Sultans Trail in Turkey
Beautiful hiking trail inTurkey. The map below
shows the route of the Sultans Trail in Turkey.
The Sultans Trail in Turkey spans 340km from Edirne to Istanbul and is divided into 16 stages. It follows the path of an ancient Byzantine northern route through the foothills of the Istrancalar or Yildiz Mountains (Bulgarian: Strandzha), the mountain range along the Black Sea coast. Major towns along the way include Kirklareli, Pinarhisar, Vize, and Saray.
From Saray, the Trail heads north towards Ҫilingoz Tabiat National Park to avoid the urban expansion of approaching Istanbul. The landscape changes significantly as Istanbul’s new airport on the Black Sea coast and urban development start to dominate, especially in the final 66km from Lake Sazlidere onwards. The highest elevation in this section, 296m, is reached near Istanbul in the Strandzha mountains. The estimated total hiking time for this section is 105 hours.
TURKEY
Stages
In Turkey the trail has the following stages:
Section 6 Edirne – Istanbul
ST-601 Edirne – Ortakçi
ST-602 Ortakçi – Süloglu
ST-603 Süloglu – Kiklareli
ST-604 Kirklareli – Üsküpdere
ST-605 Üsküpdere – Pinarhisar
ST-606 Pinarhisar – Vize
ST-607 Vize – Saray
ST-608 Saray – Binkiliç
ST-609 Binkiliç – Gümüşpinar
ST-610 Gümüşpinar – Dağyenice
ST-611 Dağyenice – Boyalik
ST-612 Boyalik – Sazlibosna
ST-613 Sazlibosna – Pirinççi
ST-614 Pirinççi – Eyüp
ST-615 Eyüp – Istanbul
ST-616 Epilogue
General information
The trail sets out for the Strandzha mountains along the course of the ancient Ottoman water supply line for Edirne, through the Tracian part of Turkey, and continues along the old Byzantine and Ottoman road north (the current D020), passing small towns with ancient roots.
The landscape during the early stages is treeless arable land, gradually changing into forest-covered hills near Istanbul supplemented by various artificial lakes.
Starting point
The starting point of the Sultans Trail in Turkey is the Old Mosque (Eski Camii) in the ancient Ottoman capital of Edirne, today a lively city with splendid Ottoman architecture.
How to get there
Edirne has no airport but does have a bus connection to Istanbul Esenler Otogari (leaving every 2 hours, travel time appoximately 4 hours).
From Esenler Otogari into Istanbul use Metro M1 (leaving every 5 min, duration 22 min). See Metro Istanbul.
From Esenler Otogari to Istanbul Airport (IST), Havaist bus IST-3, departure every 30 minutes, duration approximately 75 min, depending on traffic. Check the Istanbul tram and bus company for timetables and prices.
The train from Edirne Şehir to Istanbul Halkali leaves once a day and takes 3h 45m.
Istanbul has 2 international airports, Istanbul airport (IST) on the European side and Sabiha Gökçen Airport (SAW ) at the Anatolian side of the city. The former Atatürk Airport does no longer service civil aviation, it is reserved for cargo and military operations.
Istanbul Airport is located 40 km north-west of the city at the Black Sea. It has Havaist shuttle bus connection to different locations in the city.
For the use of public transport in Istanbul, you need an Istanbulkart, available from the ticket machine at the bus terminal in the airport, located in at floor -2.
Sabiha Gökçen Airport is located 35km southeast of the city, on the Asian side of the Bosphorus. The airport is connected to Taksim square by a shuttle bus Havabus (every 30 min duration 1h 30m).
From Taksim square leaves metro line M2 into the centre (every 5 min, duration 7 min).
GPX/KML files
GPX/KML files are available from our webshop in the Digital Information Package. Also available in the Sultans Trail App from Google Playstore.
Tracks are free for our members, who also enjoy other benefits, like the Sultans Trail passport.
Formalities
European travellers no longer need a visa for Turkey.
The currency in Turkey is the Turkish Lira (TRY). Credit cards and bank cards are readily accepted, but cash is also needed.
The main language is Turkish. The script is Latin. English is sporadically understood.
Route Updates
In general scarcity of accommodation, poses a problem. Particularly at the first three stages, and in the Çatalca area finding accommodation requires ingenuity.
The route has bee reviewed in 2024. Problem area’s are:
- Stage ST-610 between Gümüşpinar – Dağyenice, due to mining activities in the area.
- The accessibility of Durus Park, near Boyalik, due to the construction the two lane D020 highway.
Connecting countries
Landscape
The Prolog runs down the sloops of the Wienerwald, bordering Vienna to the north, through the many wineries.
The main route passes through the fields using country roads and field tracks. The Leitha river is bordered by woods, providing sun shelter in the summer.
The landscape contains many wind-turbine.
When the Danube curves around two large hills, the Hundesheimer Berg and the Braunsberg, the trail runs close to the river. In springtime, the track can be flooded. When it does, a short detour is recommended.
From the Danube bent the trail follows the Danube on a towpath (Treppelweg) until Bratislava.
Nature
The Danubian wetlands (Donau Auen) between Vienna and Hainburg are an National Park.
The Leitha river is a Natura 200 site and makes good fishing. It is home to several bever families. In summer, the area is also rich in musquitos.
The Braunsberg and Hundesheimer Berg are rich of game.
In the area around Vienna, some good wineries are found.
The shores of shallow Neusiedlersee are cover by reeds, making it an ideal habitat for wildlife. The lake itself is a vital resting place for migrating birds.
Food
Lower Austria produces some outstanding wines. A typical drink is Most (grape juice) and Heurige (young wine).
Burgenland is known for its cereals, especially spelt, used in bread, cakes and even beer, and fish from the lake, like Zander, Eel, Pikes and Carp.
Typical food of Lower Austria is: a potato dumpling called Mohnnudels, the Wachau apricot dumpling and Mohnzelten, according to the Taste Atlas.
Culture
The wineries around Rauchenwarth take turns in offering Heuriger (or Buschenschank) where this young wine is served together with a limited selection of food in a very simple and sociable setting. Ask locals for the calendar.
Bad Deutsch-Altenburg is a popular Spa resort with iodine-sulphur springs.
Brief History
People have lived in this area since 8.000 BC. Around 400 BC, Celtic tribes settled here, and from 15 BC, the Romans dominated the region. German tribes took over in the mid-500s, and around 800, Charlemagne, king of the Franks, ruled.
In the middle ages, the Babenberg family possessed the lands and later the Habsburg family.
In 1529 the Ottoman arrived at the gates of Vienna. During the next 150 years, they would fight with the Habsburgs for control over the area. Eventually, they lost, and Austria entered the lush Baroque era, challenged only briefly by Napoleon in the early 19th century.
Monuments
In Kirklareli is the Hizirbey Complex (Mosque and Hamam) worth visiting. Pinarhisar has visible remains of Pınarhisar Kalesi a fortification of Byzantine origin. In Vize remains of a Roman Amphitheater are still visible. The lake near Istanbul ‘Alibey Baraji’ is crossed by two major aqueducts that are worthwhile seeing. The waterway enters Istanbul and is still visible at the Valens Aqueduct and feeds the Basilica Cistern at the heart of the city. Istanbul has many historical monuments from all ages, among which the Sultans Trail related Süleymaniye-mosque and the Imperial Topkapı Palace.
Here we will quote a recommendation.
