“Do you run tours in winter too?” — the question we get most between November and March. We do, and for some people it is the best season of the year. But it helps to arrive knowing it is a different experience from summer.
The trail does not close, it changes character
Same route, same five legs. The only thing that changes is the ground:
- The forest track under snow is quieter and slower. The pace drops, the view opens up.
- The stream crossing is ice cold in winter. Short, and hard to forget.
- The mud section is at its deepest. Snowmelt plus rain turns it into proper mud.
- The viewpoint stop is unarguably at its best. On a clear winter day the lake and the mountains opposite are far sharper than in summer.
Which machine?
In winter the large majority of families and mixed groups choose the UTV. The roof cuts most of the wind and mud spray, and because the group sits together, staying warm is easier.
For anyone who wants to ride alone and does not mind the cold, the ATV is still the most enjoyable option. It just asks more of your clothing.
What to wear
Unlike summer, layering is the whole game:
- A waterproof outer jacket
- A thin windproof mid-layer
- Spare socks — nobody who packs these regrets it
- Gloves, thin enough to still feel the bars
- A buff or scarf for your neck
Helmet and safety gear are included in every season.
The best season for photographs
Snow-covered forest with Sapanca Lake behind it is a completely different frame from the summer one. When we cut the engines at the viewpoint, there is genuinely no sound left — something a summer tour never gives you.
What if the weather turns?
Rain rarely cancels a tour; it just changes the ground. If conditions are genuinely unsafe, we call you and move your slot. We make that call in the morning, so all we need is a number we can reach you on.
If you are planning a winter tour, call ahead — in the colder months the schedule is shaped by daylight.