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- Sumela Monastery — A dramatic Byzantine monastery literally carved into a sheer cliff face, filled with faded frescoes and narrow stone stairways. The setting is unreal: you’re looking out from a ledge over a green gorge. Personal favorite — go first thing in the morning for soft light and fewer people, and give yourself time to soak in the view.
- The limestone gorge and towering cliffs — The valley’s steep, craggy walls create dramatic vistas and a real sense of scale, great for photography and geology nerds. Trails threaded along the rim and down into the gorge reveal different angles of the rock strata and hidden alcoves.
- Altındere River and waterfalls — A lively mountain stream runs the length of the park with small cascades, pools and shady picnic spots. The sound of running water
- Sumela Monastery — A dramatic Byzantine monastery literally carved into a sheer cliff face, filled with faded frescoes and narrow stone stairways. The setting is unreal: you’re looking out from a ledge over a green gorge. Personal favorite — go first thing in the morning for soft light and fewer people, and give yourself time to soak in the view.
- The limestone gorge and towering cliffs — The valley’s steep, craggy walls create dramatic vistas and a real sense of scale, great for photography and geology nerds. Trails threaded along the rim and down into the gorge reveal different angles of the rock strata and hidden alcoves.
- Altındere River and waterfalls — A lively mountain stream runs the length of the park with small cascades, pools and shady picnic spots. The sound of running water is constant; jump in your hiking boots (metaphorically) and follow the river trail for peaceful stretches away from the monastery crowds.
- Old-growth beech and fir forests — Dense, cool forests carpeted with mosses, ferns and spring wildflowers give the park a temperate-rainforest feel. Perfect on a hot day: the canopy keeps it surprisingly fresh and you’ll find great shade for a long break.
- Hiking trails and ridge walks — Trails range from short walks up to the monastery to full ridge routes into the Pontic Mountains; expect steep stair sections, rocky paths and rewarding viewpoints. Bring sturdy shoes, water and a map — some routes aren’t heavily signed.
- Birdlife and wildlife watching — The mix of forest and cliff habitat attracts raptors, woodpeckers and forest songbirds; you may also glimpse deer, foxes or wild boar at dawn/dusk. Move quietly and watch the treetops and cliffs — binoculars really pay off here.
- Panoramic viewpoints and sunset spots — A few lookout points above the monastery and along the ridges give sweeping views over the valley and distant mountains (on clear days you can sense the Black Sea’s influence in the landscape). These spots are best late afternoon when the light warms the cliffs.
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Hi, I’m Johan (Netherlands 🇳🇱), the creator of TakeYourBackpack. Over the past decade, I’ve backpacked through 80+ countries across six continents, gaining extensive experience with independent travel, long-term trips, and overland routes.