şekersu plateau
- Cloud viewpoints
- Tea gardens
Getting there
About 75 km from Trabzon Center, 1.5 hours by car; 4x4 recommended for the higher plateaus.
Attractions
Frequently asked
- Is Çaykara the same as Uzungöl?
- No. Uzungöl is a village inside Çaykara district, about 20 km above the town.
- What else is worth seeing in Çaykara?
- The Demirkapı and Şekersu plateaus, the Haldizen valley waterfalls and the traditional villages.
- When are the Çaykara plateau roads open?
- Usually from June to September; snow can close them from late autumn through spring.