Köprülü Canyon Canyoning, Rafting and Zipline Combo with Lunch Antalya

Köprülü Canyon National Park

Köprülü Canyon National Park protects a deep limestone gorge carved by the Köprülü river through the western Taurus Mountains, about two hours by road east of central Antalya. Declared a national park in 1973, it is known for its emerald water, its forests of pine and of the rare Mediterranean cypress, and for the ancient bridges and ruins that line the valley. The river is fed by mountain springs, so it stays cold and clear even in the heat of an Antalya summer.

Most visitors come for one reason: the river is the best-known place for rafting near Antalya, with a long, beginner-friendly stretch between steep wooded walls. This tour uses the canyon for the whole day, from the narrow side gorges where the canyoning takes place to the rafting route and the riverside restaurant. If you are wondering whether a Köprülü Canyon tour is worth the drive, the scenery alone answers it.

Canyoning through the narrow gorge

The day begins with about an hour of canyoning in a side gorge of the canyon. With your helmet and life vest on, you follow the instructors along the stream bed, scrambling over boulders, wading through pools and squeezing through passages so narrow that you could almost lose your way without a guide. In several places the smooth rock forms natural slides that drop you straight into deep, cold, crystal-clear water.

No previous experience is needed, but you should be comfortable getting wet and moving over uneven ground, which is why closed-toe shoes are required and sandals are not allowed. The instructors set the pace and show the safest line at every jump and slide. Many guests say this quiet, shaded part of the canyon is the surprise of the day, a contrast to the noise and splash of the rafting that follows.

The Eurymedon Bridge, a Roman crossing still in use

At the end of the canyoning section you reach the Eurymedon Bridge, also called the Oluk Bridge, a single stone arch built in Roman times about 2,000 years ago to carry the road up to the ancient city of Selge. It spans the narrowest point of the gorge and is still crossed by local traffic today, which makes it one of the best-preserved Roman bridges in Turkey and the landmark of Köprülü Canyon; the name Köprülü itself means "with a bridge".

Here you choose how to continue: swim under the arch through the cold, green water, or walk along a trekking path of about 700 m above the river with some of the finest views of the canyon. Either way, it is the moment for photos, with the bridge framed by rock walls and the river below, before you join the rafts.

14 km of whitewater rafting on the Köprülü river

The rafting route runs for 14 km down the Köprülü river and passes 10 rapids, separated by calm stretches where you can float, look up at the cliffs and jump into the water. Before you start, the instructor gives a safety briefing on the bank and explains the paddle commands, then each raft sets off with an instructor at the back to steer. The rapids are lively enough to soak everyone on board, yet the route suits first-timers.

Expect splashing battles between rafts, short swims in the calmer pools and a steady stream of pine-covered slopes and rock walls. The trip ends at the riverside base, where lunch is waiting. Photos and videos are taken during the day and can be bought afterwards; there is no need to carry a phone on the raft, and the instructors keep your valuables dry.

Zipline, jeep safari and quad or buggy: the combo options

What sets this tour apart is that you can add more adventure to the same day in the canyon. The default option includes a zipline ride, a jeep safari ride and a quad or buggy ride on top of the canyoning and rafting, while lighter options keep only the zipline, the zipline with the jeep, or no extras at all. All of them include the canyoning, the rafting and lunch, so you can choose the one that suits your energy and your group.

Lunch is served by the river after the activities, and it is a good time to rest, dry off and watch the photos and videos of the day before the drive back. The departure from the canyon is at a fixed time at the end of the day, so the total length is the same for every option with transfers, about 10 hours from hotel to hotel.