When is the best time to visit the highlands of Giresun?

The highlands of Giresun are not reachable for much of the year, and even in the open months their character changes week by week. Knowing when to go matters as much as knowing where. June is the opening month. The snow has just withdrawn, the meadows are green and flowering and visitors are few. The roads are generally open, though some high passes may still be closed; ask before heading to places above twenty five hundred metres such as Karagöl. There is mist in June too, but less of it. July is the festival month. The highland festival at Kümbet is the best known event in the region, bringing together the kemençe, the horon and a fair, and there is a festival on Sis Dağı as well. This is the highlands at their liveliest, but accommodation fills completely and the roads are busy. If you dislike crowds, skip the festival week; just afterwards it is far quieter. August is both hot and busy. The hazelnut harvest begins below while herding is at its peak above. The Kuşköy bird language festival falls this month. The mist is thickest now, ideal for photography and demanding care when driving. September is the most balanced month. The crowds have dispersed, the weather still holds and the colours are turning. For places requiring a walk, such as Karagöl, this is the best period; the weather is steadier and the paths dry. After October the roads begin to close, and from November to May most of the highlands are unreachable. If you plan a winter trip, always check road conditions beforehand. Rules for every season: bring a layer even in summer, as the temperature at two thousand metres can fall to ten degrees. Always carry a waterproof. Fill up below, as there are no fuel stations on the highlands. There are wide areas with no phone signal.