Sapanca Lake, Masukiye & Kartepe Day Tour from Istanbul
Sapanca Lake, Masukiye & Kartepe Day Tour from Istanbul is a shared small-group day tour (full day). The price is available on request. Included: Pick-up and drop-off at central Istanbul hotels, Air-conditioned vehicle and English-speaking guide.
Lakes, Forests and Mountain Air – a Green Day Trip from Istanbul
This day trip from Istanbul swaps traffic and crowds for water, forest and mountain views. In one daily excursion you visit Lake Sapanca, eat lunch by a stream in Maşukiye and head up Kartepe, a mountain best known to locals as Istanbul's nearest ski area. It is a relaxed day tour with an English-speaking guide, lunch and hotel transfers.
Highlights
- Lake Sapanca – a calm freshwater lake framed by wooded hills
- Maşukiye – a forest village of streams, a waterfall and riverside restaurants
- Kartepe – mountain views over the lake and the Gulf of İzmit
- Optional activities – cable car ride or ATV safari on Kartepe
Lake Sapanca lies in Sakarya province, in a long valley between the Samanlı Mountains and the plains around Adapazarı. Its shores are lined with tea gardens, hotels and walking paths, and the lake is an important source of drinking water for the region.
Maşukiye belongs to the Kartepe district of Kocaeli. The village sits in a narrow, forested valley where cold streams run down from the mountain. Restaurants have built their terraces right over the water, and trout and grilled dishes are local favourites.
Kartepe rises above Maşukiye. In winter it is a ski resort; in the warmer months it is popular for forest walks, picnics and off-road rides, with wide views across the lake and towards the Sea of Marmara. For a shorter trip without the mountain, see our Sapanca Lake and Maşukiye tour.
Good to know
- It is a long day of about 12 hours, with roughly two hours' drive each way.
- Bring a light jacket: Kartepe is much cooler than Istanbul, even in summer.
- Wear comfortable shoes for the walks by the lake and the waterfall.
- Spring and autumn bring the best colours; in winter the mountain is covered in snow.
Quick facts
| Tour type | Shared small group · day tour |
|---|---|
| Duration | Full Day |
| Price | On request |
| Departures | Every day |
| Guide | English-speaking licensed guide |
| Stops | 4 |
| Entrance fees | Not included (paid on site) |
| Booking | Instant online confirmation · no prepayment — pay your guide on the tour day · free hotel/cruise-port pickup · TÜRSAB-licensed (A-5751) |
| Last updated | November 2026 |
Tour Programme
Your full day programme — click to see every stop.
Tour Programme ▾
Lake Sapanca / Maşukiye / Kartepe
Early-morning pick-up from central Istanbul hotels around 08:00. We leave the city on the motorway east towards the Marmara region; the drive to Sapanca takes about two hours, with a short rest stop on the way.
First stop is Lake Sapanca, a freshwater lake between wooded hills. You have time to walk along the shore promenade, take photos of the water and the mountains, and enjoy a tea by the lake.
We then drive into the green valley of Maşukiye, at the foot of Kartepe. Lunch is served here in a riverside restaurant, where tables stand next to the rushing mountain stream. After lunch there is free time to walk to the small waterfall and the streams of the village.
In the afternoon we continue up to Kartepe. On clear days you can ride the cable car or try an optional ATV safari in the forest (both at extra cost), and enjoy the view down to Lake Sapanca and the Gulf of İzmit. In the late afternoon we drive back to Istanbul, arriving in the evening.
What's Included
✓ Included
- Pick-up and drop-off at central Istanbul hotels
- Air-conditioned vehicle
- English-speaking guide
- Lunch in Maşukiye
✕ Not Included
- Cable car ticket and ATV safari on Kartepe (optional)
- Drinks
- Personal expenses
- Tips (optional)
Your Route Across Turkey
Istanbul → Sapanca Lake → Masukiye → Kartepe
Our Tour Vehicles
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