If you are trying to pick the right month for an off-road adventure on the Turkish Riviera, May quietly makes the strongest case. The heavy heat of high summer has not arrived, the winter rains are mostly behind you, and the Taurus foothills behind Side, Manavgat and Antalya are still wrapped in fresh spring green. Climb into a two-seat buggy in May and you get the best of both worlds: warm, comfortable riding weather and landscape that still looks alive rather than sun-bleached. This guide walks you through exactly what an early-season buggy safari feels like, what to wear, who it suits, and how the free, pay-on-the-day booking works.
Why May Is Such a Good Month to Ride
Spring on this coast is short and generous. By May the daytime air is genuinely warm without being punishing, so you can spend an hour or two out on the trails without wilting the way you might in July or August. Mornings and late afternoons are especially pleasant, which is why sessions tend to be scheduled to catch the softer light and cooler air rather than midday.
The other quiet advantage is the ground itself. After the wetter months, the forest and farm tracks in the foothills have usually firmed up into that ideal condition riders love — grippy and defined, with just enough loose dust and the odd damp patch to keep it interesting. You still get shallow water crossings and muddy corners, but the trails are rarely the churned-up bog you can meet in deep winter. It is, for many people, the sweet spot of the whole season.
What the Landscape Looks Like in Spring
This is the part visitors underestimate. In May the hills inland from the coast are still green — pine forest, wildflowers along the verges, and the river valleys running clear down from the mountains. The stretch of country between Side, Manavgat and the edge of Köprülü Canyon is at its most photogenic before the summer sun bleaches everything to gold and dust. If you care about the scenery as much as the adrenaline, an early-season ride rewards you with a backdrop most summer visitors never see.
What a Buggy Safari Actually Involves
You will be driving a two-seat off-road buggy: a purpose-built machine with a roll cage and proper seatbelts. Two people share one buggy for a single price, which is why it works so well for couples, friends and families — one person drives, the other rides shotgun, and you can swap over where it is safe to do so. A child can ride buckled in safely beside a parent, which makes it one of the more family-friendly ways to get off-road.
No licence and no previous experience are needed. Before you set off you get a full safety briefing, a helmet and goggles, and a short practice lap to find the throttle and brakes and get comfortable. A lead guide rides at the front and sets a sensible pace, so you are following a route rather than finding your own way. Insurance is included as standard.
The route itself runs on real off-road terrain in the Taurus foothills — forest tracks, dusty farm trails, muddy sections and shallow water crossings. It is bumpy, hands-on fun rather than a smooth drive, and in May the mix of firm ground and the occasional splash tends to be at its most enjoyable.
What to Wear and Bring in May
Even though the days are warm, mornings on the trail can feel fresh, so it pays to plan a little.
- Clothes you do not mind getting dirty. You will pick up dust and quite possibly mud and water. Nothing you would be upset to stain.
- Closed shoes. Trainers or something similar with a proper sole. Leave the sandals and flip-flops at the hotel.
- A light layer. A thin jacket or long-sleeve for a cooler morning start that you can peel off as it warms up.
- Sunglasses or contact lenses under your goggles, and sun cream. Spring sun on this coast is stronger than it feels.
- A change of clothes for afterwards — you will be glad of it on the transfer back.
Goggles and a helmet are provided, so your eyes and head are covered against the dust. Phones and cameras are best kept in a zipped pocket or secured, as the ride is deliberately bumpy.
Who an Early-Season Ride Suits
May is a strong choice for almost everyone, but it is especially good for people who feel the heat. If the idea of high-summer temperatures puts you off an outdoor adventure, spring gives you the same thrill in far kinder conditions. It suits families wanting the greener scenery, couples after photographs that are not all baked-brown hillside, and anyone who would rather ride when the coast is a little quieter, before the peak-season crowds fill up every tour.
It is a genuine adrenaline activity, so a reasonable level of general fitness helps, and passengers should be able to hold on and brace over bumps. If you are unsure whether it suits your group, the honest move is to ask when you book.
How Booking and Free Hotel Pickup Work
You do not pay anything up front to reserve. The model is reserve-free and pay-on-the-day: you secure your date and spot online, and you settle up on the day of the safari itself. Because prices and exchange rates move, the sensible thing is to check the live price at the moment you book rather than trusting a figure you read somewhere weeks earlier.
Free hotel pickup and drop-off is included across the Side, Manavgat, Belek and wider Antalya area. You will be told whether you are on a morning or afternoon session, and the exact pickup time from your specific hotel is confirmed when you book, since it depends on where you are staying and the transfer route that day. All you need to do is be ready in reception at the agreed window.
Frequently Asked Questions
Is May too early in the season for a buggy safari?
Not at all — May is one of the best months of the year. The weather is warm and comfortable, the hills are green, and the trails have usually firmed up nicely after the wetter months, giving you excellent riding conditions with fewer crowds than high summer.
Will the trails be muddy in May?
You may hit the odd damp patch, muddy corner or shallow water crossing, which is part of the fun, but by May the tracks have generally dried into firm, grippy condition rather than the deep mud you can find in winter. Wear clothes and shoes you do not mind getting splashed.
Do I need a driving licence or experience?
No. No licence or previous off-road experience is required. You get a full safety briefing, a helmet, goggles and a short practice lap before you set off, and a lead guide sets the pace for the whole group throughout the ride.
How much does it cost and when do I pay?
Booking is reserve-free and you pay on the day of the safari, not in advance. Because prices and exchange rates change, check the live price when you book. Free hotel pickup and drop-off across the Side and Antalya area is included.