ST613 Sazlibosna - Pirinççi

The ST613 Sazlibosna – Pirinççi is a point-to-point trail stage in the Thrace region of Turkey, forming one of the final approaches of the 2,500 km Sultans Trail from Vienna to Istanbul. Crossing rolling farmland and forest northwest of Istanbul with only modest elevation gain of roughly 200–300 m, it is rated expert mainly for its remoteness, sparse waymarking and limited resupply.

About the ST613 Sazlibosna - Pirinççi

The ST613 Sazlibosna – Pirinççi stage belongs to the Sultans Trail, a 2,500-kilometre cultural walking route that runs from Vienna in Austria to Istanbul in Turkey. The trail was developed by volunteers of a Netherlands-based NGO and is described by its founders as "a path of peace and a meeting place for people of all faiths and cultures." It is registered as part of the International Walking Network (IWN), placing it among the world's most significant long-distance hiking routes, and it partially overlaps the E8 European long-distance path.

The wider route follows the historical campaign of Sultan Süleyman Kanuni — Suleiman the Magnificent — who departed Istanbul on 10 May 1529 and reached the gates of Vienna on 23 September, a march of 141 days. The Sultans Trail walks that journey in reverse, beginning at St. Stephen's Cathedral in Vienna and ending at the Süleymaniye Mosque in Istanbul, where the mausoleums of Suleiman and his wife Hürrem Sultan still stand. Along its length the path threads through nine countries: Austria, Slovakia, Hungary, Croatia, Serbia, Bulgaria, Greece and finally Turkey.

The ST613 stage sits deep in the Turkish section, in the rural hinterland of Istanbul's Arnavutköy district. It links the village of Sazlibosna, set beside the Sazlıdere reservoir that supplies water to the metropolis, with the small farming settlement of Pirinççi closer to the city's expanding northwestern fringe. This is no alpine epic — the terrain is gentle Thracian steppe and patchy oak woodland — yet the expert rating is earned. Waymarking on the Turkish stages is intermittent, villages can be many kilometres apart, summer heat is punishing, and walkers must navigate a landscape increasingly fragmented by new motorways, the Istanbul Canal corridor and airport infrastructure. Solid map skills and self-sufficiency are essential here.

For hikers, the appeal is authenticity. You walk through working villages where tea houses outnumber tourists, past Ottoman-era fountains and grazing flocks, with the minarets of greater Istanbul drawing slowly closer. It is a fitting penultimate chapter before the trail's grand finale at the Süleymaniye.

Route Overview & Stages

The ST613 is one of a series of short Turkish approach stages that carry walkers from the Bulgarian–Greek border region toward central Istanbul. Distances on the Sultans Trail's Turkish leg are typically 12–20 km per day, chosen to match village spacing rather than dramatic terrain. The table below places ST613 in context with its neighbouring stages; figures are approximate and based on the trail's published stage structure.

Most walkers tackle ST613 as a single half-day effort, around 4–5 hours of walking at a steady pace. Because the route follows a mix of dirt farm tracks, quiet lanes and short woodland paths, navigation rather than ascent governs the day. Download the official GPX before setting out — physical signage is unreliable on this stretch.

Highlights & Points of Interest

• Sazlıdere Reservoir — the broad artificial lake beside Sazlibosna, part of Istanbul's water-supply system, with reflective open water and birdlife in spring.
• Sazlibosna village square — a classic Thracian köy with an Ottoman-style fountain (çeşme), mosque and tea houses where walkers refill bottles and rest in the shade.
• Oak and scrub woodland — pockets of native Thracian forest between the villages offer the stage's only reliable shade and seasonal wildflowers.
• Village çeşme fountains — historic stone water fountains punctuate the route, the traditional lifeline for shepherds and now for hikers in summer heat.
• Pirinççi farming settlement — the stage's quiet endpoint, a small agricultural village with grazing flocks and views back across the steppe.
• Thracian steppe panoramas — long, gently rolling horizons of wheat and sunflower fields, especially striking under late-afternoon light.
• Distant Istanbul skyline — on clear days the minarets and towers of the expanding metropolis appear on the southeastern horizon, signalling the journey's end is near.
• Süleymaniye Mosque (trail terminus) — though several stages ahead, this 16th-century masterpiece by architect Mimar Sinan, holding the tombs of Suleiman and Hürrem Sultan, is the symbolic goal of every step on ST613.

