Leaving Trabzon, the route immediately pulls you inland, climbing steadily into the forested folds of the Pontic Mountains. A fuel stop shortly after departure is practical, as the road quickly commits to altitude and remote terrain. The first major highlight comes early with Sumela Monastery, dramatically perched 1,200 meters up a sheer cliff in the Altındere Valley. Dating back to the 4th century, this Greek Orthodox complex feels suspended between rock and sky. Its fresco-filled Rock Church, now safer and more accessible after the 2024–2025 restoration works, rewards the effort of shuttle transfer and stair climb with an atmosphere that is both spiritual and rawa defining landmark of the eastern Black Sea region.
Entrance to the site costs approximately 20€, excluding the shuttle fee of about 4€ but the setting and history fully justify the expense.

After Sumela, the road continues upward toward Zigana Pass, where the landscape and climate visibly shift. Exiting the old Zigana Tunnel, just 1,702 meters long, is a natural pause point. Here, at around 1,840 meters, dense, humid forests begin to thin, giving way to drier, harsher plateaus. The contrast is striking and immediate. Above you rises Zigana Mountain itself, reaching nearly 2,190 meters, reinforcing the sense of crossing a true natural boundary between regions.

From this point, the descent follows the course of the Doğankent Stream, also known as the Harşit River. Stretching 160 kilometers from the mountains of Gümüşhane to the Black Sea near Tirebolu, the river has long shaped trade and movement, once serving as a Silk Road corridor. Today, it is heavily harnessed for hydroelectric power, feeding a chain of dams that dominate the valley. At the entrance of Doğankent, a small waterfall appears on the left, an easy photo stop before rolling into town. After roughly five hours on the road, Doğankent itself is a sensible place for lunch, offering simple local restaurants before the ride turns west again.

A fuel stop at Demirci prepares you for the final leg. From here, the route joins the coastal road, with the Black Sea on your right, stretching endlessly alongside you as the road flattens and traffic increases. The cool mountain air gives way to sea humidity, and the ride becomes more relaxed, almost meditative, all the way into Ordu.

There is a clear route choice after Sumela.
The primary and more rewarding option is the old D885 road via Zigana Pass and the old tunnel, the highest paved section of the route mentioned above. But riders seeking comfort can instead continue straight through the new Zigana Tunnel, a 14.5 km engineering giant, currently the longest twin-tube road tunnel in Europe. It bypasses weather and altitude but sacrifices the dramatic mountain experience.

The landscape character is predominantly mountain and alpine forest, transitioning into river valleys and finally coastal scenery near Ordu. Road character ranges from twisty mountain asphalt and exposed highland sections to fast, flowing coastal highway, with tunnels smoothing the more demanding terrain. As you arrive in Ordu, the scenery softens and turns unmistakably green. This region is globally significant for one reason above all others: hazelnuts. Ordu sits at the heart of Turkey’s hazelnut production, a crop that makes the country the world’s largest exporter. The hills surrounding the city are carpeted with hazelnut orchards, their neat rows climbing slopes that seem almost too steep for agriculture. For generations, local families have depended on this harvest, and even today the rhythm of life here follows the agricultural calendar.

After checking in at Anemon Ordu Hotel, the city offers an easy evening exploration. Boztepe reached by cable car delivers sweeping views over Ordu and the Black Sea. The Taşbaşı Church reflects the city’s multicultural past while the seaside promenade an old naval ship open to visitors, and landmarks like the Ters Ev add lighter, relaxed stops.
Ordu feels calm and coastal, a gentle landing after a demanding and visually rich mountain stage.