Green Canyon Tour from Alanya

Oymapinar Dam Green Lake

Oymapinar Dam holds back the Manavgat River in the Taurus foothills, and the lake behind it is the heart of this tour. The dam is a tall concrete arch dam completed in the 1980s, and the reservoir it created has a startling emerald colour that shifts with the light and the depth of the water. Steep limestone cliffs and pine forest come right down to the shore, so the lake feels remote and quiet despite being a short drive from the coast.

Our vehicle collects you at your hotel in Alanya and drives inland to the boarding point, a journey of well over an hour. If you are searching for a Green Canyon excursion from Alanya, this is the place the name refers to. The best time to visit Oymapinar Lake is in the warm months, when the swim break is most welcome, and the green is brightest in strong sun.

The Grand Canyon by boat

The Grand Canyon is the longest stretch of the cruise, about fourteen kilometres of water between sheer rock walls. In places the cliffs drop straight into the lake, and in others they step back in ledges polished by the river over time. As the boat moves, the light changes the colour of the rock from pale gold to dark grey, and the water often turns a deeper green in the shade.

The boat has two decks, a shaded lower one for sitting and an open upper one for the view, so you can choose your spot or move between them. Our guide points out the rock formations and explains how the canyon formed. Bring a hat and sunglasses for the upper deck, and a light jacket, because the breeze on the water can feel cool even on a hot day.

The Little Canyon

After the open scale of the Grand Canyon, the boat turns into the Little Canyon, a narrower passage about three kilometres long. The cliffs come closer, the water is calm and the mood becomes quieter. Birds nest in the rock crevices, and voices carry softly between the walls, so many guests lower their voices and simply look.

This part of the route gives the best photographs of the cliffs from close range, so keep your phone or camera on a strap. It is also a good time to sit on the lower deck out of the sun. The contrast between the wide canyon and this narrow one is a big part of why the Green Canyon boat trip from Alanya feels so varied, and it is why guests who expect only scenery are often surprised.

The swim break and fishing on the lake

Midway through the cruise, the boat stops in a calm spot for a swim break of 30 to 45 minutes. The water is cool and clear, and tall cliffs surround the swimming area like a natural amphitheatre. Some guests swim around the boat, and others just float and watch the sky. Life jackets are available for anyone who wants extra confidence, and swimming is optional, so non-swimmers can stay on deck.

Fishing is the quieter pleasure of the day. Rods are supplied on board, so you do not need to bring any equipment, and you can cast a line from the boat while chatting with other guests. It is relaxed and low pressure, more about the experience than the catch, and children like it. Keep children close to an adult near the water at all times.

Lunch on the boat or by the lake

Lunch is included in the tour and is served either on the boat or at a lakeside setting, depending on the day. The meal is served to the whole group at the same time, which makes it a sociable break in the middle of the day. Eating with a view of the green water and the cliffs makes even a simple lunch memorable.

If you have dietary needs, please tell our team when you book so we can pass the request on. Drinks beyond what is served and personal purchases are paid by you. The timing is set so the whole boat eats together before the last part of the cruise, so you can enjoy the afternoon without rushing.

The dam wall and the Taurus Mountains viewpoint

On the way back, the boat passes close to the dam wall, a concrete face rising sharply from the water it holds back. Seen up close, the scale is far more impressive than in photographs from a distance. Our guide explains the dam's role in the region's water supply and electricity, which adds some context to a day that is otherwise all about scenery.

The day ends with a stop at a viewpoint in the Taurus Mountains, one of the great mountain ranges of southern Turkey. From here you see ridgelines fading into blue haze and valleys dropping toward the lake. It is a proper pause for photographs, not a quick glance from a moving vehicle. Then we drive back to Alanya and drop you at your hotel.