Turkey's mountain meadows draw hikers as spring blossoms flood highlands

In the eastern province of Gümüşhane, abundant spring rains turned the high‑altitude plateaus into vibrant flower fields. A group of 55 athletes from the Gümüşhane Mountaineering, Outdoor Sports, Youth and Sports Club (GÜDAK) and Istanbul‑based Trekking Turkey completed an 11‑kilometre trek across Minarlı, Livadi and other meadows, praising the scenery as “a corner of heaven” and urging more visitors to experience the region.

At the same time, the broader Black Sea region – especially the provinces of Trabzon, Rize and Artvin – is experiencing a surge in nature tourism. Historic sites such as the Sümela Monastery, natural attractions like Uzungöl and Ayder Plateau, and coastal beaches are drawing both domestic and foreign tourists. The influx is boosting hotels, restaurants, transport services and local artisans, while new bungalow accommodations and adventure activities such as rafting and zip‑lining are expanding the area’s tourism profile.