"a fairytale mix of mist-shrouded mountains and dramatically plunging valleys cloaked in impenetrably deep, dark forests. Despite the dramatic landscapes, international tourism has never really taken off here. Running between the eastern edge of the Black Sea and the rugged Pontic Alps, just shy of the Georgian border, it's been a tricky spot to reach, historically (a bus journey of about 19 hours from Istanbul though an airport opened in 2022, which cuts this to two hours)."
"I became intrigued by Rize when researching a book on the world's best road trips. I spent weeks cruising the globe's highways, country lanes and mountain passes via Google Street View. When I reached Turkey, I noticed a long green belt running along its northern coastline and discovered a land of dense tea plantations, cliff-hugging roads, roaring rivers and wooden villages."
Rize province experiences heavy rainfall and a pervasive tea culture among locals. The landscape combines mist-shrouded mountains, plunging valleys and dense, dark forests that create a fairytale atmosphere. International tourism remains limited despite dramatic scenery and improved access after a 2022 airport reduced travel time from Istanbul. The province sits between the eastern Black Sea and the Pontic Alps near the Georgian border. Long green belts of tea plantations line coastal routes alongside the turquoise Black Sea. The Frtna valley offers accessible mountain scenery while large areas remain wilderness best visited with a guide.
Read at www.theguardian.com
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