Çamlıhemşin: Culture, Highlands and Nature

When planning a stay in Çamlıhemşin, you can start by deciding whether culture, historic buildings or activities in the highland areas are your main priority. Tulum music and horon, old bridges, nature walks, mountain biking routes and rafting offer different ways to plan your trip.

Culture and festivals

Tulum music and horon dancing are vibrant parts of Çamlıhemşin’s cultural identity. Both are celebrated at highland festivals, weddings and other festivities, and passed on to younger generations. This tradition is therefore tied to a variety of community occasions.

The Çamlıhemşin Snow Festival takes place every year at the end of January and features two days of events. These include performances by regional artists, competitions, horon dancing to Tulum music in the snow, and sliding on snow tubes. If you want to plan your trip around the festival, check the specific event dates in advance.

The International Pastacı Festival features cake and confectionery demonstrations and tastings. The program also includes cake-making demonstrations, documentaries about the history of confectionery, and discussion sessions. Its focus therefore ranges from sweet foods to the history of the confectionery trade.

Regional cuisine

Çamlıhemşin’s cuisine is shaped by the rainy, mountainous climate of the Eastern Black Sea region. Corn and kale are the main agricultural products. Butter, Kolot cheese and anchovies are widely used in regional cooking. These ingredients give a clear impression of the products that are important to local food culture.

Bridges and historic sites

Makrevis Bridge is located in the Konaklar neighborhood. It is a single-arch masonry bridge with a round arch, and its architectural features and construction date it to the 19th century. Merkez-1 Bridge is located at the turnoff from the Çamlıhemşin–Ayder road. It is also a single-arch masonry bridge; its two-bearing structure has a round-arch form. Its architectural design reflects the 18th century. The two bridges thus offer different historical points of reference.

Nearby places

Zilkale is within Çamlıhemşin district, 15 kilometers south of the district center. Designated a first-degree archaeological site, it is situated on the western slopes of the Fırtına Valley. Ayder Plateau is also in the district, at an altitude of about 1,218 meters and around 19 kilometers from the center of Çamlıhemşin. It is known for its hot springs.

Pokut Plateau is 35 kilometers from the center of Çamlıhemşin district and serves as a starting point for nature walks to nearby Sal Plateau. Kale-i Bala, also known as Varoş Kale, is a historic defensive castle in the area of Kale Köyü. It is 38 kilometers from the district center, at a location overlooking the Fırtına River. The sites therefore differ in both their historical associations and landscape features.

Highlands and outdoor activities

In the highland areas of Çamlıhemşin, nature-walking routes follow paths through mist, impressive landscapes and tranquil nature. The highland areas along these routes include Pokut, Sal, Badara, Gito, Elevit, Amlakit, Avusor and Samistal. Pokut is also a starting point for hikes to nearby Sal Plateau.

Mountain biking routes run along forest trails and highland connections in the region. They offer different levels of difficulty for beginners and advanced riders. Rafting trips on the Fırtına River are offered with professional instructors; the routes are suitable for beginners and experienced athletes alike. This gives you several options for active days: hiking in the highland areas, mountain biking on forest trails and connecting routes, or rafting on the river.

Discover more destinations: Dernek, Rize, Yenikale, Kurtuluş Köyü, Pazar, Avcılar Köyü, Yenicami Köyü, İkizdere

Go to the main travel overview: Rize.