Yes — bring a phone or an action camera on our quad safari in Side. The honest version: on a quad both hands stay on the handlebars, so you shoot at the guided stops, not while riding. The Side quad safari costs €25 per adult and €15 per child (infants free) and takes about 3 hours door to door, with natural pauses where the convoy regroups and cameras come out. For moving footage of yourself, use our professional photo and video service at the base (paid extra).
Why a quad is a hard camera platform
A quad is a single-rider ATV: handlebar throttle, no steering wheel, steered as much with body weight as with your arms. In ruts, loose forest track and the mud section there is no spare hand and nowhere flat to prop anything.
A buggy is the opposite: a two-seater side-by-side with a steering wheel, roll cage and seat belts, so the passenger has both hands free. If filming the entire ride matters more than riding solo, book the Side buggy safari (€30 adult, €18 child, about 4 hours) and let your passenger film. Everyone else: ride the quad, shoot at the stops.
Protecting a phone from dust, mud and splashes
Roughly 1.5 to 2 hours is real off-road riding on forest tracks in the Taurus foothills behind Side, with mud pits and water-splash stops. Fine dust is the real enemy: it reaches charging ports and lens rings long before water does.
- Seal it. A zip-lock bag is enough. Pack the phone before the briefing, not halfway down the track.
- Zip it in. A zipped inside pocket keeps it put; a loose trouser pocket is how phones end up in the mud.
- Leave the rest at the hotel. We cannot store valuables at the base: watches, jewellery and spare gear belong in the room safe.
- Goggles are for your eyes. Goggles and bandanas are paid extras at the base; you frame better when you can see clearly.
- Plan to get filthy. Bring a full change of clothes; changing cabins and showers are at the base. See our guide to what to wear for a quad or buggy safari.
The moments actually worth shooting
You need five good frames, not fifty, all at predictable points:
- The dust plume behind the convoy. At a stop, stand slightly off the track and let the machines come to you.
- The mud section. Shoot riders after the pit, not during: you want the aftermath and a dry lens.
- Viewpoint stops in the foothills. The convoy pauses where there is something to see: landscape with a quad in it.
- The supervised test drive. Everybody still clean, slightly nervous, grinning — the best portrait moment of the day.
- The base afterwards. Dust-covered group shot before the showers.
Knowing what is coming lets you wait for the shot instead of chasing it — see our breakdown of the quad safari terrain in Side.
Helmet mounts and handlebar rigs: your kit, your call
Some guests arrive with an action camera already mounted. That is your own equipment and responsibility, and one rule never bends: nothing may distract you from riding or from the guides' instructions. Set it, start it and forget it before the wheels turn; never reach for it while moving, and never loosen or modify the helmet to fit a mount. Our guides ride front and back of a convoy of up to 40 guests; if one asks you to stow a camera, stow it.
Morning or afternoon: what changes for photos
Every departure runs as a morning or an afternoon session. You choose the block when you book; we confirm the exact time with your reservation, along with free pick-up in Side centre, Kumköy, Evrenseki, Çolaklı, Gündoğdu, Sorgun and Titreyengöl.
| Session | What the light does | Best for |
|---|---|---|
| Morning | Sun climbing, shadows shortening, air cooler | Crisp detail, clean landscape frames, brighter faces |
| Afternoon | Sun dropping, long low-angle light | Backlit dust plumes, warm-toned convoy shots |
If you only care about one image — the glowing dust cloud behind the convoy — the afternoon gives better odds, because low sun behind the dust is what lights it up.
How the professional photo and video service works
It is arranged at the base as a paid extra, alongside goggles, bandanas and food and drinks. The team knows the track and is in position when you arrive, while you keep both hands on the handlebars. Ask the guides on arrival, not after the convoy leaves.
FAQ
Can I hold my phone while riding a quad?
No. A quad has a handlebar throttle and needs body weight to steer, so both hands stay on the bars. The convoy pauses several times, and those stops give the frames worth keeping.
Will my phone survive the dust and mud?
Sealed in a zip bag inside a zipped pocket, phones come back from this track every day. We cannot promise anything about your own gear, and we cannot store valuables at the base — leave anything precious at the hotel.
Who drives, and which seat is best for filming?
Drivers ride from 16 with ID at the base; passengers from 6, securely belted. The supervised test drive decides: anyone not comfortable at the controls rides as passenger, as should guests with back or neck issues. For filming, the buggy passenger seat wins easily — a belted quad passenger sits behind the driver and must hold on.
Is the photo and video service included?
No. The €25 adult / €15 child price covers hotel transfer, the safety briefing by our guides, the supervised test drive, the helmet, and changing cabins and showers at the base. Photo and video is a paid extra arranged on site.
Ready to get the shot? Compare departures on our quad safari page or go straight to the Side quad safari from €25 — book free now, pay on the day at our base, free hotel pick-up included. And bring a sealed bag for the phone.