The highlands of Turkey and the lifestyle of its people have an important place in the rich cultural landscape of Turkey. The tradition embodied in the lyrics of this ancient folk song, "The people of Avşar picked up and headed for new lands" have still being sung today, is what led to the settlement of hundreds of new areas in Turkey.

In the Chinese Chronicles, Turks are described as people that "lived by following the rains and the pastures with their horses and high-wheeled wagons." After they came to Anatolia and abandoned their nomadic wanderings for more settled ways, they embarked on a new journey continuing old traditions within the parameters of a new lifestyle.

In this new millennium of the "global village" where cultural differences seem to be disappearing, the highlands of Turkey offer a refreshing authenticity of ancient tradition which is noticed as soon as it is experienced. Compared with our modern way of life, it is a vivacious way of life in harmony with nature, at once both oriental and exotic.

The highlands have much to offer; the fresh clean air of an undefiled environment, crystal clear streams, a refreshing coolness that is a relief from the sweltering heat during the hottest summer days, views of enchanting beauty, fruit and vegetables grown without hormones and ripen on the vine slowly and naturally, milk and meat products of animals pastured in the most natural environments. The innumerable wild animal and plant species living in their natural habitat rescue us from the virtual world of TV documentaries and enable us to experience real life up close and personal.

TRAVEL TO THE HIGH PLATEAU OF TRABZON

1- Tourism Centers

2- Other High Plateaus

Not only Trabzon high plateaus owe its greenness to its plentiful rains, but also wet and fogy (There are many opportunities to take photos in the whole area. You will be spoilt for choice as each bend of the road reveals yet another beautiful view or interesting sights of the local people as they folk dance in festival times.) There are very beautiful high plateaus in the environs of Trabzon. These have famous festivals which are held every year.

High Plateau Houses: Blacksea high plateau houses settlements appear haphazardly organized. But on close examination it is clear they have been arranged for the best fulfilment of their functions. The relation between the natural surroundings is constant.

To be Alone With Nature: Are you longing for a holiday alone with nature, without any noise, traffic and confusion of the city of a whole year? here on the Black Sea are most comfortable places for your holidays. You may relax by camping on these plateaus surrounded by forests and grasslands, adorned with flowers. You may also roller-skate, jog and make picnics on the sides of the streams flowing with crystal-clear and very cold waters.

Peace and Serenity: Nature offers you its beauties on high plateausand also speaks to you. The lovely whisper of the wind coming through the leaves of the trees, makes a beatiful mixture with the sound of flowing waters. Sometimes, you hear twitlerings of birds and sounds of lambs together with the sounds of roosters in the nearby villages.

Photo safari: You may take pictures of the area including the wildlife in forests and the wild animals such as, wild boar, lynix, wild gota, hook-horned goat (Rupicapra), bear (Ursusanctos), wolf, fox, jackal, weasel, rabbit, red squirrel, beech-marten, wild hen and the birds those of eagle, hawk, sparrow-hawk, peregrine, falcon, Eurasian woodcock, owl ec. in their lively atmosphere.

These animals live in Artvin-Kaçkar Mountains, along Çoruh River, and in Trabzon karadağ, Sinop-Çangal Forests. Some peaple have information about wildlife and know which seasons and at which time of the day.

Flora: You may easily absorve flowers and plants such us, snow-drop, wild azalia, wild rose (Gomar) and various trees such as, fir-tree, beech, common alder, elm-tree, oak, chestnut, horbeam, scotspine, cedar, lime tree etc.

Trekking: You may go for long walks for a healthy life and make trips to meet and observe the nature in Artvin-Kaçkar Mountains, Rize-Kavran, Trabzon-Uzungöl, Çakırgöl, Şolma, Giresun-Kümbet and many other high plateaus.

Village Life: If u wish to make a holiday in the villages where the nature still exist without being disropted by human geings, then we recommed you Artvşn-Yusufeli Yaylalar Village, Trabzon Maçka Hamsi Village, Seydibaba Village-that is 1 km for the Gümüşhane-Şiran Tomara Waterfall, Rize Çamlıhensin, Yukari Kavran High Plateaus and Old Gümüshane.

