Circumcision Lake Orienteering Experience

First Step to Orienteering Around Lake Sünnet

Lake Sünnet, located near Kaynaşlı in Düzce, is a small and tranquil body of water nestled in the heart of the forest. The dense, mixed forest surrounding the lake offers a measured level of difficulty for orienteering: it's sufficiently dense that you really learn to read maps, yet limited enough that the lake itself always remains a major reference point. For this reason, we prefer Lake Sünnet for beginners and intermediate participants. In our guided program, we first decipher the language of the map: brown contour lines show how the terrain rises and falls, green hues indicate where the forest thickens, and blue markers denote the lake and stream beds. Then, we try aligning the compass with the map and locking onto the direction we want to go. Surprisingly, grasping the logic of it all is easy on the first try.

Control Points, Courses, and Safety with a Guide

Control points in the terrain are marked with orange-white flags. Each flag has an electronic reader beside it; when you swipe your SI card, your passage is recorded, and at the end of the course, you can see how much time you spent on each section. This small detail keeps the interest of children alive; each flag gives a sense of small achievement. Around Lake Sünnet, there's a lake tour path, short forest trails, and a few distinct ridges. The beginner course largely follows the lake perimeter path, offering a comfortable pace for families with small children. The intermediate course diverts you from the path into short forest passages; here, the compass really starts to prove its worth. Our guide accompanies the group, sharing the terrain boundaries, assembly point, and time from the start. No one needs to worry about getting lost; our goal is not to compete but to learn the method.

Transportation, What to Bring, and Registration

The most practical aspect of Lake Sünnet is its location: being close to the main route between Istanbul and Ankara makes it easy for a day trip. You can leave in the morning and be back home in the evening. Bring a pair of hiking shoes with good traction, at least one liter of water, long pants to protect your legs, and a lightweight rain jacket according to the season; light rain is always possible due to the area's humidity. We provide the map, compass, and SI card. The half-day program lasts about three hours, and the full-day program, with a break by the lake, lasts about five and a half hours. Children aged seven and above can participate with an accompanying adult; a shared course can be arranged for large families. We do not light fires by the lake, do not raise our voices, carry all our trash back, and proceed without damaging the natural cover. If you want to get acquainted with maps in the tranquil forest of Lake Sünnet, you can choose a suitable date and create your registration.