City of Side: Green Canyon Boat Trip w/Unlimited Soft Drinks

Trade Side’s crowds for calm water. This Green Canyon boat trip pairs emerald lake views with a gentle 14-kilometer cruise, a swimming stop, and lunch beside Oymapinar Dam. I like the easy hotel pickup and the fact that unlimited soft drinks are served on the boat. I also like that the $21 price includes lunch, transport, guide service, insurance, and use of canoes and fishing rods. The main drawback is that the commentary can be brief, and the restaurant has uneven stairs that may trouble anyone with limited mobility.

The day is built for people who want scenery without a hard hike or a packed sightseeing schedule. You will see the dam, an ancient Roman bridge, the Little Canyon, and broad stretches of forested shore from the water. Just keep expectations sensible: this is a good-value group outing, not a private nature expedition or a detailed geology lesson.

Key points before you book

• A 14-kilometer cruise through Green Canyon: Most of the day is spent on calm water, with plenty of time for photos and quiet views.
• Oymapinar Dam and a 2,000-year-old Roman bridge: The first stop adds useful context to the area’s modern and ancient sides.
• Swimming in turquoise lake water: A break follows about two hours of cruising, so bring swimwear and a towel.
• Lunch with a choice of three main dishes: You can choose chicken, meatballs, or fish, with pasta, salad, and fruit.
• Unlimited soft drinks on the boat: Drinks are included while cruising, but restaurant drinks cost extra and serving glasses may be small.
• Good value at $21 per person: Hotel transport, lunch, equipment, insurance, and guiding are included, making this one of the cheaper full-day outings from Side.

Leaving Side for Oymapinar Dam

Your morning begins with hotel pickup in a comfortable, modern vehicle. You are asked to wait at your hotel’s main security gate about 10 minutes before the scheduled time, which is useful at large resorts where drivers may not enter the grounds.

The exact trip length can range from four to nine hours, depending on the available departure and the day’s schedule. That wide range matters. Check the starting time carefully before booking, especially if you have dinner plans, an airport transfer, or another excursion later.

The drive takes you away from Side’s resort strip toward the Manavgat area and Oymapinar Dam. This change of setting is part of the appeal. Instead of spending another day around hotels, shops, and busy beaches, you reach a much quieter setting shaped by water, cliffs, and wooded slopes.

There may be short photo stops on the way. These are not major sightseeing visits, but they break up the transfer and give you a chance to take in the changing scenery before boarding the boat.

Oymapinar Dam and the Roman bridge

Oymapinar Dam is more than a pretty backdrop. It is the fifth-largest dam in Turkey and helps provide water and electricity for the region. Its scale gives the boat trip a useful sense of place: this is not simply a natural lake, but a major water system with a modern purpose.

At the dam lake, you get a short break and a chance to take photographs. The area also includes an ancient bridge dating from the Roman period, around 2,000 years old. It is a striking detail because the same setting brings together Roman engineering and modern Turkish infrastructure.

You should not expect a long archaeological visit or a museum-style explanation. The stop is brief, and the guide commentary may be limited. If you want to know more about the dam’s depth, construction, or how the canyon was formed, you may need to read up before or after the trip.

That is one of the tour’s clearest weaknesses. The setting invites questions, but the information supplied can be fairly short. One useful improvement would be a fuller explanation of the dam, the Roman bridge, and the geology of the canyon.

Cruising 14 kilometers through Green Canyon

Once you board, the main part of the day begins. The boat follows a 14-kilometer route through Green Canyon, where the water takes on the green and turquoise tones that give the excursion its name.

This is a slow, restful ride. You are not being rushed from one attraction to another. You can sit back, watch the shore pass by, and take photographs from the boat. The broad views are the reason to choose this trip, so keep your camera ready, but do not spend the whole cruise staring at a screen.

I like the pace here. It gives you a break from the busy rhythm of a resort holiday, and the water makes the day feel cooler and calmer than a road-based sightseeing trip. The cruise is also accessible to anyone who prefers a low-effort outing, though boarding areas and restaurant access still involve some steps.

The boat is shared with other groups, sometimes including passengers from another coach. That keeps the cost low, but you should expect a group atmosphere rather than a quiet private charter. Guide languages include English, Russian, German, Turkish, and Italian. The exact amount of commentary can vary, and the guide service appears more practical than highly detailed.

Swimming in the turquoise water

After roughly two hours of cruising, the boat stops for swimming. The lake’s clear-looking turquoise water and surrounding scenery make this one of the most memorable parts of the day.

You will have a chance to get into the water rather than simply admire it from the deck. Pack swimwear, a towel, sunscreen, and a change of clothes. These are basic items, but forgetting them can turn the swimming stop into a long wait on deck.

The swimming break is also a good reason to choose this excursion over a standard sightseeing cruise. You are not only looking at Green Canyon. You get time to enjoy the lake directly, with nature around you rather than a city beach or hotel pool.

The schedule does not promise a specific swimming duration, so you should treat it as a planned stop rather than a full afternoon at the water. If swimming is your main aim, a dedicated boat and swim tour may offer more time in the lake.

Lunch beside the lake

After swimming, the boat continues to a lakeside restaurant for a long lunch break. The meal includes a choice of barbecued chicken, meatballs, or fish, along with pasta, salad, and fruit.

