City of Side: Jeep Safari & Green Lake Boat Trip with Lunch

Trade dust for mountain water. This Side excursion combines a lively jeep safari through the Taurus Mountains with a calm boat ride on Green Lake, making it more varied than a standard sightseeing trip. I especially like the superb value at $19 and the change of pace between bumpy off-road tracks, a buffet-style lunch, and swimming in the lake. The main drawback is comfort: expect dust, loud music, water fights, and a very bumpy ride.

The day lasts about six to seven hours, with hotel pickup and drop-off included for hotels in the Side area. I also like the human touch provided by the drivers and hosts, with names such as Johnny Cash, Joseph, Atoo, Alex, and Denny appearing often in the day’s atmosphere. You should bring a face covering, since the supplied information lists sunglasses and swimwear but the dusty roads make a scarf or bandana just as useful.

Key points to know before you book

• A $19 full-day outing: Lunch, hotel transport, the jeep ride, a guide, insurance, and the Green Lake boat trip are included when that option is selected.
• The safari is genuinely bumpy: Drivers take the jeeps onto rough mountain roads, and the action is boosted by music and water fights.
• Green Lake gives you two different experiences: You swim from the lakeside, then take a roughly 50-minute boat cruise with another chance to enter the water.
• Lunch is simple but filling: Expect buffet-style dishes such as chicken, salad, pasta, rice, couscous, and bread. Drinks cost extra.
• The scenery is the real reward: You stop at Taurus Mountain viewpoints, Roman aqueducts, Green Canyon, Oymapinar Dam, Green Lake, and Manavgat Waterfall.
• Pack for dust and water: Avoid electronic devices, do not wear white clothes, and bring sunglasses, a hat, swimwear, and something to cover your face.

Why this Side jeep safari offers good value

At $19 per person, this is priced more like a short transfer than a full day of transport, food, scenery, and activities. The value comes from the number of elements packed into one outing. You get picked up at your hotel, ride in an open jeep, visit several scenic stops, eat lunch, swim, cruise on the lake, and finish at Manavgat Waterfall.

That price does not cover drinks, photos, or the entrance fee for the waterfall. These extras are worth noting because the day is designed to encourage spending on photographs and refreshments. A photo and video package has been offered for around €45 on some departures, and bandanas have been available for about €5.

I would not book this expecting a quiet nature tour. This is a social, energetic day with music, jokes, convoy driving, and plenty of splashing. If you like a bit of chaos and want to see the countryside without hiring a car, the price is unusually strong.

The tour can run as a private or small-group experience, but some departures gather a large convoy. One account describes around 10 jeeps carrying about 10 people each. That gives the day its party feeling, but it can also mean waiting while the group gathers and less personal attention at each stop.

Hotel pickup and the first jeep convoy

Pickup takes place in front of your hotel’s security gate in the Side area. The tour lasts around six to seven hours, and actual pickup times depend on availability and your hotel. A message confirming the time may arrive the day before, so keep an eye on your phone.

You first meet the guide and receive a safety briefing. This explains where to sit in the jeeps and how the day will run. The transfer to the main meeting point takes about 20 minutes, followed by the briefing and the formation of the convoy.

The jeeps are part of the entertainment. You sit in an open-sided vehicle, often with other people, and drive together between the stops. That means you get broad views of the countryside, but you also get dust, sun, wind, and road movement. A scarf or bandana can save you from spending the afternoon tasting dirt.

The music is loud, and water fights are part of the program. Bottles of water are used during the splashing, and some jeeps also use a foam cannon. You may get wet even if you did not plan to swim. The good news is that the Turkish heat helps you dry out. The practical warning is more important: leave phones, cameras, and other electronics in a safe place. The operator specifically warns against bringing electronic devices because of the water fights.

Off-road roads through the Taurus Mountains

The first major part of the outing takes you into the Taurus Mountains. The drivers leave the main roads and follow rough tracks toward Green Lake and the nearby countryside. This is not a gentle scenic drive. You will be bumped around, and the jeeps can move quickly over uneven ground.

