ISTANBUL
Sapanca Lake & Maşukiye Day Trip from Istanbul
From $29 per person
- Duration: 10-12 hours
- Pick-up: Hotel pick-up in Istanbul
- Meals: Lunch included (shared tour)
- Entrances: Entrance fees included
- Group: Small group + guide, or private car
- Cancellation: Free cancellation up to 24 hours
Tour Overview
Sapanca Lake & Maşukiye Day Trip from Istanbul: Waterfalls, Kartepe & Ormanya
This Sapanca Lake and Maşukiye day trip from Istanbul is a 10–12 hour nature escape with hotel pick-up in the morning. You start with a walk along the promenade of Sapanca Lake before lunch in Maşukiye.
Lunch is served beside the cascading Maşukiye waterfalls. The afternoon continues to the Kartepe viewpoint with its glass observation terrace and on to Ormanya, one of Türkiye's largest wildlife parks, where the Hobbit houses make a photogenic stop.
It suits families and groups of friends looking for fresh air close to the city. Choose Shared (small group) or Private (a vehicle with driver, no guide; price on request). The Shared tour includes transport from your Istanbul hotel, a professional guide, lunch and entry to Kartepe and Ormanya (the Sapanca Lake shore is free). Read our Sapanca guide, see Istanbul tour packages or compare the Bursa day trip.
Highlights
- Lakeside walk on Sapanca Lake
- Lunch beside Maşukiye waterfalls
- Kartepe glass observation terrace
- Ormanya Wildlife Park and Hobbit houses
- Optional ATV, zipline and swings
- Hotel pick-up from Istanbul
Quick facts
- Runs all year; Kartepe views depend on the weather.
- Optional extras, paid on-site: Kartepe cable car, ATV rides, ziplining and swings.
Day-by-Day Itinerary
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08:00Hotel Pick-up in Istanbul
Your day begins in the morning with a pick-up from your Istanbul hotel in an air-conditioned vehicle. On the Shared tour your professional guide travels with you and introduces the program on the drive toward Sapanca Lake; the Private option is a vehicle with a driver, without a guide. The exact pick-up time is confirmed with your booking, and the same vehicle brings you back to your hotel in the evening.
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10:45Promenade Walk along Sapanca Lake
Sapanca Lake is one of Türkiye’s most beautiful freshwater lakes, framed by dense forests and quiet shorelines. You walk the scenic lakeside promenade, take in the crisp breeze and the views over the water, or sit at a waterfront café. The lake shore is a free public place, so this stop costs nothing extra.
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12:30Lunch beside the Maşukiye Waterfalls
Maşukiye village is known for its rushing streams, thick tree canopy and trout farms. Lunch is a traditional meal at a waterfront restaurant beside the cascading waterfalls, prepared fresh with local specialties. After the meal you have time to stroll along the streams or look at the adventure activities offered nearby.
Optional: ATV safari tracks, ziplining over the valley and swings (paid on-site) -
14:30Kartepe Viewpoint
In the afternoon the road climbs toward Kartepe, a sub-alpine mountain area with wide views over the region. Weather permitting, you step onto the modern glass observation terrace for the panorama. Views depend on the weather, so clouds or fog can limit what you see on the day.
Optional: Kartepe cable car ride (paid on-site) -
16:00Ormanya Wildlife Park & Hobbit Houses
The last stop is Ormanya, one of Türkiye’s largest wildlife parks, a wooded conservation area. You stroll along the botanical pathways and through the fairytale-style Hobbit village zone, a favorite photo spot for families and nature lovers. Entry to the park is included in the price of the Shared tour.
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17:30Return Drive to Istanbul
In the late afternoon you board the vehicle for the drive back to Istanbul. You are dropped off at your hotel in the evening, with the day running about 11 hours from the morning pick-up, within the 10–12 hour length of the tour. The exact drop-off time depends on the traffic on the way back. The round-trip transfer is included in the price, and the program ends here.
Places Along the Route
Sapanca Lake
A freshwater lake framed by forested hills, long a weekend escape for Istanbul residents. The lakeside promenade is a flat, easy walk with water views, cafés and quiet corners to sit.
