Quick answer: on a quad you feel everything. The thumb throttle under your right hand, the machine moving under your seat, dust in the air, your own line through the ruts — nothing is filtered for you. Most first-timers are nervous at the briefing and relaxed within ten minutes of the supervised test drive. Our Side Quad ATV Safari costs €25 per adult and €15 per child, runs about three hours door to door and gives you roughly 1.5–2 hours of real off-road riding.
The first ten minutes: nervous, focused, then fine
Nervous at the briefing. While our guides give the safety briefing, the quad in front of you looks bigger and louder than in the photos. Normal.
Focused on the test drive. Then your hands learn what your head was just told: squeeze the thumb throttle gently, feel the quad pick up, ease off, brake, turn. This supervised test drive also decides your seat — not a document. Anyone who is not comfortable rides as a belted passenger, a normal outcome rather than a failure; see our guide on whether beginners can drive a quad or buggy in Side.
Confident in the convoy. Once the convoy rolls out — guides front and back, maximum 40 guests per departure — most riders stop thinking about the controls and start reading the track.
What the machine actually feels like under you
A quad is a single-rider ATV: handlebars, a thumb throttle, no cabin between you and the track.
- Throttle response. Acceleration is a matter of millimetres under your right thumb: press a little and the quad answers at once, release and it settles.
- Grip. You hold on with hands, knees and feet — your whole body is attached to the machine, which is why a quad feels so personal.
- Body movement. You lean forward on climbs and rise off the seat over ruts, letting your legs absorb the hits.
- Sound and vibration. Engine noise through the helmet, handlebar vibration in your palms, gravel ticking off the frame.
- Your own line. Inside the convoy you still choose where the wheels go: through the puddle or around it. That freedom is what people remember.
Dust in your teeth, cold water down your neck
Dust. The tracks behind Side run through forest and the Taurus foothills, and a convoy of quads lifts a lot of dust — the further back you ride, the longer it hangs in the air. You will taste it: soft grit on lips and teeth. The helmet is included; the goggles and bandanas sold at the base change the whole ride, keeping your eyes open on the fast dry sections and the dust out of your mouth.
Water and mud. The mud pits and water-splash stops are the loudest part of the day. Water arrives from below and sideways, cold and sudden; shoes and shorts will not survive dry. That is the point — bring a complete change of clothes. Changing cabins and showers at our base are included.
How the quad feel differs from a buggy
One paragraph only, because we do not repeat our buggy guides here: a quad is personal control — your body steers as much as the handlebars do, and the ride is yours alone. A buggy is a two-seater side-by-side with a steering wheel, roll cage and belts, so the feeling is shared: one drives, the other reacts. For couples, a parent with a child, or anyone who prefers a seated cockpit, the Side Buggy Safari at €30 adult and €18 child is the better answer. If you want to feel yourself driving, take the quad.
What surprises people most
How fast it goes by. On paper 1.5–2 hours sounds long; in practice guests reach the last stop and ask whether that was it.
How dirty you get. Not "a bit dusty": face, arms, socks, inside the shoes.
How quickly the nerves go. From "I am not sure about this" to "can we do the water bit again" is about ten minutes.
That nobody sits it out. A quad carries a belted passenger behind the driver, so a nervous partner stays with the group. Driving from age 16 with ID at the base; passengers from age 6, belted.
The honest downside
It is physical. Forearms, shoulders and core work the whole time, and the track sends bumps up through seat and handlebars — most people feel it pleasantly the next morning, some feel it more. Guests with back or neck issues should ride as a passenger rather than drive. And if a clean outfit matters that day, this is not your tour; see our honest take on the Side quad safari.
Practical details at a glance
| Detail | Side Quad ATV Safari |
|---|---|
| Price | €25 adult / €15 child, infants free |
| Total time | About 3 hours door to door |
| Actual riding | Roughly 1.5–2 hours off-road |
| Pick-up | Free from Side centre, Kumköy, Evrenseki, Çolaklı, Gündoğdu, Sorgun, Titreyengöl; morning or afternoon session, time confirmed at booking |
| Included | Hotel transfer, safety briefing, supervised test drive, helmet, changing cabins and showers |
| Paid extras at the base | Goggles, bandanas, food and drinks, photo and video service |
| Bring | A complete change of clothes |
Frequently asked questions
Does a quad safari feel dangerous?
It feels fast and loud, which is not the same thing. You ride in a convoy with guides front and back, in a helmet, after a briefing and a test drive.
How dirty will I actually get?
Completely. Dust on the dry sections, mud and water at the splash stops. Showers and changing cabins are included in the €25.
Can I switch to the passenger seat if I do not enjoy driving?
Yes. The test drive exists for exactly that decision; anyone not comfortable rides belted behind a driver.
Is the quad or the buggy more intense?
The quad, because you are exposed and steer with your whole body; the buggy feels more secure, belted into a caged cockpit. Same tracks, different sensations.
If that sounds like your kind of day, book the Side Quad ATV Safari or compare all our quad safari tours. Booking is free with no prepayment — reserve now and pay on the day, once you have seen the machine you are about to ride.