Rafting and quad safari are two completely different thrills, and that is exactly what makes the choice interesting. Rafting is a guided river descent through Köprülü Canyon — the guide steers, the crew paddles, and you get soaked. A quad safari puts you in the driver's seat of your own ATV, throwing up dust on forest tracks in the Taurus foothills behind Side. And here is the good news: from €30 you do not have to choose at all, because our Rafting + Quad Safari combo packs both into one 7-hour day, booked free online and paid on the day.
Two very different kinds of adrenaline
Rafting is a water thrill built on teamwork. You share an inflatable raft with your group, a professional guide gives the commands and steers, and the river supplies the excitement — waves, splashes and plenty of laughing. Nobody has to drive anything, which is why rafting is often the easier "yes" for mixed groups and families.
A quad safari is a driving thrill built on control. After a safety briefing and a supervised test drive at our base, you take the handlebars of a single-rider ATV and follow our guides — one at the front, one at the back — through forest tracks, dust clouds, mud pits and water-splash stops. Across the tour you get roughly 1.5–2 hours of actual off-road riding, and you will come back wonderfully dirty. A complete change of clothes is essential for both adventures.
Rafting vs quad safari at a glance
| Question | Rafting | Quad safari |
|---|---|---|
| Type of thrill | Guided river descent: waves, splashes, teamwork | You drive an off-road machine: dust, mud, throttle |
| Who is in control | A professional guide steers; you paddle | You — after a briefing and supervised test drive |
| Getting wet | Soaked from head to toe | Dusty and muddy, plus water-splash stops |
| Age angle | No driving involved — everyone rides in a guide-led raft | Drive from 16 with photo ID; passengers from age 6, securely belted |
| Duration | Part of our 7–8 hour combo days | About 3 hours door to door as a standalone tour |
| Price | From €30 inside the Rafting + Quad combo | From €25 for the Side quad safari |
Pick rafting if…
- You want to cool off in a canyon river on a hot Side day.
- You prefer a shared, guided thrill to controlling a machine yourself.
- Someone in your group does not want to drive anything at all.
- The "soaked, laughing, happily exhausted" feeling sounds like your kind of day.
Pick a quad safari if…
- You want your hands on the throttle and full control of your own ATV.
- Dust, mud pits and forest tracks sound better to you than waves.
- You are short on time: the Side quad safari takes about 3 hours door to door and costs €25 per adult.
- You are really choosing between machines rather than activities — in that case our quad vs buggy comparison is the article you actually need.
The honest answer: do both in one day
Most guests who ask us "rafting or quad?" end up booking the day that includes both. Our Rafting + Quad combo day is a 7-hour adventure: a guided rafting descent in Köprülü Canyon and a proper off-road quad session, for €30 per adult and €18 per child.
Want to push it further? The 3-in-1 Rafting + Zipline + Quad tour adds a zipline flight over the river to the same day: 8 hours, €38 per adult, €23 per child. And if you would rather swap the quad for a two-seater buggy, every variation lives on our combo tours page.
Practical details for both
- Free hotel transfer: pick-up and drop-off are included from Side centre, Kumköy, Evrenseki, Çolaklı, Gündoğdu, Sorgun and Titreyengöl. Morning or afternoon departures — the exact pick-up time is confirmed at booking.
- Pay on the day: booking online is free and there is no prepayment; you pay when you join the tour.
- Included: safety briefing by professional guides, a supervised test drive, helmets, and changing cabins with showers at our base.
- Paid extras: goggles, bandanas, food and drinks, and a photo/video service.
- Group size: a maximum of 40 guests per departure, with guides riding at the front and the back of the convoy.
- Bring: a complete change of clothes — between the river and the mud, you will need it.
Frequently asked questions
Can I really do rafting and a quad safari on the same day?
Yes — that is exactly what the Rafting + Quad combo is for. It is a 7-hour door-to-door day that combines a guided rafting descent in Köprülü Canyon with an off-road quad session, for €30 per adult and €18 per child.
Do I need a driving licence for the quad part?
What decides it is skill, not paperwork. Guests aged 16 and over with photo ID can drive; every driver first completes our safety briefing and a supervised test drive at the base. Anyone who does not feel comfortable at the controls simply rides as a passenger and enjoys the same trails.
Which one gets me wetter?
Rafting, without question — expect to be soaked from head to toe. The quad safari trades water for dust and mud, though the water-splash stops mean you will not stay dry there either. Pack a full change of clothes; our base has changing cabins and showers.
Is the combo day suitable for children?
Children join the raft with the group, and on the quad section kids from age 6 ride as securely belted passengers. The child price for the Rafting + Quad combo is €18, and infants join free.
Still weighing it up? You do not have to get it right — you just have to book the day. Reserve your Rafting + Quad Safari day free online now, pay on the day in Side, and let the river and the throttle settle the argument for you.