Side Jeep Safari is the easy way to swap the beaches of Side for the Taurus foothills without taking the wheel yourself. Open 4×4 jeeps travel in convoy with experienced drivers, a guide comes along, and the centrepiece of the day is a long break on the shore of the turquoise Green Canyon lake. Below we go through the day stop by stop, explain how much of Green Canyon you actually see, and help you choose between the jeep and the boat.
The day at a glance
- Hotel pickup around 09:00. We collect you from your hotel in Side, Kumköy, Çolaklı, Sorgun, Titreyengöl, Evrenseki or Gündoğdu; the exact time for your hotel is sent after booking.
- Into the foothills. The convoy heads inland past Manavgat and climbs into the hills north of the town.
- Village break. A stop in a mountain village for tea and gözleme, the thin Turkish flatbread.
- Oymapınar Dam viewpoint. A view over the dam and the reservoir that fills the canyon behind it.
- Above Green Canyon. A photo stop high over the lake, where the water winds between steep, forested walls.
- Lunch and a swim. The long break of the day, at a lakeside restaurant on the Green Canyon lake. Lunch is included; drinks are paid separately.
- Back at your hotel around 16:00.
At some point the jeeps start water fights with each other, so expect to get splashed and keep your phone somewhere dry. The order of the stops can change with the weather and road conditions.
Green Canyon: what you see from the jeep
Green Canyon (Yeşil Kanyon) is the reservoir of the Oymapınar Dam on the Manavgat River, 45–60 minutes from Side by road. Its colour is a bright turquoise-green, framed by steep canyon walls covered in forest. On the jeep safari you see the lake from two angles: from above at the viewpoints, and close up during the lakeside break, when you can get into the water. What the jeep day does not include is a cruise through the canyon – that is what the boat tour is for.
Jeep safari or boat tour?
Both days take you to the same lake, but they feel very different.
- Choose the jeep if you like variety: mountain roads, a village, viewpoints, water fights and one long break for lunch and a swim.
- Choose the Side Green Canyon Boat Tour if you want time on the water: about two to three hours of cruising, one or two swim stops of 20–30 minutes, lunch, and soft drinks on board included. Pickup is around 08:30 and you are back around 16:30.
If you can only fit in one, ask yourself whether you would rather spend the day on mountain roads or on deck.
What to wear and bring
- Swimwear under your clothes and a towel, for the lake and for the water fights.
- Light clothes that may get dusty or wet, and comfortable closed shoes.
- Sunscreen, a hat and sunglasses – the jeeps are open.
- A waterproof pouch or zip bag for your phone and camera.
- Some cash, as drinks are not included.
- A dry T-shirt for the ride home.
Who the Side jeep safari suits
Since the drivers do the driving, this tour works well for families, first-timers and anyone who wants to see the mountains without being responsible for a vehicle. There are tickets for adults, children aged 3–11 and infants aged 0–2. Everyone stays seated with the seat belt fastened while the jeeps are moving – no standing up, not even for photos. The tour is not suitable for pregnant guests, and if you have back or neck problems, ask us before booking, as some mountain roads are bumpy.
Would you rather drive yourself? The Side Quad Safari and the Side Buggy Safari last four hours, with about 1.5–2 hours on forest and river tracks along the Manavgat River; you choose the morning (09:00), midday (13:30) or sunset group (15:30). For white water, the Side Rafting Tour goes to Köprülü Canyon, about 1–1.5 hours from Side.
Booking and payment
Book on the tour page or on WhatsApp; no payment is taken in advance. You pay in cash on the tour day – in euros, or in US dollars, pounds or Turkish lira at the day’s rate – and you can cancel free of charge up to 24 hours before the start. The QR e-ticket arrives by e-mail after confirmation, and guides speak Turkish, English, German and Russian. Every tour from the resort is on the Side safari tours page.
Want a closer look at the lake itself? Read our Green Canyon boat tour guide, or compare Side with the other resorts in Antalya safari tours: which resort, which tour?
