City of Side: Green Canyon Boat Trip w/Unlimited Soft Drinks

The best part of this Side excursion is the change of scene: within the morning, you leave the resort crowds behind and reach the quiet green waters of Oymapinar Dam. The boat travels about 14 kilometres through the Green Canyon, with time for photos, swimming, lunch, and a close look at one of Turkey’s major dams.

I like the strong value at $21, especially with hotel transport, lunch, insurance, and soft drinks included. I also like the easy rhythm: two hours on the water, a swim, a lakeside meal, and free time for canoes or fishing. The main drawback is that the guiding can be brief, and the restaurant is reached by uneven stairs from the pontoon, which may trouble anyone with limited mobility.

Key points to know before booking

• A 14 km boat route: The main cruise gives you a long stretch of green water and canyon scenery rather than a quick ride.
• Oymapinar Dam and a Roman bridge: The opening stop combines modern engineering with a bridge said to date from the Roman period, around 2,000 years ago.
• Swimming from the boat: After roughly two hours of cruising, you get a break to swim in the lake.
• Barbecue lunch by the water: Choose chicken, meatballs, or fish, with pasta, salad, and fruit.
• Soft drinks throughout the boat trip: Drinks are included, though the glasses may be small and lunch drinks may cost extra.
• Useful hotel transport: Pickup and return are included, with a request to wait at your hotel’s main security gate 10 minutes early.

Leaving Side for Oymapinar Dam

The day begins with a hotel pickup in a comfortable vehicle. Exact departure times vary, and the full outing can last anywhere from four to nine hours, so check the available start time carefully before booking your other plans.

You are asked to wait at the main security gate of your hotel 10 minutes before pickup. That small detail matters in resort areas, where vehicles may not be able to drive into every hotel entrance. Keep your phone handy and allow a little patience if several hotels are being collected.

The drive takes you away from Side and toward the Manavgat area. This is the point of the trip: you trade beach hotels, traffic, and busy resort streets for a freshwater setting surrounded by rock and forested hills.

The tour may include people from more than one coach. That can make the group feel less intimate, but it also helps explain the low price. The trip is aimed at a broad international audience, with guiding available in English, Russian, German, Turkish, and Italian.

Oymapinar Dam and the old Roman bridge

The first stop is at Oymapinar Dam Lake, where you get a short break and time for photographs. The dam is the fifth largest in Turkey and helps supply water and electricity to the area.

That gives the stop more substance than a simple photo pause. You can look across a large working reservoir while also seeing traces of the much older Roman past nearby. An ancient bridge at the site is described as roughly 2,000 years old.

I would use this stop to get your bearings and take the wide views before boarding. The information provided about the dam and canyon may be limited, so do not expect a long technical explanation about the structure, the lake’s depth, or how the canyon formed. If those details matter to you, this is a good place to ask the guide directly.

The dam is also a useful reminder that the Green Canyon is not a wild river trip. You are cruising on a man-made lake that has become a scenic setting and a source of regional power and water.

Two hours across the Green Canyon

Once you reach the boat, the main portion of the day begins. The route covers about 14 kilometres through the Green Canyon, giving you a long period to sit back, take photographs, and watch the scenery change around the water.

The appeal here is calm rather than speed. There are no advertised rapids or high-adrenaline stunts. You get a slow boat outing in emerald and turquoise water, with the canyon walls and surrounding natural scenery doing most of the work.

This is a good fit if you want a restful day away from Side. Bring a camera, but also give yourself time to put it away. The best use of the cruise is a mix of photographs and simply sitting where you can see the water.

Soft drinks are included during the boat portion. The word unlimited sounds generous, but the serving glasses may be quite small. Still, having drinks available all day is useful in the Turkish heat, especially during a long boat ride.

Alcoholic drinks are not included. The information also says drinks are not allowed, so follow the operator’s instructions about bringing your own beverages. At the lakeside restaurant, drinks may be bought separately, and lunch drinks are not necessarily covered by the package.

Swimming in the turquoise water

After about two hours of cruising, the boat stops for a swimming break. You can enter the lake and swim in the clear-looking turquoise water, surrounded by the canyon scenery rather than a crowded public beach.

This pause breaks up the long cruise well. If you are not keen to swim, you can stay on the boat and enjoy the views, but the stop is one of the main reasons to bring a swimsuit and towel.

You should treat the swim as a natural lake stop, not a fully supervised water-park activity. The supplied information does not give details about changing rooms, water temperature, or special swimming facilities, so pack simply and be ready for the practical limits of a boat excursion.

The setting is the real attraction. Swimming here gives you a different view of the canyon, looking outward from the water rather than down from a roadside viewpoint.

A lakeside lunch with three main choices

After the swimming break, the boat continues to a restaurant beside the lake. Lunch includes a choice of barbecued chicken, meatballs, or fish, along with pasta, salad, and fruit.

This is a straightforward excursion meal, not a culinary event. That is fine. You get a filling plate after time in the sun and water, and the buffet-style side dishes make it easier to find something suitable within the available choices.

The location matters more than the menu. Eating beside the lake keeps the day outdoors and gives you a longer pause before the return cruise. If you want a drink with lunch, budget for it, since restaurant drinks are separate even though soft drinks are supplied on the boat.

