REVIEW · SIDE
Side: Outdoor Adventure: Rafting, Jeep & Quad w/Lunch
Book on GetYourGuide →Operated by Rush Travel · Bookable on GetYourGuide
One day. Big action. This side trip blends Köprülü Canyon rafting with off-road thrills in the Taurus Mountains for a full-day hit of outdoors time. You start with hotel pickup from Side, then move fast through water, dust, and views, all guided by professionals.
I especially love how the day feels built around momentum: about an hour of guided rafting with real splash time, then you roll straight into the Monster Jeep Safari on rugged tracks. Second, I like that the big adrenaline moments get balanced by a proper break—riverside lunch and scenic downtime before the zipline.
One heads-up: the quad or buggy portion is a short, adrenaline burst, not a long ride-and-relax session. If you want an extended quad circuit, you may wish it ran a bit longer, and you’ll also go home wet and dusty, so plan for that.
In This Review
- Key Things You Should Know Before You Go
- How This Side Adventure Stacks Rafting, Jeep, Quads, and Zipline
- Getting From Side to the Taurus Mountains (And Why It Matters)
- The About-One-Hour Raft Ride in Köprülü Canyon
- Monster Jeep Safari: Off-Road Taurus Tracks and Big Photo Energy
- Quad or Buggy On-Site Choice: Rough-Terrain Thrills
- Lunch by the River: Turkish Buffet, Soft Drinks, and Real Downtime
- Zipline Across the Canyon: Short Flight, Strong Views
- Price and Value: What $13 Buys You in Real Terms
- Who This Tour Fits Best (And Who Should Skip It)
- Practical Tips for Your Best Day (Based on What This Tour Demands)
- Should You Book This Side Outdoor Adventure?
- FAQ
- How long is the rafting, jeep, and quad tour from Side?
- Where does pickup happen, and when should I be there?
- Which activities are included, and can I choose options?
- What is included in lunch?
- Will I get wet or dirty during the day?
- What languages are available for the guiding service?
- Is the tour insured, and are equipment and transfers included?
Key Things You Should Know Before You Go

- Köprülü Canyon rafting includes about an hour on the river with professional guiding
- Monster Jeep Safari through off-road Taurus trails for serious photo moments
- Quad or buggy gets chosen on-site, so you can match your mood to the terrain
- Riverside Turkish lunch comes with a buffet plus soft drinks
- Zipline across the canyon is short, but the views hit hard
- Transfers, equipment, and full insurance are included for a smoother day
How This Side Adventure Stacks Rafting, Jeep, Quads, and Zipline
This is the kind of day that makes sense if you’re in Side and you want “active, outdoors, and away from the beach” in one shot. The structure is simple: get picked up, drive into the Taurus Mountains area, then hit a sequence of activities that keep energy high without feeling like you’re waiting around.
What makes it work is the variety. Rafting gives you cool water time and a guided rhythm on the river. Then the Monster Jeep Safari brings you into the rougher terrain world—pine forests, dusty tracks, and mountain roads. After that, you go even closer to the ground with quads or buggies, finishing with a zipline run above the canyon.
You’re not just buying a collection of activities. You’re getting a single theme day: nature + action + guided safety, with food and transfers handled for you.
Getting From Side to the Taurus Mountains (And Why It Matters)
Pickup is included from Side region hotels. You’ll meet your driver at the main security gate of your hotel about 10 minutes before your scheduled pickup time. That one detail matters because the day is built like a relay. If you’re late, you can easily throw off timing for the whole group.
You’ll head toward Köprülü Canyon, which sits in the Taurus Mountains region. Even though you’re not on the water or trail during the drive, the change of scenery is part of the payoff: fresh air, mountain terrain, and the feeling that you’re actually leaving the coastal zone behind.
One more practical point: even if you pick only rafting or a smaller combination, the experience still runs about 10 hours because the schedule stays the same for everyone. So think of it less like a half-day plan, and more like a full adventure day with fewer activity options at the end.
The About-One-Hour Raft Ride in Köprülü Canyon
Rafting is the first big moment. You get guided instruction from professionals and then head into about one hour of white-water fun. This is the part of the day that tends to refresh your brain more than your body. After you’ve been driving and waiting in a normal tour rhythm, the river forces you into a different mode: look ahead, hold on, react, laugh, and yes—get splashed.
Köprülü Canyon is cool-water territory, and you’ll feel that right away once you start moving. The guidance matters because you’re not just drifting. You’re actively rafting with a group, which is a big part of why it’s more than a casual float.
What I like for first-timers: it’s exciting without turning into a survival test. The tour does require a moderate fitness level, and you’ll need to handle the physical reality of getting in, sitting, and being wet—but this is framed as a guided adventure day, not an extreme challenge.
Monster Jeep Safari: Off-Road Taurus Tracks and Big Photo Energy
After rafting, the day shifts from water to dirt. The Monster Jeep Safari takes you through off-road trails using specially designed vehicles built for rugged terrain. Expect a bumpy ride—pine forests, scenic mountain roads, and dusty tracks all show up during the run.
This segment is valuable for two reasons.
First, it gives you a different viewpoint. You’re not just looking from a scenic stop—you’re moving through the terrain in a way that mirrors how people actually travel outside the main roads.
Second, it’s one of the best photo windows of the day. Jeep safaris have this built-in “motion” quality. Even if you take nothing but quick shots, the ride gives you changing angles quickly, and the Taurus setting makes those angles look dramatic without needing fancy editing.
Safety-wise, this is guided by experienced drivers who keep the ride fun while managing the rugged parts. If you’re the kind of person who likes action but also wants someone in charge of the vehicle, this tends to hit the sweet spot.
