City of Side: Buggy Safari Tour

The best part of this Koprucay River buggy safari is that you do not simply sit in a vehicle and watch the scenery pass. You drive through the tracks yourself, kicking up dust, splashing through wet sections, and stopping for a swim halfway through the route. It is active, messy, and much more hands-on than a standard sightseeing trip.

I like the easy hotel pickup and the setting inside Koprulu Canyon National Park. I also like that the guides keep the activity feeling safe while still giving you twists, turns, mud, and enough open track to enjoy the buggy. The main drawback is timing: the full outing lasts about four hours, but the actual driving is often closer to 90 minutes to two and a half hours, with transfers and waiting included.

Key points to know before booking

• Expect real mud and dust: Sunglasses alone are not enough on dry days. Goggles and a face covering make the ride far more comfortable.
• The advertised route is 20 kilometers: The exact driving time can vary, and the group may spend time waiting before setting off.
• A swim stop breaks up the ride: Bring swimwear and a towel if you want to wash off and swim in the river.
• Pickup is at the hotel security gate: Tour vehicles do not enter the hotel grounds, so do not wait in the lobby.
• The $42 price covers the essentials: Guide, helmet, buggy driving, and return transport are included, but food, drinks, goggles, photos, and other extras cost more.
• This suits active families and groups: Children under 16 may ride only in the side seat, and the tour is not suitable for children under three, pregnant women, or people with mobility impairments.

From Side to Koprulu Canyon National Park

The tour runs from six pickup areas: Side, Kumköy, Çolaklı, Gündoğdu, Titreyengöl, and Kadriye. Your collection point is the main security gate of your hotel, not reception. That small detail matters, since hotel grounds do not allow the safari vehicles inside.

The drive to the activity base can take around 30 to 45 minutes from Side, depending on the pickup schedule and traffic. The minibus may collect several groups along the way, so the four-hour duration is best understood as door to door rather than four solid hours of action.

Transport reports are mostly positive, with timely pickups and air-conditioned return buses. Still, allow for ordinary excursion-day delays. One recorded outing had a vehicle break down and a replacement arrive within minutes, while another pickup was badly delayed. I would keep your morning free rather than booking a tight connection afterward.

Koprulu Canyon National Park gives the ride a much better setting than an ordinary dirt-track course. The route follows the Koprucay River and passes through wooded mountain country, with the river providing a cool contrast to the dusty tracks. You are here for the driving, but the park gives you something to look at between the bumps.

A quick briefing before you take the wheel

At the base, you receive a short briefing on operating the buggy and basic safety rules. A helmet is included. The guides speak English, German, and Russian, so you can ask questions before setting off.

The buggies are driven as part of a group. That means you follow the guide and stay on the planned route rather than choosing your own speed or heading off into the park. The pace can vary, particularly when the group is large or when less experienced drivers need extra space.

Several people liked the sense of safety and the friendly staff. That is important here. The track includes bends, muddy patches, uneven ground, and river crossings, so a clear briefing and a guide at the front make the ride more manageable.

You cannot normally switch drivers halfway through the trip. This disappointed some pairs who expected to share the driving, but the rule is understandable. Changing seats during a moving group activity can create confusion and safety problems. If two people want equal driving time, ask before departure rather than assuming a mid-route swap is allowed.

What the 20-kilometer ride is really like

The advertised activity includes 20 kilometers of buggy driving along the river. The route is described as an initial 10-kilometer section, a break, and a final section afterward. The overall riding time reported by different participants ranges from about 90 minutes to more than two hours, depending on the day, group, and conditions.

You should expect a mixture of dusty tracks, muddy sections, turns, and wet crossings. On dry days, the buggies throw up a great deal of fine dirt. After rain, the same route can become a wet, muddy adventure. The result is not a polished motor tour. It is closer to a controlled off-road romp where your clothes, shoes, and hair take a beating.

The river is the visual anchor. You get glimpses of the Koprucay while driving through the park, and some portions bring you close enough to feel the spray or cross shallow water. The route offers more variety than simply circling a field, though the group format means you cannot stop whenever you want for photographs.

A guide photographs the group during the ride. At the end, you can look through the images and decide if you want to buy them. Purchasing a DVD and photos is optional, and the cost is not included in the tour price. The photos can be a useful souvenir because taking out your own phone during a muddy, moving ride is not practical.

The halfway swim in the Koprucay River

The swim stop is one of the smartest features of the outing. After the first part of the ride, you get a short break beside the river. In hot weather, it gives you a chance to cool down. It also lets you remove the first layer of dust and mud before returning to the buggy.

Bring swimwear and a towel if you plan to enter the water. The swim is optional, so you can use the stop as a rest break instead. In cooler months, or on a rainy day, you might prefer to stay dry and simply wait for the second section.

The stop does not turn the tour into a river excursion. It is a short pause within a motor activity, not a long swim session. Still, it adds a welcome change of pace and makes the route feel less repetitive.

Dust, mud, and the clothing you should wear

The most useful preparation is simple: wear old clothes and shoes you do not mind getting dirty. You may return dusty, wet, muddy, or all three. Do not wear anything you hope to use for a nice dinner that evening.

Sunglasses help with sun glare, but they do not seal out the dust. I would bring proper riding goggles if you have them. Several participants found that dust made it hard to see, and one person had to spend time washing grit from their eyes after the ride.

A scarf or bandana over your nose and mouth is also useful. The operator can sell goggles, face coverings, sunglasses, suitable shoes, and similar items at the base, but these extras are not included. Prices were described as reasonable, though you can avoid another purchase by packing your own goggles, scarf, and old footwear.

