Manavgat Safari Tours

Safari tours from Manavgat

Manavgat is the market town on the Manavgat River, a few kilometres inland from the sea, with the long beaches of Ilıca, Kızılağaç and Kızılot stretching east towards Alanya. From here our day tours head up the river valley, into the canyons of the Taurus Mountains and out onto the water:

• The Manavgat Jeep Safari drives north-west towards Köprülü Canyon National Park, with mountain villages, the viewing terrace over Tazı Canyon, the Roman stone bridge Oluk Köprüsü, a river swim and lunch by the water.
• The Manavgat Quad Safari and the Manavgat Buggy Safari follow forest and river tracks along the Manavgat River, with about 1.5–2 hours of riding in a 4-hour trip.
• The Manavgat Rafting Tour covers about 14 km of the Köprüçay river in Köprülü Canyon, and Manavgat Zipline & Rafting adds a river zipline at the rafting base.
• The Manavgat Green Canyon Boat Tour is a calm day on the turquoise lake of the Oymapınar Dam, with swim stops and lunch.

Where the routes go: river, canyons and lake

Green Canyon is Manavgat’s own lake. It is the reservoir of the Oymapınar Dam on the Manavgat River, in the mountains north of the town, and the drive takes only about 30–45 minutes. Steep, forested walls drop into turquoise-green water, and the boats cruise for two to three hours with one or two swim stops.

Köprülü Canyon National Park lies about an hour away, between Manavgat and Serik. The rafting bases sit around Beşkonak and Bozyaka on the Köprüçay river, which also flows beneath the historic Roman bridge, Oluk Köprüsü. On the way there, the jeep route stops above Tazı Canyon, a deep, narrow gorge also known as Bilinmeyen Kanyon – the “Unknown Canyon”.

The quad and buggy tracks stay closer to town, in the forested foothills along the Manavgat River, where dust, mud and river crossings keep you busy. On a free afternoon, Manavgat Waterfall, a small river waterfall near the town, makes an easy outing of its own (small entrance fee).

How to choose your Manavgat tour

Families with young children: the boat tour and the jeep safari are the easy-going choices. Infants aged 0–2 travel free, the child price applies from 3 to 11, and on the jeep safari experienced drivers do all the driving.

Adrenaline: take the handlebars of a quad, the wheel of a buggy or a paddle on the Köprüçay. Quad and buggy drivers need no licence but must be at least 16 (under 18 only with a parent’s consent, some vehicles 18+); passengers, rafters and zipliners start at 7.

First-timers: the class II–III rapids of the Köprüçay suit beginners, with an instructor in every raft, and every quad and buggy trip starts with a briefing and a short practice.

Short on time: the quad and buggy trips take about four hours and run in morning, midday and sunset groups, so the rest of your day stays free.

Nature lovers: the Manavgat Horse Riding Tour sets off from a stable in the countryside near Manavgat. You ride for about 1.5 hours along forest tracks and quiet country paths close to where the Manavgat River meets the sea, and the last stretch leads onto the beach. No riding experience is needed, children can join from 6 years, and there is a morning and a sunset group.

Season and practical tips

Rafting runs mainly from April to October, with some days in November depending on water and weather. In high summer the morning quad and buggy groups ride in cooler air, and the river and lake swims are a welcome break from the heat. Pack swimwear, a towel, sunscreen and a change of clothes; for the quad and buggy, wear closed shoes and clothes that can get muddy.

You pay nothing when you book: payment is made in cash on the tour day, in euros or in US dollars, pounds or Turkish lira at the day’s rate. You can cancel free of charge until 24 hours before the start, and the QR e-ticket comes by e-mail as soon as your booking is confirmed. Guiding is available in Turkish, English, German and Russian.

Hotel pickup in Manavgat, Ilıca, Kızılağaç and Kızılot

Hotel pickup and drop-off are free from Manavgat town, Ilıca, Kızılağaç, Kızılot, Hacıobası and Çenger. The pickup time depends on where your hotel is and is sent to you after booking, so please wait at the hotel entrance a few minutes early. You can book on this page or simply send us a message on WhatsApp.