Why September Is Green Canyon's Second Sweet Spot
Every season on the water has two golden windows. At Green Canyon — the emerald reservoir behind Oymapinar Dam near Manavgat and Side — the first arrives in late spring, when the canyon shakes off winter and turns vividly green. The second is September, and if you ask people who make this trip year after year, many will quietly tell you it is their favourite. Summer does not end here in September; it simply relaxes. The days are still hot, the water is still swimmable, and both Green Canyon tours keep their full daily schedule. What melts away is the intensity of the peak weeks.
What Changes in September — and What Stays the Same
The honest answer is that September changes the atmosphere more than the experience. Everything you would book in high summer is still running:
- Daily departures: both the 2.5-hour Catamaran Tour and the 4.5-hour Boat Tour operate every day through the summer season.
- Same prices: €33 per adult and €18 per child aged 3–11 on either tour — no September surcharge and no hidden fees.
- Same conditions on the water: the reservoir is a calm, sheltered canyon lake framed by pine-covered slopes. It is not the sea, so there are no waves and no seasickness in any month.
What softens is everything around the tour. The school-holiday rush fades, pickup buses feel less packed, and there is more room to spread out on deck. Photographers love this month too: the light turns gentler, and the contrast of dark pines against emerald water photographs beautifully without the harsh midday glare of the hottest weeks.
Swimming in September: Still Very Much On
The most common September question is whether it is still warm enough to swim. Here is the honest framing: Green Canyon's water is mountain-fed, so it feels cool and refreshing even at the height of summer — it never turns into a warm pool in any month. That means a September dip feels much like an August one: crisp, crystal clear and wonderfully still, exactly what you want after lying in the sun on deck. Swimming is always optional, though. Plenty of guests skip the water entirely and enjoy the canyon from the boat, and nobody will think twice about it. For a full picture of how the swim stops work, see our guide to swimming in Green Canyon.
Catamaran or Boat Tour in September?
September suits both formats, so the choice comes down to how much time you want on the water:
- Green Canyon Catamaran Tour (2.5 hours): the compact option — cruising, swim stops and canyon views in a shorter window, ideal if you want a relaxed outing and lunch back at your hotel. Note that no meal is served on the catamaran.
- Green Canyon Boat Tour (4.5 hours): the fuller day, with lunch served on board and more time for swimming and slow cruising through the canyon.
Both cost the same — €33 per adult, €18 per child (3–11) — so a family of four pays €102 either way, and two adults with one child pay €84. If you are torn, our catamaran vs boat tour comparison breaks the decision down in detail.
Pickup, Prices and Booking in September
Hotel pickup runs every day from Side, Manavgat, Kumkoy, Evrenseki, Sorgun, Titreyengol, Colakli, Kizilagac, Gundogdu, Kizilot, Cenger, Okurcalar, Avsallar, Turkler, Konakli, Alanya, Oba, Payallar and Mahmutlar. Staying further west? Belek and Antalya are served on Mondays and Thursdays. You can check your own resort in the pickup areas guide, or browse departures from Side and Alanya directly.
Booking works the same easy way it does all season, which makes September simple to plan around:
- No prepayment: you pay on the day of the tour.
- Free cancellation up to 24 hours before the tour.
- Instant confirmation when you book, and fast replies on WhatsApp if your plans shift.
September vs the Rest of the Season
How does September stack up against its neighbours? August is the hottest, liveliest stretch of the year — brilliant energy, fuller boats. October heads the other way: milder, quieter and more of a shoulder-season mood. September sits exactly between them, which is why we call it the season's second sweet spot: summer warmth and daily departures, with a noticeably calmer feel. If you are still weighing up the whole calendar, our guide to the best time to visit Green Canyon compares the entire spring-through-autumn season month by month.
And if you are comparing experiences rather than months: sea boat trips from Side or Alanya are open-water cruises between bays, while Green Canyon is a stillwater canyon lake — a different kind of day entirely, with no swell and scenery that closes in around you rather than opening out. Many visitors happily do both in the same week.
Green Canyon in September: FAQ
Is September a good time to visit Green Canyon?
Yes — September is widely considered one of the best months for a Green Canyon tour, because the weather is still reliably warm, catamarans and boats run every day as they do all summer, the emerald water remains swimmable, and the peak-season crowds noticeably soften. If your dates are flexible, it is one of the easiest months to recommend.
Can you still swim in Green Canyon in September?
Yes, you can swim in Green Canyon in September; the reservoir is fed by mountain water, so it feels cool and refreshing rather than warm, exactly as it does in midsummer, and swimming is always optional — plenty of guests simply enjoy the scenery from the deck.
Are Green Canyon tours still running every day in September?
Green Canyon catamaran and boat tours operate daily throughout the summer season, and that daily schedule carries on into September, with hotel pickup every day from Side, Manavgat, Kumkoy, Alanya and the surrounding resort areas, while Belek and Antalya are served on Mondays and Thursdays.
How much does a Green Canyon tour cost in September?
Prices stay the same in September as in high summer: both the 2.5-hour Green Canyon Catamaran Tour and the 4.5-hour Green Canyon Boat Tour cost €33 per adult and €18 per child aged 3–11, with no prepayment, no hidden fees and free cancellation up to 24 hours. Lunch is included only on the 4.5-hour Boat Tour.
Is Green Canyon less crowded in September?
September is noticeably quieter than July and August at Green Canyon: the summer holiday peak has passed, so pickup buses, the departure area and the boats themselves feel calmer, and it is easier to find a relaxed spot on deck for photos of the canyon walls.