Your feet get wet on a rafting trip, and that is completely normal. The real question is what to wear so your shoes stay firmly on, dry quickly and keep you steady on slippery riverside rocks.
Rafting on the Koprucay river through Koprulu Canyon National Park is a full day out, around an hour inland from the Side and Manavgat coast. You will be climbing in and out of the raft, walking over wet stones and standing in a boat that gets splashed constantly. The right footwear makes all of that easier and safer.
What makes a good rafting shoe
You are looking for three simple things: shoes that stay secured to your feet, cope happily with cold water, and give you some grip. The Koprucay is fed by snowmelt, so the water is genuinely cold even in July and August, and the rocks along the bank can be slippery. A shoe that ticks those boxes will keep you comfortable from the first splash to the last.
Best choices
- Secured sport sandals with a heel strap or ankle strap. These are ideal because they drain water, dry fast and cannot slip off in the current.
- Old trainers you do not mind getting soaked. A closed shoe protects your toes on rocky ground and grips well. Just accept that they will be wet for the rest of the day.
- Water shoes or aqua socks with a proper sole. Lightweight, quick-drying and grippy, they are a great option if you already own a pair.
What to avoid
- Flip-flops and loose slides. These are the classic thing that floats away the moment you hit moving water. Once a flip-flop is gone, it is gone.
- Crocs and backless clogs unless they have the heel strap engaged. Worn loose, they slide off far too easily.
- Bare feet. Tempting, but the riverbank stones are hard and sometimes sharp, and you want protection when you climb out.
- Your best or brand-new trainers. Cold river water and mud are not kind to good shoes, so save them for another day.
What floats away and how to keep it
Anything loose on your feet can be pulled off by moving water and lost for good. The single best defence is a strap. If your sandals have a heel strap, do it up. If you are wearing an older pair of trainers, lace them properly. It sounds obvious, but a surprising number of flip-flops and loose sandals end their lives in the Koprucay every summer.
A few practical extras
Bring a dry pair of shoes and dry socks to change into for the journey back to your hotel, plus a plastic bag for your wet ones. Your feet will thank you on the drive home. If you feel the cold easily, thin neoprene socks under your water shoes take the edge off the snowmelt without adding bulk.
Everyone on the trip wears a compulsory life jacket and helmet, and a trained guide rides in every raft, so your footwear is about comfort and grip rather than safety in the water. You do not need to be a strong swimmer for the family route, because the life jacket floats you and the guide manages the boat. The lively grade II-III rapids are beginner and family friendly, with a shorter route suitable for children from around six or seven.
Getting there and getting ready
Free hotel pickup by minibus is standard, so you can arrive at your rafting day already wearing your river shoes, or slip them on when you get there. Pickups are in the morning and you are usually back in the late afternoon or early evening, which is why a dry change of footwear for the trip home is such a small luxury.
If you are staying on the coast, take a look at our day tours to see how rafting fits into your holiday plans, then check dates and prices on the booking page.
Ready to feel the cold spray of the Koprucay? Get the right shoes on your feet and book your Koprulu Canyon rafting day from Side today.
