Alanya/City of Side: Canyoning, Rafting and Ziplining Tour

Koprulu Canyon’s best feature is the way this tour gets you into the water fast. You walk through the canyon, jump into its cool river, swim toward the rafting start, then spend much of the day paddling through a long stretch of whitewater. I like the three-activity format and the fact that lunch, equipment, and hotel transport are included for $45.

I also like that the canyoning is not just a quick photo stop. It lasts about an hour and is the most scenic part of the day for many people. The main caution is that the zipline is short and low, and some extras, including drinks, neoprene suits, shoes, photos, and a DVD, cost more.

Key points to know before booking

• Canyoning comes first: Expect a one-hour walk, swims, and jumps in cold river water before you reach the rafting start.
• Rafting covers about 14 km: The route is split around a lunch stop, with roughly 7 km before lunch and more paddling afterward.
• The water can feel very cold: One review described it as about 8 degrees Celsius, though warm weather makes the swim more welcome.
• The guides shape the day: Sino received especially strong praise for being funny, careful, and attentive with a younger child. Captain Neymar was also singled out by name.
• Ziplining is an add-on, not the main event: It crosses the Koprucay River but may feel too brief or too low if you want a major thrill.
• Bring water shoes and swimwear: You can rent neoprene clothing and rafting shoes, but neither is included.

Why Koprulu Canyon works so well for a water day

Koprulu Canyon National Park gives this tour a better setting than a simple raft ride on a broad, open river. The canyon section brings you close to rock walls and clear, cold water before the group settles into the longer rafting run.

I like the order of the activities. You begin with walking and swimming, then move into the raft once you are already wet and ready for action. The day keeps changing, which helps the tour feel like more than several hours of the same paddle stroke.

You should still set your expectations correctly. This is a busy activity day, not a quiet nature outing. You will change clothes at the rafting base, wear a helmet and life vest, carry a paddle, ride to the canyon in a small open-sided bus, and follow a group schedule from one activity to the next.

The tour is priced at $45 per person. For that amount, the package includes hotel pickup and drop-off, a guide, canyoning, rafting, ziplining, and lunch. That is good value if you want several paid activities in one day and do not want to arrange transport to Koprulu Canyon yourself.

The value drops if you already own equipment, dislike group activities, or mainly want a long zipline ride. You should also budget for drinks and any rented neoprene clothing or rafting shoes.

The morning transfer from Alanya or Side

Pickup is available from hotels in the Alanya and Side areas. You travel in an air-conditioned vehicle, which matters because this is a full-day outing and the drive to the canyon can make the morning feel long in a normal summer car.

At the rafting base, the guide explains the canyoning and rafting plan. You change into swimwear or activity clothes, receive your helmet and life vest, and take a paddle onto the bus. This is the point where you should ask about any rental charges before leaving the base.

Bring swimwear and water shoes. Water shoes are especially useful for rocky river edges and wet paths. The tour information also lists neoprene suits, rafting shoes, phone covers, drinks, photographs, and a DVD as extra-cost items, so clarify prices before accepting anything.

That advice comes from a real practical issue with this sort of outing. One person had an unpleasant surprise at the end after extra charges for drinks and wetsuits were added. A vodka bottle was also offered at stops without a clear price being given first. I would simply ask what each item costs before taking it, and I would not assume that anything offered during the day is included.

One hour in the canyon before rafting

The canyoning section is the most memorable part of the tour for many people, and I can see why. Rather than beginning with a raft immediately, you enter the canyon on foot, walk beside the river, and then jump into the fresh water.

You swim toward the rafting starting point. This gives you a close look at the canyon walls and lets you experience the river without a boat between you and the water. The setting is the reason to choose this tour over a basic rafting transfer.

The water can be surprisingly cold. A review described it as about 8 degrees Celsius, so you should not expect a warm swimming pool. In hot weather, the cold feels refreshing, but the first plunge may still make you gasp.

The canyoning pace can be adjusted to some degree by the guide. Sino was praised for being funny and careful with a nine-year-old child, making sure the youngster stayed safe and keeping the activity at a suitable pace. That is useful information for families, though the tour is not suitable for children under seven.

You need to be comfortable in water and able to swim. The activity is not suitable for non-swimmers, people with mobility impairments, wheelchair users, pregnant women, or people with heart problems. Those restrictions make sense here because you must walk through a canyon, enter moving water, swim, and climb into a raft.

The first 7 km by raft

After the canyoning section, you take your place in the raft and begin the whitewater route. The itinerary describes about 7 km before lunch, with the full rafting distance reaching roughly 14 km.

Your guide gives instructions and keeps the boat moving as the river changes. You use your paddle as part of the crew rather than sitting back for a passive ride. That makes the experience more social and physical, especially if your boat has a lively group.

The water, rocks, and canyon walls provide the main scenery. You may also see the tour’s photography team along the route, taking pictures of the boats and participants. Photos can be bought later, so bring a phone only if it is protected by a proper waterproof cover.

The rafting is likely to be the most consistent activity of the day. The canyoning offers the best natural setting, while the rafting gives you the longest time doing something active. Families and first-time rafters can enjoy the shared rhythm, but you should expect splashing, wet clothes, and repeated paddle instructions.

