Side Green Canyon Boat Tour

Turquoise water, forested canyon walls, swim stops and lunch on a relaxed lake cruise

Side Green Canyon Boat Tour Side Green Canyon Boat Tour Side Green Canyon Boat Tour Side Green Canyon Boat Tour Side Green Canyon Boat Tour
  • Duration8 hours
  • Pickup / return08:30 → 16:30
  • Tour days: Daily
  • Hotel transferFree
  • RegionSide

About the Side Green Canyon Boat Trip

Side Green Canyon Boat Tour is the easy-going way to see the Taurus Mountains from the water. Green Canyon is the reservoir of the Oymapınar Dam on the Manavgat River, about 45–60 minutes by road from Side, where turquoise-green water fills a canyon of steep, forested walls.

You board in the morning and spend about 4–5 hours on and around the lake, including roughly 2–3 hours of slow cruising between the canyon walls. The boat makes one or two swim stops of about 20–30 minutes, weather permitting. Life jackets are on board, along with a changing cabin and a toilet, and your guide tells you about the reservoir and its surroundings as you go.

Lunch is included and is served either at a lakeside restaurant or on the boat – typically chicken, meatballs, pasta, salad and fruit. Soft drinks on the boat are included as well; drinks at the restaurant are paid separately.

With no driving and no paddling, this is a relaxed day for families with small children, older travellers and anyone who wants a break from the beach. Bring swimwear and a towel, plus sunscreen and a hat, as the sun feels stronger on the water. In the afternoon the boats leave the lake and your transfer takes you back to the hotel.

Highlights

  • About 2–3 hours of cruising on the Green Canyon lake
  • Turquoise-green water between steep, forested walls
  • One or two swim stops, weather permitting
  • Lunch at a lakeside restaurant or on board
  • Soft drinks on the boat included

Side Green Canyon Boat Tour Prices

Adult(Age 12+) €30
Child(Age 3–11) €15
Infant(Age 0–2) Free

Prices are per person and shown in your chosen currency. You can pay on the tour day.

Itinerary

  1. 08:30

    Hotel pickup

    Pickup in the Side area and a drive of about 45–60 minutes into the mountains north of Manavgat.

  2. 2

    Boarding at the lake

    You board your boat on the Oymapınar Dam lake in the morning.

  3. 3

    Cruise into Green Canyon

    The boat cruises slowly between the steep, forested canyon walls.

  4. 4

    Swim stop

    One or two stops of about 20–30 minutes for a swim in the lake, weather permitting.

  5. 5

    Lunch

    Lunch at a lakeside restaurant or on board; soft drinks on the boat are included.

  6. 16:30

    Return

    The boats leave the lake in the afternoon, and you are back at your hotel at about 16:30.

What is included

Included

  • Hotel pickup and drop-off
  • Boat trip on the Oymapınar Dam lake
  • Lunch
  • Soft drinks on the boat
  • Guide
  • Life jackets on board

Not included

  • Drinks at the restaurant
  • Personal expenses
  • Photos and video
  • Tips (optional)

Good to know before you go

Your pickup time depends on the location of your hotel and is sent after booking. We pick up free of charge from Side, Kumköy, Çolaklı, Sorgun, Titreyengöl, Evrenseki and Gündoğdu.

What to bring

  • Swimwear and a towel
  • Sunscreen, a hat and sunglasses
  • A light layer for the breeze on the water
  • Cash for drinks at the restaurant
  • Phone or camera for the canyon views

Good to know

  • Swim stops depend on the weather; life jackets are available on the boat.
  • Children should stay with their parents on board and in the water.
  • Babies and young children are welcome on the boat.
  • Whether lunch is served at the restaurant or on board, and the order of the stops, can vary from day to day.

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Frequently asked questions

Can we swim in Green Canyon?

Yes. The boats usually stop once or twice for a swim of about 20–30 minutes in the turquoise lake, weather permitting. Life jackets are on board for anyone who is not a confident swimmer, and the boats have a changing cabin and a toilet. Wear your swimwear under your clothes and keep a towel handy, so you are ready when the boat stops.

Is lunch included on Green Canyon tours, and what about drinks?

Yes, lunch is included on every Green Canyon tour, served at a lakeside restaurant or on board, depending on the tour. On the boat tours, the soft drinks served on board are part of the price as well, while anything you order at the restaurant costs extra. On the combined jeep or cabrio bus tours, drinks are not included; the "What is included" list on this page shows exactly what your tour covers.

How do I book a tour?

Open the tour page and choose your date, the departure group if the tour has several, and the number of guests (on quad and buggy tours, the number of single or double vehicles). Then enter your name, phone, e-mail and hotel. Nothing is paid at this stage. As soon as we confirm the booking, your QR e-ticket arrives by e-mail. Prefer to chat? Send us the tour name and date on WhatsApp and we will book it for you.

How and when do I pay for the tour?

You pay nothing when you book. The tour price is paid in cash on the tour day, directly to your guide. Prices are set in euros, but you are welcome to pay in Turkish lira, US dollars or British pounds at that day's exchange rate. Extras that are not included, such as drinks, photos or equipment rental, are paid separately on the spot.

How will I receive my e-ticket?

Once your booking is confirmed, we e-mail the ticket to the address you entered. Besides a QR code, it lists the tour, the date and the other details of your booking. On the tour day, simply show the code to your guide on your phone; a printout works too. If nothing has arrived, check your spam folder or message us on WhatsApp, and we will send the ticket again.

Is hotel pickup free, and when will I be picked up?

Yes. The transfer from your hotel to the tour and back is included for all hotels in the pickup areas of each region. As the vehicle collects guests from several hotels, your exact pickup time depends on where you are staying, and we send it to you after booking. Please be waiting at the main entrance of your hotel a few minutes beforehand, because the driver works to a tight schedule.

Can children join the tours?

Yes, most tours welcome children. On jeep safaris, Green Canyon trips and the cabrio bus tour, children aged 3–11 pay the child price and babies up to 2 travel free. Rafting and the zipline and rafting tours start at 7 years, the Göynük Canyon zipline at about 5. On quad and buggy tours, children can ride as passengers from 7, while drivers must be at least 16. The ticket table on each tour page shows its age groups.

What should I wear, and what should I pack?

Choose light clothes that may get dusty or wet, and shoes that stay on your feet: trainers for jeep, quad and buggy tours, sports sandals with straps or old trainers for rafting and canyon paths. Pack swimwear, a towel, sun cream, a hat and sunglasses, plus a waterproof pouch for your phone. A light jacket is handy in the mountains and on evening tours. Each tour page also has its own "What to bring" list.

In which languages are the tours guided?

Our guides work in English, German, Russian and Turkish; the languages offered on each tour are listed on its page. Polish-speaking guests are guided in English, while this website is also available in Polish. Before quad, buggy, rafting and zipline activities, the instructors explain and show what to do, so the safety rules are easy to follow whatever your language.

Can I cancel my booking?

Yes. Cancelling is free until 24 hours before the tour starts, and within the same period you can also move to another date if places are free. Just send us a message on WhatsApp or by e-mail. If you cancel later or do not show up, anything you paid in advance cannot be returned. You will find all the details in our cancellation policy.

What happens if the weather turns bad?

Light rain rarely stops a tour, and on a rafting trip you get wet anyway. If heavy rain, a storm, high water or unsafe roads make a tour impossible, we call it off and offer you another date or a full refund of anything paid in advance. Swim stops always depend on the conditions on the day. If the forecast looks doubtful, message us on the morning of your tour and we will tell you whether it goes ahead.

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