Side Green Canyon Boat Trip With Unlimited Drinks And Lunch

Green Canyon is the star here: an emerald reservoir squeezed between steep rocky walls, far removed from Side’s busy beaches and resort streets. You’ll travel by hotel minibus to Oymapinar Dam, then spend much of the day on the water, with swimming, lunch, and photo stops built in.

I like the long 14-kilometer cruise, which gives you time to sit back rather than rush through a quick boat ride. I also like the practical package: hotel transfers, lunch, soft drinks, fishing rods, and use of kayaks are included. The main caution is crowding. Some departures have had full buses, packed boats, queues at lunch, and limited room for a quiet view.

Key Points Before You Book

• A 14-kilometer boat ride: Expect roughly two hours cruising through the narrow, dramatic section of Green Canyon, with plenty of time for photos.

• Swimming in the reservoir: The tour includes swimming breaks in the cool turquoise water, usually from designated platforms or near the lakeside restaurant.

• A full-day outing from Side: Hotel pickup begins around 8:30 am, and the total experience lasts about eight hours.

• Lunch and unlimited soft drinks: The meal includes barbecue chicken, meatballs or fish, pasta, salad, and fruit. Alcohol costs extra.

• Kayaks and fishing gear: You can use the restaurant’s kayaks and fishing equipment during the free period, though the available gear may be limited when the group is large.

• Beautiful views, uneven organization: The scenery and boat ride are the reliable highlights. Transport comfort, commentary, boarding, and crowd control may vary.

From Side to Oymapinar Dam

Your day begins with pickup from a hotel in Side or Kizilagac. The stated start time is 8:30 am, though hotel pickup tours rarely move everyone at the exact same minute. Keep your phone available and expect a transfer vehicle rather than a private car.

The drive takes you inland toward the Oymapinar reservoir. This part is useful for reaching the lake, but it is not the main attraction. A few people have found the bus old or uncomfortable, with weak air conditioning, while others describe the drivers and pickup staff as friendly and punctual. One serious complaint involved fast driving, so if road comfort matters greatly to you, this is worth keeping in mind.

The group may be large, with a maximum of 200 people. That number helps explain why the first stage can feel busy, especially when several buses arrive together. The organization at the pier may involve finding the correct boat and waiting while groups are sorted. Stay close to your guide and confirm your boat before boarding.

Oymapinar Dam and the Roman Bridge

A short stop at the dam gives you a first look at the reservoir and its mountain setting. Oymapinar Dam is described as Turkey’s fifth-largest dam and supplies water and electricity to the surrounding region.

There is also an ancient bridge dating from the Roman period, about 2,000 years old. The stop is brief, so you may not have much time to study the structure or find the best angle for photographs. One practical criticism is that the viewing point may show the dam from an imperfect side, rather than offering a grand, complete view.

Still, this pause helps you understand the scale of the water system before the cruise begins. Bring your camera, but do not expect a long sightseeing stop with detailed interpretation. The amount of explanation can depend on the guide. Mete has been praised for clear communication and good information on some departures, while other departures have had little or no commentary about the dam and lake.

Boarding the Boat for the 14-Kilometer Cruise

The real appeal begins when you board the boat. The route runs for about 14 kilometers through Green Canyon, where the reservoir narrows and the rocky sides rise above the water. The color of the lake changes with the light, but the emerald and turquoise tones are the main reason to bring a camera.

This is a relaxing cruise rather than a fast adventure ride. You can sit, watch the rock walls pass, and take pictures as the boat moves deeper into the canyon. The trip gives you more time on the water than a short harbor excursion, and the quiet views are the best reason to choose it.

Choose your seat with care. A full boat means passengers in the middle may have a poor view, and close rows can make moving around awkward. If you want photographs, keep your phone or camera ready and look for chances to move safely when the boat is not crowded around the rail.

Music is another variable. Some departures have a pleasant onboard atmosphere, while one strongly negative account described loud disco music and cigarette smoke. If you are sensitive to noise or smoke, the boat may not provide the peaceful setting you picture from the scenery alone.

The cruise lasts around two hours before the next swimming opportunity. That is enough time to appreciate the setting, but the overall day is not one continuous canyon cruise. You will also spend time in the bus, at the dam, and at the restaurant.

Swimming in Cool Turquoise Water

Swimming is one of the day’s most appealing features. The lake water is cool, and that can feel refreshing after the bus ride and boat time. You generally swim from a platform or a designated area rather than stepping onto a natural beach.

The water is surrounded by steep wooded and rocky slopes, so the setting feels very different from a normal hotel pool. You can swim, cool off, and take photographs from the boat or platform. The itinerary includes two swimming opportunities, one during the cruise and another connected with the restaurant break, although the exact arrangement can vary.

Bring a towel, swimsuit, sunscreen, and dry clothes. Sunscreen matters here because you may spend hours exposed on the boat, at the swimming platforms, and beside the restaurant. There is no need to bring fishing equipment, since fishing rods are included, but you may want to bring a small waterproof pouch for valuables.

This is not the right trip if you want long, uncrowded swims. Several boats may use the same areas, and the platforms can serve many people at once. You will have time to get in the water, but not necessarily the space or solitude of a remote swimming spot.

Lunch Beside the Lake

After the cruise and swimming, the boat or vehicle takes you to a lakeside restaurant for a longer break. The menu is described as an open buffet with barbecue chicken, meatballs or fish, pasta, salad, and fruit, plus unlimited soft drinks.

The meal is designed for convenience, not culinary discovery. Some people find it tasty and better than expected, while others describe it as basic, bland, or limited. Portions can also be a sore point. Although the meal is presented as an open buffet, some diners have been allowed only one plate or found that returning for seconds was not practical.

