Green Canyon Tour from Side

Oymapinar Dam and the Green Lake

Oymapinar Dam holds back the Manavgat River in the Taurus Mountains and has created a long reservoir that glows an unusual green, an effect that comes from the mineral content of the water and the limestone around it. This is the lake that gives the Green Canyon boat trip its name, and the colour shifts with the light through the day.

From Side the route heads inland into mountain scenery very different from the coast, then to a landing where the boat waits. Many travellers ask about the best time to visit the Green Canyon: the lake is lovely in late spring and summer, when the cool air on the water is a relief from the heat. Bring a light jacket for the breeze on deck.

The Grand Canyon section

The first stretch of the cruise takes you into the Grand Canyon, where limestone walls rise steeply from the water and the boat looks small beside them. Some guests settle in the shade below deck while others climb to the open upper deck for the widest views, and reflections shimmer across the green surface.

Your guide explains how the dam changed the valley and how the lake fills the old river gorge. This is the part of the day to keep your camera ready, because the cliffs, the water colour and the mountains behind create the classic Green Canyon photograph. The upper deck has little shade, so apply sunscreen before boarding.

The Little Canyon

After the main canyon, the boat turns into the Little Canyon, a narrower and calmer passage where the rock walls come closer and the mood changes from dramatic to peaceful. The light filters differently here and the water looks even greener in the shade.

Many guests say this is the quietest part of the day, when conversation drops and everyone simply watches the scenery slide past. If you are comparing a Green Canyon boat cruise with other lake trips, this change between a wide first canyon and an intimate second one is what makes the route special. Take your time at the rail and enjoy the calm.

Swimming and fishing on the lake

The boat anchors in a calm part of the lake for a swim stop, and you can jump from the deck into cool, clean water surrounded by cliffs and forested slopes. Life jackets are available for anyone less confident in open water, and the lake is deep, so keep young swimmers close. Wear your swimsuit under your clothes to save time.

While the boat is at anchor you can also try rod fishing, with equipment provided on board. Even first-timers enjoy it, because the point is the relaxed pause rather than the catch. Bring a towel and a dry change of clothes for the journey back, as the return follows soon after the swimming and fishing breaks.

Lunch on deck and the dam wall

Lunch is an open buffet served on board, with long tables on deck and mountain views all around. Guests help themselves to a spread of dishes and eat together while the boat rests on the water, which makes the meal a natural social moment of the day. Tell our team about any dietary needs when you book.

Before the crossing back, the boat passes the dam wall for a photo stop. Seeing the huge concrete arch rise from the water between the cliffs gives a sense of scale and shows what created the lake. Guides explain the engineering behind it. Check the booking panel to see what each option includes.