You're excited to go rafting, but a small, practical worry is nagging: where will I get changed, where do I leave my phone and passport, and can I actually get warm and dry afterwards? Good news — the Koprulu Canyon rafting base is set up for exactly this, and once you know how the day flows it all feels simple.
The rafting base sits on the banks of the Koprucay river, inside Koprulu Canyon National Park near Beskonak, around one hour and roughly 50 km inland from the Side and Manavgat coast. When your free minibus pickup drops you off in the morning, you arrive at a proper riverside facility with everything a first-timer needs.
Changing rooms: arrive dry, get river-ready
There are separate changing rooms for men and women at the base, so you can slip into your rafting kit in privacy before you head down to the water. Wear or bring a swimsuit under your clothes and add quick-dry shorts and a t-shirt if you'd rather not raft in just swimwear. You'll be given a helmet and life jacket, both compulsory and both fitted at the base, so you don't need to bring any of your own safety gear.
What to wear on the raft
- Swimwear under quick-dry shorts and a t-shirt
- Secure footwear you don't mind soaking — old trainers or river sandals with a heel strap (flip-flops fly off)
- A full set of dry clothes and a towel to change into afterwards
Remember the Koprucay is cold snowmelt water even in July and August, so most people are glad of that warm, dry layer waiting for them at the end.
Lockers and keeping valuables safe
This is the question everyone asks. You cannot take your phone, wallet, watch or dry clothes onto the raft — anything not strapped down will get soaked or lost overboard. The base has lockers and a secure storage area where you leave your valuables while you're on the water. Bring as little as possible: your phone, some cash or a card for lunch and photos, and your hotel key are usually all you need. Leave passports and large amounts of cash in your hotel safe where you can.
If you want photos of yourself on the rapids, don't risk your own phone. The guides and on-river photographers capture the action from the bank and other rafts, and you can view and buy those pictures back at the base afterwards.
Hot showers and toilets
After your run you'll be wet and, thanks to that snowmelt, a little cold — so warm showers at the base are a genuine treat, not a luxury. There are showers and clean toilets on site so you can rinse off, warm up and change straight back into your dry clothes before lunch. Bring your own small towel to be safe, and a plastic bag for your wet kit makes the journey home much tidier.
The riverside restaurant
Most Koprulu rafting days include a stop at the riverside restaurant, set on wooden terraces right over the rushing water — one of the nicest spots to refuel and swap stories about the rapids. A typical lunch here is open-buffet or grill style, and there's usually a menu of drinks and snacks if you fancy something extra. Whether lunch is included or paid separately depends on the package you book, so check the details on the rafting from Side page before you travel.
How the day flows
- Morning: free hotel pickup by minibus and the scenic drive inland to the canyon
- At the base: change, store your valuables in a locker, collect your helmet and life jacket, safety briefing
- On the river: around 12–14 km of grade II–III rapids with a trained guide in every raft
- After: hot shower, dry clothes, lunch at the riverside restaurant
- Return: back to your hotel in the late afternoon or early evening
Because the whole base is geared towards beginners and families, you don't need to be a strong swimmer for the family route — your life jacket keeps you afloat and your guide handles the raft. The family option usually takes children from around age 6–7. If you'd like to compare the rafting trips or browse other tours in the region, everything is laid out with live prices and inclusions.
Now that you know where you'll change, shower and stash your phone, the only thing left is the fun part. Book your Koprulu Canyon rafting day from Side and check the live price and what's included on the booking page.