The supplied helmet is included. You should also bring a towel, swimwear, and sunglasses. Pets are not allowed.

How much time you get on the buggy

The four-hour listing includes pickup, transport, briefing, the ride, the river stop, time at the base, and the return transfer. From hotel door to hotel door, some outings finish in roughly four hours, while the driving itself may take about 90 minutes.

Other days offer closer to two or two and a half hours behind the wheel. This difference seems to depend on group size, waiting time, and the day’s operating schedule. You may wait before the ride begins, especially when several groups arrive together.

That is the main value question. At $42 per person, the package is fairly priced if you want a half-day activity with transport and a proper off-road route. It is less attractive if you expect four uninterrupted hours of driving.

The price includes an expert guide, hotel pickup and drop-off, a helmet, and the 20-kilometer buggy experience. Food and drinks are extra, as are photos, DVDs, goggles, masks, and other equipment. A small amount of hot food and drinks may be available at the base, but do not treat lunch as part of the package.

Group size, pace, and safety

The experience works best when the group is not too large. A smaller group means less waiting and fewer bottlenecks on the track. One outing had around ten buggies and four quads, which made for a manageable group.

With a larger group, expect more pauses. The guide needs to keep everyone together, and overtaking can become unsafe. Do not try to pass other buggies unless the guide clearly allows it. The route is more enjoyable when drivers keep a sensible distance and follow the instructions.

The buggies are described as fun to drive, and the guides are generally considered friendly and reassuring. You still need to treat the activity seriously. Wet ground, dust, turns, and uneven tracks can make visibility and control more difficult.

People under 16 can only sit in the side seat of the buggy. Children under three are not accepted. The tour is also unsuitable for pregnant women and people with mobility impairments. For older children who are tall enough to sit safely beside an adult, it can be a memorable family outing, but the final decision should reflect the child’s comfort with noise, bumps, mud, and a long vehicle ride.

The return to the base and hotel

After the final section, you return to the facility, remove your equipment, and have a chance to look at the photographs taken along the route. You can purchase them if you like, but there is no requirement to buy extras.

The return transfer is by air-conditioned bus to the same general pickup area. Drop-off is listed for Titreyengöl, Gündoğdu, Kumköy, Çolaklı, Kadriye, and Side.

Do not plan to walk straight into a formal evening event. Even with the swim stop, you may still have dust on your clothes and mud in places you did not expect. Pack with the assumption that this is an activity day, not a dress-up excursion.

Who will enjoy this safari most?

I would choose this for you if you want an active break from hotel pools and beach time. It works particularly well for couples, groups of friends, and families with older children who enjoy driving and do not mind getting filthy.

It is also a good choice if you want scenery without spending the day on a long guided nature walk. The national park and river provide the setting, while the buggy gives you a reason to move through it rather than simply view it from a bus.

You may want to skip it if you dislike dust, noise, mud, or group activities. It is not ideal for anyone looking for a quiet nature experience, a long swim, or guaranteed four hours of driving. The excursion also requires enough physical ease to climb into a buggy, sit through a bumpy ride, and manage the conditions.

The language choice is helpful. Guides operate in English, German, and Russian, and English-language instruction is available. Staff member Erkin is associated with the operating team and has been thanked for helping make the day run smoothly.

Is the Side buggy safari good value?

At $42, I think this is good value for the right kind of afternoon. You get transport from your hotel area, a helmet, guide supervision, a substantial off-road route, and a swim break in a striking national park setting.

The value drops if you count only steering time and expect the full four hours to be spent on the buggy. Waiting and transfers are part of the package, and larger groups can make the start feel slow. Food, drinks, safety goggles, face coverings, and photographs add to the final cost if you buy them onsite.

The strongest reason to book is the combination of driving, river scenery, and messy fun. The strongest reason to hesitate is the variable activity time and the possibility of pickup delays. Free cancellation up to 24 hours before departure and the reserve-now, pay-later option make it easier to fit into a changing holiday plan.

Should you book it?

Book this tour if you want a lively, hands-on half-day in Koprulu Canyon and are happy to return dusty, wet, and muddy. Bring goggles, a scarf, swimwear, a towel, old clothing, and sensible shoes, then treat the ride as an adventure rather than a perfectly timed driving lesson.

Skip it if you need a calm outing, dislike group pacing, or want a guaranteed four hours behind the wheel. For active families and anyone looking for a memorable change from resort life, the river crossings and mud-filled track make this one of the better-value excursions around Side.

FAQ

Where does the buggy safari take place?

The activity takes place in Koprulu Canyon National Park along the Koprucay River in Antalya Province, Turkey.

How long does the tour last?

The stated duration is four hours, including hotel transfers and the activity. The buggy driving itself may last around 90 minutes to two and a half hours, depending on the schedule and group.

Is hotel pickup included?

Yes. Pickup and drop-off are included from Side, Kumköy, Çolaklı, Gündoğdu, Titreyengöl, and Kadriye. You must wait at your hotel’s main security gate, not in the lobby or reception area.

What should I bring?

Bring sunglasses, swimwear, a towel, and a scarf or bandana. Goggles and a face covering are especially useful because the route can be very dusty.

Can children drive the buggies?

People under 16 can only sit in the side seat of the buggy. The tour is not suitable for children under three.

Are food, drinks, goggles, and photos included?

No. The guide, helmet, hotel transfers, and 20-kilometer buggy experience are included. Food, drinks, extra equipment, DVDs, and photos cost extra.