Winter in Şavşat
The Peaks of Tour
Tour Dates
After meeting our valued guests at Rize Artvin Airport, our first stop on the first day is Kamilet Valley, a natural wonder with its endemic vegetation. After reaching Arhavi via the coastal road, we enjoy a local breakfast waiting for us at a Laz mansion. Next, our route takes us to the Historic Twin Arch Bridges, one of the finest examples of stonework, located at the intersection of the Kamilet and Soğucak rivers. After a photo stop at the historic bridges, we take a short walk through the valley and villages.
Our next destination is the peaceful town of Şavşat… Our journey, accompanied by stunning natural landscapes, ends at the Yavuzköy viewing terrace, where we can admire Şavşat’s magnificent scenery. After the viewing terrace, we head to our hotel in Şavşat, where we will stay for three nights to rest and prepare for the new day.
After breakfast, our first stop in the quiet town of Şavşat is Karagöl. We begin our walk through the snow towards Karagöl. After our walk through the forest, the fun begins! Our snowmobile, a winter essential in northA, is with us! We hop on the snowmobile at the most suitable spots and slide behind it on our sled.
Our next destination is Veliköy, one of the most peaceful places in Şavşat. After Veliköy, our climb towards the peaks continues. Our route takes us to Lake Balık, located at the foot of Arsiyan. After reaching Lake Balık by car, we set off on a hike into the forest. After walking through the snow in the old, living forests of Şavşat, we shake off our fatigue with another picnic on the snow. Once we’ve recharged our batteries, our snowmobile adventure begins again We build a snowman on the shore of Balık Lake and return to our hotel to light our evening fire.
Our last day in Şavşat begins with our first stop at the Fairy Chimneys. To reach this breathtaking view nestled within a magnificent forest, we take a short walk through the woods along the edge of Çil Lake, which is covered in snow. After taking in this magnificent view, we drive to Cevizli village and explore the ruins of the historic Tibetan Church. Afterwards, we take a short walk through the village, see the most beautiful examples of wooden Şavşat houses, sip our tea and coffee at the village café, and complete this snow adventure.
We bid farewell to our valued guests with the hope of meeting again soon and depart for Rize Airport, looking forward to seeing you on another northA Travel tour.
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northa
In addition to organizing tours, our priority is to accompany people who are excited about amazing landscapes. Experiencing cultures and having fun are our top priorities.
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eco tour
We prefer businesses that prioritize serving with their own products and resources, allowing us to experience the culture of the region we visit and support the local people and their understanding of ecotourism.
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Food
We will choose boutique establishments that best prepare the region's local dishes, which are part of the region's culture.
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Guidance
A deep understanding of the region's history, nature, and culture, as well as a life experience with guides who live in the area.
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Transportation
Our program begins and ends at Rize-Artvin Airport. All transportation in Artvin and Rize is provided by Northa Travel. Our tour starts at 10:00 a.m. from Rize-Artvin Airport and ends at 6:00 p.m. on the last day. For arrival, you can purchase tickets for arrivals no later than 9:30 a.m., and for departure, you can purchase tickets for departures after 7:00 p.m.
Included Services
- Professional Guidance
- 3 nights' accommodation
- 3 breakfasts, 3 dinners
- All tours specified in the program (no extra tours available)
- All transfers on the first day from the airport and on the last day to the airport
- National park vehicle entry and parking fees
- TURSAB travel insurance*
Mandatory TURSAB travel insurance is not health insurance. For private health and trip cancellation insurance, please contact our office!
Services Not Included
- Airline tickets
- breakfast on the first day, dinner on the last day, and lunches
- Additional expenses incurred at the hotel
- Extra expenses that may arise due to reasons beyond our control (natural disasters, flight cancellations, etc.)
Accommodation
In the Eastern Black Sea region, we prefer boutique hotels that are in harmony with nature and comfortable, in line with the concept of our tours. We may also occasionally choose guesthouses created by the local people with their own resources. These hotels provide good comfort and allow us to experience the culture while exploring the Black Sea.
Single Accommodation
Unless otherwise specified and unless they pay the single accommodation supplement, individuals traveling alone on our tours will be placed in a room with someone of the same gender.
If participants prefer to stay alone in a room by paying a single supplement, single accommodation will be provided based on availability and reservation order. In the event of any issues arising from high occupancy or late reservations, participants will be informed before the tour, and the cost for the day when single accommodation is not available will be refunded.
Our tour starts from Rize-Artvin Airport and usually begins at 9:30 a.m. For passengers arriving by road, we contact them before arrival to arrange a mutually convenient time that won’t disrupt the program.
Airfare and bus ticket prices are not included in our tour. If our tour is canceled due to insufficient numbers for guaranteed departure, all risks and responsibilities related to tickets purchased by our company on behalf of the consumer shall be borne by the participant, and the relevant consumer(s) shall have no right to object or claim compensation.
Our company may transfer the relevant tour booking to another tour taking place on the same dates, with sufficient capacity, where the consumer can use the plane/bus tickets they have already purchased, provided the consumer agrees.
A 40% deposit of the tour price is required at the time of booking. The full payment is due 30 days prior to departure.
If our tours do not reach the required number of participants, they may be combined with another tour that is confirmed to run. In this case, you agree to the following conditions:
When the office offers a tour consolidation and you accept it, the program and conditions of the tour you are included in apply, not those of the canceled tour.
The destinations visited on the tour you registered for may be the same, different, or similar; the difficulty level may be easier, harder, or the same.
Accommodation services and accommodation types may vary.
Transportation options and flight times may vary.
It is the responsibility of participants to assess whether the tour is suitable for them and to read the tour program, in addition to the information you will receive from our office regarding the tour you will be joining.
Except in cases of force majeure, NorthA will not cancel the tour unless the relevant tour does not reach the minimum number of participants. In the event of cancellation by NorthA, only the tour fee will be refunded. Participants may transfer their tour rights to another person up to 7 days in advance.
In cancellations requested by the consumer;
All payments made for cancellations up to 30 days before the start of the Tour you registered for will be refunded.
For cancellations made up to 29-15 days before the start of the tour, 50% of the remaining amount will be refunded after deducting fees such as taxes and insurance.
If the cancellation is made less than 15 days before the start of the tour, no refund will be made to the consumer.
Possible Reasons for Changes in the Tour Program
Depending on the availability of hotels and guesthouses, the program can also be started in reverse order.
The order of locations visited for sightseeing may change depending on weather conditions.
If a location cannot be reached due to weather or road conditions, travel to another location where conditions are suitable.
northa Travel is required by law to take out compulsory insurance limited to the tour price against agency bankruptcy and failure to provide services. Personal accident and travel insurance are available upon request for a fee.
Tour services cannot be provided by any person or institution other than TURSAB member travel agencies. Do not trust pages opened on social media, do not become an accomplice to crime. ASSOCIATIONS, SCHOOLS, COMPANIES, INDIVIDUALS, GUIDES, CLUBS, FOUNDATIONS CANNOT ORGANIZE TOURS! IT IS A CRIME AGAINST THE LAW!
Before the Tour
To ensure this unique experience in nature is perfect, bring along:
If possible, bring snow boots, warm snow pants, gloves, a hat, a coat, a sweatshirt, a sweater, or a fleece (it will be cold at high altitudes). Also, please remember to bring any daily medications you may need.
Please do not bring too many belongings or large suitcases, as the vehicles we use for tours are minibuses with a maximum capacity of 16 people to reach all locations. Excess luggage creates problems for the luggage capacity.