Side quad and buggy safaris trade the beaches of Kumköy, Sorgun and Çolaklı for dirt tracks in the wooded hills behind the coast. The Side Quad Safari and the Side Buggy Safari are organised the same way: about four hours from hotel to hotel, roughly 1.5–2 of them at the controls, three departure groups a day and no driving licence needed. This guide covers where the tracks go, which group to choose, how couples and families can split up the vehicles, and what to wear for a ride that rarely ends clean.
Where the Side tracks go
Side is part of Manavgat district, and its off-road routes head inland into the foothills of the Taurus Mountains behind Side and Manavgat. The tracks wind through forest along the Manavgat River, so one ride covers several kinds of ground: dry stretches where every vehicle pulls a cloud of dust behind it, muddy patches close to the water and shallow river crossings that splash wheels, legs and sometimes faces. Weather and track conditions decide the exact line on the day, and they can also change the riding time.
The group drives in convoy behind the guide, and the instructors set a pace that first-timers can handle – if a section feels too lively, you simply ease off. On the way there is a short break for photos and a breather.
Morning, midday or sunset: which group?
Both tours run three times a day, and each group suits a different kind of holiday day:
- Morning group – pickup from 09:00, back around 13:00. The cooler choice in high summer, with the whole afternoon left for the beach.
- Midday group – pickup from 13:30, back around 17:30. Handy after a slow morning at the pool. In high summer this slot falls in the heat of the day, so take water with you.
- Sunset group – pickup from 15:30, back around 19:30. You ride out into the softer late-afternoon light and are back at the hotel in time for dinner.
These are the group start times; the exact pickup time for your hotel depends on where it is and reaches you after booking.
Quad or buggy for couples, friends and families
Every vehicle comes as a single or a double, and you pay for the vehicle, not for each person. So the choice is partly about driving style and partly about who sits where:
- Two single quads: for couples or friends who both want to ride. Handlebars and a motorbike-style seat make the quad the livelier, more physical option.
- A double quad: one person drives, and the passenger sits behind and holds on.
- A double buggy: two seats side by side, seat belts and a steering wheel – you can talk, laugh and point things out to each other as you go.
- A single buggy: your own vehicle, with the steadier, car-like feel of a wheel and pedals.
For families, ages decide a lot. From the age of 7, children can come along as passengers, which lets a parent take the controls of a double quad or buggy with a son or daughter on board; the double buggy, with its seat belts, usually feels more comfortable for younger passengers. To drive, you need to be 16 or older – 16- and 17-year-olds only with a parent’s consent, and a few vehicles only from 18 – so please give everyone’s age when you book. Still torn between handlebars and a wheel? Our quad or buggy comparison looks at both vehicles in detail.
Safety: what happens before you set off
Nobody drives off without preparation. At the base, an instructor goes through the controls and the convoy rules, helmets are fitted, and everyone tries their vehicle on a short practice run before the guide leads the group onto the tracks.
- Helmets are compulsory for drivers and passengers and stay on for the whole ride.
- No driving licence is needed.
- Pregnant guests and people with back, neck or heart problems should choose a different tour.
What to wear and bring
- Old clothes you can put straight into the wash – dust and mud leave marks.
- Closed shoes – sandals and flip-flops won’t do.
- Sunglasses, plus a buff or scarf to pull over your mouth and nose in the dust.
- Sunscreen, especially for the midday group.
- A spare T-shirt for the ride back, and a bag for the muddy one.
- A dust-proof case or a zipped pocket for your phone.
- A snack before you go and some cash for drinks, as lunch is not included.
Prefer to be driven, or to ride a horse?
With children under 7, or if you would rather sit back and enjoy the scenery, the Side Jeep Safari is a full day in open 4x4s with experienced drivers at the wheel, taking in village tea and gözleme, a look over the Oymapınar Dam and a long lunch break with a swim on the shore of the Green Canyon lake. Our Side jeep safari guide goes through that day stop by stop.
For a quieter half day, the Side Horse Riding Tour heads through pine forest and then along part of a sandy beach on the Side coast. Expect about 1.5 hours in the saddle with no riding experience required; children are welcome from 6, and under-12s ride with an adult in the group. Book the sunset group and you reach the sand as the evening light softens.
Book on the tour page or via WhatsApp with nothing to pay in advance: the tour is paid in cash on the day itself, and cancelling costs nothing until 24 hours before the start. We collect you at no charge from your hotel in Side or in Kumköy, Çolaklı, Sorgun, Titreyengöl, Evrenseki or Gündoğdu, and all tours from the resort are on the Side Safari Tours page.
