Sapanca is city located in Provice of Sakarya in Marmara region in Turkey. Sapanca has been developing as tourist destination in recent years thanks to its beautiful nature and close proximity to big cities of Istanbul and Izmit. It is located near Ankara highway, which also makes it easy accessible from the capital city. One of natural beauties that are center points of tourist visits to city and region is Sapanca Lake, one of few natural lakes in Turkey.
Sapanca Lake (in Turkish Sapanca Golu) is located among Izmit Gul and Adapazari Valley. Lake surface is 45 square kilometers, being 16 kilometers long and 5 kilometers wide. At deepest point it is 52 meters deep. Sapanca Lake was in prehistoric times connected with Marmara Sea, and these days receives fresh water from Sakarya river.
Sapanca Lake has been created through tectonic activity as it is situated on tectonic crack, and parallel to it is the Iznik Lake, another popular natural site. Sapanca Lake is from the south surrounded with mountains and there is hilly region on the north of it.
Sapanca city uses water from Sapanca Lake for industrial and home purposes and is currently very active in preparing eco programs for protection of lake waters from industrial polution.
Sapanca Lake region is popular among people from cities for daily and weekend trips thanks to its natural beauties and serenity. It is good to travel to Sapanca Lake in every part of the year, because nature look equally amazing during spring, autumn, summer or winter. Because of rising popularity, there are several accomodation options, as well as restaurants with beautiful view on lake where you can sit, relax and dine in garden during sunny and warm days. Sapanca Lake is great location to run from busy city life, in order to experience natural piece and quiteness. If you want to avoid usual crown and enjoy in silence, it is best to plan your trip to Sapanca Lake during less rush periods, during spring or autumn. Around Sapanca Lake you can enjoy scenery, walking on many prepared hiking routes, sit on picnic or camp spots in mountains on south side, or along canyons or valleys near lake. Masuyike region is particularly great for quiet relaxing and enjoying in natural beauties. If in the region, make sure to visit Manzara restaurant that is situated near the road from Masukiye to Kartepe. From the restaurant you will se both sapanca Lake and gulf of Izmir.
Near the Sapanca Lake, on the south mountain region is ski resort in Kartepe, which during summer offers great walking routes and during winter you can enjoy in skiing. You can reach ski resort in no time, as it is located 16 kilometers from Masukiye city.
If you enjoy in natural scenery and also have adventurous spirit, you can enjoy in Dere Tepe Duzzz ATV Riding & Nature Tour. You will enjoy in tour on quad bike with guide that speaks English as knows every bit of area around Sapanca. Dere Tepe Düzzz means non-stop drive offroad through nature, along pictoresque brooks, over hills and meadows. While on the tour, your travel will be recorded, tape capturing amazing natural you will visit, giving you opportunity to later recreate positive memories. These tours are organized per tourist interests in different length and on different terrain. Tour can last from three to 72 hours, offering custom created trips through nature. While on the tour, custom design of riding locations can also include riding to Iznik and Bursa area, to Melen and Duzce, to Abant and Kartalkaya at Bolu, to Camlihemsin and Kackar Mountains at Rize, to Erciyes Mountain at Kayseri, or Cappadocia at Nevsehir.
In order to keep everyone safe on tour, all riders will first go through short training ride on quads, after having tasteful breakfast in Manzara restaurant.
If you would like to ride for shorter period of time, it is not as problem, as well as it can be arranged to ride on well-known paths or less used paths where there are less people moving around. If you see something worth capturing on film, you can decided that tour stops for a little while and take pictures. During tours, there are regular stops to take a break, have a meal and enjoy amazing natural scenery.
If tour lasts longer, there is option to stay somewhere in untouched nature, look at stars and sleep outside.
Dere Tepe Duzzz tour can go bird watching, enabling you to observe lake storks or one of bird species that live around lake-there are more than 35 different bird species living in region.
Bird watching is just gaining popularity, and Sapanca region in general, not just around the lake, is perfect for walking and bird watching, thanks to unspoiled nature that still provide perfect home for named number of bird species, among which are: ducks, red-crested pochard , common pochard, common coot…
During summer, water in the lake is warm enough to swim, which makes a great element on riding tour.
Quad riding tour is really amazing way to enjoy in nature sightseeing around Lake Sapanca. It is especially enjoyable since you have opportunity to individually decide where you want to go and what you want to see, choosing between few hours road trip to 2 to 3 days of nature exploring, with sleepovers in mountain hotels or outside during summer. While on dere tepe Duzzz tour you can also choose to be accommodated in rental villa which is comfortable option for those who also want to enjoy in comfort of fully furnished house will all amenities to enable comfortable stay for groups of six to eleven people. Villa is constructed in traditional style, with use in construction of natural materials (wood), and has two floors. It is surrounded by large garden, designed in a way to perfectly settle in natural environment. You can sit on a large front terrace and enjoy in view of panoramic scenery. There is also a swimming pool for complete enjoyment.
While enjoying in Sapanca region, there are also other accommodation options you can choose to make your stay more pleasant. Accommodation is ranging between affordable and more expensive, so everyone can choose what suites him the best.
DIFFERENT ACCOMMODATION OPTIONS IN THE SAPANCA REGION
RICHMOND NUA WELLNESS SPA HOTEL is located near Sapanca Lake. This is more expensive accommodation option, but price is surely justified with great rooms and luxurious hotel amenities.
GURAL SAPANCA WELLNESS PARK
Güral Sapanca Wellness Park is great choice for those who are looking middle solution between price and quality. Hotel provides comfortable accommodation for individuals and families, and it is located on a great location in untouched nature, enabling you full enjoyment of peaceful weekend stay or one day of wellness joy. Hotel offers full range of accommodation and board, enabling guests to enjoy in live music during dining. Wellness offers full range of spa services as well as relaxing massages. It is indeed perfect combination for relaxing weekend package, filled with serene activities within amazing natural environment that truly enables person to “recharge batteries” after just two peaceful days.
Since tourism is developing rapidly in Sapanca region, there are also possibilities to rent private accommodation, ranging from sweet apartments for couples and families, to comfortable villas rental that can easily accommodate larger groups. This is an excellent opportunity for corporate building activities, providing excellent accommodation and great nature for group activities.
Lot of these villas have more than just basic amenities, but also outside barbeques, swimming pools, and sport fields. Lot of these villas have great location, meaning that they are outside of Sapanca city but still close enough to it, while also being located within beautiful, still untouched natural scenery. While staying in any of these villas, you will rest in utter silence, broken only with bird song and other sounds of live nature.
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