Alanya Buggy Safari puts you behind a steering wheel on the dirt tracks of the Taurus foothills, with about one and a half to two hours of driving in a four-hour trip. Our Alanya quad safari guide already describes the terrain and the departure groups in detail, so this guide concentrates on what is different about a buggy: how it drives, whether to share one, what the sunset group is really like and how to get the mud off afterwards.
Driving a buggy: what it feels like
A buggy is closer to a small car than to a motorbike. You sit in a proper seat rather than astride, buckle up and drive it much like a car – steering wheel in your hands, throttle and brake under your feet – with a tubular frame around you. That makes it steadier and less tiring than a quad, and a little more sheltered from the jolts. It is still an off-road ride, though: dust gets in everywhere, the hollows hold mud and the water crossings will splash you.
You don’t need a driving licence. At the start the instructor introduces the buggy, fits your helmet and runs through the safety rules, and a short practice lets you get used to the pedals and steering. On the track you can stay right behind the guide or hang back at a gentle speed, as the instructors keep a pace that suits the group. Prefer handlebars and a more exposed ride? The Alanya Quad Safari runs in the same three groups, and our quad or buggy comparison sets the two vehicles side by side.
Single or double: sharing a buggy
You can book a single or a double buggy; either way, tickets are sold per vehicle, not per head. In a double, your passenger rides beside you, strapped in, which makes sharing easy for couples, friends and parents with children.
- Driver: 16 or older; 16- and 17-year-olds need a parent’s consent, and certain buggies are for adults only.
- Passenger: from 7 years old.
- Everyone: helmet on for the whole ride.
Sharing works best when one of you is keen to drive and the other is happy to enjoy the view and cheer at the puddles. If you both want to drive, book two single buggies. With a child next to you, drive more gently than you would on your own. Whether at the wheel or in the passenger seat, the ride is not for pregnant guests or people with heart, back or neck problems.
Morning, midday or sunset group?
- Morning group: starts at 09:00, back around 13:00.
- Midday group: starts at 13:30, back around 17:30.
- Sunset group: starts at 15:30, back around 18:30.
The sunset group heads out in the late afternoon, as the light softens and the fiercest heat fades, and it leaves the whole morning free for the beach. Don’t take the name too literally, though: in midsummer the sun sets after you are back at the hotel, while in spring and autumn the ride ends much closer to dusk. At the peak of summer, book the morning group to stay cooler. Whichever group you choose, we send your hotel’s pickup time after booking.
If what draws you is the mood of the mountains at sundown rather than the driving, consider the Alanya Night Safari. It leaves at 16:30, drives through Taurus villages as the sun goes down and goes on to an open-air dinner, a folk dance show and a campfire, with the return around midnight.
What to wear for mud and dust
- Old clothes, ideally in darker colours, as mud and dust can stain light fabrics.
- Closed shoes such as trainers; flip-flops and sandals are a bad idea.
- Sunglasses and a scarf or buff to cover your nose and mouth.
- A light layer for the sunset group in spring and autumn, when the ride back can feel cool.
- A dust-proof pouch for your phone. Jewellery and valuables are safer at the hotel.
- Some cash for the break, since food and drinks are not included.
Getting clean afterwards
Count on coming back with dust in your hair and mud on your legs. A little preparation keeps most of it out of your hotel room:
- Pack a clean T-shirt and a plastic bag, so the muddy one travels home separately.
- Bring wet wipes or a small towel to clean your face and hands at the break.
- Rinse your sunglasses with water instead of wiping the dust off dry, which can scratch the lenses.
- Shake out muddy clothes and rinse them before washing; dried mud is harder to get out.
- Leave time for a shower before dinner: after the midday or sunset group you are back in the early evening.
Want the buggy as part of a bigger day? The Alanya Rafting, Buggy & Zipline Combo includes about 25 minutes on a buggy, together with a zipline over the Köprüçay and about 14 km of rafting in Köprülü Canyon, from 08:00 to around 17:30. If driving is the main attraction for you, the buggy safari gives you far more time at the wheel.
All Alanya trips are listed on the Alanya safari tours page. Hotel pickup is part of every trip; you pay in cash on the day of the ride, and if plans change, cancelling is free until 24 hours beforehand.
