Two activities, one day, one transfer
The buggy combo day starts exactly like the rafting-only tour from Side: hotel pickup, the drive into the national park, briefing, practice session and 12 kilometres of the Köprüçay with a trained guide in the boat. Nothing changes on the river – same stretch, same equipment, same supervision.
The difference is on land. After the rafting you take the wheel of a buggy and drive for 40 minutes along a closed off-road track, with instructors accompanying the group throughout. We call that combination the Rafting & Buggy Safari from Side, and it is the choice for guests who would rather sit in a seat with a steering wheel than ride a quad.
How the day runs
Pickup is generally at around 08:00 to 08:30 from your hotel in Side or one of the surrounding resorts; the exact time is confirmed personally after you book. The air-conditioned vehicle heads up through Manavgat into the national park, to the base by the river.
At the base the helmet and life jacket are fitted, followed by the briefing, the practice session and the run down the Köprüçay. Lunch is served on the bank. The buggy ride happens in whatever order the base is working that day – before or after the meal. You are normally back at your hotel at roughly 16:30 to 18:30, depending on group size, the day's schedule and the traffic.
- Hotel pickup, approximately 08:00–08:30
- Drive into Köprülü Canyon National Park
- Briefing, equipment, practice session
- 12 km of rafting on the Köprüçay
- Lunch by the river (drinks extra)
- 40-minute buggy safari
- Return drive, roughly 16:30–18:30
The buggy track: 40 minutes off-road
The buggies drive on a closed off-road track, not on public roads. Before you start there is a briefing and a short practice drive, you are given a helmet and safety equipment, and buggy instructors accompany the group for the whole ride. No driving licence is needed, and no previous experience either.
Anyone who would rather not drive rides along as a passenger – same track, same price. The trail is dry and dusty, so a bandana for mouth and nose is worth having; it is sold at the base as an extra. Clothes that can get wet will also get dusty today, so pack swimwear, a towel, sunscreen and a complete change of clothes.
Who can join
You need experience for neither half of the day. Non-swimmers can raft because the fitted life jacket keeps them afloat and the guide sits in the boat. Children aged 4 to 11 pay the child fare, from 12 the full fare applies, and for children under 4 the day is not recommended.
The day is not for anyone who is pregnant, has a serious heart condition, asthma or a similar respiratory condition, a severe back or mobility problem, or a recent operation. Anyone who has been drinking goes neither on the river nor in a buggy. If in doubt, ask us on WhatsApp before you book and we will check with the operator.
Price and what is included
The Rafting & Buggy Safari from Side costs €35 per person, and children aged 4 to 11 pay €21. Rafting alone from Side starts at €18 by comparison. Included in both cases: round-trip transfer in an air-conditioned vehicle from all hotels in Side, the guide in the boat, briefing and practice, helmet, life jacket and paddle, accident and activity insurance and lunch by the river – plus, on the combo, the buggy instructors and the ride itself.
Drinks are always extra, including at lunch. Also extra: water shoes if you have none with you (rent or buy at the base), professional photos and video, and the bandana. Nothing is charged online: you book, we confirm, and you pay on the day in cash or by card.
Buggy, or something else?
The buggy package is the dearest of the two-activity combos and the one with the strongest driving feel: you sit strapped into a seat, steer with a wheel and have a passenger seat beside you. If you would rather sit on a quad, the quad version with its own price is on the overview of all rafting packages from Side, together with the zipline and the jeep safari.
If you want the zipline over the canyon on top of the buggy, there is a separate three-activity package for that. And anyone who only wants the river stays with rafting alone at €18.