Yusufeli

Yusufeli offers several focal points to consider when planning your trip: water sports on the Çoruh, the open spaces of Yusufeli Orman Parkı and bull-wrestling culture. Water activities are limited to a specific period, while the park combines a walking path, views and a cultural purpose. If you are looking for a hotel in Yusufeli, these themes can help you decide what to focus on during your stay.

Rafting and canoeing on the Çoruh

The Yusufeli Akarsu Sporları Parkuru is a designated 55-kilometre rafting route. It runs from the village of Alanbaşı via Çevreli and Tekkale through the centre of Yusufeli district, then continues via Sebzeciler and Sukavuşumu to the Kömürlü village bridge. The sequence of named locations traces the route from the starting village through the central section to the endpoint.

Rafting and canoeing on the Çoruh, which flows through Yusufeli, are suitable from the last week of May to September. Check the current offerings from operators and river conditions when making specific plans. This allows you to take into account both the stated seasonal window and the conditions important for carrying out the activities locally.

The rafting route on the Çoruh offers views of the lush greenery and natural landscape along the river, as well as numerous castles and churches strung out along it. The route and landscape give the water sports their own distinct sense of place. When planning, therefore, it is not only the activity itself that matters, but also the period you would like to make it the focus of your trip.

Yusufeli Orman Parkı: walking path, views and a day out

Yusufeli Orman Parkı was established in the new settlement after the district centre was relocated because it had been flooded by the Yusufeli Dam. It covers 14.5 hectares. The park’s facilities include a walking path and an observation terrace. The picnic area is intended for day visits and offers views of the dam and the new settlement.

The park thus brings together several uses in one place: a walking path, an observation terrace and an area for a daytime picnic. The view of the dam and the new settlement also reveals part of the surroundings of the new settlement. If you do not want to focus your stay solely on water sports, this offers another way to plan your day.

Bull wrestling as part of the culture

Yusufeli Orman Parkı was also developed with the aim of preserving Yusufeli’s bull-wrestling culture. The Boğa Güreşi Meydanı is located within the park. Independently of this, Derekapı bull wrestling is considered a longstanding part of Yusufeli’s cultural heritage. The park therefore brings together a specific venue and a cultural purpose, while Derekapı bull wrestling represents the broader tradition within the region’s cultural heritage.

This cultural connection adds a distinct meaning to the park’s recreational opportunities: the walking path and picnic area are part of how the grounds are used, the Boğa Güreşi Meydanı is one of its facilities, and preserving bull-wrestling culture is one of its development aims. If you are interested in history and tradition, you can therefore also take this aspect into account when planning your trip to the park.

Road connection and trip planning

The Yusufeli Merkez Viaduct connects the centre of Yusufeli district to the existing road. When it opened in July 2024, the Artvin–Yusufeli–İspir road connection was shortened by 15.5 kilometres and travel time by around 25 minutes. These figures refer to the change resulting from the viaduct’s opening.

Different considerations may therefore take priority when planning your stay: if rafting or canoeing is your focus, pay attention to the seasonal window and current river conditions. If you would rather plan around the park and its cultural connections, the walking path, observation terrace, picnic area and Boğa Güreşi Meydanı offer specific points of interest.

Discover more destinations: Kireçlik Köyü, Avcılar, Hopa, Kemalpaşa, Akantaş Köyü, Şavşat, Artvin, Arhavi

Return to the main travel overview: Artvin.