Lake Sapanca canoe and picnic

Lake Sapanca is flat, sheltered and ringed by forest, and it is an easy day trip from Istanbul. We set up a base on a private lakeside meadow with a small jetty, shade tents and a picnic area.

Instructors start with a 15-minute lesson on the shore, then crews of two or three paddle stable Canadian canoes along the shoreline. Once everyone has the hang of steering, we run a relay race around buoys where crews swap paddlers at the jetty. Life jackets are worn at all times and a safety boat stays on the water.

The picnic is a long table under the trees with village breakfast-style dishes, grilled meatballs and seasonal fruit, plus hammocks, backgammon and badminton for the afternoon. It is a gentle option for mixed-ability groups.