1. Overview
- Area: 7,436 km², 8 districts, Georgian border.
- UNESCO: Macahel (Camili) — Turkey's first biosphere reserve (2005).
- Border: Sarp Land Border Gate (Georgia Batumi 40 km).
2. Getting there
- Rize-Artvin Airport (RZV): 80 km — the closest.
- Batumi (BUS, Georgia): 40 km via Sarp border — visa-free for Turkish citizens.
- Trabzon (TZX): 180 km.
3. Karagöl-Sahara National Park
- 16,697 hectares, declared 1994.
- Two zones: Şavşat Karagöl (1,400 m, landslide lake) and Sahara Highland (2,000+ m).
4. Borçka Karagöl
- 27 km inland from Borçka, 1,500 m elevation.
- Formed by a 1950 landslide; submerged trees + mirror reflection.
- Best at dawn, windless conditions.
5. Şavşat
- Sahara Highland (2,000-2,200 m): yellow wildflowers in June-July.
- Papart Highland (2,100 m): close to Georgian border.
- Cehennem Deresi Canyon: spectacular cliffside hike.
- Şavşat Castle: medieval Georgian ruins.
6. Macahel (UNESCO Biosphere)
- Turkey's first UNESCO biosphere reserve (2005).
- 70 km mountain road from Borçka; 2.5 hours. Closed in winter.
- Home to the Caucasian bee gene pool.
- 6 villages: Camili, Maral, Uğur, Düzenli, Kayalar, Efeler.
- Organic Macahel honey — ₺500-1,500/kg.
7. Hopa & Kemalpaşa
- Hopa: Artvin's Black Sea coastal district, 15 km to Sarp border.
- Kemalpaşa: Liman beaches, Arhavi-Kemalpaşa thermal springs.
8. Food
- Butter-fried trout, hasuta (sweet), paputsa (bean-cornmeal stew).
- Şavşat cheese, Ardanuç honey, Macahel honey.
- Georgian influences (khachapuri, khinkali) along Hopa-Batumi.