Green Canyon Boat Tour or Jeep Safari: Which One Is Better?

Both are full-day tours from Side with lunch and a swim, and both reach the emerald water of Oymapınar Dam and Green Canyon. Yet they feel very different: one is a relaxed cruise, the other a bumpy, playful drive. This comparison helps you choose the day that suits you.

At a glance

• Jeep safari: about 7 hours (09:00–16:00), an open 4x4 convoy, a tea stop in a village, a viewpoint, lunch, a swim and a water fight.
• Green Canyon boat tour: about 8 hours (08:30–16:30), a 45–60 minute drive each way and four to five hours at the lake with slow cruising, swim stops, lunch and soft drinks.
• On both: free hotel pick-up, lunch, time to swim and a guide.

The jeep safari: variety and a touch of adventure

The jeep safari is all about variety. You ride in an open 4x4 along forest tracks and village roads, stop in a mountain village for tea and fresh gözleme, enjoy the view of the dam and the canyon from a viewpoint high above, eat by the lake and swim. On the way back the jeeps have a friendly water fight, so expect to get wet. The roads can be bumpy and dusty, which is part of the fun. Everyone wears a seat belt and stays seated.

The boat tour: calm, scenic and easy

The Green Canyon boat tour is slower. After a scenic drive of 45 to 60 minutes you board a boat on the lake and spend four to five hours on the water, with two to three hours of slow cruising between steep, forested cliffs and one or two swim stops of 20 to 30 minutes. Lunch and soft drinks are included, and there are changing cabins, toilets and life jackets. There is no effort and no rush, which is ideal if you simply want to look, swim and relax.

Which tour suits which guest?

• Choose the boat tour if you want a calm day, are travelling with older relatives or small children, or dislike bumpy roads and dust. Swimming is optional.
• Choose the jeep safari if you like variety, enjoy a village stop and some playful fun, and are happy to spend part of the day in an open vehicle.
• The jeep safari gives you the best feel of the Taurus mountains; the boat tour gives you the best time on the water.
• The jeep safari is not suitable for pregnant women, and guests with serious back or neck problems should ask us first. The boat tour is the gentler alternative.

Travelling with children

Both tours are family-friendly. Infants up to 2 travel free and children aged 3 to 11 pay the child price on both. On the boat, children stay with their parents and life jackets are provided; in the jeep they ride seated with a seat belt on. A full day can be tiring for very young children, so pack snacks, a hat and a change of clothes.

Can you do both?

Yes, and if you are staying a week or more we recommend it. The two tours show the same area in different ways, so they do not feel repetitive: the jeep gives you mountains, villages and a view from above, while the boat takes you right into the canyon. Book them on different days so you can rest in between. For a more active day, add the quad safari or rafting, or read our guide to the best tours from Side.

What to bring

For both tours bring swimwear, a towel, sunscreen, a hat and a change of clothes. On the jeep safari also bring a waterproof pouch for your phone, because you will probably get splashed. There is little shade at the swimming stops, so sun protection matters.

Book your day

Choose your date on the tour page and send your request. Nothing is paid online: hotel pick-up is free and you pay your guide in cash on the tour day. You can cancel free of charge up to 24 hours before.