Quad or Buggy On-Site Choice: Rough-Terrain Thrills
Next comes the part many people come for: quads or buggies. You select which one you’ll ride on-site before the activity. That choice matters because it changes the feel of the ride, even though both options are built for off-road action.
The tour describes an off-road circuit with hills, mud, water crossings, and forest paths. In plain terms: you’re not cruising on smooth ground. You’re bouncing, steering over uneven terrain, and dealing with the kind of dust and splatter that makes a change of clothes feel like a necessity, not a luxury.
Two things to keep in mind:
- Your ride won’t last forever. It’s designed as an adrenaline segment, and the value comes from how intense and varied it feels, not from taking your time for hours.
- If you hate feeling rushed, go in with the mindset that this is a “short and wild” portion of the day.
Also, consider pace expectations. One review note suggested the quad ride could be longer and faster, which tells me the general structure is all about intensity rather than lingering time.
Lunch by the River: Turkish Buffet, Soft Drinks, and Real Downtime
Then you get the reset moment: lunch at a local riverside restaurant. The meal includes a buffet with Turkish dishes and salads, plus soft drinks.
This stop is more important than it sounds. When your day includes rafting, off-road driving, and quad time, you need actual downtime where you can dry off a bit mentally (and sometimes physically). Lunch gives you a steady break before the final adrenaline move.
It’s also a great social pause. You’re coming off wet gear and dust clouds, and now you can compare what each activity felt like for your group—without needing to keep moving.
Zipline Across the Canyon: Short Flight, Strong Views
At the end of the day, you fly. The zipline takes you high above the river and trees, gliding from one side of the canyon to the other.
This part is intentionally short, but it’s built for maximum excitement. It gives you a different kind of thrill than rafting or quads. Instead of impact, it’s controlled motion in open air. You’ll feel like you’re flying for a brief stretch, with the canyon scenery doing the heavy lifting.
If you’ve been moving all day, the zipline feels like a release valve. After mud, dust, and bouncing terrain, suddenly the world slows down and you get that clean “float” sensation.
Price and Value: What $13 Buys You in Real Terms
$13 per person is the headline number, but the better question is what you actually get for it.
You’re paying for a full-day package that includes:
- Hotel transfer both ways
- Guided rafting and zipline (when selected)
- Monster Jeep Safari (when selected)
- Quad or buggy off-road ride
- Lunch
- All equipment and full insurance
- Guiding service, with professional operators
Even with the caveat that options like zipline and jeep safari depend on what you select, the structure is still a lot of activity for the price. Most days in this region, you end up paying near the same ballpark for just one outdoor activity. Here, you stack multiple experiences in one day and don’t have to coordinate separate transport.
So if you’re the type who wants maximum action per day, this is strong value. If you’re the type who likes to take it slow and hates getting wet and dusty, you might find the intensity less appealing—though the price is hard to ignore.
Who This Tour Fits Best (And Who Should Skip It)
This is built for active people. The tour requires a moderate level of fitness, and you should be ready for wet conditions and dusty, possibly muddy gear.
It’s not suitable for:
- Pregnant women
- People with mobility impairments
- People with serious medical conditions
If you’re on the fence because of fitness, think practical: can you handle a full-day schedule around 10 hours, get in and out for activities, and tolerate being splashed and dirty?
On the fun side: this tour often feels extra enjoyable when your guides bring good energy. One review mentioned Tiger and Oscar as cool guide names, which hints at the kind of upbeat tone you could get from the guiding crew.
Practical Tips for Your Best Day (Based on What This Tour Demands)
The tour is clear about what you should expect: you will get wet, dusty, and possibly muddy. So my biggest practical advice is simple: pack a change of clothes and plan to dry off only after you’re back from the canyon and river activities.
Also keep timing tight. Pickup is from Side hotels, and you’re asked to wait at the main security gate about 10 minutes before your pickup window. If you miss the start, you’ll lose the rhythm that makes the day run.
Drinks are not included, but soft drinks are included with lunch. So if you want more than that, budget accordingly during the day.
Finally, note the rule: smoking indoors isn’t allowed. That’s a small detail, but it’s worth respecting for comfort.
Should You Book This Side Outdoor Adventure?
Yes, if you want a packed, guided day where Köprülü Canyon rafting, off-road Monster Jeep Safari, and quad or buggy time all fit into one 10-hour plan. The price is a major reason to consider it, and the included transfers, equipment, and full insurance make it feel more complete than a “just show up” adventure.
No, if you’re looking for a slow sightseeing day, or if you can’t handle getting wet and muddy. Also skip it if you fall into the tour’s non-suitability categories like pregnancy or mobility limitations.
If your goal is action, nature, and a canyon view that ends with a zipline glide, this is a straightforward match.
FAQ
How long is the rafting, jeep, and quad tour from Side?
The full-day experience runs for around 10 hours.
Where does pickup happen, and when should I be there?
Pickup is included from Side region hotels. You should wait at the main security gate of your hotel about 10 minutes before your scheduled pickup time.
Which activities are included, and can I choose options?
The package can include rafting and zipline (if selected), the Monster Safari (if selected), and you’ll choose quad or buggy on-site before the activity. Lunch is included.
What is included in lunch?
Lunch includes a buffet with Turkish dishes and salads, plus soft drinks.
Will I get wet or dirty during the day?
Yes. You should expect to get wet, dusty, and possibly muddy, and you’ll want a change of clothes.
What languages are available for the guiding service?
The instructor and guiding service are available in English, Russian, German, Arabic, and French.
Is the tour insured, and are equipment and transfers included?
Yes. All equipment and full insurance are included, and the tour includes hotel transfer both ways.
If you tell me your exact month (and whether you’re more into rafting, quads, or the views), I can help you decide which option combo makes the most sense for your energy level.








