REVIEW · SIDE
Side: Guided Quad Bike Riding Experience
Book on Viator →Operated by Seven Tours · Bookable on Viator
Mud, helmets, and a quick training movie. I like how this quad ride handles the day for you, with round-trip hotel pickup and a smooth start with training and paperwork. I also like the practical finish: after about 20 km of muddy trail riding, there are showers and an easy clothes change so you can stop smelling like a swamp. One possible drawback to plan for up front: this is guided fun, not a speed contest, and pace rules can limit faster riders.
Before you touch a quad, you transfer to the meeting area by air-conditioned coach. Your team goes over basics, you’ll watch a short training movie on TV, and they’ll complete insurance forms. If you’re riding in English, this helps a lot, because you’ll actually understand what’s expected.
The ride itself is the main event. Expect to get wet and dirty from mud, follow the tour leaders once you’re cleared to drive, and then kick back while your quad memories get shown on DVD (optional to buy). For extra photos/video on USB, you can typically settle later if you’re traveling light.
In This Review
- Quick Key Points Before You Go
- Side Quad Bike Ride: The Hotel Pickup That Saves Your Day
- Getting Started: Movie, Insurance Paperwork, and the Test-Drive Moment
- The 20 km Trail Ride: Mud, Hills, and a Controlled Pace
- Helmets, Vehicles, and Staying Safe Without Killing the Fun
- Showers and Clothes Change: The Practical Win After You Get Covered
- DVD and USB Photos: Optional Memories, With a Budget Tip
- What’s Included vs Not Included (So You Don’t Get Caught Off Guard)
- Families, Teens, and Who Can Drive
- Price and Value: Is $35 Worth It from Side?
- Morning vs Heat: Timing for Comfort
- Language and Group Size: Easy to Follow, Not Too Crowded
- Should You Book This Quad Ride from Side?
- FAQ
- What’s the duration of the Side quad bike tour?
- Do you get hotel pickup and drop-off?
- Is English available for the tour?
- How long is the quad biking itself?
- Do I need to bring a helmet or safety gear?
- Will I get wet or muddy?
- Can children drive a quad bike?
- What’s not included in the price?
Quick Key Points Before You Go

- Pickup in a wide Side-area zone: Side, Titreyengol, Sorgun, Kumkoy, Evrenseki, Colakli and Gundogdu.
- Short training first: movie + insurance paperwork + instructions before you drive.
- About 20 km of guided trail: enough time to feel you did the real thing, not just a quick lap.
- Mud is part of the deal: you’ll be wet and dirty, so dress for it.
- Helmets, gear, and a leader are included, plus insurance support.
- Photos/DVD are optional extras: plan your budget and payment method.
Side Quad Bike Ride: The Hotel Pickup That Saves Your Day
This is one of those tours that starts with a big time-saver. You don’t need to figure out transport, parking, or how to get to the trailhead area. Pickup runs from hotels across the Side region, including Titreyengol, Sorgun, Kumkoy, Evrenseki, Colakli, and Gundogdu.
The transfer is by air-conditioned coach. That matters in summer, when you can feel heat building even before you start. You’ll also get where you need to be without the usual guessing game that comes with self-guided adventures.
One small reality check: pickups depend on route logistics. Rain and other road factors can affect timing, so build in patience if your hotel is on the edge of the pickup area.
Getting Started: Movie, Insurance Paperwork, and the Test-Drive Moment

Once you arrive, your team handles the early “admin + safety” part. You’ll get information from the team and watch a short movie on TV. At the same time, they write your details for insurance forms.
Then comes the practical bit. You won’t just jump on and go. The tour leaders assess when you’re ready to ride, and they start you off in a way that builds control before you head into the longer trail segment. You can think of it as a short runway before the fun.
For families and first-timers, this step is a big deal. It reduces that awkward “what do I do with the controls?” stress. For experienced riders, you may notice the pace is calmer at first, then steadies into a guided rhythm.
The 20 km Trail Ride: Mud, Hills, and a Controlled Pace

This quad biking experience is centered on one thing: a guided trail ride of about 20 km. That’s the chunk of time you’ll feel in your arms and legs, and it’s why the tour is worth more than a quick photo stop.
You’ll ride through terrain around the Side area, including the kind of rolling ground that creates hill views along the way. The scenery is part of the payoff, especially when you can see the hills from higher points.
Now for the part no one should skip: mud. The tour is designed so you’ll get wet and dirty during the riding segment. That’s not a side effect—it’s what you should expect. If you come in with “nice” clothes, you’ll regret it. If you come in with the right mindset, it becomes part of the adventure.
Also keep expectations realistic about speed. The experience is structured as a group activity, and safety rules can limit speeding. If you’re expecting full-throttle racing, you might feel slightly restricted. If you want confident guided riding with views and laughs, you’ll likely be happy.
Helmets, Vehicles, and Staying Safe Without Killing the Fun
Helmets are included, and your tour leader is with you for the ride. That combo matters for two reasons: first, it keeps the basics covered. Second, it gives the group a consistent standard of how you ride.
The biggest safety input happens right before you start moving into the longer program—through instructions and a test-run style start. Once you’re “cleared,” you follow the leaders through the trail route at a pace they manage.
One more reality check you should consider: the quad machines you get can feel older depending on what’s available. In most cases, they’ll do the job, but if you’re picky about performance or acceleration, treat this as guided fun rather than a premium, brand-new machine experience. If your priority is power, keep an eye on how your quad feels right away and flag concerns early to your leader.
Showers and Clothes Change: The Practical Win After You Get Covered