In Yaylalar Village, having dinner in the open air under the light of a gaslamp and having conversations around a fire through the night will carry you into a different world.

In July, you may see two-wheeled oxcarts carrying crops in Gümüşhane-Siran seydibaba Village. If you wish, you may set up camp near Tomara Waterfall, living in a wooden village house, watching the awakening of the day after waking up to the rooster's crowing, hearing the noises of lambs and the small bells on the necks of the animals, picking fruits from the branches of trees, making a delicious salad with tomato, cucumber, pepper and green onions picked in the garden, and boiling patatoes on a wood-fire provide you with unforgettable days.

Mountain Tourism and Winter Sports: You are aware of the positive effects of fresh air, sunshine, normal temperatures and relative humidity levels to the human health an you are longing for being in a healthy climate. A long walk between Rize Camlihemsin Ayder Town and Artvin Yusufeli Yaylalar Village, will make the mountain sport possible that you long for.

You will have the necessary equipment service for sking in Zigana Ski Center, On Giresun-Bektas, Bayburt-Kopdagi and Artvin-Kafkasor High Plateaus, you may also find comfortable areas for skiing but you must bring your own equipment here.

Except in these hşgh plateaus, transportation to many of other places can be made by estate vehicles between October 31st and April 1st. However in some areas because of the heavy snow, transportation can be interrupted.

1- TOURISM CENTERS

Maçka Şolma Tourism Center: From Maçka 22 km of secondary road leads to Şolma Plateau. The plateau is 1850 meters above the sea level.

Facilities such as electricity, water, telephone, market, grocer's, butcher's, cafeteria are available.

Trabzon-Tonya-Armutlu-Gümüşhane-Kürtün-Erikbeli Tourism Center: U can get to Erikbeli high plateau which is located at about 1800 meters above the sea level. Visitors may find some foot such as; meat, bread, electricity, water, telephone, market, grocer's, butcher's, cafeteria are available.

Akçaabat-Karadağ Tourism Center: Visitors may arrive in the plateau by taking the 28 km. secondary road after turning west at 12. km of Akçaabat-Düzköy road. On the plateau which is about 1946 meters above the sea level.

On the plateau there are electricity, water, market, butcher's open air cafeteria are available.

Araklı-Pazarcık Tourism Center: It's 850 meters about the sea level and located in a small town called Karadere, which is 43 km to the south of Araklı. It's a high-plateau center where you can get an easy access to Gümüshane and Bayburt via Yagmurdere and Aydintepe. It offers a variety of fascilities such as a post-office, shopping centers and so on.

Araklı Yeşilyurt Yılantaş Tourism Center: It is located with the boundiries of Yeşilyurt a town in Araklı. It is 10 km from the country center.

2- OTHER HIGH PLATEAUS OF TRABZON

Lapazan High Plateau: You can go there on a 27 km. long secondary road. From Maçka the plateau is to the south of Gürgenağaç village 2200 mt. above the sea level. It is advisable to take a tent, sleeping bag as food and accomadation is not available.

Sis Mauntain : It is 1850 meters above sea level and can be reached via a 25 km road from the Erikbeli Tourism Center. Here there are water, grocer, butcher shops and open air restaurants.

Sazalan High Plateau: It is 5 km. west of Tonya -Erikbeli Tourism Center and has same infrastructure but there is no accommadation for guests.

Çaykara - Sultanmurat High Plateau: It is 25 km. away from Trabzon to Çaykara district. Electricity, water and wc are available on the plateau which is 54 km. in the north-west of Aydıntepe district from Çaykara. There is a cemetery where some martyrs from the first world war rest. In summer, cafe, market, butcher and pansion are available.

Harmantepe High Plateau: During World War 1. Soldiers dug holes to proted themselves against enemy soldiers. There is cemetery where some martyrs rest.

Düzköy-MaçkaHigh Plateau: It is located 1784 m. above sea level, can be reached using a 12 km. secondary road. On tha plateau of Düzköy electricity, postal service, market, pansion , grocer and butcher are available.