Planning excursions in Kemer gets easier once you see that they fall into two groups. Most stay close to the hotels, in the pine-covered mountains just behind the resort, and leave part of your day free. Two travel east, beyond Antalya, and take the whole day. This guide compares them, suggests who each one suits and ends with a sample week you can adapt.
Close to the hotels: half days and a mountain day
- Zipline: the Kemer Zipline in Göynük Canyon runs from about 09:30 to 14:00. You get about an hour on two lines and a suspension bridge some 40 metres up, then time on the canyon path and at the natural pools. There is no lunch, and the canyon entrance is paid separately at the gate.
- Quad or buggy: the Kemer Quad Safari and its buggy counterpart take four hours, with about 1.5 hours on the forest trails around Kuzdere, in a morning group (from 09:00) or an afternoon group (from 14:00).
- Horse riding: the Kemer Horse Riding Tour lasts about three and a half hours, with about 1.5 hours in the saddle on pine-forest and mountain paths. The riding centre is about 20 minutes from Kemer; there is a morning group (from 09:00) and a sunset group (from 15:30).
- Jeep safari: the Kemer Jeep Safari is the full day that stays local – from 09:00 to about 16:00 through the Kesme Boğazı gorge to Gedelme village, a viewpoint high above the coast, a cold river swim and lunch with trout or chicken. Our Kemer jeep safari guide covers it stop by stop.
Long days east: rafting and the Green Canyon
Köprülü Canyon and the Green Canyon both lie beyond Antalya, so these two trips start at around 07:30 and end at around 18:00 – about ten and a half hours in all.
- The Kemer Rafting Tour drives about two hours each way to the Köprüçay river for roughly 14 km of class II–III rapids, followed by lunch by the river. It is open from 7 years.
- The Kemer Green Canyon Boat Tour drives about two to two and a half hours each way to the Oymapınar Dam lake north of Manavgat. On the water you spend about two to three hours cruising, with time out for a swim and for lunch; soft drinks served on the boat are included. Children of every age can come.
Both are worth the drive if the river or the lake is what you came for, but count on four hours or more on the road. If you only want one, ask yourself whether you would rather paddle or float.
Who each trip suits
- Families with small children: the Green Canyon boat (all ages) and the jeep safari (child tickets for ages 3–11, infants 0–2). The Göynük zipline is open from about 5 (20–100 kg), horse riding from 6, and rafting and quad or buggy passengers from 7.
- Adrenaline seekers: a quad, a buggy, the zipline or a day of rafting.
- Couples: the sunset ride on horseback, or a double buggy with seats side by side.
- First-timers who want to see the mountains: the jeep safari, with an experienced driver at the wheel.
- Short on time: the zipline (back by about 14:00), the horse ride or a four-hour quad or buggy trip.
The jeep, quad, buggy, rafting and horse riding tours are not suitable for pregnant guests, who should also ask us before booking the zipline. Quads and buggies are not for anyone with back, neck or heart problems.
A sample week in Kemer
Here is one way to fit four trips into seven days without filling every one of them:
- Day 1: arrive, unpack and find your way to the beach.
- Day 2: the Göynük zipline in the morning, back in time for a late lunch and an afternoon by the sea.
- Day 3: a free day.
- Day 4: the jeep safari into the mountains.
- Day 5: a slow morning, then the afternoon quad or buggy group – or the sunset ride on horseback.
- Day 6: your long day east: rafting or the Green Canyon.
- Day 7: pool, packing and an early night before the journey home.
Swap the days around as you like, but keep the long day away from your arrival and departure, and don’t follow it with an early start.
Practical tips
- Pickup is free from Kemer, Beldibi, Göynük, Kiriş, Çamyuva and Tekirova; the exact time depends on your hotel and is sent after booking.
- Lunch is included on the jeep, rafting and Green Canyon days, but not on the zipline, quad, buggy or horse riding trips, so pack water and a snack.
- Bring a swimsuit for the river stop on the jeep safari, the pools in Göynük Canyon, the rafting and the boat.
- Closed shoes are a must for the quad, buggy, zipline and horse riding; for riding, wear long trousers too.
- Keep some cash for drinks, the Göynük canyon entrance fee and any extras.
There is nothing to pay up front: you settle in cash on the tour day, and cancellation is free until 24 hours before. Wondering how the Göynük zipline compares with the short river lines at Köprülü Canyon? Our zipline guide sets them side by side. Every trip from the resort is on the Kemer safari tours page.
