Taurus Mountains Jeep Safari and Green Lake Boat Trip Side

Taurus Mountains jeep safari from Side

The Taurus Mountains rise just behind the Side coast, and a jeep is the easiest way into their forested valleys and dusty tracks. After a short safety briefing you take a seat in one of our jeeps and leave the asphalt behind, with an experienced driver handling the climbs and bends. Along the route we stop at lookouts above a lake, which are ideal for group photos.

If you wonder whether a jeep safari from Side is worth it, it is a good choice for anyone who likes variety: mountain scenery, a swim, lunch and a boat ride in a single day, with no driving or planning on your side. Expect bumpy tracks and dust, and bring swimwear and a towel. As the jeeps pass each other the crews join in friendly water fights, so leave phones and cameras that are not waterproof at the hotel.

The Roman aqueduct stop

Roman engineers supplied the cities of this coast with water through long stone aqueducts, and the remains of one of them stand beside our route. Side itself was a busy port in Roman times, and these arches are a quiet reminder of how much effort went into keeping such a city alive.

The stop lasts a short while, just long enough to walk around the arches, read the landscape and take photographs before the jeeps continue into the hills. It is a welcome contrast to the adventure of the day and a nice extra for anyone who enjoys history on a day trip from Side.

Green Canyon and the Oymapınar Dam

Green Canyon is the deep gorge of the Manavgat River, where the Oymapınar Dam, a tall arch dam finished in the 1980s, holds back the water. From the viewpoint you look down over the reservoir, whose surface turns green and turquoise as the light changes, with pine-covered slopes on every side. The stop lasts around half an hour.

Many guests ask how to get to Green Canyon from Side. There is no public transport to the viewpoint and the last stretch is a rough track, so joining a jeep tour is the simplest way. Clear mornings give the best light and the most colour in the water, and spring and autumn are comfortable for walking around the viewpoint.

Green Lake: swimming, lunch and the boat trip

Green Lake is the reservoir behind the dam, and its calm water is the heart of the day. While lunch is prepared at the lakeside restaurant you can swim in the cool, clear water, and after the meal the option with the boat trip lets you cruise across the lake for about an hour with more time to swim and enjoy the mountain views.

If you prefer a slower pace, choose the option without the boat trip and spend one more hour at the lakeside restaurant instead. Is a Green Lake boat trip worth it? For most guests it is the highlight, because the scenery looks different from the water. Summer is the best season for swimming, while spring and autumn are cooler and quieter.

Manavgat Waterfall

The last stop is the Manavgat Waterfall on the Manavgat River, close to the town of Manavgat. It does not fall from a great height, but it is wide and loud, and the spray cools the air on a hot afternoon. Plan on about half an hour to walk along the water, take photographs and have a cold drink in the shaded area.

Visitors often search for Manavgat Waterfall opening hours. The site is open during daylight and the hours change by season, and our programme already fits the visit into the schedule. Please note that the waterfall entrance fee is not included in the tour, so keep a little cash for it if you wish to go in. From here we drive back to your hotel.