Side Rafting Tour
About 14 km of class II–III rapids on the Köprüçay, with swim stops and lunch by the river
- Duration8.5 hours
- Pickup / return09:00 → 17:30
- Tour days: Daily
- Hotel transferFree
- RegionSide
About the Side Rafting Trip
Side Rafting Tour takes you about 1–1.5 hours inland to Köprülü Canyon National Park, in the Taurus Mountains between Serik and Manavgat. The rafting bases lie around Beşkonak and Bozyaka on the Köprüçay river, which winds through the canyon – a real change of scene after the beaches of Side.
At the base you receive a life jacket, helmet and paddle, and your instructor explains the commands and safety rules. The route covers about 14 km with class II–III rapids – lively enough for fun, gentle enough for beginners – and about 2–2.5 hours of paddling, with stops to swim and take photos. Each raft holds 8–12 people and always has an instructor on board.
Back on dry land, lunch is served at a riverside restaurant, usually as a buffet with dishes such as grilled chicken, rice or bulgur, pasta, salads and fruit. The national park is also home to Oluk Köprüsü, a historic Roman stone bridge. The transfer back to Side leaves in the afternoon.
The tour suits families with children aged 7 and over, groups of friends and first-time rafters. You don’t need to be able to swim, but you should feel at ease in water. Shoe rental, wetsuits, waterproof phone pouches and photos or video are offered at the base for an extra charge.
Highlights
- About 14 km of rafting on the Köprüçay river
- Class II–III rapids that beginners can manage
- An instructor in every raft of 8–12 people
- Swim and photo stops in Köprülü Canyon National Park
- Buffet-style lunch at a riverside restaurant
Side Rafting Tour Prices
Prices are per person and shown in your chosen currency. You can pay on the tour day.
Itinerary
-
09:00
Hotel pickup
Pickup in the Side area and a drive of about 1–1.5 hours to Köprülü Canyon.
-
2
Briefing and equipment
At the rafting base you get your life jacket, helmet and paddle and practise the commands with your instructor.
-
3
Rafting on the Köprüçay
About 14 km downriver through class II–III rapids, with swim and photo stops along the way.
-
4
Lunch by the river
Buffet-style lunch at a riverside restaurant; drinks are extra.
-
17:30
Back in Side
The return transfer leaves in the afternoon and you are at your hotel at about 17:30.
What is included
Included
- Hotel pickup and drop-off
- Rafting with an instructor in every raft
- Life jacket, helmet and paddle
- Safety briefing at the base
- Lunch at a riverside restaurant
Not included
- Drinks
- Shoe and wetsuit rental
- Waterproof phone pouch
- Photos and video
- Personal expenses
Good to know before you go
The exact pickup time depends on your hotel's location and comes with your booking confirmation. Hotel pickup is free from Side, Kumköy, Çolaklı, Sorgun, Titreyengöl, Evrenseki and Gündoğdu.
What to bring
- Swimwear to wear under your clothes
- Shoes that can get wet and stay on your feet
- A towel and a change of clothes
- Sunscreen
- Cash for drinks and extras at the base
Good to know
- Life jackets and helmets are compulsory on the water, and an instructor steers every raft.
- Minimum age is 7; guests under 18 must be accompanied by a parent.
- No swimming skills are needed, but you should be comfortable in water.
- Not suitable for pregnant guests.
- The season runs mainly from April to October, with some November days depending on water and weather.
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Frequently asked questions
From what age can I go rafting, and do I need to swim?
The minimum age is 7, and guests under 18 take part with a parent. You do not have to be a swimmer, because everyone wears a life jacket and a helmet, but you should feel at ease in the water. An instructor guides every raft and gives a briefing before you set off. The rapids on the Köprüçay are class II–III. Rafting is not suitable during pregnancy.
What should I wear for rafting?
Put on swimwear under shorts and a T-shirt, and wear shoes that can get wet and will not slip off, such as sports sandals with straps or old trainers; flip-flops are not a good idea. Bring a towel, sun cream and dry clothes to change into after the trip. Wetsuits, rental shoes, waterproof phone pouches and photo or video packages are available at the base for an extra charge.
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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