Life over the Clouds: Pokut and Sal Plateaus

By Busra Mese

Pokut Plateau

Rize Pokut Yaylası, located at an altitude of 2050 meters, has been flooded by local tourists recently. You have to travel 21 kilometers to arrive at the plateau located in Çamlıhemşin district. Although the road is short, this journey takes about 2 hours due to the rough terrain of the Black Sea. So why should you see the Rize Pokut Yaylası? What makes Pokut Yaylası so special?

Why You Should Definitely See Rize Pokut Yaylası?

A wonderful view

Pokut is one of the most outstanding, beautiful and calm locations of the Black Sea region. The word Pokut comes from Armenian language, and it means ‘windy valley’.

The Pokut Yaylası is located on the northern border of Kaçkar Mountains where the weather is usually rainy and foggy. It is truly an exquisite sight. When you reach the plateau, a unique sea of ​​clouds welcomes you. In addition, the green and steep mountains of the region accompany this cloud festival. The plateau, surrounded by different shades of green on all four sides, has all the characteristics of the Black Sea region.

Beautiful Greenery

 

 

Usually tree species don’t grow much at an altitude higher 1800 meters in these plateaus however, Pokut Yaylası receives the Black Sea wind so trees grow here even though the plateau sits at an altitude of 2032 meters.  Pine and spruce trees dominate the plateau therefore; Pokut is one of Turkey’s lush green plateaus all year round. Pokut provides a population of raptors such as brown bears, rabbits, eagles and hawks.

 

 

Wooden Architecture

One of the most important things to mention about Pokut is that it contains the most beautiful examples of wooden architecture. All the houses are wooden in Pokut and there are about 50 houses. It is known that the oldest house is 250 years old. However, not all of these houses are actively being used. The people living in some houses welcome and host guests who come to the plateau in their homes.

The houses in Pokut are typical Black Sea plateau houses. Generally, they are single-storey wooden houses. In addition to very old wooden houses, it is possible to see two-storey wooden houses built in recent years in Pokut. The heating problem in the houses is solved with a stove, and some houses also have a fireplace.

 

Accommodation in Nature

In addition to daily tours, Pokut Yaylası offers various accommodation options to its visitors. If you want to spend a little more time with the unique beauties of the plateau you can stay in traditional wooden Black Sea houses. In addition, you have the opportunity to camp on the plateau. However, it is important for the campers to consider the weather conditions. We recommend that you camp with the appropriate equipment, as the plateau is cold in the evenings. There are also hostels for tourists that you can consider.

 

 

 

Black Sea Tastes

Another feature that makes the plateau attractive is that it offers the Black Sea cuisine to its visitors. Lunch time is something to look forward to when visiting Pokut Yaylası. Especially for those who are fond of Black Sea food, these meal times pass in a festive mood; One can get lost in stuffed meats, wraps, sirons, muhlamas and many other dishes. Corn bread, muhlama(a dish made of butter, corn wheat, and cheese from Trabzon), roasted pickles, Laz pastry and kale soups are among the tastes we would recommend you to try in the plateau.

 

A Short Break from City Life

Pokut Yaylası is an ideal choice for those who are tired of the city and want to enjoy absolute silence. Nothing can be heard on the plateau except the sounds of chirping birds. In short, the plateau, which is far from all kinds of human and vehicle noise, offers a great opportunity for those who want to be alone with nature.

 

Clean Air in Rize Pokut Yaylası

Like the other plateaus of the Black Sea region, Rize Pokut Yaylası stands out with its clean air. Since there are no industrial buildings and settlements on the plateau, you get a lot of clean air and enough oxygen.

 

 

Every Season Is Beautiful

 

It is difficult to reach the plateau during the winter months, but we recommend that you see the plateau in all four seasons. Snow-capped mountains and a sea of ​​clouds offer a fascinating sight in winter. In the summer months, the plateau provides the opportunity to refresh the visitors who are overwhelmed by the hot weather with its cool air.

As you can imagine, Pokut Yaylası is worth visiting at least once in a lifetime. It’s quite a sight to see with a wonderful view, green scenery, accommodation in nature, wooden architecture and delicious black sea tastes. Now let’s take a look at another plateau very close to Pokut. The Sal Plateau of Çamlıhemşin.

Sal Plateau (Sal Yaylası in Turkish)

With an altitude of 2070 meters, Sal Yaylası is slightly different from the other plateaus in Rize because there aren’t any rivers or streams around Sal Yaylası. Sal Yaylası, which is about 15 minutes away from the famous Pokut Yaylası, is surrounded by houses built with Hemşin architecture. It draws attention with its settlement structure, where you will feel like you are in a European village. The harmony of all wooden houses is worth seeing.

Sal Yaylası starts to attract attention from July and continues until October. It’s a 45-minute drive from the nearest village.

Sal Yaylası Accommodation

Sal Yaylası is very suitable for accommodation because it is close to other locations such as Ayder Plateau, Zilkale, Çamlıhemşin and Huser Plateau. It also attracts the attention of campers with its camping areas. You can wake up to a day among the clouds and enjoy the camp, accompanied by the beautiful Kaçkar breezes but you don’t have to be a camper to enjoy staying there. You can easily stay with your family and loved ones in the pensions and bungalows in the region. Village is easily reachable for most of you needs, which is 45 minutes away, and you can also enjoy a one day holiday and return by night.

What to do in Sal Yaylası?

You can enjoy the architecture and greenery on the Sal Yaylası, which offers a beautiful view with its houses reflecting Hemşin architecture using spruce and chestnut trees. You can explore the rich plant varieties by walking on its wide plains all day long, and you can have a picnic with your family and loved ones. Sal Yaylası is also an ideal spot for camping lovers with its convenient location for camping. You can camp here and stargaze as if you were going to touch the stars thanks to its height. Sal Yaylası, which offers a lush appearance in the summer months, takes on a unique appearance in the winter months. Sal Yaylası can be visited in almost any period of the year because the weather is generally clear and transportation is easy.