Two Canyons, Two Completely Different Days Out
If you are staying between Side and Alanya, two names come up again and again when you plan a day away from the beach: Green Canyon and Sapadere Canyon. Both promise dramatic scenery and cool mountain water — and that is roughly where the similarities end.
Green Canyon is a boat trip. You cruise the emerald reservoir behind Oymapınar Dam near Manavgat, swimming in calm, crystal-clear water framed by pine-covered canyon walls. Sapadere Canyon is a walk. You follow walking platforms through a narrow gorge in the hills inland from Alanya. Neither is objectively better; they are simply different experiences. Here is how each one works, and who each suits best.
Green Canyon: A Boat Trip on an Emerald Reservoir
Green Canyon is the vast, still reservoir created by Oymapınar Dam, tucked into pine-covered mountains near Manavgat in the Antalya region. The water is a deep emerald green, and because this is a sheltered freshwater lake rather than the open sea, the surface stays remarkably calm. There are no waves, no swell and no seasickness.
The day is built around slow cruising and swimming stops in crystal-clear, mountain-fed water that stays refreshingly cool even in midsummer. Swimming is always optional — plenty of guests stay on deck and take in the scenery. For a stop-by-stop picture, see our guide to what to expect on a Green Canyon tour.
There are two ways to experience it. The Green Canyon Catamaran Tour is a relaxed 2.5-hour cruise with swimming breaks. The Green Canyon Boat Tour extends the experience to 4.5 hours and includes lunch on board. Both cost €33 per adult and €18 per child aged 3–11. We compare the two formats in detail in catamaran vs boat tour.
Sapadere Canyon: A Gorge You Explore on Foot
Sapadere Canyon lies in the hills inland from Alanya, and the experience is completely different: instead of boarding a boat, you walk. A series of walking platforms leads visitors through the narrow gorge, with stone walls rising close on either side and mountain water running below — there is no boat element at all.
It is a rewarding outing for travellers who enjoy being on their feet and want that closed-in canyon feeling you cannot get from a boat deck — though it naturally asks more of you physically than sitting on a catamaran.
The Key Differences at a Glance
How you experience the canyon
At Green Canyon, the landscape opens up around you: you glide across a wide emerald lake with cliffs and pine forest on every side. At Sapadere, the canyon closes in around you: you walk through a narrow passage and experience the rock at arm's length. One is panoramic and relaxed; the other is intimate and active.
The swimming
Green Canyon is built for swimming. Both tours include swimming stops in calm, crystal-clear water that stays pleasantly cool all summer — and you can skip the water entirely if you prefer. Our guide to swimming in Green Canyon covers it in detail. At Sapadere, the water is scenery you walk beside rather than the centrepiece of the day.
Effort and accessibility
A Green Canyon cruise asks almost nothing of you physically — hotel pickup, step aboard, and the boat does the rest — making it one of the easiest excursions in the region for mixed-age groups, from toddlers to grandparents. Sapadere rewards visitors who are happy on their feet for a sustained stretch.
Location and logistics
Green Canyon sits near Manavgat — especially handy from Side, Kumköy, Evrenseki and Çolaklı — while daily hotel pickup keeps it an easy day trip from Alanya, Oba and Mahmutlar too. Sapadere is on Alanya's side of the map, in the mountains behind the city. Staying near Side? Browse departures on our tours from Side page.
Which Canyon Should You Choose?
Choose Green Canyon if:
- You want a relaxed day with no walking required.
- You are travelling with young children, grandparents or anyone with limited mobility.
- Swimming in calm, crystal-clear water is a priority.
- Someone in your group gets seasick — the reservoir has no waves.
- You are staying in the Side–Manavgat area.
Choose Sapadere if:
- You actively enjoy walking and want to feel the canyon walls up close.
- You are based around Alanya and fancy an inland outing on foot.
- You have done a boat day and want something different.
Most families with mixed preferences find the boat format the easiest way to please everyone — our honest take in is Green Canyon worth it? looks at who enjoys it most.
Green Canyon Prices, Pickup and Booking
Both Green Canyon options are priced identically: €33 per adult and €18 per child (ages 3–11). The 2.5-hour catamaran cruise focuses on scenery and swimming; the 4.5-hour boat tour adds lunch on board. There are no hidden fees, you pay on the day of the tour with no prepayment, and you can cancel free of charge up to 24 hours before departure. Confirmation is instant, and our team replies quickly on WhatsApp.
Hotel pickup runs every day throughout the summer season from Side, Manavgat, Kumköy, Evrenseki, Sorgun, Titreyengöl, Çolaklı, Kızılağaç, Gündoğdu, Kızılot, Çenger, Okurcalar, Avsallar, Türkler, Konaklı, Alanya, Oba, Payallar and Mahmutlar. Guests staying in Belek and Antalya can join on Mondays and Thursdays. Find departures from your resort — for example tours from Alanya or tours from Belek — or browse all Green Canyon tours.
Can You Do Both?
Absolutely — on a one- or two-week holiday, many visitors do. The two canyons complement each other perfectly: a floating, swim-focused day on the emerald water of Oymapınar and an active walking day in a narrow gorge. Curious about the dam that created the lake? Start with our piece on Oymapınar Dam and Green Canyon. With boats departing daily from spring through autumn, Green Canyon is easy to fit around your other plans.
FAQ
Is Green Canyon or Sapadere Canyon better?
Neither canyon is objectively better — they offer different experiences: Green Canyon is a relaxed boat or catamaran cruise on a calm, emerald mountain reservoir near Manavgat with optional swimming stops, while Sapadere Canyon is a walking excursion along platforms through a narrow gorge in the hills inland from Alanya. If you want swimming, relaxation and easy access for all ages, choose Green Canyon; if you love walking, Sapadere is your day.
Can you swim at Green Canyon?
Yes — both Green Canyon tours include swimming stops in the crystal-clear, still water of the Oymapınar reservoir, where the mountain-fed lake stays refreshingly cool even at the height of summer, and swimming is completely optional, so you can simply relax on deck and enjoy the scenery instead.
How much does the Green Canyon tour cost?
Both Green Canyon tours cost €33 per adult and €18 per child aged 3 to 11: the 2.5-hour Catamaran Tour is a scenic cruise with swimming stops, while the 4.5-hour Boat Tour adds lunch on board, and in both cases you simply pay on the day of the tour. Cancellation is free up to 24 hours before departure, and there are no hidden fees or prepayments.
Is Green Canyon a sea trip?
No — Green Canyon is not a sea trip: the boats cruise on the sheltered freshwater reservoir behind Oymapınar Dam, so there are no waves, no swell and no seasickness, which makes it a comfortable choice for young children, older travellers and anyone who struggles on open water.
Do Green Canyon tours pick up from Alanya and Side?
Yes — hotel pickup runs every day of the summer season from Side, Manavgat, Kumköy, Evrenseki, Sorgun, Titreyengöl, Çolaklı, Kızılağaç, Gündoğdu, Kızılot, Çenger, Okurcalar, Avsallar, Türkler, Konaklı, Alanya, Oba, Payallar and Mahmutlar, while guests staying in Belek and Antalya can join on Mondays and Thursdays. Check the tours from Mahmutlar or tours from Kumköy pages to see departures for your resort.