Best Time to Hike the ST613 Sazlibosna - Pirinççi

Thrace has a transitional Mediterranean–continental climate: hot, dry summers and cool, damp winters. The shoulder seasons are by far the most comfortable for walking. The single best month to hike ST613 is May, when daytime temperatures sit in a pleasant 18–24 °C range, the steppe is green and flowering, and rainfall has eased without summer's oppressive heat arriving.

Spring (April–early June): The prime window. Wildflowers carpet the fields, the reservoir is full, and trails are firm. April can still bring rain showers, so pack a shell. As of 2026, regional spring temperatures have trended slightly warmer than the long-term average, making early May an even safer bet for dry, moderate conditions.

Summer (July–August): Avoid if possible. Inland Thrace regularly exceeds 32–35 °C, and the stage's limited shade makes midday walking genuinely hazardous. If you must walk in summer, start at dawn and finish before 11:00, and carry at least 3 litres of water.

Autumn (mid-September–October): The second-best season. Heat fades, the air clears, and harvested fields open up long views toward Istanbul. October days of 15–22 °C are ideal, though daylight shortens.

Winter (December–February): Walkable but bleak. Temperatures hover around 3–9 °C with frequent rain and occasional snow flurries; muddy farm tracks make the going slow. Unlike the Bulgarian mountain sections, the Turkish stages remain low and open year-round, so winter passage is feasible for hardy, well-equipped hikers.

Practical Information

Accommodation

This rural corridor has very little formal lodging, which is part of why it earns an expert rating. There are no mountain huts; instead, the Sultans Trail organisation maintains a network of village contacts and host families along the Turkish leg. Options include:

• Village guest rooms / homestays — arranged in advance through the trail's hospitality network, typically €10–€20 per night, often including a simple breakfast.
• Wild / informal camping — tolerated in discreet spots away from villages and reservoir protection zones; always ask permission at the nearest house. Free, but bring all your own water.
• Hotels in Hadımköy / Arnavutköy — the nearest commercial accommodation lies a short transfer away, with budget hotels from roughly €30–€50 per night.

Because beds are scarce, plan each night before you set off and carry a tent and stove as backup. Resupply points are limited to small village shops (bakkal), so stock food in larger towns beforehand.

Getting There & Back

Istanbul is the gateway. Istanbul Airport (IST), the city's main international hub, lies only about 15–25 km north of the route — roughly 30–45 minutes by car or shuttle, making this one of the most accessible long-distance trail sections in Europe. Sabiha Gökçen Airport (SAW) on the Asian side is around 1.5–2 hours away.

For public transport, the nearest rail node is Hadımköy station on the suburban line, with onward services toward Halkalı, which connects to the Marmaray and metro network into central Istanbul in about 45–60 minutes. From Sazlibosna and Pirinççi, local İETT buses and dolmuş minibuses run to Arnavutköy and Hadımköy, where you can pick up the train. Allow extra time — rural services are infrequent, so check timetables the day before.

Permits & Fees

No permit is required to walk the ST613 stage or the Turkish section of the Sultans Trail, and there is no entry fee. Walkers should, however, respect the reservoir protection zones around Sazlıdere — swimming and camping directly on the watershed are restricted. Standard Turkish visa or e-visa rules apply for entering the country; check your nationality's requirements before travel. Carry your passport, as the wider region near airport and canal construction sites can see occasional security checks.

