It will be a bit of a headland entrance, but Belgrad Forest is not equal to a picnic area, we see that there is such a perception and we are really sorry.. Ok, we also like to have a picnic and have a barbecue, but in Belgrad Forest there is a beautiful walking track, lakes and areas where you can do different activities such as cycling.. That’s why it’s unfair to see the Belgrad Forest only as a place to have a picnic.
We need to appreciate this region, which is one of the last green places left in Istanbul, and that’s why, in our article, we will tell you what there is in the Belgrad Forest other than a picnic. we worked. By the way, we wrote about picnic areas in a different article in detail, you can find it here.
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What to Do in Belgrad Forest?
Belgrade Forest Hiking and Jogging Track
The Belgrad Forest hiking track, which surrounds the lake formed by the Great Bent, is a very long 6-kilometer track.. This track, which has a tartan track, is well organized.. In addition, it is very convenient to have a car park right at the beginning, you can safely leave your vehicle and go for a walk.
It is not very nice to have picnic areas around the track, so people do not want to breathe the barbecue smoke while running.. However, despite everything, it is much better than running by breathing exhaust fumes.
Bike Tour
Unfortunately, there is no special road for bicycles in the Belgrad forest, some sources may say that there is, but we trust. Rental bikes happen from time to time, but we haven’t seen them lately.. Belgrade forest is not a place to visit by bike anyway.. So it was hard to walk, if you say let’s rent a bike and go for a walk, you will get much more tired on the ramps.
If you are cycling for sports, not for sightseeing, then we can say that it is a suitable place.. Because if you come with your own bike, it offers almost unlimited options for Belgrade forest bike tour. There are many beautiful routes in the forest with mountain bikes.. For example, you can start from the Kurt Aqueduct Gate and go up to the North Marmara highway, from here you can return to the Bahçeköy gate and take a full tour.. On the route of approximately 20 kilometers; There is a fountain, a pond and a view of the Black Sea, albeit short and from afar.
Of course, there are very suitable routes not only for mountain biking but also for road biking.. The roads of nature parks are already asphalt, but you don’t have to go inside.. Bahçeköy – Kemerburgaz road and Kemerburgaz – Çiftalan road are also very enjoyable.
Belgrade Forest ATV Tour
If you ask us Belgrade Forest’ ATV tour in is one of the most enjoyable activities to do here.. There are not many companies that make ATV tours, but there are 2 big companies we know, one in Bahçeköy and the other in Kemerburgaz, and they have increased the number of ATVs in recent years. route, duration, condition of ATVs and number of people are very important. Some companies that make ATV tours in Belgrad Forest do not even enter the dirt road, let alone get into the mud, while some companies determine the entire route to go through the forest without showing asphalt.. Therefore, do not go on a tour without knowing the route clearly.
Tour times vary according to the company and are 1 or 2 hours.. What you need to pay attention to here is not how many hours the tour will take, but how long the ride will take.. For example, they say 2 hours tour; When you say 15 minutes of training, 15 minutes of preparation and stuff, you drive an ATV for 1 hour.
Generally, tours set out with at least 4 ATVs, so if the number is low, the tour may not be done.. Of course, when it is too much, it can be tasteless, some companies specifically state that they can go out with a maximum of 10 ATVs.. However, some companies come out with as many people as they come.. In a convoy, you go slowly in a great confusion and of course the ATV tour does not reach its purpose.
Even if everything is good, if the ATV is bad, you will definitely not understand anything from that tour, so ATVs must be beautiful.. In addition, some companies limit the speed very much, that is, they all limit it anyway, but some of them exaggerate and you cannot enjoy it.. You need to pay attention to that too.
When you turn from Kemerburgaz to Çiftalan road, there is Ozzy Atv Safari on the right.. They do ATV tours on 2 different routes, Belgrad Forest and Black Sea Track.. Belgrad Forest routes do not have asphalt, there are mud and water crossings. After 15 minutes of training, they start a route that includes 1 hour of driving and a maximum of 10 vehicles.. The Black Sea tour, on the other hand, is a route that starts from Kemerburgaz and extends to the Black Sea coast and takes about 4 hours.
There is also Belgrade Outdoor on the Bahçeköy side.. Frankly, we did not try this place, we have no chance to say it is good or bad.. However, as far as we can see from the outside, it is a big place.