That roughness is the point. Drivers such as Joseph, Atoo, Alex, Denny, Niko, and Axl Rose have been singled out for making the ride exciting while keeping passengers comfortable. The guide team also works hard to keep the mood light. Johnny Cash is the main host name attached to the tour, and several accounts praise his jokes, explanations, and ability to keep the group involved.

I would choose a seat with a clear view if you want photographs, but do not protect your camera at the expense of the experience. The convoy pauses at mountain viewpoints where you can take pictures of the lake and surrounding hills. These breaks also give your back a rest.

The route may include water fights between vehicles. This adds a playful edge, but it means the safari is less suitable for anyone who dislikes sudden movement, dust, or getting soaked. Children under two are not permitted. Older children have enjoyed the outing, but parents should judge the ride against their child’s tolerance for a bumpy vehicle.

Roman aqueducts and Green Canyon viewpoints

A stop at the old Roman aqueducts gives the day a small historical pause. You have a few minutes to stretch and take photographs before continuing. This is not a long archaeological visit, so keep your expectations modest. The aqueducts are one scenic stop among many, not a full guided ruins tour.

The next major viewpoint is Green Canyon, where you look toward the canyon and Oymapinar Dam. The high points here are the views and the sense of scale. The drive through the hills makes the reservoir feel far removed from the resort strip around Side.

You will want sunglasses at this stage. They help with glare and dust, and they are specifically recommended for the excursion. A sun hat is useful during the photo stops, though you will need to hold onto it securely during the jeep ride.

The timing allows around 30 minutes at the Green Canyon photo stop. That is enough for pictures and a look around, but not enough for a long walk. The tour works best if you treat each pause as a quick view rather than expecting hours at one site.

The old mosque and lunch beside Green Lake

On the way to Green Lake, the jeep stops at an old mosque. Your guide explains the site, and you have another short chance to look around. The stop adds a cultural detail to a day otherwise focused on outdoor fun, though the information supplied does not promise a long interior visit or an extended historical talk.

Lunch is served at a restaurant near the lake and takes about an hour. The meal is generally buffet-style, with chicken, salad, pasta, rice, couscous, and bread reported on different departures. It is a practical meal after a dusty ride, and portions are described as substantial.

Drinks are not included. Bring money for water or other refreshments, since the food price covers the meal rather than the full restaurant bill. Prices for drinks have been described as reasonable, but they are still an extra cost to add to your budget.

The setting is part of the meal. Fresh lake water and wooded hills make a much better lunch backdrop than a roadside stop. You can also swim while your food is being prepared. Pack swimwear in an easy-to-reach place, because changing after a wet water fight or a lake swim may be inconvenient.

Do not expect a fine-dining meal. The food is simple, filling, and suited to a large group. One assessment found the chicken a little tough, so I would judge lunch as a useful inclusion rather than the culinary reason to book.

Swimming and the 50-minute Green Lake boat ride

The boat trip is the calm center of the day. After lunch, you board near Green Lake for roughly 50 minutes, with the published schedule describing the cruise as about an hour. The water gives you a chance to look back at the hills and canyon from a lower, quieter position.

There is time to swim from the boat. You may also swim during the earlier lake stop, giving you two separate chances to get into the water. Bring a towel if you have room, although a towel is not listed among the required items.

Music and dancing can continue on the boat, so do not expect complete silence. Still, the cruise gives your body a break after the rough jeep roads. That contrast is one of the smartest features of the schedule. You get action first, then a floating rest, then the final waterfall stop.

If you select the boat-trip option, confirm that it is included in your booking. The activity details list the boat trip as included when the option is selected, which suggests that not every booking version has the same package. The title of this experience includes the boat trip, but checking the exact option avoids an unpleasant surprise.

Manavgat Waterfall closes the day

The final stop is Manavgat Waterfall, with about 20 to 30 minutes for sightseeing. The entrance fee is not included, so carry some spending money if you want to enter the viewing area. The waterfall is a short final stop rather than a long visit.

This works well at the end of the day. You can breathe cooler, fresher air, take a few last pictures, and stretch your legs before returning to the jeep. It also gives the trip a clear finish after the mountain roads and lake activities.

The stop may feel brief if you want a slow visit. That is the trade-off for fitting so much into six or seven hours. If the waterfall is your main interest, visit it separately. If you want a final scenic break included in a larger day, it does the job.