Here’s a detail that turns this tour from just fun into actually comfortable. After you finish the quad riding, you have access to showers and an easy clothes change setup.
Because you’ll get muddy, this is the difference between “great memory” and “why am I still damp on the bus ride back?” You can rinse off, change, and head back without carrying grime all the way to dinner.
For families, this matters even more. Kids usually bounce from excitement to exhaustion quickly, and having a real reset helps everyone recover faster.
DVD and USB Photos: Optional Memories, With a Budget Tip

After the ride, there’s a media moment. You’ll be shown your quad biking memories on DVD. Buying the DVD is optional.
There are also photos and video offered after the ride, often on USB. You may see a price for these extras, and they’re not included in the base tour cost. If you don’t have cash or a credit card with you, there’s an option to pay when you arrive back at your hotel.
My practical advice: decide on the spot only if you’re excited to relive the chaos. If you’re on a tight budget, skip the extras. If you want the souvenir of muddy boots and hill views, bring at least a plan for how you’ll pay.
What’s Included vs Not Included (So You Don’t Get Caught Off Guard)
Included is solid and covers the essentials:
- Hotel pickup and drop-off
- About 20 km quad bike riding
- Helmet
- Tour leader
- Insurance
Not included is where you should prepare yourself:
- Photos and DVD (optional extras)
- Drinks
- Mask, sunglasses, and similar personal items
- Safebox
If you want a comfy day, bring or plan for basics like sunglasses and a dust/mud-friendly setup. Also, pack light snacks or water for before/after, because drinks aren’t included.
Safebox is not part of the package. If you need one, expect it to be an extra onsite item.
Families, Teens, and Who Can Drive
This is a group activity, and it can work well across ages—if you understand the driving rules.
Key points:
- Most people can participate.
- Children under 16 can’t drive; they can ride as a passenger.
- Adults who want to join as a passenger should choose the child price category (so the pricing matches the passenger rules).
- The tour max is 50 travelers, so it’s not a one-on-one private session, but it’s also not endless chaos.
If you’re traveling with teens, this matters: teens can often drive, and the ride becomes a shared activity rather than an “adult watches while kids play.” For younger kids, it’s passenger mode, so you should expect they’ll be more along for the ride than controlling it.
One more tip for family happiness: go with the expectation of dirt. When you lean into it, everyone has more fun.
Price and Value: Is $35 Worth It from Side?
At $35 per person, the value mostly comes from what you don’t have to manage yourself. You get:
- Pickup and drop-off via coach
- Helmet and insurance coverage
- A real chunk of riding (around 20 km), not a token 10-minute session
- A shower and clothes-change opportunity after you get muddy
So even though it’s “just a quad ride” on the surface, the logistics and reset make it feel complete. If you were to arrange transport, find a safe operator, rent gear, and locate a place to wash up, the whole day would likely cost more in time and money.
Where value can dip: if you end up buying the optional DVD/USB photos and you feel the price is high for you. That’s not baked into the main cost, so you control it.
Given a 4-star overall rating, this is generally a good value bet—especially if you treat it like an active day out rather than a high-speed ride.
Morning vs Heat: Timing for Comfort
One of the best practical tips is simple: start early if you can. The quad ride can get hot later in the day, and you’ll already be dealing with sun and mud.
Going first thing also helps for another reason: you’re more likely to stay in good spirits after the pickup transfer and training. Later in the day, the excitement can fade faster under heat and the physical effort of riding.
If you want the best mix of comfort and fun, aim for the earliest slot available.
Language and Group Size: Easy to Follow, Not Too Crowded
The tour is offered in English, which makes the training and instructions easier to understand. That helps beginners a lot.
Group size is capped at 50 travelers. That’s big enough to feel like a real organized day out, but it’s not a mass event where you’re always losing sight of your group. You’ll still be in a “guided line” style experience rather than free-roam.
Should You Book This Quad Ride from Side?
Book it if you want an easy, active day with hotel pickup, a guided 20 km ride, and a proper reset with showers afterward. It’s especially good for families with kids who can drive or who enjoy being passengers, and for first-timers who like a structured start.
Skip or rethink it if your top priority is speed, because the experience is controlled and safety-focused. Also reconsider if you’re very sensitive about dirt and don’t plan to dress for mud.
If you do book, pack the right mindset: this is an outdoorsy, muddy adventure. Come prepared, follow the leaders, and you’ll leave with a story you can’t fake.
FAQ
What’s the duration of the Side quad bike tour?
It runs for about 3 hours 30 minutes (approx.), including the full experience time.
Do you get hotel pickup and drop-off?
Yes. Pickup and drop-off are included, and pickup covers hotels in Side and nearby areas like Titreyengol, Sorgun, Kumkoy, Evrenseki, Colakli, and Gundogdu.
Is English available for the tour?
Yes, the experience is offered in English.
How long is the quad biking itself?
The riding portion is about 20 km as part of the guided program.
Do I need to bring a helmet or safety gear?
No. Helmets are provided, and insurance is included. The tour also includes a tour leader.
Will I get wet or muddy?
Yes. You should expect to be wet and dirty because of mud during the ride. Showers and clothes-change help after.
Can children drive a quad bike?
Children under 16 cannot drive and can only be passengers.
What’s not included in the price?
Photos and DVD, drinks, mask/sunglasses and similar personal items, and a safebox are not included.









