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

Green Canyon gives you a welcome break from Side’s busy resort strip. The day combines a calm 14-kilometer boat ride through emerald water with a swim stop, a lakeside lunch, and views of Oymapinar Dam. It is nature without a long hike or hard physical effort.

I like the low price of $21 for hotel transport, lunch, guiding, insurance, and soft drinks. I also like the easy pace: cruise, swim, eat, then choose between relaxing, canoeing, or trying the fishing rods. The main drawback is that the guide commentary can be limited, and lunch requires uneven stairs from the pontoon.

Key points to know before you book

• A full day away from Side: The trip usually lasts between four and nine hours, depending on the departure time and schedule.
• A 14-kilometer cruise: Most of the day is spent on the water, with mountain scenery and the narrow Little Canyon area.
• Two useful photo stops: You pause at Oymapinar Dam Lake and can see a Roman bridge said to be about 2,000 years old.
• Swimming in the lake: A short swimming break follows roughly two hours of cruising.
• Soft drinks are included on the boat: Alcohol is not included, and lunch drinks may cost extra.
• A good value at $21: Hotel pickup, return transport, lunch, equipment, a guide, insurance, and drinks are bundled together.

Why Green Canyon makes a good change from Side

Side is known for its beach hotels, Roman ruins, restaurants, and steady holiday traffic. This trip takes you inland toward the Oymapinar reservoir, where the mood changes quickly. You trade sun loungers and resort streets for still water, steep wooded slopes, and a boat moving at a relaxed pace.

That change is the real point of the excursion. You are not signing up for a high-speed ride or a packed list of sights. You spend much of the day looking outward, taking photographs, listening to the water, and enjoying a cooler natural setting.

The price also makes this an easy add-on to a Side holiday. At $21 per person, the cost is low for a trip that includes transportation from your hotel, lunch, insurance, and a boat program. You should still keep your expectations sensible. This is a budget group outing, not a private yacht cruise or a specialist nature tour.

The morning transfer from Side to Oymapinar

Your day starts with pickup from your hotel in a comfortable vehicle. You are asked to wait at the main security gate 10 minutes before the scheduled pickup time, which is useful because large resort properties can have several entrances.

The exact duration is not fixed. The activity is listed as lasting four to nine hours, so check the available departure time when you book. The difference may reflect the pickup route, time spent at the lake, and the day’s operating schedule.

The drive takes you away from Side toward the dam lake. Along the route, the driver may stop at a few places for photographs. These short pauses help break up the transfer and give you a first look at the changing scenery before you reach the boat.

You may share the vehicle and boat with people from another coach. That means the pace and commentary can feel more like a standard group tour than a personal outing. In return, you get a low-cost way to reach an area that is not as simple to visit independently.

Oymapinar Dam and the Roman bridge

The first main stop is Oymapinar Dam Lake. Oymapinar Dam is described as the fifth-largest dam in Turkey and supplies water and electricity to the surrounding area. You receive a short break here before the main cruise begins.

The stop has two layers of interest. First, there is the broad view across the reservoir and the surrounding hills. Second, you can see an ancient bridge from the Roman period, estimated to be about 2,000 years old.

This is a good place to take photographs, but do not expect a long archaeological visit. The bridge is an added point of interest beside the lake rather than a full ruins tour. If you want detailed information about the dam, the canyon’s formation, or the water depth, the commentary may not go very far. Some tour members found the explanation useful but too brief, so you may want to read up before or after the trip.

That limitation matters if history and geology are your main reasons for booking. If your priority is scenery and time on the water, the short stop works well.

Cruising 14 kilometers through Green Canyon

Once you board, the main part of the outing begins. The boat follows a 14-kilometer route through Green Canyon, giving you long stretches to sit back and watch the scenery pass.

The water is known for its emerald and turquoise color. The surrounding slopes and the Little Canyon section create the most striking views, particularly when seen from the water rather than from a roadside viewpoint. Keep your camera ready, but also leave some time to simply watch the changing shapes of the canyon.

The cruise lasts about two hours before the swimming stop. That is long enough to make the boat ride the center of the day, not just a short transfer between activities. You will probably appreciate the quiet rhythm if you want an easy outing after several days of sightseeing.

The boat provides unlimited soft drinks. This is a useful inclusion on a warm day, although a practical detail is worth noting: the glasses may be quite small, so you may need more than one serving. Alcoholic drinks are not included.

The group setting has a few tradeoffs. You get a social atmosphere and a guide who may speak English, Russian, German, Turkish, or Italian, depending on the group. But the amount of spoken information can be limited, especially if the boat is serving several language groups at once.

Swimming in the reservoir

After around two hours of cruising, the boat makes a swimming stop. You can enter the turquoise water and swim while surrounded by the canyon scenery.

This is a simple part of the day, but it gives the schedule a useful break. Sitting on a boat for several hours can become repetitive, while a swim lets you cool off and move around. If you prefer not to swim, you can remain on board and continue enjoying the views.

The supplied information does not specify changing facilities, water temperature, or whether swimming equipment is provided. Bring the usual swimwear and a towel if you plan to enter the water, and do not count on the boat having every personal item you need.

