An opportunity to visit one of Turkey's most flower-filled corners, the north-east. In mid-July the tall meadows are at their peak and there are many other wonderful flowers on show, including the first of the gentians. Many of the valleys here still harvest their meadows with hand scythes, no fertilizers are used - the result some of the most diverse meadow communities to be found. Expect tall delphiniums, aconitums, a suite of knapweeds, crane's-bills and foxgloves, with pink sedums colouring the banks amidst fabulous verdant Black Sea countryside.
On arrival at Trabzon airport we will transfer to our comfortable hotel nestled among the green hills. o/n İkizdere.
*We can arrange arrival a day earlier for those that wish to visit Sumela Monastery near Trabzon. Please contact us for prices.
A long, verdant valleys leads up to the rockier realms of Ovit pass, a wonderful area to explore with many fine alpines in the turf and on the cliffs and rock terraces including Primula longipes, Pedicularis pontica, Campanula saxifraga subsp. aucheri Gentiana pyrenaica and maybe its illustrious cousin G. septemfida. Searching stony slopes and rocks carefully and we'll find one of the finest knapweeds there is Psephellus appendicigerus with elegant creamy flowers. Side tracks lead up to other flowery slopes where we can picnic near stands of Anthemis melanoloma, the ubiquitous and lovely Betonica macrantha, orange Inula orientalis the dark purple spires of Pedicularis atropurpurea and hopefully find a few globe orchids. The views throughout are superb. o/n Ikizdere.
It has the world's most expensive honey and given the diversity of flowers and no wonder it is rich, the bees have so much choice. Towering stands of Campanula lactiflora mingle with Centaurea helenoides, tumbling Lathyrus rotundifolius and the beautiful tall blue spikes of Delphinium huetianum. The road will be snow free now and we can reach nearly 3000-metres where screes still hold Corydalis alpestris and sheets of pale yellow Coronilla orientalis mixed with abundant Campanula colina, wonderful displays of Papaver lateritium in stony sloping meadows and the tall stems of Polygonum bistorta subsp. carnea with plumes of deep pink waving in the breeze. Overnight Ikizdere.
The inner hills of the Kackar quickly become drier, with very different plants. Our route passes stony slopes with the vivid scarlet of Sedum sempervivum, Centaurea pulcherimma and Aster amellus. Ranks of Verbascum armenum march across the landscape and fine thistle Carduus lanuginosus appears on the rocky slopes. Stands of spectacular Centaurea macrocephala line the road with commanding views across the valley. Screes have the beautiful little pea Vavilovia formosa, Vicia canescens and the rare Viola odontocalycina. Fabulous architectural Eryngium giganteum decorate the rocks and roadsides.For those with the energy, we can hike up to the spectacular lakeland viewpoint of the seven lakes. o/n Ikizdere.
A spectacular road ascends from the Black Sea coast up over the spine of the Karchal Mountains passing through tea plantations and extensive tracts of Caucasian forests, passing flowery shrubberies of Rhododendron ungernii, whilst side roads led to fern smothered banks with scarce Narthecium balanse and plenty of Dactylorhiza saccifera. Our rustic but very pleasant accommodation in nestled among remote and verdant hills right on the Georgian border. o/n Machahel.
Remote mountain roads lead up to hidden pastures, with stunning meadows of Geranium psilostemon and rocky banks with Salvia glutinosa, Saxifraga paniculata and Prenanthes purpurea, before opeing out into extensive tracts of Rhododendron caucasicum scrub. meadows within these have the lovely Lilium kesselringianum, Pedicularis atropurpurea, Corydalis conorhiza and Doronicum balansae. o/n Machahel.
A seldom travelled traverse of a remote corner of the country takers us on a route via the quaint wooden mosque of Camili and then via dirt roads into the hills through forests with Cicerbita cacaliifolia, and Senecio nemoralis and up to high pastures. Around later snows will be a suite of flowering plants including Rhododendron luteum, R. caucasicum and the natural hybrid R. x sochadzeae together with Primula auriculata, Dactylorhiza saccifera and sloping meadows. Stands of Inula helenium, Silene compacta and stately Heracleum line the road and drier areas have abundant Origanum rotundifolium. Arriving at Savsat - Turkey's Little Switzerland we see towering stands of Cephalaria gigantea. o/n Şavşat.
The area is often called Little Switzerland and its easy to see why, the pleasant countryside, mountain backdrop, and stands of spruce and pine are very reminiscent. Rising beyond our well-positioned accommodation is a broad pass with many new flowers including all three Turkish species of monkshood - Aconitum orientale, A. nasutum and the unusual yellow A. anthorum. Gentiana gelida is plentiful around stands of Delphinium flexuosum and lovely Campanula crispa clings to rock outcrops near wonderful drifts of bluish Eryngium giganteum. o/n Şavşat.
In the morning we drive across the vast steppe towards Kars, but we take our time and stop for flora as diverse as the enigmatic ghost orchid, meadows of Lomelosia caucasica and fascinating areas of high steppe around Cildir lake with architectural Echinops pungens, together with Salvia nemorosa, Allium paniculatum, Aconitum anthora and Dianthus crinitus. Overnight Kars.
We make our way to Kars airport for the flight to Istanbul and onwards connections.
*An extra day to visit the nearby historical site of Ani and perhaps to explore more of Kars' unique Russian-era architecture, castle and museum is easily arranged.
20-29 July 2026
Per person (twin share): 2800 Euros
Deposit: 400 Euros
Single supplement: 355 Euros
Included:
Minimum number of participants 5; maximum 12.
For more information on our tours
Turkey: +90 535 4125286 | UK: +44 (0)795 854 6807
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