Maşukiye Waterfalls
Maşukiye is a green valley village where streams tumble past waterfront restaurants and trout farms under a thick tree canopy. It is a cool, shaded stop for a relaxed meal beside the water.
Kartepe
A forested mountain area known for its winter-sports slopes. On clear days the viewpoint and glass terrace look across the Gulf of İzmit and toward Sapanca Lake, though clouds can hide the view.
Ormanya Wildlife Park
A wooded nature park in the hills with walking paths, animal areas and a fairy-tale Hobbit village of small round-doored houses. It is popular with families and anyone who likes photographing forest scenery.
Why Choose This Sapanca Lake and Maşukiye Day Trip?
This Sapanca Lake and Maşukiye day trip links a lakeside walk, lunch beside the waterfalls, Kartepe and Ormanya in one 10–12 hour day, with entry to Kartepe and Ormanya already included.
- Four stops in one day — The Sapanca Lake promenade, lunch in Maşukiye, the Kartepe viewpoint and Ormanya Wildlife Park are covered by one round-trip transfer from your Istanbul hotel.
- Waterfall lunch — A traditional lunch is served at a waterfront restaurant beside the cascading Maşukiye waterfalls, with time afterwards to stroll along the streams.
- Cable car and activities are optional — The Kartepe cable car, ATV rides, ziplining and swings are optional and paid on-site. Kartepe views depend on the weather.
- Guide or private driver — The Shared tour has a professional guide; the Private option is a vehicle with driver and no guide, price on request. Children 0–2 are free on the Shared tour and ages 3–7 get 30% off.
- Licensed local agency — TÜRSAB A-group licence #18154, Istanbul-based, rated 5.0 on Google (15 reviews), free cancellation up to 24 hours before the start date.
Tour Price & Booking
What’s Included
What’s Not Included
Optional Upgrades
Add these to your request — we confirm availability and the final total before you pay.
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Good to Know
Optional activities
ATV rides, ziplining, swings and the Kartepe cable car are optional and paid on-site. You can skip them without changing the program.
Weather at Kartepe
Kartepe is cooler than Istanbul and the views depend on the weather. Bring a light jacket and comfortable walking shoes.
Pick-up Times
Pick-up from 08:00; the exact time is confirmed the day before.
Cancellation Policy
- For a full refund, cancel up to 24 hours before the start date.
- If you cancel less than 24 hours before, the amount paid is non-refundable.
- Changes made less than 24 hours before the start date cannot be accepted.
- If the tour is cancelled due to poor weather, you'll be offered a different date or a full refund.
Payment
Reserve now, pay later (no credit card required). Pay after we confirm, via secure link or bank transfer.
What guests say about TourQuaz
"Super und zuverlässige Organisation unseres Fimenausflugs. Zuverlässige Abholungen zu vereinbarten Zeiten und hilfreiche Tips beim Programm vor Ort.
Vielen Dank an das ganze Team. Jeder Zeit wieder!"
"Everything was very good specially the staff there
Special thanks to Mr. Emre for amazing efforts and support during all visit in istany"
"معاملة راقية تجربة تستحق الإشادة شكرا على حسن التعامل"
Frequently Asked Questions
The day lasts about 10–12 hours. Pick-up from your Istanbul hotel is in the morning (around 08:00, confirmed with your booking) and the same vehicle brings you back in the evening, depending on traffic.
The shared tour includes round-trip air-conditioned vehicle transfer from your Istanbul hotel, a professional English-speaking guide, a traditional lunch at a waterfront restaurant in Maşukiye, and entry to Kartepe and Ormanya Wildlife Park. The Sapanca Lake shore is free.
The shared tour is a small group with a guide, lunch and entries. The private option is a vehicle with driver and no guide, with the price on request; ask us what your quote covers.
The shared tour costs $29 per person. The private option is priced on request. Shared tour: Children 0–2 free, ages 3–7 receive 30% off.
The Kartepe cable car, ATV rides, ziplining and swings are optional and paid on-site. They are not part of the price.
The views from the glass terrace depend on the weather, so clouds or fog can limit what you see. Kartepe is cooler than Istanbul, so bring a light jacket.
Lunch is included on the shared tour: a traditional meal at a waterfront restaurant beside the Maşukiye waterfalls. Vegetarian guests should tell us when booking.
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