A Manavgat jeep safari turns its back on the beaches and climbs north-west into the Taurus Mountains, with Köprülü Canyon National Park as its goal. The Manavgat Jeep Safari links mountain villages, a deep gorge seen from a viewing terrace, a Roman bridge over the Köprüçay and a swim in the river, with experienced drivers at the wheel all day. Below we follow the route stop by stop, explain what each place is like and share tips for families and first-timers.
The route at a glance
- Pickup around 08:30 from Manavgat town or the beach hotels of Ilıca, Kızılağaç, Kızılot, Hacıobası and Çenger. Your exact time follows after booking.
- Village roads. The convoy turns off the main road onto mountain tracks, winding up between forested slopes and through small villages, with photo stops while the guide tells you about the area.
- Tazı Canyon. A short walk to the viewing terrace above the gorge.
- Köprülü Canyon and Oluk Köprüsü. A photo stop at the Roman stone bridge over the Köprüçay.
- River swim and lunch. Time in the water, then lunch at a riverside restaurant.
- Back at your hotel around 16:30.
Weather, road and river conditions can change the order of the stops.
Tazı Canyon, the “Unknown Canyon”
Tazı Canyon also goes by the name Bilinmeyen Kanyon, Turkish for “Unknown Canyon”. It is a deep, narrow gorge, and from the viewing terrace you look straight down between its walls. The terrace is reached on foot after a short walk from the jeeps, so wear shoes with a decent grip rather than flip-flops, and keep children close to you while you are up there. An entry fee for the national park may be collected on site; it is not part of the tour, so keep some cash handy.
The Köprüçay: a Roman bridge and a river swim
Further on, the route reaches Köprülü Canyon, where Oluk Köprüsü, a stone bridge from Roman times, still spans the Köprüçay. It is a stop for photos of the old bridge and the river. Then the pace slows by the water: you can swim and splash about in the cool river before lunch at a riverside restaurant, so put your swimwear on under your clothes in the morning and keep a towel within reach. Water shoes make getting in and out easier.
The Köprüçay is also the river of the Köprülü Canyon rafting tours, whose bases lie around Beşkonak and Bozyaka. If the swim leaves you wanting more of the water, rafting makes an obvious second day out – more on that below.
What is included, and what to bring
Included are hotel pickup and drop-off, the jeep with an experienced driver, a guide for the day, the swim stop and lunch at a riverside restaurant. You pay separately for drinks at lunch and at the stops, the national park entry and any other entrance fees charged on site, photos and personal expenses.
- Swimwear worn under your clothes, and a towel
- Comfortable shoes with grip for the path to the terrace
- Clothes that can take some dust or a splash
- Sun protection: cream, sunglasses and a hat
- A waterproof case to keep your phone dry at the river
- Cash for drinks and entrance fees
Who the Manavgat jeep safari suits
With someone else at the wheel, the day works for couples and families with children, and for anyone curious about the mountains behind Manavgat who would rather not steer a 4×4 up a mountain track. Children aged 3–11 have their own ticket, and infants aged 0–2 ride free. Seat belts stay fastened while the jeeps are moving, and nobody stands up – not even for a photo. Pregnant guests cannot join, and with serious back or neck problems please check with us first – mountain tracks can be bumpy. Prone to car sickness? Keep breakfast light and ask for a seat near the front.
Pairing it with other Manavgat days
This route heads for Köprülü Canyon rather than the Green Canyon lake. To see the lake too, book the Manavgat Green Canyon Boat Tour on another day: the Oymapınar Dam reservoir lies in Manavgat district, only about 30–45 minutes from town, and the boat cruises for 2–3 hours between forested walls with swim stops; lunch and the boat’s soft drinks are included. Our Green Canyon boat tour guide describes that day in detail.
Want to return to the Köprüçay with a paddle? The Manavgat Rafting Tour covers about 14 km of class II–III rapids, an hour’s drive from Manavgat, for everyone from age 7; the Köprülü Canyon rafting guide explains how that day runs. For a shorter outing, the Manavgat Horse Riding Tour sets off on forest and country tracks near the delta of the Manavgat River and finishes on the beach – morning or sunset group, no riding experience needed.
All tours from town and the beach hotels are listed on the Manavgat Safari Tours page. Book on the site or via WhatsApp with no prepayment; you settle in cash on the day, and if your plans change, cancelling is free until 24 hours before departure.
