Istanbul is a great city to explore with friends, but most group plans end up looking the same. A ferry ride, a long dinner, maybe a night out in Karaköy or Kadıköy. All good, but after a few days many groups want something more active, preferably outdoors and away from the crowds.
That is where the north of the city comes in. Between Belgrade Forest and the Black Sea, Sarıyer has dirt trails, a lake and a sandy coast. This guide covers what a group of friends can do there, how to plan around different experience levels and how to book without speaking Turkish.
What makes a good group activity
Before you pick anything, a few questions help.
- Can everyone take part? Most groups have a mix of confident and nervous people. A good activity has a level for both.
- Is there time to talk? Half the point of a trip with friends is sitting together afterwards. Look for somewhere to eat on site.
- Is it all in one place? Moving a group across Istanbul traffic three times in a day is tiring. One address keeps the plan simple.
- What if it rains? Outdoor plans need a backup.
A farm day in northern Istanbul answers all four. ATV tours, horse rides and a restaurant share the same address, and both the forest and the coast are close.
ATV safari, the adrenaline part
For groups of friends, the ATV safari is usually the favourite. Muddy forest tracks, a line of quad bikes and plenty of stories by the end.
At Kerem Bey Horse Farm every ATV tour starts with a short driving briefing and a practice run. Helmets and protective gear are provided and a guide leads from the front the whole way. People who have never driven a quad bike can join without any trouble.
| Route | Duration | Price (per ATV) |
|---|---|---|
| Forest | 30 min | 2,000 TL |
| Forest | 45 min | 2,500 TL |
| Beach and Belgrade Forest | 60-90 min | 4,000 TL |
One passenger can ride on the back of each ATV for an extra 500 TL per ATV. That works well for friends who would rather sit back, or who want to take turns. Our ATV tour guide goes into the routes in more detail.
Horse riding for every level
A guided horse ride is the calmer, more scenic side of the day. A line of horses walking through the pines makes one of the best group photos you will take in Istanbul.
The usual challenge with a group is that experience varies. One friend grew up riding, another has never touched a horse. The farm has separate rides for each.
For beginners there is a guided forest ride (30 min, 1,500 TL), a lake ride (45 min, 2,000 TL) and a beach ride (45-60 min, 3,500 TL).
For experienced riders there are the same forest and lake rides, plus 90 to 120 minute trail rides deep into Belgrade Forest or along the coast (4,000 TL each).
If everyone is new, the whole group can go out together on a short forest or lake ride. If the group is mixed, the experienced riders can take a longer trail while the beginners do a short ride, and everyone meets at the restaurant afterwards. All routes are on the horse riding tours page. Friends who are nervous about their first ride can read our first-time riding guide before the trip.
Breakfast or a grill lunch
After the activity, the table is where the group spends the most time. The farm’s own restaurant serves a traditional Turkish village breakfast, the kind that arrives as many small plates, along with grills, tea and coffee. There are garden tables outside, so a bigger group has room to spread out.
You can order the day to suit your group.
- Early risers can eat first and ride afterwards. Keep breakfast light if you are heading out on an ATV.
- Late starters can do the tour first and finish with a long lunch.
Menu prices are on the online menu. Our guide to horse riding and breakfast explains how to combine the two.
Birthdays and celebrations
Many group trips have a reason behind them. A birthday, a hen or stag party, a graduation, or simply old friends meeting up in Istanbul.
For days like these the farm runs events with a personal quote, covering birthdays, group and family gatherings, corporate days and photo shoots. A professional photographer can be added, so nobody has to stay behind the phone to get the group shot. If you want to combine the celebration with an ATV tour or a ride, mention it when you first get in touch.
A sample day for a group
Here is a plan for a mixed group of six to ten friends.
- 09:30 Meet at the farm, ATV briefing and practice run
- 10:00 45 minute forest ATV tour
- 11:00 Village breakfast in the garden
- 13:00 Beginners take a short forest or lake ride, experienced riders go for a longer trail
- 15:00 Tea, last photos and the drive back to the city
The sunset beach ride is the most popular time of day. If part of the group wants to ride, finishing with a beach ride is worth considering.
Getting there from central Istanbul
The farm is in Uskumruköy, Sarıyer, on the northern edge of the European side. Public transport to this corner of the city is limited, so most groups come by car or taxi. From Taksim or Sultanahmet the route heads north towards the Northern Marmara Motorway (Kuzey Marmara Otoyolu), and the farm is 5-10 minutes from the Uskumruköy toll gates. Journey time depends heavily on traffic, so leave early at weekends.
For a group, two or three cars or a private minivan is usually easier than several separate taxis. Send us a message and we will share the map pin to give to your driver.
Tips for booking as a group
A few details in your first message make the day run much more smoothly.
- Give numbers per activity. How many on ATVs, how many riding, how many coming only for breakfast.
- Share experience levels. Say who has never ridden and who rides regularly. For ATVs, say how many will drive and how many will be passengers.
- Add height and weight. Horses are matched by height, weight and experience, so this helps us prepare.
- Remind everyone what to wear. Long trousers, closed flat shoes and clothes that can get dirty. Our guide on what to wear for horse riding is easy to forward to the group.
- Check the weather. In bad weather, tours are moved to another day for safety. Look at the forecast the evening before.
All ride and ATV prices are together on the prices page. Rides are priced per person and ATV tours per ATV. Events are quoted separately.
Booking
Kerem Bey Horse Farm is open every day except Thursday, 09:00-19:00. It is closed on Thursdays. You can book in English on WhatsApp at +90 546 414 00 89, or fill in the booking form, which turns your choices into a ready WhatsApp message. Weekends are busy, so write a few days ahead if you are coming as a group.