You booked the rafting. Now the only question left is the one everyone asks: how do I actually get to the river? The good news is that you don't have to think about it at all. Every one of our tours includes a free round-trip hotel transfer — a driver comes to your hotel, brings you to Köprülü Canyon, and returns you the same afternoon. No rental car, no taxi, no map-reading.
This guide explains exactly how the pickup works, roughly how long the drive is from each resort area, and the small timing tricks that make your morning smooth.
How the free hotel transfer works
When you reserve online you don't pay anything up front — you simply pay on the tour day, in cash or by card, once the driver arrives or at the river. When you book, you give us your hotel name and region. The night before (or on the morning of the tour), we confirm your pickup time and meeting point.
For most hotels the vehicle comes right to the lobby or main entrance. For a few smaller pensions on narrow streets, the meeting point may be a nearby main road or a well-known landmark a short walk away — we tell you clearly in advance so there are no surprises.
- Round-trip included — pickup in the morning, drop-off back at your hotel in the afternoon.
- Comfortable minibus / coach shared with other guests from your area.
- No extra cost — the transfer is part of the tour price of €20–49, not an add-on.
- Helmet, buoyancy vest, licensed guides, safety briefing and insurance are all included once you arrive.
Which regions we pick up from
We collect guests from across the Antalya coast. The canyon sits inland behind Manavgat, so the closer you are to that stretch of coast, the shorter your ride.
Side, Manavgat, Evrenseki & Kumköy — the closest
If you're staying in the Side area you're in the sweet spot: these resorts are the nearest to Köprülü Canyon, so you get the shortest transfer and often the latest pickup. The classic run here is our Side Köprülü Canyon rafting tour from €20, and there are direct departures from Kumköy, Evrenseki and Manavgat too.
Belek & Kadriye — short and easy
Belek is also comfortably close to the canyon. Families staying here love the gentle Class II–III water; browse the Belek Köprülü Canyon tour or the family-friendly options in our family rafting collection.
Antalya & Lara — a scenic morning drive
From central Antalya and Lara the drive is longer but still an easy morning trip, winding up into the pine hills toward the canyon. It's a beautiful stretch of road, so settle in and enjoy the scenery.
Alanya — the longest transfer
Alanya is the farthest of our pickup regions, so expect an earlier start and a longer drive — worth it for the day on the water. See the Alanya rafting tour from €20 if you're based on that side of the coast.
Pickup timing: how to plan your morning
Rafting is a morning-and-early-afternoon activity. Because guests from several hotels share each transfer, your exact pickup time depends on where your hotel sits on the route — hotels earlier in the loop are collected first.
A few simple habits keep everything running on time:
- Be ready 10–15 minutes early at your lobby or agreed meeting point. Drivers keep a tight schedule for everyone on board.
- Keep your phone on and reachable the night before and that morning in case the driver needs to reach you.
- Have a light breakfast — you'll be active, and lunch by the river is included on most tours.
- Guests in Alanya and Antalya should expect the earliest pickups; Side, Kumköy and Belek guests generally have a little more of a lie-in.
What to bring for the ride and the river
Pack light. You'll want clothes and shoes that can get wet (secured sandals or old trainers), a towel, a dry change of clothes, sunscreen and some cash or a card for your on-the-day payment and any drinks or photos. Leave valuables at the hotel — you'll be on the water.
Non-swimmers are welcome on the family runs: your buoyancy vest and guide keep you safe the whole way. Children usually join from around age 5–6 on the calmer Köprülü Canyon route.
Choosing your tour once transfer is sorted
With logistics handled, the only real decision is which experience you want. Prefer the classic family float? Explore our white-water day tours. Chasing something wilder? The Class IV–V Tazı Canyon runs ramp up the adrenaline. Want to stack activities into one day? The rafting combo tours pair the river with zipline, jeep, quad or buggy — same free transfer, one packed day.
Ready to ride the river?
Reserve your spot in a couple of minutes, pay nothing until the tour day, and let us handle the drive. Browse all rafting tours, pick your region, and we'll bring the transfer to your door.
