Quick answer: on a family quad safari in Side the group splits by age, not by ticket. Anyone 16 or over with ID at our base drives their own quad at €25 per adult, after passing the supervised test drive. Children from 6 ride as belted passengers behind a driver at €15; under-6s cannot join. Families who want a parent and child side by side usually add a two-seater buggy at €30 adult, €18 child.
Age by age: who drives, who rides, who sits this one out
Age sets the outer limits, and the supervised test drive at our base decides the rest.
| Age | On a quad | In a buggy | Price per person (Side) |
|---|---|---|---|
| Under 6 | Cannot join the ride | Cannot join the ride | Not available |
| 6 to 15 | Belted passenger behind the driver, never driving | Belted passenger seat beside the driver | €15 quad / €18 buggy |
| 16+, ID at base | May drive after the test drive, or ride as passenger | May drive, or take the second seat | €25 quad / €30 buggy |
The test drive matters more than the birthday. After the safety briefing every guest rides a supervised lap on the flat ground at our base, and that settles it: whoever handles the machine comfortably drives, anyone who does not is happier belted in behind someone who does. Full detail in our age and passenger guide for Side.
How a mixed family rides: one convoy, different machines
Most family bookings are not everybody on the same machine. A typical four: one parent and a 17-year-old each on their own quad, the other parent in a buggy with the nine-year-old belted in alongside — same departure, same forest tracks in the Taurus foothills behind Side, one guide leading and a second closing the convoy.
Departures take up to 40 guests and everyone stops together at the mud pits, the water splash and the photo points, so nobody gets separated. Worried a teenager will vanish over the horizon? The guide at the front sets the pace.
Quad or buggy for the parent riding with a child?
On a quad the child sits belted behind the driver, holding on and taking the dust full in the face. In a buggy you sit side by side in belted seats inside a roll cage, steering wheel instead of handlebars, and you can talk between the noisy stretches. If your child is younger or wary of engines, the buggy is usually the better answer for €5 more per adult. Head to head in our quad versus buggy comparison.
The honest part: dust, mud and children as passengers
This is not a gentle sightseeing drive. The tracks are forest and farm trails, dry days throw up serious dust, and the mud pits and water-splash stops are there on purpose. Everyone comes back filthy, the small ones included. Plainly: children do not drive here, and a child who dislikes noise, dust or splashing will not enjoy 1.5 to 2 hours of riding just because the family does.
What parents should pack
- A complete change of clothes for everyone, children included, shoes as well. One spare T-shirt does not cover a family.
- A plastic bag for the muddy set on the ride back.
- ID for everyone who wants to drive.
- Sunglasses are not enough in dust: protective goggles and bandanas are sold at our base — kit the children out first.
- Snacks your kids will actually eat: food and drinks at the base are a paid extra.
Free for every family member: hotel pick-up and drop-off, the safety briefing, the supervised test drive, a helmet, and changing cabins and showers at our base — which is why nobody rides back wearing half the track. See also our what to wear guide.
Prices, timing and pick-up for a family
Pick-up and drop-off are free from Side centre, Kumkoy, Evrenseki, Colakli, Gundogdu, Sorgun and Titreyengol. Tours run as a morning or an afternoon session, exact time confirmed when you book, so the other half of the day stays yours for the beach. Count on roughly three hours door to door for the quad and four for the buggy, of which 1.5 to 2 hours is riding.
The arithmetic is simple: we price per person and you pay at the base on the day. Two parents driving quads plus one child passenger: €25 + €25 + €15 = €65. A parent and child sharing a buggy while a teenager drives a quad: €30 + €18 + €25 = €73. Staying elsewhere? Kumkoy, Belek, Kemer and Alanya have their own departures and prices on our quad safari page.
Frequently asked questions
Can my 10-year-old drive a quad in Side?
No. Driving starts at 16, with ID at our base, and only after the supervised test drive. From 6 your child rides as a belted passenger behind an adult driver at €15.
Can two children ride one quad on their own?
No. Every machine is driven by someone 16 or over. A quad carries that driver plus one belted passenger behind; a buggy has a driver's seat and one passenger seat beside it.
What do we do if one child is under 6?
Under-6s cannot take part on a quad or in a buggy — the one rule with no flexibility. Since departures run morning or afternoon, families usually split the day: one parent rides with the older children, the other stays at the hotel.
Do children pay a different price?
Yes. In Side the quad safari is €15 per child against €25 per adult, the buggy €18 against €30.
You do not have to fix the line-up before you arrive. Tell us how many adults and children are coming, book free online with nothing to pay now, and let the briefing and test drive settle who drives what — you pay at the base on the day. Book your Side quad safari free now, or add a buggy so a parent and child share one machine.