In Kemer the off-road trails begin almost behind the hotels. The pine-covered foothills around Kuzdere, where the Taurus Mountains start to climb away from the coast, are crossed by forest trails with dusty stretches, muddy dips and shallow streams, and that is where the Kemer Quad Safari and the Kemer Buggy Safari go. Both trips take about four hours, including about an hour and a half of riding. This guide covers the trails, the two departure groups, the choice between quad and buggy, and what to wear.
The trails around Kuzdere
The transfer is short. From Kemer, Beldibi, Göynük, Kiriş, Çamyuva or Tekirova a minibus takes you inland to the base in the foothills near Kuzdere, where the jeep safari also turns off towards the Kesme Boğazı gorge. After the briefing the convoy follows the guide into the pine forest. Expect three kinds of terrain: dry, dusty forest trails, muddy hollows, and shallow streams that the convoy fords one vehicle at a time.
How dirty you get depends on the weather. On dry summer days the dust is the main thing; after rain the trails turn muddier. If heavy rain makes them unsafe, the route is changed or the ride is moved to another day.
Morning or afternoon group?
Both trips run twice a day:
- Morning group: pickup from 09:00, back at the hotel at around 13:00.
- Afternoon group: pickup from 14:00, back at around 18:00.
In the heat of July and August, the morning ride is the cooler option and leaves the afternoon for the beach. The afternoon group suits a slow start to the day, with a swim or a lie-in first. We send the exact pickup time for your hotel once you have booked.
Quad or buggy?
Both vehicles use the same trails, so the choice comes down to how you like to drive and where your passenger sits.
Quad
You sit astride and steer with handlebars, much like a four-wheeled motorbike. It is the more physical ride: you feel the bumps through your arms and catch more of the dust and spray. On a double quad your passenger sits behind you and holds on. A single quad suits riders who want to go solo and enjoy scooters or motorbikes.
Buggy
You sit in a seat with a belt, steer with a wheel and use pedals, so it feels familiar if you drive a car. In a double buggy your passenger sits beside you – handy for couples, friends, and parents who want to share the ride with a child of 7 or over.
The rules are the same for both. You don’t need a driving licence, but the driver has to be 16 or older (a parent must consent for under-18s, and some vehicles are reserved for drivers of 18+); passengers can ride from 7; everyone wears a helmet; and each ride begins with a safety briefing and a short practice. Insurance is included. For a closer comparison of the two vehicles, read our quad or buggy guide.
Safety and who should skip it
The guide sets a pace that first-timers can follow, and you ride in a line behind them. Keep a safe distance from the vehicle in front, take the water crossings slowly and do what the guide tells you. Pregnant guests and anyone with back, neck or heart problems should not take part. Children under 7 cannot ride, not even as passengers; for younger children, look at the other half days below.
What to wear and bring
- Old clothes that mud is welcome to ruin, plus a spare T-shirt for the ride back
- Trainers or other closed shoes; sandals and flip-flops won’t do
- Sunglasses, plus a buff or scarf to pull over your nose and mouth when it gets dusty
- Sunscreen and your own water – there is no food or drink on this trip
- A sealed pouch or zipped pocket for your phone
More half days near Kemer
If you enjoy the quad or buggy, two other short trips start from the same hotels:
- The Kemer Horse Riding Tour starts about 20 minutes from Kemer, at a riding centre in the foothills of the Taurus. You ride for about an hour and a half on pine-forest and mountain paths, crossing small streams, with views of the mountains and glimpses of the sea. No experience is needed, children can join from 6, and there are two departures: the morning group and the sunset group.
- The Kemer Zipline in Göynük Canyon has two lines and a suspension bridge about 40 metres high, with about an hour of activity followed by free time at the canyon’s natural pools. It runs from about 09:30 to 14:00 and is open from about 5 years, for riders weighing 20–100 kg.
Would you rather be driven? The jeep safari spends a whole day in the mountains west of Kemer; our Kemer jeep safari guide describes the route.
Booking is done on the tour page or on WhatsApp; payment is in cash on the day itself, and free cancellation runs until 24 hours before. Every trip from the resort is listed on the Kemer safari tours page.
