Sapanca Tour

You leave Istanbul from the Asian side; an hour and a half on the motorway, two in traffic. If you are staying around Kadıköy or Ataşehir the drive is shorter still.

The first stop is the lakeside. Walking is optional — you can follow the shore or sit in a tea garden and look at the view; either fits the point of the day.

Towards noon, Maşukiye. The trout restaurants along the stream are the area itself; in most of them the tables are set over the water, and the lunch break can stretch here.

The afternoon brings the Kartepe viewpoint and a walk in the forest. The climb up to Kartepe is winding but short; from the top the whole lake is in view.

On the way back there are local produce stalls — honey, jam, nuts. The day runs nine hours, three of them on the road.

It suits: families with small children, anyone travelling with an elderly relative, and those who want a day away from Istanbul's crowds. Because the walking is light and optional, nobody struggles. It is usually the most requested day among Gulf guests looking for greenery.

There are things not to expect: there is no historic building, museum or bazaar here. Anyone looking for a list of sights may find Sapanca flat — that was never the point of the programme.

Season: April to October is the easiest stretch. In winter the lakeside is lovely but cold, and some places are closed.

On rainy days the programme shifts from walking towards restaurants and viewpoints; because the car is yours, that adjustment can be made during the day.