Gear & Packing List

ST613 is a low-altitude but exposed and self-reliant stage, so your kit should prioritise sun protection, water capacity and navigation. Heat and limited resupply, not cold or steep climbs, are the main hazards. A lightweight pack keeps you mobile across the long, shadeless farm tracks — for shorter Turkish stages a 35–55 litre pack is ample, while thru-hikers carrying camping gear will want more volume.

• Pack: the Abisko Hike 35 suits a fast, light day or two on this stage, while a roomier Aether 65 carries a tent, stove and several days of food for full thru-hike sections. Ultralight walkers may prefer the Arc Blast 55L for its breathable frame in the heat.
• Water: minimum 3 litres capacity; village çeşme fountains are reliable but spaced far apart in summer.
• Navigation: the official GPX track on a GPS app plus an offline map — waymarking is sparse.
• Sun protection: wide-brim hat, sunglasses, high-SPF sunscreen and a sun hoody for the exposed steppe.
• Footwear: trail runners or light hiking shoes; the terrain is firm tracks and lanes, not technical ground.
• Shelter (thru-hikers): a lightweight tent for nights between villages.

For dialling in your overall load, our guide to the best ultralight backpacks of 2026 compares seven tested packs that work well on warm, low-mileage stages like this one. And because hot-weather walking quietly burns through your reserves, it is worth reading how many calories you need hiking a full day before you plan resupply for the Turkish leg.

Similar Trails You Might Like

If the cultural depth and warm-climate walking of the Sultans Trail appeal to you, Turkey offers an even more celebrated coastal counterpart, and Europe's mountain long-distance routes provide a cooler contrast. The standout pairing for ST613 is Turkey's first and most famous waymarked long trail.

• Likya Yolu — the 540 km Lycian Way along Turkey's turquoise southwestern coast, blending ancient ruins, Mediterranean villages and dramatic sea cliffs; a natural next step for hikers who enjoy Turkey's history-rich trails.

For a complete change of scenery once you have ticked off Thrace, the alpine drama of the Balkans is a strong contrast — read our walkthrough of how to hike the Theth to Valbona Trail in Albania for a high-mountain route that complements the gentle steppe of the Sultans Trail.

Frequently Asked Questions

When is the best time to hike the ST613 Sazlibosna – Pirinççi stage?
May is the single best month, with comfortable 18–24 °C temperatures, green flowering steppe and dry, firm tracks. April to early June and mid-September to October are both excellent shoulder seasons. Avoid July and August, when inland Thrace exceeds 32 °C and the stage's lack of shade makes midday walking genuinely dangerous.

How difficult is the ST613 stage?
It is rated expert, though not because of steep terrain — elevation gain is only around 250 m. The challenge is self-reliance: waymarking is sparse, villages and water are far apart, summer heat is severe, and new motorway and airport construction can fragment the route. Confident navigation, GPX tracking and good heat management are essential for a safe crossing.

How long is the stage and how far will I walk per day?
ST613 is roughly 15 km, a comfortable half-day of about 4–5 hours at a steady pace. Across the wider Turkish leg of the Sultans Trail, daily stages typically run 12–20 km, sized to match the spacing of villages rather than dramatic terrain, so most walkers complete each Turkish day in well under six hours.

Where can I stay along this section?
Formal lodging is scarce. The Sultans Trail organisation arranges village homestays and guest rooms for roughly €10–€20 per night, often with breakfast. Budget hotels in nearby Hadımköy or Arnavutköy run about €30–€50. Discreet wild camping is tolerated away from villages and the reservoir zone, so carry a tent as backup and book beds before you set off.

Do I need a permit or pay any fees?
No permit or fee is needed to walk ST613 or any of the Turkish section of the Sultans Trail. Standard Turkish visa or e-visa rules apply for entering the country, so check your nationality's requirements in advance. Respect the protected watershed around the Sazlıdere reservoir, where swimming and camping on the catchment are restricted.

For full route details, the latest GPX downloads and village hospitality contacts, consult the official Sultans Trail website. For background on the surrounding national parks and protected areas of Thrace, the Turkish authorities publish information through the Ministry of Agriculture and Forestry.