The guides are an important part of the experience. The feedback about Sino describes a guide who was playful without losing sight of safety. Another short mention praised Captain Neymar. Guide quality can vary from boat to boat, but these names suggest the company has staff who can add real energy to the trip.

Lunch beside the river

The group stops near the river for lunch in the middle of the route. You leave the raft, eat, and then return to the water for the second part of the rafting.

Lunch is included, which helps keep the $45 price under control. It also gives you a needed break from paddling and cold water. Bring or buy a drink if you need one, since drinks are not included.

This is not the sort of tour where you should expect a long, leisurely meal. The stop is part of a tightly timed activity day, so use it to dry off a little, eat, and check that your belongings are secure before getting back into the raft.

Pay attention to drink prices at lunch and other pauses. The tour specifically excludes drinks, and an extra charge can feel irritating at the end of an otherwise good day if nobody explained it clearly.

The zipline over the Koprucay River

After lunch and more rafting, you stop for the zipline. You cross above the Koprucay River, then return to rafting and continue toward the finish point.

The zipline adds variety and gives you a different view of the river. It is a quick change from paddling, and for someone who has never tried a zipline, it can be a fun first introduction.

Do not book this tour mainly for the zipline. One person found it too short and too low, while another called it an unnecessary filler between the stronger canyoning and rafting sections. That is a fair warning. The zipline is best treated as a bonus activity included in a larger river day, not as the headline attraction.

If you like a full schedule, you will appreciate the extra stop. If you want a long, high ride, look carefully at the zipline specifications before booking because the information provided does not promise a large or dramatic course.

The final paddle and return to the base

After crossing the zipline, you get back into the raft and continue to the finish point. The full route is promoted as about 14 km, though the day is described in sections, with around 7 km before lunch and further paddling afterward.

At the finish, you remove your equipment and return to the base. You may be shown an after-movie and photographs from the day. These are optional purchases, not part of the included package.

This final stop is also where you should settle any rentals or extras. Neoprene clothing, rafting shoes, drinks, photographs, a DVD, and a mobile phone cover are not included. Ask for a clear total before paying.

Hotel drop-off follows in the air-conditioned vehicle. After a day of swimming and paddling, that ride matters. You will probably be tired, wet, and ready for a shower rather than another activity.

Who will get the most from this tour

I would recommend this outing to active families with older children, couples, and groups of friends who want several river activities in one day. A family with children aged nine and thirteen found the combination manageable, with careful support from the guide.

It also suits repeat visitors to the Antalya Province who have already tried ordinary rafting and want a fuller day. One experienced rafting participant considered this the best day of a regional stay, helped by the guides and the added canyoning section.

You should be comfortable with cold water, basic physical activity, and a group schedule. Non-swimmers should not book. The tour is also unsuitable for people with serious mobility limits, heart problems, or pregnancy.

Children under seven cannot take part. For older children, I would judge the choice by swimming ability, confidence around moving water, and tolerance for a long day outdoors rather than age alone.

Language, equipment, and practical costs

Guiding is available in English and German. The package includes the main safety equipment, including a helmet and life vest, but you need to bring your own swimwear and water shoes.

A neoprene suit may be worth renting if you are sensitive to cold water. Since the river was described as about 8 degrees Celsius, I would not dismiss that option simply to save a small amount. Ask for the rental cost before putting it on.

You may also want a waterproof phone case. The tour does not include a mobile phone cover, and ordinary phones are at risk around canyon water, raft spray, and swimming stops.

Drinks are not included. Gözleme, a Turkish snack, is also listed as an extra. Photos and the DVD movie are optional purchases. The best way to keep the final bill close to the advertised $45 is to bring water, decline extras you do not want, and confirm prices at every stop.

Free cancellation is available up to 24 hours before departure, and you can reserve now and pay later. Pickup is limited to hotels in the Alanya and Side areas, so confirm that your accommodation falls inside the service zone.

Should you book the Alanya and Side canyoning day?

Book this tour if you want the best mix of canyoning and rafting rather than one single headline thrill. The canyon swim is the scenic heart of the day, the 14 km rafting route gives you plenty of time on the water, and lunch plus transfers make the $45 cost attractive.

I would be more cautious if your main goal is a major zipline or a quiet nature experience. The zipline may feel too brief, the day is active and group-based, and extra charges for drinks or equipment can leave a sour taste if you do not ask first.

For families, check swimming confidence and age limits carefully. For everyone else, pack water shoes, expect cold water, and treat the zipline as a small bonus. On those terms, this is a strong value day in Koprulu Canyon, especially when a lively guide such as Sino helps the group feel safe and included.

FAQ

Where does the tour operate?

The experience takes place in Koprulu Canyon National Park in Antalya Province, with hotel pickup and drop-off available from the Alanya and Side areas.

How long does the tour last?

It is a full-day experience. You should check the available starting time when booking because the exact departure time can vary.

How far do you raft?

The tour includes about 14 km of whitewater rafting. The route is described as roughly 7 km before lunch, followed by more rafting after the meal and zipline stop.

Is lunch included?

Yes. Lunch beside the river is included, but drinks are not included.

What should I bring?

Bring swimwear and water shoes. You may also want a waterproof phone cover, since phone protection is not included.

Who cannot join the activity?

The tour is not suitable for children under seven, pregnant women, people with mobility impairments, wheelchair users, people with heart problems, or non-swimmers.