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Raft the Koprucay River through Koprulu Canyon on a full-day trip from Side with hotel pickup, certified guides, swimming stops, and a riverside lunch included.
After morning hotel pickup you travel inland to Koprulu Canyon National Park for kit issue, safety briefing, and team allocation to your raft. Guides explain paddle commands and what to do in splashes before you put in on the Koprucay River.
Expect roughly 15 km of mixed rapids and calm sections with stops to swim in clear pools and admire the Oluk Bridge. A riverside lunch breaks up the day before the final stretch and return transfer toward your hotel.
Koprulu Canyon lies in the Taurus Mountains northeast of Side, where the Koprucay River cuts through pine forest and limestone cliffs. The national park is one of Turkey's best-known rafting venues, with turquoise water even when the coast is busy.
Combining canyon scenery with accessible rapids makes this a strong contrast to a beach-only holiday. You see Roman-era bridge ruins, forested gorges, and swimming beaches along the same river in one run.
No rafting experience is required, but you should be comfortable getting wet and following guide instructions quickly. Minimum age is 5 with an adult responsible for younger children in the raft.
Tell the team about pregnancy, back or shoulder injuries, or non-swimmers in your group before you travel. Life jackets are mandatory; alcohol before rafting is not permitted.
Certified guides run the river with safety-first briefing and equipment, so first-timers and families can enjoy Koprulu Canyon without organising their own transport or kit. Hotel pickup across the Side resort strip keeps the long day simple.
The route blends rapids, swimming, historic Oluk Bridge views, and lunch in the canyon rather than a short taster run. You get a full river day with scenery that matches the splash.
A driver collects you from your Side or Manavgat hotel in the morning and transfers you inland toward Koprulu Canyon National Park. Use the journey to change into swimwear and listen for any timing updates.
At the base you collect helmet and life jacket, meet your guide, and learn paddle strokes and safety rules. Teams board the rafts and put in on the Koprucay River.
Paddle through rapids and calm sections with stops to swim and photos near Oluk Bridge. Work as a crew while the guide steers through the splashiest lines.
After the main canyon run you stop for an included riverside lunch with time to rest, dry off a little, and share stories from the rapids with your crew. Guides keep an eye on timing so the group stays on track for any final short river section still planned that afternoon. You change into dry clothes at the base before boarding the minibus for the mountain road back toward Side. Drop-off follows at your hotel or the agreed point, usually with tired, sun-warmed guests ready for a shower after a full day on the water.
Hotel pickup is available for most stays in Side, Manavgat, and nearby resort areas. Once you have booked, the team confirms your morning collection time for the transfer to Koprulu Canyon.
If your hotel sits outside the usual pickup area, you will receive a clear meeting point instead. Wear swimwear under quick-dry clothes, bring a towel and change of clothes, and leave valuables at your room.
The minimum age is 5 for this rafting trip, though very young children must be accompanied and fit safely in the raft with a life jacket. Tell the team the ages in your party when you enquire.
Guides assign seating based on size and confidence. Parents should be ready to keep smaller children secure during rapids.
No prior rafting experience is required. Certified guides brief you on paddle strokes, sitting position, and what to do if you fall in before you enter the river.
Listen carefully, wear the provided helmet and life jacket, and follow the guide's commands. The route is chosen for fun rather than extreme whitewater.
Hotel pickup and transfer are included for most stays in Side, Manavgat, and nearby resort areas. After booking, the team confirms your collection time for the morning departure.
If your hotel sits outside the usual pickup zone, you will be told where to meet instead. Wear swimwear under quick-dry clothes and bring a change for after the river.
Plan for around 8 hours overall, including transfer to Koprulu Canyon National Park, briefing, roughly 15 km on the river, swimming stops, lunch, and return. Exact timing depends on traffic and group pace.
Bring secure footwear that can get wet, sun protection, and a towel. Leave non-waterproof electronics at your room if possible.
You raft the Koprucay River through Koprulu Canyon National Park with forested cliffs, turquoise water, and a mix of gentle and splashy rapids. Stops include swimming holes and views of the historic Oluk Bridge.
Guides steer the raft while your group paddles together. The emphasis is teamwork, scenery, and safe fun rather than extreme grade water.
Rafting needs suitable water levels and weather. If conditions are unsafe, the team will be in touch and may reschedule rather than run the river in flood or storm conditions.
Check your messages the evening before. Mountain weather around the canyon can differ from the coast.
The day typically includes hotel transfer for most Side-area stays, rafting equipment (raft, paddles, helmet, life jacket), certified guide, riverside lunch, and swimming stops where conditions allow.
Personal travel insurance, photos or videos if sold separately, extra snacks, and tips are usually left to you.
Non-swimmers can join with a life jacket and guide support, but you should be comfortable with splashing water and occasional immersion. Tell the team if anyone in your group cannot swim.
Guides position cautious guests toward the centre of the raft and explain how to hold on during bigger waves.
Wear swimwear or quick-dry shorts, secure sandals or water shoes, and sun protection. Cotton t-shirts are fine but avoid loose jewellery or sunglasses without a strap.
Bring a towel and dry clothes for the return transfer. The team provides helmet and buoyancy aid at the base.
Yes for families, friends, and first-timers who want an active day in nature without technical skills. The canyon setting adds scenery that flat resort beaches cannot match.
Team paddling keeps the pace social. You get rapids, swimming, lunch, and forest views in one coordinated day trip from Side.
About the centre
Side
Based on the Turkish Riviera around Alanya and Antalya, this team specialises in hotel-pickup day adventures across the Mediterranean coast and Taurus Mountains. Guests can choose everything from off-road quad and jeep safaris to river rafting, scuba and snorkel trips, boat and yacht days, horse riding, and high-adrenaline experiences like tandem paragliding, skydiving, and helicopter flights.
Most activities include hotel pickup, clear safety briefings, and equipment where it is needed for the experience. Whether you are travelling as a family, a couple, or a group of friends, the focus is on well-run days out with local guides who know the coastline, the mountains, and the practical details that make a trip run smoothly from pickup to drop-off.
Operated by Harley Tours, a partner of adventuro.
