Alanya Quad Safari takes four hours out of your holiday, and for about one and a half to two of them you sit astride your own quad on dirt tracks in the hills behind the coast. You need neither a driving licence nor off-road experience. What does help is choosing the right departure group, dressing for dirt and knowing how dusty, muddy and bumpy the ride will be. Still torn between the two vehicles? Read our quad or buggy comparison first.
Three departure groups: which one when?
The quads go out three times a day. Each group is a complete four-hour trip: hotel pickup, briefing, the ride itself, a short break and the drive back.
- 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 19:30.
Exact collection times vary from hotel to hotel, and we let you know yours after booking. If heat bothers you, go for the morning group in July and August: it is the cooler slot, and you still have the afternoon by the pool. The midday group rides through the hottest hours in high summer, but in spring and autumn it is a pleasant slot that lets you sleep in. The sunset group suits anyone who wants a long morning on the beach: you ride as the heat eases and are back in time for dinner.
The tracks behind Alanya: dust, mud and water
Alanya sits right at the foot of the Taurus Mountains, so rough country starts a short drive from the hotels. After the briefing the quads set off in single file behind the guide, over dry stretches that throw up clouds of dust, through muddy dips and across water crossings. Nobody comes back clean, and that is half the point.
Conditions change with the weather: after rain, expect more mud; after a long dry spell, more dust. If heavy rain makes the tracks unsafe, your ride is moved to another day. The guide sets a pace that works for the whole convoy, so beginners can roll along calmly while confident riders still get a lively ride.
Single or double quad?
A single quad is yours alone, and you drive the whole way. On a double, two people share one machine, with the passenger perched behind the driver, holding on. Tickets are per quad, not per person, and a double counts for two riders.
- Book a double if one of you would rather ride along than drive, or if you are a parent taking a child aged 7 or over.
- Book two singles if you both want to steer.
As a passenger you have nothing to steer and take every bump from the back seat. If you would rather share a vehicle side by side, with seat belts and a frame around you, look at the Alanya Buggy Safari, which has the same three departure groups.
Safety rules and age limits
- No driving licence is needed. Drivers must be at least 16; 16- and 17-year-olds need a parent’s consent, and certain quads are for adults only.
- Anyone riding pillion on a double must be 7 or older.
- Helmets stay on from start to finish, and insurance is included.
- Before the start the instructor shows the controls, explains the rules and checks every helmet; a short test ride follows.
- If you are pregnant or have back, neck or heart trouble, please choose a different tour.
When booking, list each person’s age so that drivers and passengers are matched to the right vehicles.
What to wear and bring
- Clothes you don’t mind ruining. Dust and mud can leave stains, so leave light colours and favourite shirts at the hotel.
- Trainers or other closed shoes; flip-flops and sandals won’t do.
- Sunglasses, and a bandana or buff to pull over your nose and mouth on dusty stretches.
- A clean T-shirt for the journey back, plus a plastic bag so the dirty one travels separately.
- A dust-proof pouch for your phone, or leave it in the hotel safe.
- Some cash: food and drinks cost extra, and the break is your chance to buy a cold drink.
Add sun cream and, if you ride with the sunset group in spring or autumn, a light layer for the cooler evening air.
First-timer tips
- Use the test ride. Try the throttle and brakes gently and ask the instructor about anything unclear.
- Keep a gap to the quad in front. It gives you time to react and keeps the worst of its dust out of your face.
- Ride near the guide if you feel nervous. The pace is set for the group, not for the fastest rider.
- Look ahead rather than down at the front wheels, especially before dips and water crossings.
- Book early in your holiday. If rain moves your ride, there is still time to find another day.
Want more than four hours on a quad? The Alanya Rafting, Buggy & Zipline Combo fits a river zipline, about 25 minutes in a buggy and roughly 14 km of rafting on the Köprüçay into one long day. For a slower pace, on four legs rather than four wheels, the Alanya Horse Riding Tour follows pine-forest tracks and village paths in the foothills east of Alanya, and no riding experience is needed. If you would rather let someone else drive, our Alanya jeep safari guide compares the Dim River, Sapadere and night safari days.
Every tour from the resort is on the Alanya safari tours page. Hotel pickup is free across the Alanya area, including Mahmutlar, Kestel, Konaklı, Avsallar and Okurcalar. Booking costs nothing upfront: you pay cash when the tour day comes, and a free cancellation remains possible until 24 hours ahead of the start.