Besides the ones we have mentioned, there are different small companies among the companies that make ATV tours of Belgrad Forest.. As long as you pay attention to the features mentioned above, you will not have any problems.. If you create your own group with 4 atvs, you will also eliminate the risk of not having a tour due to insufficient numbers.
Horse Safari
Horse in Belgrad Forest You have 2 options for safari; The first is the companies that organize horse safari tours as in the ATV tour, and the second is the grooms behind Falih Rıfkı Atay Nature Park.. The second option is a very short excursion rather than safari, but it is a good option for those who want to try.
You do not need to have previous riding training for either option.. Even if you are trying it for the first time, you can ride it.
Jeep Safari
It used to be a lot, but when atv safari started to become popular, companies started to move there.. We don’t know if there is a company that organizes jeep safari in Belgrade forest, but if you have a suitable vehicle, there are many beautiful trails.
Belgrade Forest’ When the subject of Camping in the Mountains is brought up, the most frequently asked question is: Is it possible to camp in the Belgrad forest? is happening. Let’s answer; not done. The reason we give such clear answers is not because we are lazy, don’t get me wrong.. Now first of all, there is no campsite in the Belgrade forest, even camping is prohibited. But it’s not that strict, after a certain time the security goes. It is already a big forest and you can go deep into the forest and camp, there is no obstacle in front of it.. However, since it is close to the city center, all kinds of people come here and it can disturb the peace.. While cleaning work was being done in Ayvad Dam, a stolen car was found at the bottom of the water, now you can imagine what could happen here.. Besides, aren’t we making camp to avoid people? By the way, if you have decided to camp in the Belgrad forest with the thought that there are no wild animals, think again.. Because there are many animals here, from wild boar to snake.. Of course, they do not go out to the picnic areas very much, but if you are going to go to the wild animals because you have to go deep into the forest to camp.
Places to Visit in Belgrad Forest
Belgrade Forest covers a very large area, but no matter how much you travel, the things you will see do not change much; forest, embankments and ponds. There is a triangular house, it doesn’t have much feature other than being a backdrop for the photos.
Ayvat Bendi and Ayvat Pond have a pleasant and beautiful view to sit next to.. The most beautiful lake view is definitely at Büyükbent, which is between Irmak Nature Park and Neşetsuyu.
Bahçeköy. Deer Breeding Station looks like a place to visit, but there is no entrance inside. We saw a deer by chance once while passing by, but the probability of you coming across it is very low.
Breakfast in Belgrad Forest
If you are looking for a restaurant for breakfast, Belgrad forest would not be the right choice.. There is a cafe called Yeni Derya but it is not a place we can recommend for breakfast. The best thing here is to bring your thermos and food and have a simple breakfast.
When to Go to Belgrad Forest?
The Belgrad Forest, where you can go for a walk, 12 months of the year, is different in every season. a beautiful. As you can only guess, it is flooded with a serious picnicker in the summer months.. This brings the smell of traffic and barbecue.. Especially when the weather gets warmer, the people of Istanbul, who have been longing for a barbecue for months, flock to the Belgrad Forest.. Also, it gets very crowded on sunny autumn days.. You know, when the weather goes cold for 2-3 weeks and then it gets very sunny on a weekend, there are those who say let’s have one last barbecue on those days and there is an incredible intensity.
Actually, it is forbidden to barbecue separately and around the jogging track, but that’s respectful! Doesn’t mean people won’t cook wings under the no barbecuing sign. Frankly, security doesn’t care too much.
As a result, You go to Belgrad Forest when there are no barbecues. If you are going to go during the busy times of barbecue, it is better to go on weekdays.. You can come until 9-10 on Saturdays, but on Sundays, around 9 am, the barbecues start to light up.
How to Go to Belgrad Forest?
Spreading over a fairly large area. A part of Belgrad Forest is regulated by the Forestry Management Directorate.. Activities such as ATV tours are outside of this area, but let’s explain how to get to the place where the jogging track is, since it is the middle point.. If you go through the Bahçeköy gate, the road will take you to the Neşetsuyu Nature Park, and you will see the jogging track at the end of the road.. If you go through the Wolf Arch gate, be careful not to enter the Ayvat Dam.. After entering the main gate, you will proceed on the asphalt road to where the cafe is and turn right from here.. This road will take you as far as the jogging track.
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