Let's not sugar-coat it: you get wet rafting in Koprulu Canyon. Properly, gloriously, soaked-to-the-shorts wet - and on a baking Antalya afternoon, that is exactly the point.
The Koprucay river runs on cold mountain snowmelt, so even at the height of summer the water stays refreshingly - some would say bracingly - cool. Between the grade II-III rapids there are calm green pools, and the guide usually stops at a safe stretch for a mid-river swim or float. That first splash is a shock; ten seconds later it feels like the best air-conditioning in the province.
So how wet, exactly?
Expect to be wet from the very first rapid. Spray comes over the bow, the paddle throws water back, and every bump sends a little wave sloshing into the raft. By the end of the roughly 14 km run (there is a gentler family route of around 12 km) most of you will be soaked through, especially your shorts, feet and lower legs. If you take the optional swim stop, you are wet head to toe - by choice.
None of this is dangerous. The rapids are beginner and family friendly, your compulsory helmet and life jacket are provided, and the jacket floats you whether or not you can swim. The wetness is the fun bit, not the scary bit.
What to wear
Dress to get soaked and to dry fast:
- Swimwear or quick-dry shorts worn under (or instead of) your clothes - cotton stays heavy and cold once wet.
- A rash vest or light synthetic top for sun protection that dries quickly.
- Secure footwear - old trainers or sturdy water shoes with a heel strap. Flip-flops float away in the first rapid.
- A hat and sunglasses with a strap - the sun off the water is strong, but loose items get lost.
The base camp near Beskonak has changing rooms and toilets, so you can arrive in normal clothes, change into your river kit, and change back into dry things afterwards before the drive home.
What to bring
- A full change of dry clothes - you will want them for the journey back.
- A towel and a plastic bag for your soggy river gear.
- Reef-safe sun cream - reapply, as river water washes it off.
- A little cash for the riverside restaurant, photos or a drink.
Leave anything you cannot afford to lose in the car or at your hotel. Phones, watches and wallets do not enjoy grade III rapids. Most guests hand valuables to staff or lock them away - and buy the on-river photos rather than risk their own phone.
Why cold water is the best part
Rafting is a summer sport in Antalya precisely because the canyon is cool, shaded in places, and the water is icy against 35-degree air. Families who worry beforehand about the cold almost always end the day asking to go round again. The snowmelt keeps you alert, wakes you up between rapids, and turns an ordinary hot day into something you will talk about for weeks.
The whole day usually includes free hotel pickup on the Side-Manavgat coast, the roughly one-hour drive up to the national park, a kit and safety briefing, around three to four hours based at the river with the paddle and swim stop, and lunch at the base before the drive back. You will leave tired, sun-kissed and pleasantly damp.
Want the full run-down of pickup, the drive and what a day looks like from the coast? See our rafting from Side guide, or browse all our Antalya tours to pair rafting with the rest of your holiday.
Ready to embrace the cold water and cool off in style? Check today's live price and book your Koprulu Canyon rafting from Side - and don't forget the dry clothes.