For the best choice, serve yourself promptly when the buffet opens. Large groups can create a queue, and waiting too long may leave less time for swimming, kayaking, or fishing. The restaurant setting is pleasant because you eat beside the reservoir, but a group of up to 200 people can make the service feel like mass catering.

The unlimited soft drinks add real value, especially on a hot day. Alcohol is not included, so budget separately if you want alcoholic drinks. Personal purchases are also extra.

Kayaking, Fishing, and Free Time

The restaurant break is more than a meal stop. You can spend your free time swimming, kayaking, or fishing. Fishing rods are included, and the activity offers a nice change from simply sitting on the boat.

Keep your expectations modest about the fishing. The equipment may be shared, and one account described only a small number of rods for a large group. Kayaks are also available, but the information does not promise one for every participant or a fixed amount of time. Treat these as optional extras rather than the central reason to book.

The free period is valuable because it lets you set your own pace. You can eat, cool off, take pictures, or sit by the water instead of following a tightly scripted activity. On the other hand, instructions may not always be clear. One departure left people unsure where to swim or fish after the guide moved away, so listen carefully when the group is told where to go.

Guides, Commentary, and Group Organization

The tour includes guiding service, but the experience of that service is not consistent. Mete is specifically praised for communicating well, helping from start to finish, and explaining the trip clearly. On other departures, the guide has been hard to find and has offered little information about the dam, the lake, or the sights.

That distinction matters. If you want a nature cruise with history and facts, ask at the start who your guide is and stay near the guide during transfers and stops. If you mainly want scenery, swimming, food, and transport, limited commentary may not bother you.

The group size is the biggest practical issue. A boat that is too full can reduce the pleasure of the cruise, especially if you are seated in the middle. Bus changes and multiple pickup vehicles can also create confusion at the beginning and end of the day.

The tour’s 4.3 rating from 161 reviews suggests a generally positive experience, but the spread from one to five stars is important. The views, swimming, and value receive the strongest praise. Complaints focus on crowding, organization, food limitations, bus condition, noise, and uneven guiding.

Is $36 Good Value?

At $36 per person, the package is priced competitively for an eight-hour outing. You are paying for hotel pickup and return, transport to the dam, the boat cruise, lunch, unlimited soft drinks, a guide, fishing rods, and access to kayaking and fishing during free time.

That is good value if you want a simple day away from the coast and prefer one booking to arranging transport, food, and a boat separately. The 14-kilometer cruise is long enough to make the main activity feel worthwhile, and the swimming stops add variety.

The value drops if you expect a small boat, premium food, quiet water, or detailed guiding. A crowded boat with one plate of basic food can feel less generous, even when the headline price is low. You may also find similar Green Canyon trips sold elsewhere for less, so compare prices before paying. The exact package can differ, but a lower price may offer much the same route.

Think of this as a good-value shared excursion, not a private nature tour. Families and couples who enjoy an easy day of scenery and swimming should find plenty to like. People who dislike queues, loud music, shared platforms, or long bus transfers should consider a smaller boat option if one is available.

What to Bring for a Better Day

Pack lightly, but bring the things that make the water stops easier:

• Swimsuit, towel, sunscreen, and a change of clothes
• Camera or phone with a waterproof case
• Cash or a card for alcohol and personal purchases
• A hat and sunglasses for the boat
• Comfortable clothing for a warm, full day
• Patience during boarding, buffet service, and group transfers

The boat, bus, and restaurant may each have a different pace. Keep your belongings together and do not wander far during free time, since the group must return to the boat and vehicles on schedule.

Free cancellation is available if you cancel at least 24 hours before the 8:30 am start time. Changes or cancellations inside that window are not refunded.

Who Should Book This Green Canyon Trip?

Book it if you want a full day of striking water views without planning the transport yourself. It works especially well for families, couples, and groups who like a mix of cruising, swimming, lunch, and optional activities.

I would also recommend it to first-time visitors staying in Side who want to see the inland scenery. The dam, Roman bridge, reservoir, and canyon give the day more variety than a standard beach excursion.

I would hesitate if your priority is silence, personal space, gourmet food, or a detailed nature lesson. In that case, look for a smaller-capacity boat and confirm how much commentary is provided. For everyone else, the price is fair, the setting is memorable, and the cruise is the part most likely to make the day worthwhile.

FAQ

Where does the Green Canyon boat trip depart from?

Hotel pickup is offered from Side and Kizilagac hotels. The stated start time is 8:30 am.

How long does the experience last?

The full excursion lasts approximately eight hours, including hotel transfers, the dam stop, boat cruise, swimming, lunch, and the return journey.

How long is the Green Canyon boat route?

The boat travels about 14 kilometers through Green Canyon.

Is hotel pickup included?

Yes. Hotel pickup and drop-off are included for hotels in Side and Kizilagac.

Is lunch included?

Yes. An open buffet lunch is included. The menu lists barbecue chicken, meatballs or fish, pasta, salad, and fruit.

Are drinks included?

Unlimited soft drinks are included. Alcoholic drinks are not included.

Can I swim during the trip?

Yes. Swimming stops are included in the itinerary, with access to the lake’s cool water.

Are kayaking and fishing available?

Yes. You can use the restaurant’s kayaks and fishing equipment during free time. Fishing rods are included.

Is a guide included?

Yes. Guiding service is included, although the amount of commentary may vary by departure. Mete has guided some departures.

How many people can join the tour?

The maximum group size is 200 people. A large departure may mean a busy bus, a full boat, queues, and limited seating views.

Can I cancel for a full refund?

Yes, if you cancel at least 24 hours before the experience’s start time. Cancellations made less than 24 hours before the start are not refunded.