What sets this day apart from rafting alone
On the rafting-only tour from Side the drive in is a transfer that gets you from A to B. On the Rafting & Jeep Safari from Side the transfer itself runs with jeeps – the drive up into Köprülü Canyon National Park becomes the first item on the programme rather than the wait before it.
On the river the core does not change: the same 12 kilometres of the Köprüçay, a trained guide in every raft, briefing and practice session, helmet, life jacket and paddle. What this package explicitly includes are the swimming stops along the run and cliff jumping at the spots the guide judges safe. Anyone who would rather not jump stays in the boat.
How the day runs
You are collected from your hotel in Side or one of the surrounding resorts, generally at around 08:00 to 08:30. Your exact time depends on the hotel and the route and is confirmed personally after you book. The jeeps then head up through Manavgat into the national park, to the rafting base in the valley.
At the base the helmet and life jacket are fitted, then come the safety briefing and the practice session on calm water, then the run itself with swimming stops on the way. Lunch is served on the bank. You are normally back at your hotel at roughly 16:30 to 18:30 – the return moves with group size, the operator's schedule, traffic and the river.
- Hotel pickup, approximately 08:00–08:30
- Jeep safari up into Köprülü Canyon National Park
- Briefing, equipment, practice session
- 12 km of rafting on the Köprüçay with swimming stops and cliff jumping
- Lunch by the river (drinks extra)
- Return drive, roughly 16:30–18:30
Swimming stops and cliff jumping
The Köprüçay is calm enough to swim in at many points, and the guides stop where it is safe. In this package the swimming stops and the cliff jumping are a fixed part of the flow – you get out of the raft, swim in the river or jump from the rocks the guide clears. The life jacket stays on throughout.
Whether you jump is your call. Nobody has to leave a rock, and anyone who prefers to stay in the boat misses nothing of the rest of the day. The same rule applies to children: the guides only clear spots they can stand behind for the whole group.
Who can join
No experience is needed, and non-swimmers can take part – the fitted life jacket keeps you afloat and the guide sits in the boat. Children aged 4 to 11 pay the child fare; for children under 4 the rafting 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 does not go on the river. If you are unsure about a condition, ask us on WhatsApp before you book and we will check with the operator.
Price and what is included
The Rafting & Jeep Safari from Side costs €28 per person, and children aged 4 to 11 pay €17. Rafting alone from Side starts at €18 by comparison. Included are the transfer with the jeeps both ways, the guide in the boat, briefing and practice, helmet, life jacket and paddle, accident and activity insurance and lunch by the river.
Drinks are always extra, including at lunch. Also extra: water shoes if you have none with you (rent or buy at the base), and professional photos and video. Nothing is charged online: you book, we confirm, and you pay on the day of the tour.
Jeep safari, or another package?
The jeep safari is the right choice if you want a full day at the canyon without driving anything – the driver drives, you sit in the jeep. If you would rather drive yourself, the overview of all rafting packages from Side lists the quad and buggy versions with their own prices, and the zipline if you want to see the canyon from above.
If you only want the river, stay with rafting alone at €18. Packages that pair the jeep safari with a third activity are not sold here, because no confirmed price exists for them.