This is a practical meal rather than a culinary event. At this price, that is fair. You get a filling selection and a proper pause from the boat, which helps the day feel less tiring. The food has been described as better than expected, while still matching the straightforward style of a group excursion.

Drinks at lunch are not included. Soft drinks are complimentary on the boat, but the restaurant bar charges normal prices. Budget for that if you want something with your meal.

There is one important access issue. The restaurant is reached by uneven stairs from the pontoon. If you have mobility problems, ask about this before booking. The tour is not suitable for people over 95, and the stair access is a more immediate concern for anyone who finds uneven surfaces difficult.

Canoes, fishing rods, and free time

After lunch, you can spend your free time in the way that suits you. You can swim again, sit by the lake, take photographs, or use the restaurant’s equipment for lake activities.

Fishing rods and canoes are included. The supplied details do not give a fishing schedule, equipment rules, or a separate lesson, so think of these as optional ways to enjoy the free period rather than a serious fishing excursion.

The choice is useful for mixed groups. One person can relax while another tries a canoe. Families and friends do not all have to follow the same plan during the break.

Still, ask locally about availability if a particular activity is important to you. Included equipment does not always mean every item will be free at every moment, especially when several groups are sharing the area.

Soft drinks, lunch, and what you really pay

At $21 per person, this is strong value if you want a full outing rather than just a boat ticket. Hotel pickup and drop-off alone remove the hassle of arranging transport to the dam. You also get the cruise, guide service, full insurance, lunch, soft drinks, fishing rods, and canoes.

The unlimited soft drinks are served on the boat. A practical warning: the glasses may be quite small, so unlimited does not necessarily mean you receive large servings each time. Alcoholic drinks are not included, and the restaurant’s drinks cost extra.

Photos and a DVD are also not included. You can take your own pictures, which is likely the better choice for most people, but be careful around the water and during boarding.

There is a useful booking safety net. You can cancel up to 24 hours before the trip for a full refund, and the reserve-now, pay-later option lets you hold a place without paying immediately. These terms are helpful when your holiday plans are still changing.

The group atmosphere and guide service

The transport and boat setup make this a shared excursion. That is part of how the price stays low. You may travel with people from another coach, and the boat can feel social rather than peaceful during busy periods.

The guide service is offered in English, Russian, German, Turkish, and Italian. Communication should be manageable for many visitors, but do not expect a long talk about every bend in the canyon. The most useful information concerns the dam, the bridge, timing, lunch, and swimming arrangements.

Eric, who handled one booking, was praised for keeping in touch before and after the trip. That kind of communication is useful for confirming pickup details, especially when resort security gates and large hotel grounds make meeting points confusing.

The overall rating of 4.3 from 43 reviews suggests a solid experience with some variation in expectations. People who value scenery, friendly boat staff, and low cost are likely to be pleased. People hoping for expert interpretation, a small group, or a gourmet lunch may find it more basic.

Who should choose this Green Canyon day out?

I would recommend this trip to you if you want:

• A break from Side’s busy resort areas
• A low-cost day surrounded by water and nature
• A gentle cruise with swimming rather than strenuous walking
• Hotel transport included in the price
• A flexible outing for a mixed-age group
• A simple lunch and unlimited nonalcoholic drinks while cruising

It is especially suitable if you like taking photos, sitting on a boat, and having several hours away from the coast.

I would be more cautious if you have limited mobility, since the restaurant stairs are uneven. I would also look elsewhere if your priority is a detailed account of the dam and canyon, a private boat, or a long swimming session.

Bring swimwear, a towel, sunscreen, a hat, and some cash or a card for drinks at lunch. Leave outside drinks at the hotel, since drinks are listed among the items not allowed, and use the hotel’s main security gate as your pickup point.

Should you book the Green Canyon boat trip?

Book it if you want a scenic, inexpensive escape from Side and you are happy with a shared group tour. The combination of a 14-kilometer cruise, turquoise-water swimming, lakeside lunch, hotel transfers, and included soft drinks is hard to fault at $21.

Skip it if you need extensive guiding, easy step-free access, or a private and quiet boat. For most visitors, though, this is a sensible value trip. The scenery does the heavy lifting, and the day gives you a refreshing change from Side without asking much from your legs or your wallet.

FAQ

Where does the Green Canyon boat trip take place?

The experience takes place in Antalya Province near Side and Manavgat, at Oymapinar Dam and its lake.

How long does the tour last?

The duration is listed as four to nine hours. Check the available departure times when booking because the exact schedule can vary.

Is hotel pickup included?

Yes. Hotel pickup and drop-off are included. You should wait at your hotel’s main security gate 10 minutes before the scheduled pickup time.

What languages are available for the guide service?

Guiding is available in English, Russian, German, Turkish, and Italian.

Is lunch included?

Yes. Lunch includes a choice of chicken, meatballs, or fish, with pasta, salad, and fruit.

Are drinks included?

Unlimited soft drinks are included on the boat. Drinks at the lunch restaurant are not included, and alcoholic drinks are excluded.

Can I swim during the trip?

Yes. A swimming stop takes place after about two hours of cruising in the lake.

Are canoes and fishing rods included?

Yes. Fishing rods and canoes are included as part of the activity.