A lake village (Uzungöl) at 1,100 m in a steep valley of spruce forest, 100 km from Trabzon, with a mosque on the shore, wooden chalets and walks up to the high plateaus. Hugely popular with Gulf Arab and Turkish tourists in July and August, misty and often wet, and quiet the rest of the year. Most people visit on a day tour from Trabzon; staying a night gives the misty morning to yourself.
Highlights
- Lake walk at dawn
- Mosque reflected in the lake
- Seyrangöl viewpoint
- Trout lunch by the stream
- Plateau walks above the village
- Wooden chalet stay
Things to do
- Lakeside walk & mosqueMorning · 1h 30m
- Seyrangöl viewpointMorning · 2h
- Plateau (yayla) hikeAfternoon · 4h
- Trout lunch & tea by the streamAfternoon · 1h 30m
Tours & tickets
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When to go
Best time: May – September
Worth knowing
Black Sea Rainy Season
The eastern Black Sea is the wettest part of Turkey, and October and November bring the heaviest rain, with fog in the valleys and occasional landslides on the roads up to Uzungöl and Sumela. Keep a spare day and check the road before setting off. June to September is the best time.
Heads up
Snow at Uzungöl
Uzungöl gets snow from December to March. The village stays open and looks beautiful, but the valley road can need chains, minibuses run less often, and plateau walks are closed.
Worth knowing
Bayram Holiday: Buses and Flights Sell Out
Ramazan Bayramı (about 9-12 March 2027) and Kurban Bayramı (about 16-19 May 2027, often stretched to nine days off) send millions of Turks travelling. Intercity buses and domestic flights sell out and prices jump, coastal hotels fill, and some museums close on the first morning. Book transport and rooms early, and avoid travelling on the first and last days of the holiday.
- Ramadan (Ramazan) — The fasting month, expected from about 8 February to 9 March 2027. Life for visitors carries on: restaurants, cafes and sights stay open, and alcohol is still sold in tourist areas. In conservative cities (Konya, Mardin) eat discreetly in daylight. At sunset the iftar meal fills restaurants and Sultanahmet's square becomes a night market; drummers wake the neighbourhoods before dawn.
- Ramazan Bayramı (Eid al-Fitr) — The holiday ending Ramadan (expected about 9-12 March 2027). Millions of Turks travel home: intercity buses and domestic flights sell out and prices jump, so book a few weeks ahead. Some museums close on the first morning; Istanbul's bridges and public transport are often free.
- Kurban Bayramı (Eid al-Adha) — The four-day feast of the sacrifice (expected about 16-19 May 2027), often stretched to nine days off. The biggest travel rush of the year: buses, flights and coastal hotels book out and fares double, and the Aegean and Mediterranean resorts fill with Turkish families. Avoid moving between cities on the first and last days.