The water setting is a major reason to choose this outing over a standard sightseeing transfer. You are not simply looking at the reservoir from a road. You get time to experience it directly, provided you are comfortable with the conditions on the day.

A lakeside barbecue lunch

After the swimming break, the boat continues to a restaurant beside the lake. Lunch includes a choice of barbecued chicken, meatballs, or fish, along with pasta, salad, and fruit.

For a $21 excursion, this is a practical meal rather than a culinary event. The food is designed to feed a group efficiently, and the menu gives you a few basic choices. A meal at this point in the day also means you do not need to organize a separate restaurant stop.

One detail is important if you have trouble with stairs. The restaurant is reached by uneven steps from the pontoon, and this can be difficult for anyone with limited mobility. The activity is not suitable for people over 95, and the access issue is worth considering at any age if you have balance or walking concerns.

Soft drinks are promoted as included on the boat, but lunch drinks may be charged separately at the restaurant bar. Budget for that possibility rather than assuming every drink throughout the day is covered. Alcoholic drinks are not included.

You should also note the wording about outside drinks. The practical information says drinks are not allowed, while the tour provides soft drinks during the boat trip. Follow the operator’s rules and rely on the supplied refreshments rather than bringing your own beverages.

Canoes, fishing rods, or time to sit quietly

After lunch, you get free time at the restaurant area. You can swim again, sit beside the lake, or use the available fishing rods and canoes.

This choice makes the outing work for mixed groups. One person can stay quiet with a drink while another tries an activity on the water. The equipment is included, so you do not need to pay a separate rental fee for the fishing rods or canoes.

The information does not promise a particular catch, fishing instruction, or a formal canoe lesson. Think of these as simple recreational options, not a structured sports session. If you prefer a calm afternoon, there is no pressure to use them.

This is also the part of the day where the pace can feel less tightly organized. That is good if you want breathing room, but less ideal if you expect constant guiding or a packed schedule.

The return boat ride and hotel drop-off

After the lunch break and free time, the boat returns to the starting pier. Your vehicle then takes you back to your hotel.

The return route gives you another chance to see the canyon from the water, though the views may feel familiar by this point. I consider that a plus for anyone booking this mainly for relaxation. You are not rushed from one attraction to another.

At the same time, the overall timing can vary. A trip listed between four and nine hours covers a wide range, so check the available starting time and plan the rest of your day with flexibility. Do not book a fixed evening reservation immediately afterward unless you are comfortable allowing extra time.

The hotel drop-off is one of the strongest practical features. You avoid arranging a taxi to a distant marina or working out public transport to the dam area.

How much value do you get for $21?

The $21 price is unusually good if all the listed inclusions operate as described. You receive:

• Hotel pickup and drop-off
• The boat cruise
• Lunch
• Unlimited soft drinks on the boat
• Fishing rods and canoes
• A guide
• Full insurance

Even with a basic lunch and a shared group setting, those inclusions keep your extra spending low. You may still pay for drinks at lunch, alcoholic drinks, photos, or a DVD. Photos and video are specifically excluded, so you should not feel obliged to buy them after the trip.

The value is strongest for people who want a complete day arranged for them. If you already have a rental car and prefer to spend hours at the lake on your own, the group schedule may feel restrictive. But if you want transport, food, water access, and a scenic cruise bundled into one inexpensive booking, the numbers work well.

Who should book this boat trip?

I would recommend it to you if you want a quieter day away from Side, enjoy water scenery, and prefer gentle activities to demanding sightseeing. Families and mixed-age groups may like the range of options, although the uneven steps to the restaurant deserve attention.

It also suits anyone watching their holiday budget. You get more than a short boat ride, and the included meal and transport reduce the need for extra planning.

You may want to choose another outing if you need detailed interpretation of the dam and canyon. The guiding can be limited, especially with multiple languages on board. It may also disappoint you if you expect a small private boat, gourmet food, or a tightly timed premium tour.

Bring swimwear, a towel, sun protection, and comfortable shoes for the pontoon and restaurant access. Arrive at the hotel security gate 10 minutes before pickup, and keep the day open because the duration can vary.

Should you book the Green Canyon trip?

Book it if your ideal Side day includes emerald water, fresh air, swimming, and minimal planning. The scenery is the star, and the combination of a 14-kilometer cruise, lunch, soft drinks, and hotel transport is hard to fault at $21.

Think twice if you have mobility issues, need extensive historical explanation, or dislike group outings. For most people who want a low-cost break from the resort strip, this is a sensible and enjoyable choice, with the lunch access and limited commentary as the main points to weigh.

FAQ

How long does the Green Canyon boat trip last?

The listed duration is between four and nine hours. Check the available starting times when booking because the full schedule can vary.

What is included in the price?

The price includes hotel pickup and drop-off, a guide, full insurance, lunch, fishing rods, canoes, and soft drinks.

Are soft drinks available throughout the trip?

Unlimited soft drinks are included on the boat. Alcoholic drinks are not included, and drinks at the lunch restaurant may cost extra.

Is lunch included?

Yes. Lunch includes barbecued chicken, meatballs, or fish, along with pasta, salad, and fruit.

Which languages are available for the guide?

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

Where should I wait for pickup?

Wait at your hotel’s main security gate 10 minutes before the scheduled pickup time.