After the waterfall, you return to the jeeps for the ride back to your Side hotel. A schedule from one departure ran from about 8:30 a.m. to 3 p.m., though your times may differ.

What the ride feels like in real terms

The strongest part of this experience is the driver team. The driver stays with you through the day, and the best accounts give special credit to people such as Joseph, Atoo, Alex, Denny, and Niko. Their role is not just driving. They create the pace, stop for pictures, answer questions, and help passengers feel safe during the rough sections.

That said, the driving is intentionally thrilling. You get thrown around a bit, especially on the off-road sections. Anyone with back, neck, balance, or motion concerns should think carefully before booking. The information only rules out children under two, but the physical nature of the activity matters for every age.

The convoy can feel crowded. A jeep may be full, and one person found an overbooked vehicle cramped during the off-road portion. Private or small-group options may reduce that problem, but check the exact format before paying.

The atmosphere is more party excursion than quiet countryside tour. Loud music, water fights, jokes, foam, and group participation are central. You will probably have more fun if you join in, but you should choose another activity if you want peaceful birdwatching or long, undisturbed photo stops.

What to pack for dust, sun, and water

Bring sunglasses, a sun hat, swimwear, and a scarf or bandana to cover your nose and mouth. The dust can be heavy on dry roads, and a face covering is one of the most useful items for the safari.

Wear clothes you do not mind getting dirty or wet. White clothing is a poor choice. Keep electronics away from the jeeps because of the water fights, and do not assume a phone in a pocket will stay dry.

You also need money for drinks, waterfall admission, and optional photographs. Pets are not allowed. Free cancellation is available up to 24 hours before departure, and you can reserve now and pay later, which helps if your Side plans are still shifting.

The tour is offered with live guiding in English, German, and French. Some departures have also used other language support, but the listed guide languages are English, German, and French.

Who should book this $19 adventure?

I would recommend it to families with older children, couples, groups of friends, and anyone who wants several activities in one inexpensive day. The mix of mountain roads, lake swimming, lunch, a boat cruise, and a waterfall gives you a broad taste of the countryside beyond Side.

It is especially good if you do not have a rental car. You see places that would be awkward to connect by public transport, and hotel pickup removes the need to arrange a taxi to a distant meeting point.

I would hesitate if you dislike loud music, group activities, rough driving, dust, or getting wet without warning. The boat ride is relaxing, but the overall day is active and noisy. Mobility needs also deserve careful thought, since the vehicles and off-road routes may not be comfortable for everyone, even though the crew has helped passengers with mobility issues on some outings.

Should you book the Side Green Lake jeep safari?

Book it if you want maximum activity for minimum cost. The $19 price covers an impressive amount, and the repeated praise for the drivers, organization, scenery, and fun atmosphere gives this outing a strong case.

Skip it if you want a slow, quiet visit to Green Canyon or a detailed archaeological tour. For the best experience, bring a bandana, sunglasses, swimwear, old clothes, and cash for extras. Choose the boat option, join the water fight if you enjoy that sort of nonsense, and prepare for a very bumpy ride with a surprisingly peaceful lake in the middle.

FAQ

How long does the Side jeep safari and Green Lake trip last?

The experience lasts about six to seven hours. One published schedule describes pickup around 8:30 a.m. and return around 3 p.m., but starting and ending times can vary.

Is hotel pickup included?

Yes. Pickup and drop-off by jeep are included for hotels in the Side area. Pickup takes place in front of the hotel security gate.

Is lunch included?

Yes. Lunch at a restaurant near Green Lake is included. Drinks are not included and must be paid for separately.

Is the Green Lake boat trip included?

The boat trip is included if you select the relevant option when booking. The cruise lasts about 50 minutes to one hour.

What should I bring?

Bring sunglasses, a sun hat, and swimwear. You should also bring a scarf or bandana for dust, clothes that can get wet or dirty, and money for drinks, the waterfall entrance fee, and optional photos.

Are children allowed on the tour?

Children under two years old are not permitted. The supplied information does not give a maximum age, but you should consider the bumpy off-road driving before booking for anyone who may find it physically difficult.