A Green Canyon boat tour is the gentle way to see the Taurus Mountains: no dust and no paddling, just a slow cruise over turquoise-green water between steep, forested canyon walls. It suits families with small children, couples who want a quiet day and anyone who needs a break from the beach without giving up on swimming. This guide covers where the canyon is, how the day on the lake runs, what is included and how long the trip takes from each resort.
Where Green Canyon is
Green Canyon, Yeşil Kanyon in Turkish, is the reservoir of the Oymapınar Dam on the Manavgat River, in the mountains north of Manavgat. The dam turned a river valley into a lake that winds between high canyon walls covered in forest. Despite its name, the trip is not a hike: you see the canyon from the deck of a boat, and from the water itself when you swim.
Several jeep safari routes around Manavgat pass the dam viewpoint above the lake, but only a boat tour takes you out onto the water for a few hours.
How the day on the lake runs
After hotel pickup you drive up into the mountains to the lake, where boarding usually takes place between about 09:30 and 10:30, depending on where you are coming from. You then spend about 4–5 hours on and around the lake, lunch included, and about 2–3 hours of that is cruising.
- Cruising: the boat follows the lake between the canyon walls, with plenty of time for photos from the deck.
- Swim stops: there are 1–2 stops of about 20–30 minutes each, weather permitting. The boats have a changing cabin and a toilet, and there are life jackets on board.
- Lunch: served at a lakeside restaurant or on board, for example chicken, meatballs, pasta, salad and fruit.
- Return: boats leave the lake between about 14:15 and 15:30, and the minibus takes you back to your hotel.
What is included
Every Green Canyon boat tour on our site includes hotel pickup and return, a guide, the boat trip with its swim stops, lunch and soft drinks on the boat. Drinks you order at the restaurant are paid separately, as are personal expenses.
How long is the day from your resort?
The time on the lake barely changes from one resort to another; the transfer is what makes your day longer or shorter.
- Manavgat: the lake is only about 30–45 minutes away, so the Manavgat Green Canyon Boat Tour takes about 7.5 hours in all.
- Side: about 45–60 minutes to the lake; the Side Green Canyon Boat Tour takes about 8 hours.
- Belek: the Belek Green Canyon Boat Tour also takes about 8 hours, including pickup and return.
- Alanya: about 1.5 hours to the dam; the Alanya Green Canyon Boat Tour takes about 8 hours.
- Antalya: about 2 hours each way, so the Antalya Green Canyon Boat Tour starts early and lasts about 9.5 hours.
- Kemer: about 2–2.5 hours each way. The Kemer Green Canyon Boat Tour is a long day of about 10.5 hours, with pickup at around 07:30.
Your exact pickup time depends on your hotel and is sent to you after booking.
Other ways to see the lake
If a whole day on a boat sounds too calm, there are livelier ways to combine Green Canyon with the mountains. The Side Jeep Safari drives through the foothills to the Oymapınar Dam viewpoint and a photo stop above the canyon, then stops for lunch and a swim at a lakeside restaurant; our Side jeep safari guide walks you through that day. From Alanya you can also pair a jeep safari with a shorter boat ride, or travel by open-top cabrio bus to the lake and on to Manavgat Waterfall, a small river waterfall near Manavgat town with a small entrance fee. Both are listed among the Alanya safari tours.
Tips for a relaxed day on the water
- Wear your swimsuit under your clothes and pack a towel, so you are ready for the first swim stop.
- Sunscreen, a hat and sunglasses are a must on deck; reapply sunscreen after swimming.
- Bring a light top for the early drive and for the breeze on the water.
- Non-swimmers and children should wear a life jacket in the water and stay close to an adult.
- Keep your phone in a waterproof pouch, or leave it in your bag before you jump in.
- Carry a little cash for drinks at the restaurant and small personal expenses.
Swim stops depend on the weather, and the order of the programme can change on the day.
Booking takes a few minutes on the tour page or via WhatsApp. You pay nothing when you book: payment is in cash on the tour day, and you can cancel free of charge up to 24 hours before departure. If you are planning with little ones, our family safari guide explains why the boat is often the easiest choice for small children, and the Manavgat safari tours page shows what else starts close to the canyon.