There is one practical warning. The restaurant is reached by a number of uneven stairs from the pontoon. If stairs or unstable surfaces are difficult for you, ask about the route before booking. The tour is not suitable for people over 95, and the stair access is the more immediate concern for anyone with mobility issues.

Canoes, fishing rods, or more time by the lake

After lunch, you have free time at the restaurant area. You can swim again, sit beside the water, or use the available canoes and fishing rods.

The inclusion of these activities adds value to the low price, though you should think of them as simple free-time equipment rather than a separate guided adventure. The tour information does not promise instruction, a fishing catch, or a set canoe route.

I like having this unscheduled block. Not every person in a group wants the same thing after lunch. One person can relax, another can paddle, and someone else can take more photographs without feeling rushed to the next attraction.

If you prefer a packed sightseeing day, the free time may feel a little loose. If you want a break from Side’s busy pace, it is exactly the right kind of pause.

The return cruise and hotel drop-off

When the lunch stop ends, the boat sails back toward the original pier. The return portion gives you another chance to enjoy the canyon from a different direction, although the trip does not promise a new route or a second major sightseeing stop.

Vehicles wait at the pier for the journey back to your hotel. Hotel drop-off is included, so you do not need to arrange a taxi from the marina or pier afterward.

The day’s length can vary considerably, from four to nine hours. That range probably reflects pickup times, transfers, and the pace of the group. I would avoid booking a fixed evening activity immediately afterward unless you have checked the exact schedule for your date.

What the $21 price really covers

At $21 per person, this is one of the easier day trips to justify in Side if you want scenery and a change from the resort area. The price includes hotel pickup and return, lunch, soft drinks, a guide, fishing rods, canoes, and full insurance.

That package removes several small costs that can add up on an independent outing. You do not need to arrange transport to Oymapinar, find a boat, locate lunch, or pay separately for basic drinks on the cruise.

The price also explains the compromises. You may share transport or the boat with other groups, and the commentary may be fairly limited. The focus is on getting you to the lake, giving you time on the water, and handling the main logistics at a low cost.

Photography and video products are not included. Alcoholic drinks are also separate. If you want a more private boat, a detailed geological talk, or a polished premium meal, this is not the right product.

Who will enjoy this Green Canyon day

I would recommend this outing to you if you want:

• A break from Side’s resort crowds
• A gentle boat trip rather than an action-heavy excursion
• Time for swimming in a scenic freshwater setting
• A low-cost day with transport and lunch included
• Simple outdoor activities such as canoeing and fishing
• A flexible group experience with multilingual guiding

Families may like the combination of boat time, swimming, lunch, and free activities, though adults should supervise children around the lake and pontoon. The information supplied does not specify children’s equipment or a dedicated children’s program, so do not expect one.

It also suits couples and solo visitors who want a relaxed day without planning every detail themselves. You will get more out of it if you enjoy scenery, open space, and an unhurried schedule.

I would be cautious if you need step-free access, detailed commentary, or a tightly timed itinerary. The uneven stairs to the restaurant are important, and the guiding may not satisfy someone looking for a full explanation of the dam, canyon, and Roman bridge.

Practical tips for a smoother day

Wear shoes that are comfortable on uneven surfaces. The restaurant access includes stairs, and sensible footwear is useful around the pier and boat.

Bring swimwear, a towel, sun protection, and a camera. You will have a swimming stop and several photo opportunities, including the dam and the canyon.

Do not assume the included drinks cover lunch at the restaurant. Keep some money available if you want something from the bar, and remember that alcoholic drinks are excluded.

Check the pickup time and wait at the hotel’s main security gate 10 minutes early. Since the excursion collects people from hotels, being ready at the correct point is the simplest way to avoid a stressful start.

The tour has a rating of 4.3 from 43 reviews, which fits the overall picture: the setting, friendly boat staff, food, and price are the strongest points, while limited commentary, small drink servings, and stair access are the main cautions.

Should you book it?

Book this Green Canyon trip if your ideal Side day includes green water, broad views, a long boat ride, a swim, and an uncomplicated barbecue lunch. At $21, the combination of transport, food, drinks, and activities is hard to fault.

Skip it if you want a small private group, advanced water sports, extensive historical explanation, or easy step-free access. For most people who want an affordable escape into the countryside, though, this is a practical and scenic choice. Book at least 24 hours ahead if your plans might change, since cancellation is free up to that point.

FAQ

How long does the Green Canyon boat trip take?

The activity lasts between four and nine hours. Check the available starting time for your date, since the total length can vary.

Is hotel pickup and drop-off included?

Yes. Hotel pickup and drop-off are included. You should wait at your hotel’s main security gate 10 minutes before the scheduled pickup time.

Is lunch included?

Yes. Lunch includes a choice of barbecued chicken, meatballs, or fish, along with pasta, salad, and fruit.

Are soft drinks included?

Yes. Soft drinks are included during the boat trip. Alcoholic drinks are not included, and drinks at the lunch restaurant may cost extra.

What languages are available for the guide?

Guiding is available in English, Russian, German, Turkish, and Italian.

Can I cancel the booking?

Yes. You can cancel up to 24 hours in advance for a full refund. You can also reserve now and pay later, according to the booking conditions.